From Borrego Springs to Sonography: BASIC Scholarships Open New Doors

By Nidia Meza, Managing Director, BASIC

When Borrego Springs High School alumna Daniela Carmona wrote a thank-you note to
BASIC (Basic Assistance to Students in the Community), she summed up something
many local students feel but rarely say out loud: without help from her hometown,
college might not have been possible.​​

Now living in Tyler, Texas and attending Tyler Junior College, Daniela is working
steadily toward a career in diagnostic medical sonography, with plans to complete her
program in 2027 if she’s accepted into the 24‑month training track. Her path has
already taken her through six full terms of community college, four at College of the
Desert and two (and counting) at Tyler Junior College, as she builds the prerequisites
she needs.​​
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“I am sincerely honored to have been selected as a recipient of the BASIC General
Scholarship,” Daniela wrote. She shared that BASIC’s support has gone beyond tuition,
helping her pay for books, transportation, and supplies, all of which can quietly make or
break a semester. For a Borrego Springs graduate living hundreds of miles away, the
community’s belief in her is still traveling with her.​

Scholarship window: March 2–13 for 2026–2027
Stories like Daniela’s are exactly why BASIC is once again opening its scholarship
application window for the 2026–2027 academic year from March 2 through March 13,
2026. The goal is simple but ambitious: help Borrego Springs students get into, and stay
in, college and career training programs, whether that’s here in California or at schools
like Tyler Junior College across the country.

BASIC scholarships support a wide range of educational paths, including vocational
certificates, community college, and four‑year universities. Awards can help with core
education costs and other barriers that often stand between students and their goals.

Who can apply?
BASIC’s scholarship program is open to:

• Current Borrego Springs High School seniors who are planning to enroll in college, university, or vocational training.
• Former BSHS students and Borrego Springs adult learners who have lived or worked within the Borrego Springs Unified School District area for at least one year.

There are two main kinds of support: Start‑School scholarships for students just
beginning their postsecondary education, and Stay‑In‑School scholarships for past
recipients like Daniela who are continuing their studies and need ongoing help. Over the
years, BASIC has also developed special named scholarships that recognize academic
excellence or support specific fields such as healthcare, science, business, and education.

Why it matters in Borrego, right now
BASIC’s board, staff, and volunteers often point out that for rural students, the toughest
part of college isn’t always getting in; it’s staying in. Long commutes, rising costs, and
limited local work opportunities can quickly force students to drop classes or abandon
programs altogether, especially if they are the first in their family to pursue higher
education.
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Yet the numbers tell an encouraging story: the overwhelming majority of BASIC’s
“stay‑in‑school” scholars have maintained strong grade point averages while
persisting through challenges. Daniela’s ongoing journey, from Borrego Springs to
College of the Desert to Tyler Junior College and toward a sonography program,
captures what BASIC hopes for every applicant this March: that a local scholarship can
be the bridge between “I’d like to…” and “I’m doing it.”​

How to get started
Application links will be available on BASIC’s website, borregobasic.org, when the
window opens on March 2, and all applications must be submitted online by March 13,
2026. Students and families can visit the Scholarships page now to review eligibility,
FAQs, and a timeline so they can be ready once the forms go live.

​Community members who want to fuel more stories like Daniela’s can also learn how to
support or create a named scholarship, ensuring that future Borrego Springs graduates
have the same chance to continue their education, whether they stay close to home or,
like Daniela, carry Borrego’s support with them to new places.