The Lanzarote Cabildo, through the Education Department managed by Councillor Ascensión Toledo, extends its congratulations to the Mercedes Medina Díaz Association (AMMD) for the presentation of its annual scholarships aimed at supporting the education of talented young people from Lanzarote in need of financial assistance.
Ceremony for the Mercedes Medina Díaz Scholarships
On Friday morning, the ceremony for the 14th edition of the Mercedes Medina Díaz Scholarships took place, during which 15 students received the first part of the financial aid that will enable them to study 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 have made this initiative possible.
Recognition from the Councillor
Councillor Ascensión Toledo highlighted the valuable work of the Association, reiterating the island institution’s commitment to this social project: “We congratulate the scholarship recipients and their families, and express our gratitude to the AMMD for keeping alive the memory of an exemplary teacher by transforming her legacy into real opportunities for our youth. Furthermore, we are determined to continue collaborating with this Association for the benefit of the young people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.”
Record Funding for Scholarships
Thanks to the Association’s own resources and the generous support of numerous companies on the island, this edition has achieved an unprecedented amount of €54,000, allowing each beneficiary to receive a total of €3,600 throughout the academic year. The first instalment, disbursed today, was €400, with the remainder scheduled to be paid in staggered amounts over the coming months.
In this round, the Association received nearly fifty applications, making the selection process even more competitive.
High Demand for Scholarships
AMMD President Juan Cruz Sepúlveda confirmed that this year they received a substantially high number of applications, “which 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 lack of financial resources. Thanks to the renewed and strengthened support of our sponsors, we have reached record funding that allows us to assist more individuals and in a better manner. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all.”
Support from Local Authorities
Representing the Arrecife City Council was Councillor for Citizen Participation, Cathaysa Suárez, who spoke on behalf of the capital’s Education head, Abigail González, who was absent due to scheduling conflicts. Suárez pointed out that the Mercedes Medina scholarships “represent a commitment to equality of opportunity and to the talent of our youth. The Arrecife City Council congratulates the scholarship recipients and thanks the Association and collaborating companies for keeping this invaluable project alive.”
Event Details
The public ceremony for the awards, held at the Insular Library, was presented by AMMD Vice-President Carmen Rosa Márquez. Also present among the officials was Mónica Ramírez, General Director of Personnel and Teacher Training at the Canary Islands Government’s Education Department.
Legacy of Doña Mercedes Medina
The Mercedes Medina Díaz Association was founded in memory of Doña Mercedes Medina, a Lanzarote teacher who dedicated her life to education and encouraging her students to excel and pursue higher studies. Her daughter, María Mercedes Maura Manuela Palarea Medina, has been the driving force behind this commendable initiative and its ongoing development over time.
Guided by the spirit of this educator, the AMMD continues to work to ensure that a lack of financial resources does not hinder the future of the new generations from Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
In 2024, the Lanzarote Cabildo awarded the group the Jameo de Oro for Education.
