Through the generosity of Sam Walton, many students from South America are able to attend Harding University. Dr. Nicky Boyd, director of the Walton Program, recruits students to Harding. "I love being in this position," said Boyd, who started working with the program in 1994. Boyd related the story of the Walton Program. "The program started in 1985 when Mr. and Mrs .Walton used tovisitfri ends in Panama and realized that it was going to be a huge help to fund students to come here," he said. Boyd said there are some requirements for the students to qualify for the scholarship. "Basically, they have to have excellent grades and come from families of low income ," he said. "The program recruits people from each country and we go down and interview them. " The recruiting committee places ads in newspapers to inform people about Harding. Boyd sa id that the whole idea of this program is to help the countries. "Thi s is the reason that the Walton Program doesn 't let the students stay after they graduate," he said. "We want them to go back and help their own countries. If they want to get a master's, they have to go home for at least a year and then come back to start it." Senior Carlos Stadthagen, from Nicaragua, said he was glad to be a part of this program. "TheWalton scholarship is very good. It gives us so many benefits," he said. Stadthagen said he was lucky because not every person that applies for the scholarship gets in the program. "There are many people app lying for it and they make a selection," he said. Nora Shebelut, Michelle Guzman, Biannca Castroneira and Esperonza Massano, enjoy the program at a gathering of Walton Scholars. The Walton Scholars hadevents throughout thesemester to meet Walton students (rom other schools. " 150 ACADEMICS Stadthagen appreciated the funding that the program made ava ilable to the Walton students. "We get to have everything - food, room, books, tuition, a certain amount of money every month for personal expenses and a ticket to go home every summer," he said. Stadthagen said that he doesn't regret being away from home. "This kind of opportunity" comes along once in a lifetime and I'm glad I'm taking advantage of it," he said. Freshman Esperanza Massana, from EI Salvador, loves being at Harding. "It is a blessing from God that I'm here because it is helping my family financially and letting me have new experiences," she said. "Studying for my career out ofmy country was one ofmy dreams and I thank God and the Walton Program for making my dream come true. " Massana said she did not know what she was going to do after she finished high school. "I did not have a clue about my college life until my mom saw an ad in the newspaper for a Walton scholarship, and that's when I sent my papers," she said. "I didn 't think I was going to be so lucky as to qualify. I prayed and prayed and they called me for the interview." Massana said she was the happiest person alive after she found out she qualified for the program. "Dr. Nicky Boyd has an ability to choose people that come for the program," she said. "I really had the need to find something like this, because everything the Walton Program gives us is great and unique. It is a good atmosphere among us and I love sharing experiences with the other Walton students.Weare like a team and a real family. " - Julieta Gil Photo By Salomon Pineda
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