As the 2025 Academic School year comes to a close, the 2026 Approaches for Non Profit Jóvenes Adelante

By Don Krim

“Participation in sports and art has taught me that my role in San Miguel de Allende is to serve. I am looking for the Jóvenes Adelante scholarship because I know that more than financial support, it is the opportunity to have a mentor to guide me through all the academic challenges that my family probably does not know how to guide me through.”

- Male, Laboratory Sciences Finalist 2026

What started last December and January with hundreds of applicants, now comes down to the final difficult choices. Our ambitious goal for the year is to select around 50 undergraduates and 10 of our own graduates pursuing master’s and other advanced degrees.

The field this year is exceptionally strong. Below is a sample of some of the career choices:

Surgery

Criminology and Criminal Law

Doctorates in Education

Applied Artificial Intelligence

Neurosciences

Engineering

Biochemistry

JA supports students principally through individual and pooled sponsorships. Some students need support for a full 3-6 year degree, and others with only 2-3 years remaining. Graduate degrees range from 2-4 years. JA support includes a baseline scholarship, individual mentors, a laptop, psychological support, a graduate network including peer support, success skills workshops,  and professional credentialing. Additional funds support travel, professional development and extra financial needs.

Below are a couple of our finalist’s own words:

“I'm 20 years old and about to start the fourth semester of my Neuroscience degree at UNAM-Juriquilla Qro. I am passionate about fully understanding mechanisms such as neural plasticity and electrophysiology to connect them to clinical rehabilitation. I think there are areas that are still in their infancy, but I know they could do great things, because it is not only about understanding how a neuron works at an electrical level, but how that knowledge can be translated into real therapies that help people recover lost functions.

That is why I have also acquired technical tools throughout the semesters such as histology, biostatistics and experimental design that I clearly continue to cultivate because I know that science requires method and I love it. Neurosciences are really everything to me now and I don't see myself doing anything else in my future other than this.

I come from a fairly complex family dynamic that has shaped me. I grew up seeing my mother working miracles with such limited resources in the emotional and financial absence of my father. This reality taught me that effort is not something that can be negotiated. My mother has supported the home alone for many years along with my sisters and me, and that is my greatest driving force, to honor all that sacrifice she has made, not only with intentions but with results.

I'm applying for this scholarship for one reason only: I need to buy time. I had planned to do a research stay at the microscopy unit at UNAM this vacation, but I had to work. With your support, I'm sure I'll be able to choose my academic growth.”

Female - 2026 JA Finalist

“I study Biology at the University of Guanajuato. I chose the career because I want to understand how life works at a microscopic level, how a set of millions of cells…can come together to form a complex organism, for example, the human being. Also, once I finish my degree, I would like to dedicate myself to teaching to share my vision and knowledge of biology and other areas in general with a group of people who are interested, who maintain this passion for learning in general, which is related to one of my life philosophies, which is that we come to learn. And I don't just mean in an academic setting, you can get a lesson from the various situations and challenges that arise in everyday life.

The scholarship would help me a lot to continue focusing on my studies without being a great financial burden on my family, in issues such as accommodation, transportation, and food. If I have the scholarship, I commit to maintaining my studies, staying focused and developing in personal and general areas.”

- Male, Finalist JA 2026

As the most robust and comprehensive higher education assistance program in Mexico, its proven model of funding + multiple levels of additional support is why our success rate is 85%, more than 3 times the national average.

As members of the San Miguel community we owe it to these kids to support as many as we can.

For more info about sponsoring a student, please contact donkrim@jovenesadelante.org Also visit jovenesadelante.org