In the News
BASIC to Award $71,750 in Scholarships to 42 Borregans
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The most ever awarded in a single year, straight answers to the questions board members get asked most, and a nursing graduate’s thank-you.
This summer, Basic Assistance to Students in the Community (BASIC) will award scholarships to 10 Borrego Springs High School graduates and 32 continuing students to further their education. The scholarships will be used to seek vocational training and to attend community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities, and even graduate school.
This program, now in its 22nd year, has made 372 awards totaling over $466,294. This year’s total of $71,750 is the most ever awarded and brings the total amount awarded to Borregans to over $539,000. All this is possible because of the generosity of our community in support of our fundraisers: our annual fall donation drive, the Golf Tournament, and (until this year) the Circle of Art.
Year twenty-two
- 42
- Borregans awarded scholarships this summer
- $71,750
- The most ever awarded in one year
- 372
- Awards made since the program began
- $539,000+
- Awarded to Borregans, all time
This year’s scholars
Start-school scholarships · graduating from Borrego Springs High School
- Delaney Barclay
- Danielle DelBono
- Juan Fuerte
- Angelica Garcia
- McKinley Parker
- Andres Reyes
- Christina Arias Torres
- Ximena Torres
- Ulices Vilches
- Ty White
Stay-in-school scholarships · continuing their education
- Fernando Alcaraz
- Mariana Arias
- Victor Arias
- Chanel Barron
- Martin Barron
- Oscar Barron
- Nicole Del Bono
- Michelle Delgadillo
- Jasmine Fernandez
- Carlos Garcia
- Karen Garcia
- Leslie Garcia
- Leyssa Garcia
- Nicholas Kenne
- Yuridia Leal
- C. Greyson Levens
- Justin Lopez
- Keylly Lopez
- Nadia Lopez
- Alexys Padilla
- Emilia Rangel
- Viviana Hernandez Rangel
- Edward Rivera
- Gabriela Rocha
- Vanessa Rodarte
- Lisa Salcido
- Elizabeth Torres
- Erik Tulving
- Samantha Vasquez
- Lorenzo Vilches
Adults pursuing further education
- Linsi Clain
- Javier Rodarte
Questions board members get asked
What schools do this year’s BASIC scholars plan to attend?
California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, CSU Fullerton, CSU San Marcos, College of the Desert, Grossmont Community College, Humboldt State University, Miramar College, Palomar Community College, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, Stanford University, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. A rather impressive list, I am sure you will agree.
How well do our scholars do?
BASIC is delighted to congratulate five continuing scholars with exceptional academic achievement by also awarding each of them a Joann and David Stang Scholarship for Academic Achievement: Nickolas Kenne, C. Greyson Levens, Erik Tulving, Karen Garcia and Eddie Rivera. These students have almost perfect straight-A averages.
BASIC is both proud and humbled to be also awarding several scholarships in memory of loved ones, many of whom were long-time Borregans and all of whom were committed to the value of higher education. Most of these awards are made to students earning at least a B average.
- The Williamson Memorial Scholarship
- Our oldest named scholarship, for scholars attending a community college and planning to transfer to a 4-year college · Lorenzo Vilches
- The Dr. Edith A. Schmitt Memorial Scholarship
- For students planning to pursue a career in the healthcare and medical field · Chanel Barron, Elizabeth Torres
- The Dann Perry Memorial Award
- “Paving the road to success through vocational training” · Oscar Barron, Alexys Padilla
- The Jim McFarland Memorial Scholarship
- For students pursuing vocational studies · Oscar Barron, Linsi Clain, Alexys Padilla
- The Jerry R. Goldsmith Memorial Scholarship
- For a student pursuing a career in healthcare or science · Karen Garcia
- The Bill Wright Memorial Scholarship
- For students pursuing careers in business · Kelley Lopez, Lisa Salcido
Do our BASIC scholars graduate from their programs?
The short answer is yes! In the past two years, for example, four students graduated with a B.S. degree, two with master’s degrees, two with teaching certificates, and one with an Automotive Technology certificate. This year we look forward to several more well-earned graduations. Here is one of them. Congratulations to Jamie Blakeley!
Jamie Blakeley
In her own words
My name is Jamie Blakeley and this is the product of being a BASIC Scholar for six years in a row! In my senior year of high school, I was given the privilege of holding the title of Miss Borrego Springs 2012–13. Through this opportunity I was able to meet wonderful people who saw potential in me, including committee members of the BASIC Scholarship. I knew this scholarship was locally funded and I did not want to disappoint my community, who gave so much for me to pursue my dreams.
Six years later, I am proud to announce that this June I will be graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and be inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International, Rho Beta Chapter, for ranking in the top 35 percent of my graduating class. I hope to inspire my peers to achieve their goals even if they seem unattainable. Thank you BASIC!
Rising seniors: this could be you
You too could be the recipient of one of BASIC’s scholarship awards to help you further your education. Applications for both start-school and stay-in-school scholarships open on this website by the end of December and are due in mid-February. And if you would like to support our community by contributing to the education of our youth, please donate.
How BASIC scholarships work
Joanne S. Ingwall, Ph.D., is Emerita Professor of Medicine (Physiology) at Harvard Medical School, having retired from an active research career in cardiac energetics in 2012. Since moving back to California in 2006 she has poured that energy into Borrego, including the ABDSP Paleontology and Botany Societies, and above all the BASIC board, where she has served as treasurer, on the scholarship selection committee, and as associate director of the Cradle to Graduation program.