A very heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who has supported the IFOB Scholars program in 2011. The IFOB Scholarship Committee had a very difficult task choosing from nearly 50 exceptional Belizean youth who applied this year.  The 2011-2012 IFOB Scholars Program finalists are:

Andreina Coyock, Yo Creek (Muffles College)

Lyannie Puc, San Jose Succotz (Sacred Heart College)

Omar Nicolas, Orange Walk, (Muffles College)

Silvia Guevara, San Ignacio (Sacred Heart College)

Saskia Ponce, Orange Walk, (Orange Walk Technical)

In addition to the new scholarships, IFOB is pleased to announce that six current IFOB Scholars received renewals of their scholarships for the 2011-2012 school year due to their excellent performance:

Lilly Aldana, Caye Caulker, (Ocean Academy)

Martha Briceño, San Ignacio (Sacred Heart College)

Ashley Morey, Benque Viejo, (Mopan Technical)

Mercedes Requena, Caye Caulker, (Ocean Academy)

Marilena Torres, Santa Familia Village, (Sacred Heart College)

All awards are paid directly to the students’ school administrations and cover full or partial tuition, books, and uniforms only.  Each student must maintain a good attendance record and at least a 2.0 grade point average to retain his or her scholarship.

2011-12 Participating Secondary Schools: ORANGE WALK: Muffles College, New Hope High School, Orange Walk Technical High School, San Juan Bautista High School. BELIZE: Anglican Cathedral College, King’s College, San Pedro High School, Caye Caulker Ocean Academy. CAYO: Cayo Christian Academy, Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic High School, Sacred Heart College, Mopan Technical High School. STANN CREEK: Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute (ANRI), Delille Academy, Georgetown Technical High School, Stann Creek Ecumenical High School. TOLEDO: Toledo Community College.

As of February 2012, International Friends of Belize (IFOB) has granted a total of 61 secondary school scholarships to students from all over Belize. The map at right shows where these students’ schools are located.

We have had multiple winners from Caye Caulker’s Ocean Academy, Orange Walk’s Technical High School, Corozal’s Belize Adventist College, Dangriga’s Delille Academy, Punta Gorda’s Toledo Community College, San Ignacio’s Sacred Heart College, and Stann Creek’s Ecumenical College. We also have awarded scholarships to individuals from Belmopan’s Our Lady of Guadalupe RC School, Georgetown’s Technical High School, and Benque Viejo’s Mopan Technical High School.

For the academic year 2012-13, we will be awarding an additional 11 scholarships to deserving students who demonstrate financial need, represent their schools positively, do well academically, and participate actively in their communities.

IFOB is making a positive impact toward the future of Belize by investing in its youth. But we can’t do this without your help. Please donate to IFOB so that we can continue this valuable work. Simply click on the DONATE button at left. It’s as simple as that.