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| Students March 2014 |
A
criminologist, a nurse, a human resource administrator, a graphic
designer, a petroleum engineer, a linguist, and an animal health
specialist all have one thing in common; the Ron Brown Scholarship
Fund available to qualified Isla Mujeres students.
Created
shortly after Ron Brown's untimely death in the summer of 2009, the
scholarship fund assists a limited number of students with tuition
and the expenses of living off-island while completing their
education at a university or college.
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| Reeling for Ronnie tournament - P Parent Photo |
Since its creation Ron's close
friend Richard Lock and the Lock Search Group have been the biggest
supporters of the fund, along with Ron and Gwen's many personal
friends and family members. The fund is incrementally, year by year,
increasing the number of students that can be assisted.
In addition to personal donations the fund also raises money through an annual fishing tournament organized by Richard Lock, Frank Berke and Peter Zukow.
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| Patrick Parent - largest fish |
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| North King Lodge Caamano Sound BC Canada |
Airfare to Bella Bella, a helicopter ride to the fishing camp, meals, snacks, beer, wine, equipment, boats, and gear, are all included in the price. Best of all (according to the website) there are no fish stealing Sea Lions in the area! This is serious fishing country!
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| Gwen Brown and raffle winner Mike Johnson |
Between
the tournament and a raffle for an all-expenses paid fishing trip the
2014 event raised a record breaking $15,000.00 CDN;
100% of all money raised is used for paying tuitions and student
expenses.
Here
on Isla Mujeres there
were at least a two dozen guys salivating over that trip, purchasing
handfuls of tickets in hopes of upping their odds.
The winning ticket
was drawn by Gwen Brown at a Friday night happy hour at Villa la
Bella in February. Mike Johnson from Minnesota was the lucky guy; but
his nephew was even luckier when Mike gave him the winning ticket.
The moans and groans from various ticket holders were painful to
hear, everyone wishing that they were Mike's nephew.
Sorry
guys! Maybe next time.....
