The BBP: High School Scholarship
What is the BBP?
Why is the BBP important?
Our Commitment to “
No Handouts"
Growing Future Scholarship Opportunities
The BBP Selection Committee
How You Can Help
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What is the BBP?
The Bilingual Bachillerato Program Scholarship, created through the hard work of BECA alumnae Hilary Hammell and Bridget Kelly, is awarded each year to an outstanding graduating student of SJBS. This scholarship provides this student with the means to earn a special diploma which officially certifies his/her bilingual skills - an extremely valuable commodity in Honduras.
The BBP is an extension of BECA's overall model, which enables the school to offer scholarships to no less than one quarter of SJBS students by supplying the majority of the teaching staff at no cost to the school. The BBP takes into account not only financial need but also academic achievement and motivation. We hope to inspire all of our students to strive for academic excellence.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must have an average of 85 or above in their core subjects of Math, Science, English, Global Studies, Spanish, Civica, and Estudios Sociales. They must also complete an application process that includes essays, a parent application, and teacher recommendations. A financial need assessment is performed during a home visit by a BECA representative and the recipient is selected by an impartial committee of experts chosen by BECA.
Congratulations to Efrain Bautista, our inaugural recipient. Efrain is currently studying in San Pedro Sula, and he hopes that his further studies will allow him to pursue his interest in the sciences - perhaps becoming a doctor or a pilot someday!
Why is the BBP important?
Bilingual Hondurans are virtually guaranteed jobs that pay twice as much as their non-English speaking counterparts, if not more. With this degree (equivalent to a college degree in the United States) students are eligible for professional, career track jobs.
While a few SJBS graduates have the financial means to continue their bilingual education, most do not. On average, a quality bilingual secondary school in San Pedro Sula costs four times as much as SJBS. The approximate difference in annual cost is $2,500. Alternatives for SJBS graduates include non-bilingual technical/vocational, arts and sciences schools, or simply dropping out of school all together, since none of these options are free.
Our Commitment to No Handouts
Scholarship recipients and their families are required to show their commitment to the program by completing service at SJBS. In addition, a recipient’s family contributes at least what they paid during their student’s final year at SJBS. If they had a full scholarship, a full scholarship can be provided. Also, recipients are required to maintain an average of at least 80 in all of her courses to remain eligible for the scholarship in subsequent years.
Growing Future Scholarship Opportunities
Through these high-achieving students’ enrollment at these other schools, SJBS will build relationships with bilingual secondary schools, yielding potential opportunities for SJBS graduates to receive scholarships directly from these schools in the future - something that is relatively uncommon in Honduras, a country that is extraordinary stratified by economics.
The BBP Selection Committee
Many thanks to the members of the inaugural selection committee:
- Pamela Ayuso is a Hondureña from Tegucigalpa who went to bilingual school in Honduras and then came to the United States for college and graduate studies. She is an alumna of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, from which she holds a Master in International Affairs. She is also a CPA and is currently working for a Hedge Fund in NYC in addition to being a fair trade business entrepreneur. Pamela also runs a Honduran NGO called Expresarte and she collaborated with BECA around a fantastically successful fundraiser held in May 2007 to support both BECA and Expresarte’s efforts: Vino Y Chocolate.
- Ashley Clevenger is one of our board member Mel Bride’s colleagues at the Gordon School in Providence. Ashley has a Master in Education from Harvard and she currently teaches fourth grade at Gordon, where she has demonstrated a true commitment to progressive education. Ashley is also a board member of the Global Playground, a wonderful non-profit organization committed to providing education to disadvantaged children around the world. She visited SJBS briefly in August 2007.
- Marianne Hickman is the mother of a BECA alumna, Anna Hickman. Marianne has significant experience in both education and fundraising/development and she is currently working at St. Andrew’s School - a very supportive partner in BECA’s work. Marianne and her husband visited BECA’s program site in Spring 2007 and have been very supportive of BECA in many ways, not least of which has been through watching out for SJBS alumnus and current St. Andrew’s student, Kervin Zamora.
- Becca Johnston is an educator with a Master in Secondary Education and ESL. Becca served as the Director of the Alison Bixby Stone Bilingual School (ABSS) in Honduras at the same time as BECA board member Mel Bride and her husband Jim were teaching there. Becca has made numerous opportunities possible for BECA volunteers to learn and collaborate with ABSS teachers. She is currently teaching 6th, 7th and 8th grade Sheltered Social Studies and Beginning ESL at the La Cima Middle School in New Mexico.
- Sara Kaufman is originally from Massachusetts. After graduating from Bowdoin College, she taught Spanish at a well-respected private school in New Jersey, Blair Academy, and recently finished her graduate studies in Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She visited BECA’s program in March 2007 where she assisted BECA teachers with resume and cover letter critiques. Sara was also very helpful in making Vino Y Chocolate run so smoothly and is currently serving as BECA’s ad hoc treasurer - managing incoming donations and acknowledgements. Sara works for the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Portfolio Development - further proof of her commitment to the importance of high quality education.
How You Can Help
Make a secure donation to the BBP Scholarship Fund via the Chip In PayPal button above!
Your support is greatly appreciated!