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Thursday, May 11, 2000
138 area students receive Ford scholarships
Salute to Education awards emphasize students' involvement in community service programs
By Cynthia Hodnett
Caller-Times
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| David Adame/Caller-Times |
| Leslie Davis accepts a $500 college scholarship from Ned Long of Bowden Ford in Alice during the Ford Salute to Education ceremony Wednesday night at Del Mar College. |
Christina Alfaro teaches Mexican folk dancing to a group of 4- to 13-year-olds at Alcorta's Folklorico Diamante dance studio every Saturday.
Alfaro, an 18-year-old senior at Miller High School, said the chance to volunteer has opened a door of opportunity.
"I like teaching them the things that I have learned in the four years that I have been dancing," said Alfaro, who has volunteered at the dance studio for a year. "I also enjoy being able to teach them about their culture and their heritage."
Community service such as this is what has earned Alfaro and 137 students from area high schools $500 scholarships from Ford Salute to Education. The scholarships were presented Wednesday at Del Mar College.
"I am very happy that I am receiving this scholarship," said Alfaro, who will attend Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Each student will use the scholarship to pay for tuition, said Buddy Childs, chairman of the Ford Salute to Education program and dealer principal of K.A. Childs Motors in Kingsville. Students attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Coastal Bend and Del Mar colleges will receive a matching scholarship of $500, he said.
"The purpose of this scholarship is to make college a possibility for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity," Childs said. "We are trying to increase the opportunity for students who want to stay in this area to go to college."
The students were selected for the scholarships in the following categories: performing arts, athletics, general studies, vocational/technical, foreign language, science, social science, mathematics and arts. Students were primarily selected for their community service, however, grades and financial need also were part of the selection criteria, Childs said.
"Community service helps students to learn how to set goals, make decisions and how to work well with others," Childs said. "Those are the skills that are important in the business world and in life. If they can do those things, then they are well on their way to a successful future."
The Ford Salute to Education program began in 1992 by Ford dealerships in San Antonio. In 1995, the program was started locally and is supported by eight local dealers including Bob Lacy Ford, Bowden Ford Lincoln-Mercury, Commercial Motor Co. Inc., Crosstown Ford, Dave Moore Ford-Mercury, K.A. Childs Motors, Kinsels Live Oak Motors and Padre Ford.
The program is funded jointly by Coastal Bend Area Ford and Ford Product dealers, Ford Division, Lincoln Mercury and Ford Motor Credit Co. This year, the program will award 2,000 scholarships worth more than $1 million to students in Texas, California and Florida.
Edward Barton, an 18-year-old senior at H.M. King High School in Kingsville, will attend the University of Texas to study biology.
"It will be money toward my college fund," said Barton, who wants to become a medical doctor.
"I had heard about (the scholarship) for the last couple of years when some of my friends had received it. I knew it was out there for me to apply for when I graduate."
Barton is involved in many activities including National Honor Society, which requires him to volunteer several hours a month at a Kingsville nursing home.
"I enjoy just being able to talk to the older people about their lives and their past," he said.
Staff writer Cynthia Hodnett can be reached at 886-4334 or by e-mail at hodnettc@caller.com
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