Ave Maria University awards full scholarships to two Immokalee High students
One of the students undocumented, ineligible for grants or federal aid

By Tracy X. Miguel

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Immokalee High School graduate Ofelia Perez never thought about going to college.Her parents couldn’t afford it.The 18-year-old’s father encouraged her to attend college so she wouldn’t end up working in the fields or some other low-paying jobs that many Hispanics work in Immokalee, Perez said.

The possibility of pursuing a higher education all changed for the Guatemalan immigrant before graduating in May. Perez is one of two Immokalee High students who recently graduated to have received four-year, full scholarships to Ave Maria University.

Each student, Perez and Mateo Reynoso, will receive $100,000 for the four years, which will also cover the student housing dormitory fee, according to the Immokalee High scholarship list the school provided.

Perez, who will be the first to attend college in her family, plans to become a special education teacher.

Reynoso declined to be interviewed for this story.

Branden Blackmur, an Ave Maria University spokesman who first learned from the Daily News on July 13 that the paper was seeking comment on the scholarships, said Thursday, July 26, that he would try to provide a response soon.

Ave Maria University officials who could comment were busy moving from the school’s temporary campus in the Vineyards in North Naples to the main campus closer to Immokalee last week, Blackmur said.

On average, about 25 to 30 percent of Immokalee High School graduates normally go on to college, Immokalee High guidance counselor Bob Brown said.

This year, about 40 percent of the 246 graduates will attend college.

Brown describes the recent Immokalee High grads as hard-working students who have overcome many hardships.

“They will be contributing enormously to our community,â€