Representatives from the Consulate of Mexico in Little Rock and representatives from Arkansas Tech University attended a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing on Monday, Dec. 5, in Russellville that will result in more than $100,000 in scholarship funding for Arkansas Tech students of Mexican heritage in 2017.
Under the terms of the MOU, the Consulate of Mexico in Little Rock will provide $35,000 and private donors will provide $70,000 through the Arkansas Tech University Foundation. The MOU was signed by Rodolfo Quilantán, counsel of Mexico, and Mike Hutchison, vice president for advancement at Arkansas Tech.
“Arkansas Tech University extends its sincere appreciation to the Consulate of Mexico in Little Rock for its continued partnership in providing scholarship opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president of Arkansas Tech. “These funds are incredibly important in helping us recruit, retain and graduate a diverse student body equipped with the skills necessary to build a stronger state, nation and world.”
This is the third consecutive year in which the Consulate of Mexico in Little Rock and Arkansas Tech have worked together on the IME Becas Fellowship scholarship. The program was created by Mexico in 2005 to contribute to the education and improvement of individuals of Mexican origin living in the United States.
IME Becas Fellowship scholarships are awarded competitively based on academic achievement and financial need. Applicants for the fellowship must be Mexican or of Mexican origin to qualify, and they must not be eligible for any other type of scholarship funds or financial aid.
The number of Hispanic students at Arkansas Tech has increased by 588 percent over the past dozen years. There are 804 Hispanic students enrolled at Tech for the fall 2016 semester. In all, 23.6 percent of Arkansas Tech students are from minority groups.
Photographed (from left): Rodolfo Quilantán, counsel of Mexico; Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president of Arkansas Tech; Bernadette Hinkle, vice president for administration and finance at Arkansas Tech; and Mike Hutchison, vice president for advancement at Arkansas Tech.
