Because of a brand new partnership between Occidental Faculty and the Davis New Mexico Scholarship program, a number of first-generation college students from New Mexico are attending Occidental for free of charge. College students who obtain the scholarship have the choice to attend considered one of six companion faculties (Lawrence College, Occidental Faculty, Southwestern College, St. Edward’s College, College of Denver and the College of Portland) with tuition paid in full by the Davis household.
The Davis New Mexico Scholarship goals to interrupt the generational alternative hole, and awards 50 four-year scholarships yearly. Since 2014, philanthropist Andrew Davis has made a dedication to assist college students attend faculty exterior of New Mexico. Candidates have to be future first-generation faculty college students or belong to a low-income household.
In line with Occidental’s Vice President of Enrollment Maricela Martinez, the college is the most recent companion to this system.
“We go to faculties and community-based organizations in New Mexico annually to recruit and hopefully enroll college students,” Martinez mentioned. “Final yr, the New Mexico Scholarships group approached us about the opportunity of changing into a companion college. Given their mission of supporting first-generation faculty college students, we thought this might be an excellent match.”
Martinez mentioned Occidental was excited to companion with this system, which chooses college students from throughout the state to take part.
“They attain out to the varied community-based organizations all through New Mexico, typically connecting with college students in rural components of the state,” Martinez mentioned.
In line with Martinez, this system additionally offers varied companies to college students, together with counseling for college students navigating the applying course of.
Director of Monetary Support Sheryl Reinschmidt mentioned seven Davis New Mexico college students enrolled this yr at Occidental. Due to the brand new partnership, Occidental was capable of provide enrollment for free of charge.
“Half of their value of attendance is offered by the scholarship, and half of the price of attendance is roofed both by federal grants or Occidental in its entirety. As a result of we’re a companion college, their whole value of attendance is now lined by a mixture of these funds,” Reinschmidt mentioned.
Norely Breceda-Mendoza (first yr), a Davis New Mexico scholar from Estancia, mentioned a situation of their scholarship is that college students should even be half of a school preparatory program comparable to AVID or Upward Certain.
“I used to be in ROCA, which stands for Rural Alternatives for Faculty Entry, as a result of I went to a fairly small, rural college,” Breceda-Mendoza mentioned. “I realized about [the scholarship] by these faculty readiness applications.”
Breceda-Mendoza mentioned she remembered precisely the place she was when she obtained her acceptance letter.
“I keep in mind I obtained the scholarships within the mail, and I used to be alone at my home, and I opened it and there was confetti all over the place,” Breceda-Mendoza mentioned. “I screamed, and my mother and father had been exterior, they usually thought there was a spider in the home so that they got here working inside.”
In line with Breceda-Mendoza, being accepted by the scholarship got here as a shock.
“It was very bizarre as a result of it was stunning, so I didn’t know how you can course of it,” Breceda-Mendoza mentioned. “As a result of it was bizarre to assume that I wouldn’t must pay for school. Med college goes to be so costly, it’s good to know that a lot of the debt I’d have had beforehand is lifted off my shoulders primarily.”
Breceda-Mendoza mentioned that as a part of the scholarship, she was capable of go to Occidental after being accepted.
“Within the spring, [the program] flew me out right here to have the ability to go to and speak to the admissions counselors of the college, and I actually preferred it,” Breceda-Mendoza mentioned.
Dominique Herrera (first yr) mentioned the group checks in on college students to verify they’ve the assets wanted to succeed.
“It’s been simpler with them to transition to out of state and to a school I didn’t actually assume I’d be attending,” Herrera mentioned. “It’s an unbelievable alternative. If anybody had been to have the possibility, they need to simply seize the chance as a result of they don’t give the scholarship out to many individuals. It was an honor having the ability to settle for it.”
Herrera mentioned she began getting ready for her scholarship software in eighth grade, and mentioned she was shocked when she came upon she could be attending Occidental.
“I used to be actually shocked, I used to be very completely satisfied once I obtained that letter,” she mentioned. “[Without the scholarship] I positively wouldn’t have been capable of attend Oxy simply due to the price of attendance and touring.”
Herrera is a politics main and desires to go to regulation college when she graduates. Herrera mentioned she had her eye on Occidental for the Rebellious Lawyering program.
“I noticed the course description once I was researching this college and I fell in love with it as a result of I actually preferred this system and what it was got down to do,” Herrera mentioned. “I had my thoughts set on Oxy, so I used to be very completely satisfied that it labored out that method.”
Bridget Valdez (first yr), a pc science main and one of many different students from New Mexico, mentioned that she significantly preferred Occidental’s location.
“If not right here I’d nonetheless be in New Mexico for certain,” Valdez mentioned. “[I am] tremendous excited to be in California, [and] the schooling stood out to be a bit bit greater than the opposite faculties.”
In line with Valdez, making use of for the scholarship was aggravating however price it. She mentioned she was drawn significantly to Occidental’s commencement price.
“They simply made it free tuition value for UNM (The College of New Mexico), which is the college there,” she mentioned. “However the commencement price there’s general simply not the place I’d need it to be precisely.”
Josh Abeyta (first yr), from Santa Fe, mentioned he was additionally excited to attend Occidental along with his value of attendance paid in full.
“I came upon over my spring break, and two days earlier than I came upon I visited the campus, and I actually preferred it,” Abeyta mentioned. “Once I was visiting, I used to be like ‘alright, that is good, however I can’t get too hooked up as a result of I nonetheless must get in.’ However two days later, I obtained the acceptance letter.”
Abeyta mentioned he came upon concerning the course of throughout his junior yr of highschool.
“My faculty counselor confirmed it to me, so then I had sure Davis scholarship faculties in thoughts whereas researching,” Abeyta mentioned.
Whereas he initially utilized with St. Edward’s College in Texas as his best choice college, Abeyta mentioned his consideration turned in the direction of Occidental when it was added to this system. Since coming to Occidental, Abeyta mentioned he’s having fun with his time as a pupil and as a member of the cross nation crew.
“I get to run on the cross nation crew which is de facto cool to get to proceed my working profession,” Abeyta mentioned.
Abeyta mentioned he believes the scholarship makes an enormous distinction for first-generation college students making use of for school, particularly for individuals who wish to attend an out-of-state college.
“It’s positively altering so many lives. It’s positively altering my life too,” Abeyta mentioned.
Contact Kanaya Adams at kadams2@oxy.edu.
