English Translation For over 30 years, the Walton scholarship committee had hand-picked students from Central America, Mexico and Belize to attend one of its three affiliated universities, Harding University, University of Ozarks and John Brown University. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and his wife, Helen, created the Walton Scholarship Foundation after a trip to Central America in 1985. The scholarship was meant to provide students a Christian-based education in the U.S. and to promote virtues such as democracy and capitalism. On Ap1il 24, 2015, freshman Andres Rojas received a call announcing the final decision for the Walton scholarship. When he answered the international call from his home in Alajuela, Costa Rica, Walton Scholarship Director Niel')' Boyd broke the news to him that he had been accepted into Harding University. "I was in shock," Rojas said. "I could not believe it." Rojas was a part of the 30th generation of Walton Scholars to attend Harding. Mary Bolin, assistant to the director ofthe Walton Scholar Program, saw herself as a mother figure to all Walton Scholars since 2008. Over the summer, Bolin enrolled the scholars in their classes, bought all of their books, made their dorm accommodations and made sure they had blankets for their first night at the dorms. "The Waltons (Yvalton Scholars) have become part of our family," Bolin said. "It is bittersweet when an entire generation graduates, but I am always excited when the freshmen are soon to arrive." Michelle Helzer, a Walton Scholar alumna of 1999 from Guatemala, described the scholarship as a life-changing experience for her. She remembered the time during her Harding career when hurricanes devastated countries in Central America and how the student body had come together to help, despite not being from the affected countries. "I was influenced a lot by the environment in Harding, and it is what inspired many of us to start service projects for our home countries," Helzer said. Helzer, along with other Walton Scholars, started Share Smiles, a nonprofit that funded education and school supplies for children in El Salvador, on campus in 1996 and later in El Salvador. Helzer said her college experience would not have possible without the scholarship. "It is truly a life changing experience," Helzer said. l~TEH~ .\TIO~ .\L STl' DE~TS 0 F STUDENT E ~· Po,vE H~IE NT By Funny Bonillu Traducci6n en Espanol Por 30 afios, la beca Walton ha eligido a estudiantes de Centro America, Mexico y Belize para asistir una de las tres Universidad afiliadas - Harding University, University of Ozarks y John Brown University. Sam Walton, el fundador de Wal-Mart Stores Inc., y su esposa, Helen, crearon la Fundaci6n de Becas Walton despues de un viaje a Centro America en 1985. La beca cumple el prop6sito de ofrecer a estudiantes una educaci6n Cristiana en los Estados Unidos para promover virtudes como democracia y capitalismo. El 24 de Abril de el 2015, primero afio Andres Rojas recibi6 una Hamada que contenia la wtima decision sobre su posici6n para la beca Walton. Cuando el contesto la Hamada del extranjero desde su casa en Alajuela, Costa Rica, el director de la beca Walton Nicky Boyd le dio la noticia de que habia sido aceptado a Harding University. "Estaba en shock," Rojas dice. "No lo podia creer." Rojas forma parte de la generaci6n trigesima en asistir a Harding. Mary Bolin, la asistente al director de la Walton Scholarship Program, se mira como la figura materna de todos los Waltons desde 2008. Durante el verano, Bolin se encarg6 de registrar a todos en sus clases, adquiii6 sus libros, hizo acomodaciones en dormitorio y se encarg6 de que todos los estudiantes tuvieran cobijas para su primera noche en los dormitorios. "Los estudiantes (Walton) se han convertido parte de nuestra familia," Bolin dice. "Es agridulce cuando una generaci6n entera se gradua, pero siempre me emociono cuando los de primer afio estan por llegar." Michelle Helzer, una alumna Walton de 1999 de Guatemala, describe la beca como una experiencia que le cambio la vida. Ella se acuerda de su tiempo en Harding cuando los huracanes devastaron paises en Centro America, y como todo el cuerpo estudiantil se uni6 para ayudar, aunque ninguno era de los paises afectado. "Fui influenciada mucho por el ambiente de Harding, y fue los que inspiro a muchos otros ya mi a comenzar proyectos para nuestros paises," Helzer dice. Helzer,junto con otros alumnos Waltons, comenzaron el Share Smiles, una organizaci6n sin fines de lucro que ayuda a fundar la educaci6n y materiales para nifios en El Salvador, en campus en el 1996 y despues en el El Salvador. Helzer garantizo que su experincia universitaria no hubiera sido posible si no hubiera ganado la beca. "En verdad es una oportunidad que te cambia la vida," Helzer dijo.
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