Carlos González Gutiérrez, Classic Consul of Mexico in Los Angeles, announced the launch of the second edition of the Alas Scholarships programin addition to the “Flying Facet by Facet” fundraiser [Volando Juntos]which began on May 1.
Accompanied by Juan Carlos Rivas, public relations director of Notorious Border Explicit (CBX), the Mexican diplomat announced that, as of May 12, High school students can be part of the call and apply for the $1,000 scholarship.
They can do it through the social networks of the general consulate of Mexico, whose website would already be working and from where students can download the application. Applications will be accepted until September 4, 2026.
The consular regions of Mexico are: Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare.
The Alas Scholarship program is designed to support high school seniors of Mexican nationality or of Mexican or Latino origin.
“We are very happy and proud to share the launch of this second scholarship campaign for young Mexican students or students of Latin origin who come to university,” said Consul González Gutiérrez.
The diplomat recalled that Alas Scholarships are part of a national initiative promoted by the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IMME) and the National Electoral Institute (INE).which is a decentralized body of the chancellery.
“In this regard, the INE gives funds to consulates, consular offices that are part of our consular network to grant scholarships to higher education students or to adult students in community places that are also part of our consular network,” González Gutiérrez added.
Seeking $200,000 for student support
In the specific case of Los Angeles, the consular headquarters has decided that, with those resources granted by the INE, a regional call will be held in which not only the Los Angeles consulate, but also the Mexican consulates in Fresno, in Oxnard, in San Bernardino and in Santa Ana participate.
The goal is to raise at least $200,000 to provide financial support to high school seniors who have been accepted. in higher education institutions in the United States.
The consul clarified that the efforts are not about them handling money. To this end, he assured that an agreement has been signed with the Mexican American Opportunity Basis (MAOF), which will serve as fiscal agent, and will be responsible for receiving the resources and issuing receipts to the students who end up deserving the scholarship.
The Mexican American Opportunity Basis (MAOF) is a non-profit organization founded in 1963 by Dionicio Moralesa Mexican-American civil rights leader. It is dedicated to providing social and educational services to families, primarily Latino, in California. MAOF supports more than 125,000 people annually, offering early education, elder care, job training and community development programs.
Demand for help exceeds supply
Consul Carlos González Gutiérrez stressed that, although MAOF will be the fiscal agency of the program, it does not participate in the programmatic decisions of the selection procedure of the winning students of the Alas Scholarships.
He announced that, In its first edition in 2025, the Alas Scholarship program received 552 applications from 15 counties of Southern California: from Mariposa to Orange.
After a rigorous selection process, 200 grants of $1,000 were awarded to students to continue their university studies.
It should be noted that in the last edition of Alas Scholarships 85% of the resources collected came from organized civil society and private initiativereflecting the community’s broad commitment to education.
“I will be ready to help my son submit his application,” said Anabelle Capristo, mother of Elisah, a senior at 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley Park High College, who attended the Mexican consul’s report.
Yaneth García, counselor at Cypress College Community College, where the majority of students are of Mexican descent, highlighted that the Alas Scholarships are valuable “because they would help many students prepare for college.”
Experience that guides you to dream
One of the creditors of an Alas Scholarship in 2025 was Rodrigo Méndez Álvarez, who is now 19 years old and studies mechanical engineering at the prestigious Stanford University.
His interest is aerospace mechanics, since since he was little, he says, he was interested in assembling airplanes and rockets.
Rodrigo said that he found out about the Alas Scholarships thanks to a friend and was rewarded with an essay in which he informed of his desire to become the first in his family to go to university.
“The scholarship money helped me buy a good computer and a tablet”commented the university student born in Michoacán, Mexico.
Currently, the path for Rodrigo Méndez Álvarez has been clearing little by little, after he discovered various financial aid and scholarships that he can apply for to pay for his university degree. In fact, Rodrigo has already secured $100,000 in scholarship aid. Expects to graduate in 2029.
Another 2025 recipient of an Alas Scholarship was Jocelyn Sanoval, who studies psychology at Fullerton College. His graduation is scheduled for 2027.
“My career has been difficult, but I am trying my best because I want to give the best to my parents after everything they have done for me,” declared the girl born in Anaheim and daughter of Mexican parents.
Like Rodrigo, Jocelyn commented that whenever there are scholarship opportunities, she applies for them “so that I have some money and so that my parents don’t have so much stress about helping me, since they can’t always give me everything.”
flying together
Joining efforts to raise funds for the cause of the Alas Scholarships, since May 1, the “Flying Facet by Facet” campaign, an awareness initiative organized by Notorious Border Xpress (CBX)as part of its commitment to education and youth, through its philanthropic arm Hand in Hand, which promotes various actions throughout the year to address some of the most pressing challenges in the communities of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico.
Through this campaign, CBX seeks to rally the support of its passengers, allies and the community as a whole, in order to contribute significantly to fundraising efforts.
Requirements to obtain Alas Scholarships
Alas Scholarships (MAOF/Consulate of Mexico in California). This scholarship is intended for students of Mexican or Latino heritage in California for higher education:
Academic status: Senior high school students (excessive college).
University acceptance: Have an acceptance letter from a community college or university.
Heritage: Be of Mexican or Latin heritage.
Location: Residing in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare.
Immigration situation: Undocumented students or DACA recipients are eligible.
