MICOP Launches 11th Annual Tequio Scholarship Program
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2023 Media Contact: Adriana Mandujano Angel Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project Telephone: (805) 978-2532 Website: www.mixteco.org Email: adriana.mandujanoangel@mixteco.org The Tequio Scholarship Committee of the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) publicly announces the release of their college scholarship application, supporting Indigenous migrant youth in Ventura and Santa Barbara County. These scholarship funds were raised during Tequio Rising 2023 and will be supplemented by funding from Edison International to support Indigenous students in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo County, especially students pursuing careers in the “STEM” fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. MICOP began the Tequio Scholarship Fund in 2012 to inspire and encourage academic success in the Indigenous community. It has been the utmost honor to uplift our indigenous youth for over a decade. Many of our indigenous youth face tremendous barriers to academic success due to language barriers that create a disconnect between the education system and parents who often-times only speak their native language. Most Indigenous parents are employed in the berry row crop industry, earning an average household income of $15,000 to $20,000 annually. Families migrate for months during the academic school year following the crop cycle. Oftentimes, farmworker youth encounter pressure to drop out of school to earn money to support their families. MICOP encourages academic success and achievement, and we hope that by providing these funds to our indigenous youth, they can accomplish their dreams. Applicants are not required to be US citizens, and undocumented youth are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to students who have participated in MICOP’s Tequio Youth Group and undertaken community service; however, all eligible students will be considered. To apply, students may download the application from the MICOP website, https://mixteco.org//tequioscholarship/. The application is due by June 23, 2023. Recipients will be notified in June and receive their award before the start of the 2023 school year. We welcome donations to make future scholarship assistance possible. To donate to the fund, please send checks to “MICOP” with “Tequio Scholarship Fund” in the memo to P.O. Box 20543, Oxnard, CA 93034, or make a donation online at www.mixteco.org/donate and select “Tequio Scholarship” under “Programs and Campaigns.” ### |