Scholarhip kids annual Christmas party 2018

What a wonderful day!

Leading up to the big day, I had moms and dads wrapping for me and I even got some 8th graders to help me out:












On the 16th, we put all the boxes outside, they were filled to the brim with gifts. Each scholarship or future scholarship student gets a huge toothpaste, a toothbrush, clothes, shoes, makeup, nail polish and earrings etc. for the girls and shavers (thanks Ralph from Abreojos) and shaving cream, clothes, shoes and socks for the guys. They all get shampoo, soap and laundry detergent. All the mom and dad helpers get to choose 3 gifts each from the household goodies room and then the kids go in until all the items are gone. That's the deal - everything must go!











There were two tables outside with binders that Mom bought and notebooks and loose leaf binder paper that many donated, especially MMc! Each kid can take whatever they need from these tables.
















Local chefs (whose granddaughter is in the scholarship program) made the most delicious breakfast for everyone-Mexican scrambled eggs, chilaquiles, homemade beans and much, much more. La Bocana local cooperative provided half the ingredients and when I get back home from xmas vacay in San Diego, I plan to ask the Punta Abreojos coop if they will pay for the other half.



I made the white cakes and brownies that Lori (thanks so much) sent and husband Tommy dropped off. I made a key lime pie and 2 huge flans. My friends Cindy and Mary made homemade cookies. It was a major food fest!










So, when students super shine, I talk to their sponsors and get them something really special. Here is a photo of Martha and I. She is studying engineering in Santa Rosalia and got a number of awards for one of her projects.













My gut was quite right to go that extra step for her! Her sponsor bought a barely used cell phone that took me a couple weeks to convince Les to sell at a deal. Here is a photo of me and her mom and sis - her dad is a policeman in Punta Abreojos.

Right after we took this photo, she showed me her grades and this kid got straight A's!!!!!! I almost started to cry, I was so moved and so very happy that I had gone that extra mile for her.






Another proud moment was when Clarissa (who graduated this year) told the students that she got a great job in her field of marine biology!! She will be teaching and participating in a turtle project. Whooohooooooooooo



Here she is at a table she organized to get all the students to sign the xmas cards for their sponsors:












Dayr considered dropping out when his Mom didn't have enough money to put food on the table. Since we have been helping him out since high school, I was saddened by this and simply told him that by working for a little hourly wage, he was never going to have a great future. A couple days later, he told me his Mom had gotten a loan from a friend to cover the money crunch and that he had figured out that his future was bleak without an education.

So, he shows me his grades and they are straight A's too! Holy smokes am I ever proud of him. I am not sure how he pulled it off but I'll take it!











The whole event was incredible. So much work to put it all together but I love seeing each teen grow and flourish. I spent over 3 hours mentoring them on drinking (over drinking), how to prepare for graduation (some of the next graduates are already panicking), and the biggie this year was how to deal with stress since one student went into a deep depression when he was overwhelmed with projects (he did great in the end). Of course, most importantly, I tell them all how very proud I am of them.


Thanks to every single one of you who helped with kind words. who helped bringing goodies down. who helped financially with odds and ends that come up during the year. who helped with donations galore - the paper and notebooks and pens and pencils MAKE MY DAY every time you give me some for my kids.

Happy New Year. Let's make it a great 2019!!

The group !!

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

How cool is this! You change these guys world for ever. You might want to spend a little time on how to look and get a job. I never knew a college that helped a student getting a job.