Redlands Christian Migrant Association 402 W. Main St., Immokalee, FL 34142 Former RCMA Students Receive College Scholarships

Scholarship winners: Mykell McSwain, Marisela Marroquin, Victor Ramirez and Sergio Garibay

IMMOKALEE, FL – March 31, 2008 -- Four graduates of the Immokalee Community School, a charter school operated by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, have been selected to receive college scholarships of approximately $40,000 each when they finish high school. During a recent ceremony at Edison College in Naples, the Take Stock in Children program honored 50 seventh-graders in Collier County. The program selects students from economically disadvantaged families who have the potential to succeed. Among this year’s honorees were these former RCMA charter school students, who are now seventh-graders at Immokalee Middle School:  Sergio Garibay, 14, who was with RCMA since third grade. The son of a farmworker father and a mother who’s a nurse, Sergio enjoys spending his free time watching movies and television shows. Although Sergio is undecided as to which college he’d like to attend, he someday plans to earn his degree and be successful.  Marisela Marroquin, 13, who was with RCMA from infancy through sixth grade. The daughter of farm workers, Marisela loves to read and dance. Marisela, who has a 3.5 GPA, plans to attend Harvard University and become a teacher.  Mykell McSwain, 13, who began with RCMA in first grade and has a 3.5 GPA, dreams of attending Harvard and majoring in business. When Mykell isn’t studying at home, he’s an avid sports junkie. Mykell enjoys playing baseball and loves watching any game on television.  Victor Ramirez, 13, who was with RCMA since first grade. The son of former farm workers, Victor enjoys spending his time outdoors. Victor, an avid football and baseball player, wants to become an architect and hopes to attend Louisiana State, West Virginia or Florida. When asked why he selected these three universities, he said, “They’re all great schools with great football teams!” To receive the scholarships, the students pledged to stay in school, get good grades, meet regularly with a mentor and remain drug and crime free. In return, they are awarded a full scholarship upon high school graduation. “We are so proud of our graduates,” says Maria Jimenez, director of RCMA’s Immokalee Community School. “Just like children of doctors, lawyers and CEOs, children of working poor families have a tremendous desire and capacity to learn. They just need the tools to do it.” The Immokalee Community School is a K-6 charter school operated by RCMA. Its 2007-08 enrollment is 225 students, among approximately 1,000 children served by RCMA in Collier County. Founded in 1965 in the Redlands farming community of Miami-Dade County, RCMA provides child care and early education for nearly 8,000 children of farmworkers and other rural, low-income families in 21 Florida counties.

# # #