BEE Scholarships Ready to Release 2020 Scholarships

BEE High School, and Se Vale Soñar Scholarships ready for students to request

Albuquerque, NM, December 6th, 2020: It is once again that time of year, as students begin preparation for life after high school. 2020 will be BEE Scholarships’ sixth year offering high school scholarships and the second year offering the Se Vale Soñar Scholarship, a scholarship for first generation, low-income, Latino(a) students for grades 9-12.

Nearly thirty students have used their scholarships funds and laptops to continue their education. Their stories are unique, inspiring, and can be found by clicking here. The first years’ scholarship helped support students graduate from Smith College and Yale University, while still helping other students continue their studies at the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State, Central New Mexico Community College, and Fort Lewis.

The first year of the Se Vale Soñar Scholarship was a huge success, as we were able to reward three students respective laptops and iPads.

“The first year of having the Se Vale Soñar Scholarship was good!” said Daisy Astorga, who started the scholarship. Astorga personally met with and gave the awards to the recipients, which she found to be exciting. “It was important for us to get to know them, and offer our advice, support, and help beyond awarding laptops. We surprised each recipient with an iPad in addition to the laptop. They were very excited and happy!”

 “We are hoping to be able to award more laptops this year. We also want to reach students across Albuquerque and New Mexico,” said Astorga. To find out more about the Se Vale Soñar Scholarship, its mission, and story, please click here.

We look forward to helping more students this year. If you know a senior in high school and a first generation, low-income, Latino(a) student in grades 9-12, please direct them to our website. For seniors, they can visit our high school scholarship request page by clicking here. Students looking for the Se Vale Soñar application, can click here.

For additional information, please visit BEEScholarships.org.

About BEE Scholarships

Burqueños for Education and Empowerment, also known as BEE or BEE Scholarships, is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose goal is to provide access to higher education to students in New Mexico who otherwise may not be able to attend due to various factors.

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BEE Scholarships Announce 2019 Scholarship Recipients

Two scholarships awarded this year

Albuquerque, NM May 31, 2019: Burqueños for Education and Empowerment (BEE) is thrilled to announce the recipients of BEE’s 2019 Scholarships, which includes the annual high schooler scholarship and for the first time, the Se Vale Soñar Scholarship!  The new scholarship a partnership that developed with former BEE Scholar, Daisy Astorga, nearly two years ago to award laptops to students in need of a personal computer.

The BEE Scholarship Committee has selected three students from Albuquerque to receive scholarships. Students from Atrisco Heritage Academy and Health Leadership High School all demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity, both personally and academically, while improving their academic success.

With a pursuit of making personal and academic growth, BEE Scholarships seeks to reward students that a have a history of making personal change and growth and desire more for their future, regardless of past mistakes. Below is some information on each scholar.

BEE Scholarship, Se Vale Soñar Scholarship recipient

Brisa Calderon, Health Leadership High School

Brisa was surprised when she first found out she won both scholarships. “My initial reaction was tears of joy,” she said. “It feels good to have won a scholarship,” she continued, saying, “I feel so honored.”

Brisa will use her scholarship to pay for the typical educational expenses, including books and fees, to help her reach her goal of becoming a veterinary technician. “I want to do what I love the most and that’s help[ing] animals,” she said.

Brisa has a lot of people to thank for helping her get to where is she is today. “I want to thank everyone that was put in my path since freshman year because everyone helped me become the person that I am today.”

Brisa also offered some advice to future students seeking a BEE Scholarship, saying, “never give up on hope; anything that you set your mind to you will accomplish.”

Congratulations, Brisa!

BEE Scholarship, Se Vale Soñar Scholarship recipient

Sabrina Trujillo, Atrisco Heritage Academy

At first, Sabrina could not believe that she won, then she became excited when she realized she won both scholarships offered by BEE this year. “I was so excited to have won the BEE scholarship!” said Sabrina. “When I initial read the email I was in disbelief, I then ran to tell my family the great news.”

Sabrina feels both scholarships “will give me the opportunity to go to college and be successful. The laptop will especially help me to continue my education by giving me the ability to study and do my school work electronically.” Both scholarships will help Sabrina reach her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher, to “help my community as a whole,” said Sabrina, and eventually get a master’s degree to be an administrator at the elementary level.

It is obvious as to why Sabrina wants to enter the education field, as she thanks her past teacher for helping her become the person she is today. “I’d like to thank my past teachers… for helping me be the best student possible and always pushing me to do my best,” she said. She also appreciates her family for “never letting me give up and supporting me through everything,” she continued.

Sabrina offered sound advice to prospective BEE Scholarships recipients, adding “…anything is possible. Do not give up and strive to be the best person possible. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it because you can and you will.”

Congratulations, Sabrina!

Se Vale Soñar Scholarship recipient

Daniel Benitez, Atrisco Heritage Academy

Daniel, only a junior, was shocked upon finding out he won a scholarship from BEE, but shock quickly turned into joy. “I was shocked, but most of all happy. This was the first scholarship I had received.” Daniel explained how honored he felt to receive a scholarship from a small, local organization. “I feel privileged to be able to represent such a wonderful organization that is based in New Mexico.”

“I hope to use the laptop to help me further my education by using it to organize myself, to keep myself on track by fulfilling all the tasks or homework that needs to be done,” said Daniel.

Daniel eventually wants to study the environment in college and obtain a degree in nuclear engineering that will help him fight the problem and effect of climate change. “I hope to study nuclear engineering as it will lead to a root solution to the problem of climate change,” said Daniel. While fighting climate change, Daniel also wishes “to become a community organizer to help young men of color who have been heavily underrepresented all their life.”

Congratulations, Daniel!

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