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.
Some of these photos are flashbacks to their first years as beginners, others at graduation, and others as they are today.
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, and Torrent Consulting.
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.
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.
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 been a weaver. Today, she works on Salesforce projects with Torrent Consulting, an American-based company with offices in Antigua, Guatemala.
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.
Silvia is studying business at Taylor University in Indiana, after graduating high school at Wheaton Academy in Chicago.
Vilma is studying medicine in Quetzaltenango.
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.
Nayeli is studying medicine in Quetzaltenango.
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.
Carlos works online in technology for UrbanTec Property Management in Canada.
Tomasa works for TELUS in Quetzaltenango, as a call centre representative for FedEx.
Angela is studying business at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC, 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.
Edgar and Angie are both working online in accounting and administration for UrbanTec Property Management from Calgary. This photo is from their very first call with their new team, in November 2022.
Oliver is studying forensic science in university in Guatemala City.
Mayerli works in administration online for UrbanTec Property Management from Canada. Her earnings have enabled her to hire a caregiver for her mother.
Rodolfo works online in technology for UrbanTec Property Management in Calgary.
Mishel works as a call centre representative for Square during the week, and studies on her law school scholarship on the weekends. Her job provides for her entire family.
We continue to add new students when current students graduate, and are now averaging 25 students in any given year. Our goal is continued quality, not quantity.
Click below to see the first group of students in 2012. You'll notice young Miguel, Mayra, Tono, Donis, and Evelyn, but none of them could speak English at the time.
Click below to hear Yoselin describe her journey of learning English:
Alvaro will graduate in 2023, and has an amazing command of English already. He will be pursuing university scholarships and work after graduation.
Dilia has a natural grasp of English, and is studying at Universidad del Valle, one of the best local high schools.
Vivian is from San Antonio Palopó, and one of the children’s tutorial leaders as well.
Ana graduates in 2023, and will be looking to apply for scholarships and online work immediately. She is from Santa Catarina Palopó.
Alicia is a second-year student, loves soccer, and is rapidly learning English.
Mercedes is a second-year student, loves to learn, and is known for asking questions constantly when she meets foreign visitors.
Yelica is constantly racing her friends Mercedes and Alicia to learn as many things as possible.
We look forward to introducing you to these amazing young people, in person. Thank you for believing in their potential.