AUSTIN — Riverland Community College students of Mexican descent will get a little financial help from the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior, or the Institute for Mexicans Abroad.

Riverland received a $14,000 grant via the Mexican Consulate from the institute last week during a ceremony hosted by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

“The Consulate of Mexico takes great pleasure on being able to support Mexican and Mexican-Americans in their dream of pursuing higher education studies through the IME Fellowship Program,” Consul Alberto Fierro Garza said in a press release. “We believe that the benefits of having one student start, continue or finish college multiply tenfold in the community. After the passing of the Dream Act in the state, the consulate is thrilled to partner with MnSCU and other Minnesota universities that agreed to match funds to our grants in order to provide education access opportunities. We look forward to our continuing collaboration.”

A total of $55,000 in scholarships was presented at the ceremony, placing Minnesota among the top states nationally for the amount received from this competitive grant. The awards will be matched by the colleges and universities for a total impact of $110,000.