Home . Contact

Quetzal Route

2010 EXPEDITION

2010: BICENTENNIAL OF MEXICO

THE MISTERY OF THE WHITE MAYAN PATHWAYS

overview

requirements

topics

projects/deadlines

awards

mailing address

 

Overview

At the request of H.M King Juan Carlos of Spain this program began in 1979 with the purpose of raising awareness among 16 and 17 year old students about the Ibero-American cultural and historical heritage.

This original purpose would be later extended to be shared with youths from all over the world.

Ruta Quetzal-BBVA is an academic and travel adventure exclusively for recipients of the scholarships described below.

The expedition features a broad array of academic activities and a curriculum designed by the Complutense University of Madrid.
 

This academic adventure will include visits to Chile and Spain. Other students from North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia who are selected through similar scholarship competitions will also participate.

The tentative dates for the trip are June 16 through July 28, 2010.

Each scholarship is valued at US $16,000 and covers round trip air travel from New York or Miami in the US and Montreal in Canada and the full cost of the study-expedition to Mexico and Spain.

Requirements

To be eligible to participate in this program, students should:

• Have been born in 1993 or 1994.
• Currently be high school students in the United States or Canada.
• Not have taken part in a previous Ruta Quetzal expedition.
• Have American or Canadian citizenship (for U.S. and Canadian scholarship recipients respectively).
• Spanish citizens residing in the U.S. or Canada: please click here.
  
• Have an advanced level of Spanish in order to actively participate in the academic aspects of the travel-expedition.
• Have an excellent academic record.
• Be an outstanding student, with leadership qualities.
• Be in excellent physical condition, as the expedition will entail strenuous physical activity (camping and long hikes).
• Be able to get along with young people of different cultures and religious beliefs. 

Topics 

Applicants must develop and submit an original work in Spanish on one of the following subjects:

• The Search for Liberty: Cry of Pain
• Francisco Javier Mina, a native from Navarra: Mexican hero
• The Mayan Indians of Campeche and the Yucatan
• Madrid Isabel II Canal: Canal Volunteers
• Galician art on the St. James Trail
• The Creation of the Kingdom of Leon, 1,100 Years in the Making

 
Projects on topics different to the stated above will not be accepted.

Types of projects

Applicants may submit historical, literary, artistic, or musical works. The following rules must be followed: 

• Historical works must involve in-depth analysis of any of the above topics.
• Literary works must be original creations inspired by one of the above themes. They may take any of the following forms: novel, poem, diary, story, play, journalism, comic strip, etc. They may be written in prose or verse.
  • The literary or historical works must be no longer than twenty single-sided typed letter sized pages, free font and paragraph space.
    
  • In addition to the twenty pages, applicants may add appendices (bibliography, index, illustrations, interviews etc.). There is no page limit to the appendices. However, voluminous or elaborate presentations using boxes, trunks, bottles with parchment, etc. should be avoided.
    
• Any non-fragile material or technique may be employed for fine art projects. Paintings must not exceed 40 x 50 cm. (not including the frame which may be up to 2 x 2 cm.). Sculptures must not exceed 40 cm. in height. Please do not use fragile materials such as glass.
• Musical works must be original compositions written and interpreted by the applicant with any instrument. The score must be submitted along with a CD or cassette of the applicant's interpretation. The piece must not exceed five minutes in length. Please note on the score which instrument is used.

Deadlines

Al works must be submitted to the Education Office (see below) by January 8, 2010.

Group projects will not be accepted. Applicants may submit only one project per person.

All projects submitted become property of the organization and will not be returned to applicants.

Awards

The selection process will be governed by the following rules:

• Schools may not present more than two students each as candidates for these scholarships.
• Schools must provide the following:

• • Application forms with the information about the students.
  • Academic records of their applicants.
  • Letter of recommendation from the students' Spanish teacher.

 

 Individual candidates must provide the following:

• Official application form
• Document indicating date of birth (copy of passport, driver's license, or birth certificate).
• Written permission from parent(s) or guardian(s).
• Letter written in Spanish by the student explaining in 200-300 words why he or she wishes to participate in the Ruta Quetzal-BBVA 2010.
• A letter of recommendation by their Spanish teacher stating the student's advanced level in Spanish (oral and written).
  

• The candidate may also send:
  • Copies of course certificates, prizes, recognition or awards received etc. during
    his or her studies; do not send originals as they can not be returned.
  • Historical or literary works produced by the student during his or her studies.
  • Any other document that the candidates wishes to use to support his or her application.

NOTES:

No part of the application, creative project, or supporting documentation shall be returned to applicants. All works submitted to participate in this program may be used totally or partially to take part in cultural events and/or exhibits sponsored by the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain or Ruta Quetzal BBVA.

The selected students MUST have a valid U.S. or Canadian passport (for US and Canadian scholarships respectively) or be able to obtain one prior to March 31, 2010.

Students selected to participate must decide in consultation with their parents or guardians what they will do with regard to the recommendations detailed in the "medical note" that will be sent to the scholarship recipients.

The winners will be contacted by the end of January.

The name of the applicant/artist must not appear on the work (names should only be put on the application).

 

Any project submitted may be published, exhibited or used for other cultural purposes.

The decisions of the juries may not be appealed and the juries are solely responsible for interpreting rules regarding selection of participants.

Additional information on the Ruta Quetzal expedition is available in Spanish along with advice from previous participants on how to do projects (and photos of some previous projects) on the Ruta Quetzal Web page at www.rutaquetzal.com.

Please note that the information on participation requirements on that Web page is intended only for participants from Spain.

 top | Ruta Quetzal BBVA official website