Student Profiles: Then And Now
Miguel was the first student to search out a scholarship, spending two days walking around Panajachel, looking for the "lady who gave scholarships," only to find out that we didn't have one. His perseverance inspired us, however, and with funds from our Canadian friends, we started with his scholarship in June 2011. Tono, Mayra, Donis, Evelyn, and others soon followed, and have worked to succeed against all odds, inspiring the younger students that it is difficult, but not impossible.
Miguel graduated in Fall 2014, and became our program's first winner of the Walton Scholarship, a full-ride, four-year university scholarship to the United States, one of the most prestigious and complete scholarships available to Central American students. Miguel was the only 2014 winner in the nation.
He studied international business at John Brown University in Arkansas, where he made the President's List in his first semester with a 3.89 GPA.
In 2011, he was about to drop out of high school due to lack of funds, and would have farmed onions. He was the valedictorian speaker at the 2014 English Access graduation, and was featured in the Prensa Libre national newspaper as an inspiration to young Guatemalans.
Miguel has since worked for TELUS, Ernst & Young, Torrent Consulting, and is now a regional manager for Coca-Cola.
Mayra graduated in Fall 2016, won a Walton Scholarship, studied at John Brown University, taught English in China, and returned to Guatemala.
In 2011, she was about to drop out of school due to lack of funds, and would have worked cleaning houses. Today, she is a Salesforce analyst with Torrent Consulting, an American-based company with offices in Antigua, Guatemala. Whenever possible, she comes back to help the younger students with English.
Tono graduated in Fall 2015, studied a year of information systems at university (UVG) in Solola, and won a Walton Scholarship. He started studying entrepreneurship and international business at John Brown University in January 2017.
In 2011, he was about to drop out of school due to lack of funds, and would have been an onion farmer. In 2016, he won a scholarship from the Summer English Institute to study English in California for a month. He started an internet cafe business, a soccer field business, and a corner store.
Tono is now a technology expert with Scout Technology Guides, working remotely back to Canada.
Evelyn graduated in Fall 2016, and is a Salesforce analyst with Torrent Consulting, an American company, working with their Antigua team. In 2011, she was about to drop out of school due to lack of funds, and would have continued to weave traditional fabrics.
Silvia is studying business at Taylor University in Indiana, after graduating high school at Wheaton Academy in Chicago.
Olga graduated in 2020, and started work online the next week, supporting accounting for Scout Technology Guides in Canada. The first thing she did was go home and tell her mom that she could quit her tortilla-shop job, and care for her sister - Olga could provide.
Angelica works in online in administration with UrbanTec Property Management in Canada.
Mayrita graduated from UVG high school in Solola, and was selected for the Torrent Academy apprentice program, learning to be a Salesforce Analyst. She recently presented at a regional tech leaders conference, at her old high school.
Vilma is studying medicine in Quetzaltenango.
Nayeli is studying medicine in Quetzaltenango.
Donis graduated in Fall 2016, and teaches Spanish online and in person to foreigners via Spanish School Jabel Tinamit. A qualified teacher, he is also nearly finished his systems engineering studies. In 2011, he was about to drop out of school due to lack of funds, and would have been a farmer. His nickname is "Dictionary Donis" for his exceptional memorizing ability.
Maria Elena is in charge of one of the learning centres, teaching children, as well as teaching Spanish to foreign visitors.
Francisco is studying systems engineering in Guatemala City.
Angela studied business at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC, Canada, and is now the English teacher and administrator for the new FORMA Tech School.
Carlos works online in technology for UrbanTec Property Management in Canada.
Alvaro is a Salesforce Analyst with Torrent Consulting in Antigua, Guatemala, and also looks after technical support and equipment purchases for the distributed team, both in Guatemala and across multiple American office locations.
Vivian is from San Antonio Palopó, and is one of the children’s tutorial leaders as well.
Mayerli works in administration online for UrbanTec Property Management from Canada. Her earnings have enabled her to hire a caregiver for her mother.
Alvaro graduated in 2023, and has an amazing command of English already. He worked in electrical engineering for a Canadian company, then won a Walton Scholarship, and is now studing electrical engineering at Harding University in Arkansas.
Yelica is constantly racing her friends Mercedes and Alicia to learn as many things as possible.
Dilia has a natural grasp of English, and won a scholarship to study medicine in Quetzaltenango. She will be a great doctor.
Ana graduated in 2023, and won a Walton Scholarship. She is studying international business at John Brown University in Arkansas. She is from Santa Catarina Palopó.
Mercedes loves to learn, and is known for asking questions constantly when she meets foreign visitors.
Alicia loves soccer, and is rapidly learning English.
We look forward to introducing you to these amazing young people, in person. Thank you for believing in their potential.