The Cabildo de Lanzarote, through the Education Department managed by Councillor Ascensión Toledo, congratulates the Asociación Mercedes Medina Díaz (AMMD) for the annual awarding of scholarships aimed at supporting talented young people from Lanzarote who are in need of financial assistance.

Scholarship Ceremony

This Friday morning, the ceremony for the 14th edition of the Mercedes Medina Díaz Scholarships took place, during which 15 students received the first installment of financial aid. This support will enable them to pursue their studies at various universities across Spain for the 2025/2026 academic year. The event was attended by families, institutional representatives, and members of the business community that has made the initiative possible.

Councillor Ascensión Toledo highlighted the value of the Association’s work in a press release, reaffirming the insular government’s commitment to this social project. “On behalf of the Cabildo, we congratulate the scholarship recipients and their families. We also 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, we are firmly committed to continuing our collaboration with this Association for the benefit of the young people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa,” she stated.

Financial Support and Applications

Thanks to the Association’s own resources and the generous backing of numerous local businesses, this edition has reached a record amount of €54,000. This funding will allow each recipient to receive a total of €3,600 throughout the academic year. The initial payment, made today, was €400, with the remaining amount to be disbursed in instalments over the coming months.

This call for applications received nearly fifty submissions, making the selection process even more competitive.

Aiming to Retain Talent

AMMD President Juan Cruz Sepúlveda confirmed that this year has seen a significant rise in applications, “which has made the selection process very challenging. The Mercedes Medina scholarships aim to ensure that no talent from Lanzarote or La Graciosa is lost due to a lack of financial resources. Thanks to the renewed and strengthened support of our sponsors, we have achieved a record level of funding that enables us to help more effectively. To all of them, our sincerest gratitude.”

Representing the Arrecife City Council at the event was Councillor for Citizen Participation, Cathaysa Suárez, who spoke on behalf of the Council’s Education Officer, Abigail González, who was absent due to scheduling conflicts. Suárez noted 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 recipients and thank the Association and the collaborating businesses for keeping this invaluable project alive.”

A Tribute to a Teacher’s Legacy

The Asociación Mercedes Medina Díaz was founded in memory of Doña Mercedes Medina, a Lanzarote teacher who devoted her life to education and inspiring her students to excel and pursue higher studies. It has been her daughter, María Mercedes Maura Manuela Palarea Medina, who has promoted this commendable initiative and its ongoing development over time.

Guided by the spirit of this educator, the AMMD continues working to ensure that a lack of financial resources does not hinder the future of the new generations in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

The Cabildo de Lanzarote awarded the group the Jameo de Oro for Education distinction in 2024.