SAN MARCOS -- Forty-one Latino high school graduates -- 31 from North County -- received grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 at the BECA Foundation's 25th annual scholarship dinner Saturday at Cal State San Marcos.

"We're just one organization with one cause and we want to show society that we can do it too," said Andres Martin, president of BECA and a fellow award recipient in 1998. "We're working to dispel some of the negative stereotypes held against Latinos."

BECA -- Spanish for scholarship -- provides grants to Latino students who might not otherwise be able to afford to enroll in college. The group has handed out more than $1.6 million in grants to 683 students during the last 25 years.

Saturday's anniversary included past recipients.

Isela Medina said the grant she received in 2005 inspired her to motivate others to pursue higher education. A recent graduate of UC San Diego, with a bachelor's degree in sociology, Medina explained that her parents, both immigrants and unable to speak or write English, could not have supported her through college without BECA's assistance.

Ana Garcia, the office manager for the endowment for more than 19 years, said Saturday that the organization helps students financially and with a mentoring program.

"They need a lot of guidance," she said. "Many don't know the ins and outs because they might be the first person in their family to ever go to college."

Garcia said many foundation board members are professionals who are committed to helping students maneuver through the sometimes difficult college system, adding that many BECA recipients have gone on to achieve academic and professional success.

"You see them as seniors in high school and then they go on through college," she said. "The reward comes when they check in with you and share their accomplishments."

Board member George Lopez reminisced about introducing co-founders David Martinez and Al Mendoza 25 years ago in Oceanside.

"Many scholarship programs die out because people lose interest in them," he said. "This one has lasted because of the dedication and hard work on the part of the founders."

Martinez was on hand for the event. When asked how it felt to be celebrating the endowment's silver anniversary, he said he's not surprised it has lasted this long but that the organization hasn't achieved its goal of having $5 million in the bank.

"We still have work to do," he said.

Martinez praised John MacDonald, former president of MiraCosta College, and Fred Hubert, former president of Palomar College, for their work on the original committee to start the organization.

Manny Lopez is a freelance writer.Â

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