Mission Statement

The Mulegé Student Scholarship Program is a non-profit organization, established to help needy students of the Mulegé area receive an education equivalent to that of a Jr. High or High School equivalency in the United States. Whenever possible, the program's goal is to assist students graduating from the High School program to go on to college. The Mulegé Student Scholarship Program was not established to be a charity, but a means of providing the best possible education to those who are willing to strive to achieve an education by keeping high grades and good character.

In Mexico, government funding is almost non-existent past the 6th grade level. Those families who wish to provide additional education for their children, must do so at their own expense. Because of the prohibitive cost involved in sending young adults to higher education in Mulegé, boys are usually the only ones in the family who are able to continue in school. As a consequence, Mulegé girls are often deprived of any education past the sixth grade.

Those students continuing their education must wear uniforms and pay tuition in C.E.C.Y.T. These expenses are often an extreme hardship to the families, but they are required to discourage peer pressure as well to instill responsibility to the parents. This is just two of many hurdles the Mulegé Student Scholarship Program is striving to overcome through donations as a non-profit.

The Program's Scholastic Achievements

This scholarship program originally began in 1988 when the program's co-founder, Judy Tussy was teaching English in a rural school near Mulegé. Three of her students were very bright boys and were going from sixth grade to Jr. High School. They needed assistance to continue their education. The Tussy family sponsored two students and their church family sponsored a third.

After 13 very successful years, the program has assisted 78 young adults to become high school graduates! These students would not have a high school diploma, were it not for kind sponsors and this worthwhile program. The program has also helped 23 students become college graduates in the 18 years of its existence.

Currently, there are fifty students in Jr. High and High School, and 29 attending college in Mexico. Last year two girls from the Program's High School graduates attending college in Mexicali, applied and received other scholarships. One went to China to study and the other one went to Canada and will go to France. One received full certification of Doctor of Gynecology, after six years on the Program and has been accepted at U.C. San Diego for further studies in surgery. He is now a fully accredited heart surgeon.

In 1993, the Program's first high school graduate entered college in Mexico City. He has graduated and accepted a position with the Attorney General's office in Mexico City. His Brother recently graduated from college and is now teaching in Tijuana, with the Montessori's school..

The Program has many hurdles. Most sponsors help those in Jr. High or High School with the required $200 per student per year however, college students need a minimum of $1200 per year in assistance. The Program requires that the student's family help by providing a place for the student to stay, food and clothing. Most stay with relatives, so the entire $1200 is spent on tuition and books. Donations to the program are channeled into this college fund and no guarantees are made to the students as to how long they will be supported with this program. Each student is required to get good grades and to check in twice a year with proof of grades.

Other Achievements

Prior to 1992, students had to travel to Santa Rosalia to obtain a part of their curriculum that was not available in Mulegé schools and students were riding in the back of an open pick-up truck. In 1992, a mini-bus was purchased, driven from the U.S. to Mulegé and donated to the school. It is still in use today, transporting students to school and to participate in athletic events.

A typing class was needed, so 26 manual typewriters were donated by the Rio Vista High School. Donations were made to clean and repair the typewriters and volunteers transported them to Mulegé students. The government hired a typing teacher, and a typing class was established. The typewriters are still in-use today along with a computer class and approximately 20 computers.

To combat the oppressing heat, students often carry wet wash cloths to school, so several Americans and Canadians donated funds for standing fans. Eight fans were donated to the local C.E.C.Y.T. A Volkswagen Bug was donated to the Program, raffle tickets were sold for its purchase and the funds from the raffle went into the Program's general fund. A memorial fund also established through the Program. Anyone wishing to remember a loved-one who has passed on, may donate funds to this program. A memorial card is sent to the family in memory of the person who has died.

Sponsorship Responsibilities

Sponsors are asked to provide $250 each July for each student sponsored. Funds received are deposited into an account at the Bank of Stockton in Rio Vista, California. The Program has a thorough accounting system. Another account is maintained at Bancomer in Santa Rosalia, near Mulegé to pay for clothing bought in Mexico, and to pay tuition. When the signatories are not in Mexico, a trusted businessman from Mulegé who serves as treasurer on the Board of Directors, drafts checks upon approval of the Directors. For the past several years, the Tussy family has absorbed most of the administrative costs. The $250 donated by each sponsor provides each student with the following:

2 sets of uniforms (both boys and girls)
1 pair tennis shoes, sometimes two pair
1 pair black shoes (required)
5 sets underwear
6 pair socks
1 tie, 1 belt (boys)
1 white skirt (girls)

Students are measured each June by Mulegé teachers and helpers. Teachers who are on the Board of Directors purchases the students uniforms and clothing and they are delivered to the students in August, in time for school, and photos are taken at that time. The $250 also provides funds for some books, classroom materials and tuition. In some cases medical and pharmaceutical needs are also covered.

In return for sponsorship, the sponsor will receive two personal letters from their students each year outlining their progress.

Responsibility of Students

Each student who receives sponsorship is responsible to:

Stay out of trouble (no drinking, smoking, drug taking or anti-social conduct)
Stay in school
Write two letters per year to their sponsors
Have pictures and measurements taken
Get good grades

Getting good grades means getting 8's, 9's and 10's (the equivalent of A's and B's in U.S.) Seventh grade students are exempt from this last rule as the transition from 6th grade to Jr. high is often traumatic and so 7's are acceptable.

Location

Mulegé is a small town located in Baja California Sur, approximately 650 miles below the Mexican border on the beautiful Sea of Cortez. The Santa Rosalia River, the only river in Baja that flows year round, surfaces in Mulegé and flows on for approximately one mile to the Sea of Cortez. The surrounding area is replete with lovely sandy beaches and clear water that provides breathtaking views.
The approximately 3,400 to 4,000 residents depend on fishing and tourism for their livelihood. The town has several hotels and the largest one, The Serenidad, has a swimming pool with an adjacent dirt airstrip. It is frequented by pilots, including the Baja Bush Pilots Assn. Many excellent stores and restaurants can be found in town and surrounding areas.

There are several Kindergarten, Primary and one Secundaria (Jr. High) school in Mulegé. In August, 1995 a new High School (C.E.C.Y.T.) was opened. This three-stage development initially included four classrooms. Later a tourism/vocational building was added and this year the total development was completed with a large gymnasium. The Directors of Secundaria and C.E.C.Y.T., the teachers and the social workers all work very closely with us in this program. Many of them are also on the Board of Directors or the Committee.

In 2003 Hank had colon cancer. He is now cancer free, however considering his age and health they have had to face reality and so Mike  & Ann Fleming have stepped in and will eventually take over all of the program. Last year, Mike was successful in starting another chapter of the Mulege Students Scholarship program,  expanding into the town of Loreto. Last Nov., 2004 we met with Mike, Ann, the 16  high school students, the teachers and Director, Luis Fernandoberalta Gallena. If you are in Loreto, you are welcome to see the students at the Escuela Preparataria Federal Par Cooperation or Manuel Davis Ramirez school.

If you would like to help and become a sponsor of this proven, worthwhile program, please contact: