Eight Brenau students will receive funding from the Mexican government to pursue their education at Brenau university thanks to an annual grant.
The $8,000 grant is funded via the Institute for Mexicans Abroad scholarship program, or IME Becas, with “becas” meaning “scholarship” in Spanish. This is the sixth consecutive year Brenau was awarded the grant for Mexican American students.
“We are appreciative of the collaboration between our university and the Mexican Consulate for the IME scholarship program,” President David L. Barnett said. “Brenau matches this scholarship annually to show our commitment to this partnership. It is significant, particularly in our region and our community, to provide this opportunity to students who otherwise may not have access to higher education.”
Brenau supports this global initiative through the university’s Miller Institute for Global Education by matching the funds to create the scholarships for this year’s eight recipients.
“12 scholarship recipients have graduated from Brenau, including one who has continued in graduate studies at Brenau,” Stefan Schulze, director of grants, said. “Four of Brenau’s IME Becas scholars are currently enrolled at the institution, and we now can offer this opportunity to four more students. This exceptional rate of success underscores the importance of financial support and programs like IME Becas for graduation, retention and student success.”
Brenau hosted Consulate General Francisco Javier Díaz de León, Karina Regalado and Miguel Puga from the Mexican Consulate for a signing ceremony formalizing the grant agreement Tuesday, July 16, on the historic Gainesville campus.
“Over the past few years, we have met some of the young people who, thanks to this support, are able to pursue their dreams,” Díaz de León said. “In many of these cases, when these young students come here to Brenau, they are the first ones ever in their family to be able to go to college. We see the pride in them, we see their pride in their parents, and it is very powerful.”
One of those students is Yareli Aguilar, who attended the ceremony with her mother, Lexie Flores, and shared her gratitude with officials.
“Thanks to your generosity, you have not only lightened my financial burden, but you have also inspired me to try harder, dream bigger and aim higher,” the nursing student from Gainesville, Georgia, said. “Through the knowledge and skills gained through this scholarship, I aspire to empower future generations in Mexico with the same opportunities that have shaped my own journey.”
Flores, who is from Jalisco, Mexico, thanked the consulate in Spanish, with Aguilar translating.
“As a single mother, it has been a challenge working to cover the costs of Yareli’s studies,” Flores said. “However, thanks to the financial support that the consulate provides to the students, the dreams not only of Yareli, but also of future generations, can come true.”
Brenau is one of five Georgia colleges and universities to receive IME Becas grants in 2024. Two additional community plazas in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee also received grants.
In addition to the IME Becas program, Brenau’s Education Liaison and Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions Maria Iniguez participates in educational events at the consulate in downtown Atlanta on behalf of the university. In August, Iniguez will attend the Binational Education Week.
“We come for a full week to the Mexican Consulate and give presentations every 30 minutes to about 400 people each day,” Iniguez said. “We don’t just talk to people from Georgia, but also Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. We have a far reach, going throughout the state and the country to provide opportunities like this to students.”
Iniguez collaborates with the consulate for events including Hispanic Heritage Month, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Day of the Dead, and art events.
The Miller Institute, which supports this ongoing scholarship, was established in February 2022 through the financial support of Pete and Cathy Miller to advance the university’s globalization efforts. The institute aims to develop Brenau students who are equipped to meet the changing needs of the community and the world.
