BASIC Salutes its College Graduates

By Joanne Ingwall

Each year, now for 28 years, BASIC has devoted proceeds from our fundraising activities to its scholarship programs. BASIC gives two types of scholarship. The first is a start-school scholarship given to Borrego Springs High School graduates planning to attend either a vocational program or to attend a 2-year or 4-year college. The second is a  stay-in-school scholarship given to those who continue their education and work towards a vocational certificate or an Associates or Bachelor’s degree. Over these 28 years, BASIC has made 603 scholarship awards to Borregans seeking to pursue further education. We congratulate every scholar! BASIC invites you to join us in saluting them.

Here we salute two BASIC scholars who graduated from their educational programs in 2025. The first is Briem Cole. Briem is one of many of our High School graduates who has obtained a certificate in a specific vocation. With BASICs help, Briem is now a certified Heavy Equipment Operator. The second scholar being saluted this month is Lorenzo Vilches. Lorenzo originally obtained a certificate in automotive repair but then entered engineering school at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (SLO). Last June, after his long educational journey, Lorenzo graduated with a bachelors degree in manufacturing engineering. The many ribbons shown in his graduation photograph illustrate the many leadership roles he played at SLO. Both stories tell of never giving up in the pursuit of your goals. Both stories tell of hardships overcome.

In their own words….

My name is Briem Cole
I moved to the United States from Jamaica 6 years ago. I attended high school in Borrego Springs and I graduated and received my high school diploma in 2023. When I was a child, I used to watch my dad and grandpa run equipment on construction jobs. Since then it has been my dream to attend trade school, complete training, and receive my Heavy Equipment Operator certification. After a few set backs, I finally accomplished that goal.

This accomplishment would not have been possible without the help and financial support of BASIC and for that I am extremely grateful. I am so thankful and grateful that even in such a small town like Borrego, we have such a great program like BASIC available to us! 

I am so appreciative to BASIC for putting their trust in me. This is only the beginning! Now that I have my certificate I can start the process of pursuing my life long dream career of running any heavy equipment! 
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Thank you again so much for believing in me!

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Lorenzo Vilches
There’s a saying that “it takes a village…”, and I cannot think of a more fitting representative to best embody this proverb than BASIC. They work for the youngest in elementary school learning to read and write, the teenagers piecing together their ideas of a future profession, and the adults working on and realizing their potential and goals… The endeavors of BASIC’s members are the helping hands that reach out to lift us up, that steady us at our side along our journey, the hands at our back pushing us forward, and the hands that gestures toward the possibilities that exist ahead of us. What the efforts of BASIC result in is creating opportunities for us to have a chance to succeed and get ahead in life, making what would otherwise be unreachable and unattainable become possible. 

With their support, I went from being a student with only hopes and uncertainties towards a profession to now being a first-generation university graduate, and the first in my family to become an engineer. Thanks to them I now work in the aerospace industry. Me getting this far, and having the opportunities I do now, is directly resultant from the belief that BASIC, and its members, have for us in the community and the work they continue to do for us all. ​​

If you agree with us that education is the key to the future of the children and young adults of our community, please donate to BASIC’s Scholarship Fund by mailing a check to 
BASIC, Box 1914, Borrego Springs CA 92004-1914  
And Thank You!