Mexican Government Awards Grant to William Paterson University to Fund Scholarships


Mariana Diaz, Cónsul Titular, and William Paterson President Richard J. Helldobler after they signed an agreement in the Mexican Consulate’s newly established office in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Diaz with William Paterson’s George Kacenga, Vice President for Enrollment Management, and her colleague Irma Larios, Cónsul Asuntos Comunitarios y Cultura, during a tour of the WP campus last month.

William Paterson University has been selected to receive a new grant from the Mexican government, via the Consulate of Mexico, which is intended to improve the educational attainment of students from Mexico and students of Mexican origin.

The Mexican government’s IME Becas grant program, designed with the support of Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, funds higher education or adult education for Mexican students abroad. Through the program, the University matches the Consulate’s award, thereby doubling the amount of scholarship money available.

William Paterson University (WP) has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2014. WP holds membership in organizations that include the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, underscoring its advocacy for Hispanic students and immigrants.

“As a proud HSI, William Paterson University is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus community and beyond. Our commitment to educational access and empowerment extends to the Mexican community, reflecting our values of social responsibility and community engagement,” says George Kacenga, Vice President for Enrollment Management at WP. “The IME Becas grant will create an opportunity to further support the existing community, while also serving as a resource to attract and support students from Mexico.”

The award will provide financial assistance in 2024 to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate study programs.

  07/24/24