WHAT IS IT? The LCS Student
Aid Fund provides financial assistance to Lakeside students. The LCS Student Aid Fund began in 1992 with six students.
Bi-lingual LCS Volunteer Coralie White began as co-coordinator in 1992 and, along with co-coordinator and LCS Director Mary Alice Sergant, still holds that
position today.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Aid is awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement, academic potential and financial need. The aid consists of assistance with tuition, books, transportation, and miscellaneous student supplies. Once students are accepted and confirmed by The LCS Student Aid Committee, they usually remain in the program for their entire academic career. However, they must maintain their high scholastic accomplishments.
CURRENT STATUS... There are now fourteen students in the program: five at university, one at technical school, one in nursing, six in high school, and one in junior high. In the spring of 2006, three completed their studies at Guadalajara universities.
Luz
Elena Tolentino Zamora Obtains Graduate Degree
LCS
is delighted to announce the completion of a Masters Degree in Science at
the University of Guadalajara by San Juan de Cosala resident and LCS-sponsored
student Luz Zamora. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Quimica Pharmacologia
(Chemical Pharmacology) from The University of Guadalajara on June 30, 2003.
Due to the continued sponsorship by LCS for her Masters studies, she is
now a specialist in micro-biology, holding a Masters Degree in Ciencias
de Los Alimentos (Food Science), granted her in the fall of 2005.
Luz’ University of Guadalajara studies had prepared her for general knowledge in a scientific field, but she soon realized that she needed advanced specialization in order to obtain the professional recognition that she had dedicated her life to obtain. Her graduate degree qualifies her to teach in either Preparatorias (high schools) or at the University level, in addition to adding to her marketabilty in private industry.
Tall, well-groomed and poised past her 27 years, Luz spoke of her potential work prospects. If she is offered employment with Guadalajara companies like Yacult or Sello Rojo de Guadalajara, her contract would be up for renewal every four months, leaving the practical Luz with the possibility of needing to look for other employment at the end of the contract. She would prefer to remain Lakeside near her family if she can obtain a teaching position in education here.
Concurrently with her formal education, Luz wisely studied English with several local teachers, including Libby Coulterjohn, Carmela Jovie and Sebastian Romero. Alternating between Spanish and English in her pleasant conversational manner, she said she would like to find opportunities to increase her command of English.
Luz expresses her heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Lake Chapala
Society for assisting her in realizing her dream of professionalism. Her
hope is that LCS will continue to sponsor more students toward careers of
their choosing. Following the tradition of her mother’s strong encouragement,
she advises young students not to give up, to pursue their daily studies,
to decrease time spent on diversions such as television and street games,
so that they too can reach their goals.