The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Education Area managed by Councilor Ascensión Toledo, congratulates the Mercedes Medina Díaz Association (AMMD) for awarding its annual scholarships aimed at supporting the education of talented young people from Lanzarote with a need for financial support.
This Friday morning, the award ceremony for the XIV edition of the Mercedes Medina Díaz Scholarships was held, in which 15 students received the first part of the financial aid that will allow them to pursue their studies at different universities in Spain during the 2025/2026 academic year. The event was attended by families, institutional representatives, and members of the business community who have made the initiative possible.
Councilor Ascensión Toledo highlighted the value of the Association's work, reiterating the island institution's alliance with this social project: "From the Cabildo, we congratulate the scholarship students and their families, and express our gratitude to the AMMD for keeping alive the memory of an exemplary teacher, transforming her legacy into real opportunities for our youth. Furthermore, it is our firm intention to continue collaborating with this Association for the benefit of the young people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa."
Thanks to the Association's own resources and the generous support of numerous companies on the island, this edition has reached an unprecedented amount of 54,000 euros, which will allow each beneficiary to receive a total of 3,600 euros during the academic year. The first installment, made today, amounted to 400 euros, and the rest will be paid in installments in the coming months.
In this call, the Association has received nearly fifty applications, which has made the selection process even more demanding.
"May no talent be lost"
The president of the AMMD, Juan Cruz Sepúlveda, confirmed that this year they have received a very high number of applications, "which has made the selection process very difficult... The Mercedes Medina scholarships aim to ensure that no talent from Lanzarote or La Graciosa is lost due to lack of economic resources. Thanks to the renewed and strengthened support of our patrons, we have reached a record of funding that allows us to help more and better. To all of them, our most sincere gratitude."
Representing the Arrecife City Council, the Councilor for Citizen Participation, Cathaysa Suárez, attended the event, who spoke on behalf of the capital's head of Education, Abigail González, who was absent due to agenda reasons. Suárez pointed out that the Mercedes Medina scholarships "represent a commitment to equal opportunities and to the talent of our youth. From the Arrecife City Council, we congratulate the scholarship students and thank the Association and the collaborating companies for keeping this valuable project alive."
The public ceremony for the awarding of the grants, held in the Insular Library, was presented by the vice president of the AMMD, Carmen Rosa Márquez. Mónica Ramírez, General Director of Personnel and Teacher Training of the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands, was also present among the authorities.
A tribute to the legacy of a teacher
The Mercedes Medina Díaz Association was founded in memory of Doña Mercedes Medina, a teacher from Lanzarote who dedicated her life to education and to encouraging her students to excel and achieve higher education. It has been her daughter, María Mercedes Maura Manuela Palarea Medina, who has promoted this commendable initiative and its strengthening over time.
With the spirit of this teacher as a guide, the AMMD continues to work so that the lack of economic resources is not an obstacle for the future of the new generations of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The Cabildo of Lanzarote awarded the group the Jameo de Oro for Education in 2024.