MEXICO CITY, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego led yesterday the commencement ceremony of the Plantel Azteca school for the institution's 7th graduating class in junior high (115 students) and its 10th generation of high school students.

Since the school's founding in 1997, Plantel Azteca has consolidated its position as a working example of the Grupo Salinas value of learning and a powerful tool to improve the quality of life of thousands of Mexican families.

During the ceremony, Mr. Salinas shared an encouraging message for students, "Today is a special moment, a moment that leaves its mark. Although the path is long in our lives, this is nonetheless a milestone, a pause we must take to reflect on where we are, where we are going, where we come from and where we are heading."

Plantel Azteca has graduated to date a total of 4,725 junior high students and 951 high school students in a technology-focused curriculum.

The success of the model has been to support academic excellence with talented students of limited economic resources. Tuition is fully funded through a education voucher paid by Grupo Salinas that also includes uniforms, meals, text books and school supplies.

Graduates have been recognized by top Mexican universities, including the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Colegio Militar, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM), Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (UAM), Universidad Claustro de Sor Juana, Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM), Universidad de las Americas (Puebla), Centro Universitario del Estado de Mexico and Escuela Normal de Especializacion, to name a few.

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Plantel Azteca Highlights

• The schools has been consistently ranked among the top five institutions in the country by the independent National Evaluation Center for Higher Education (CENEVAL for its initials in Spanish), with graduates scoring among the highest on entrance exams to universities in greater Mexico City.
• Other Awards and certifications:
  • El Laurel de Oro, 2005.
  • Iberoamerican Prize for Education Excellence 2006.
  • Internacional Education Quality Certification (2005 and 2006) from the Iberoamerican Council to Honor Education Quality.
  • International ISO 9001:2000 Quality Certification

About Fundacion Azteca

Fundacion Azteca is the Grupo Salinas non-profit organization dedicated to improve health, nutrition, education and the environment in the communities where we operate, while promoting working examples of the values of our organization. Instead of offering charity, the foundation offers resources to individuals to help themselves; since 1997 the foundation has helped thousands of people by connecting them with organizations and individuals dedicated to improving society. Fundacion Azteca also operates in the United States through Fundacion Azteca America and in Guatemala and Peru. For more information visit: www.fundacionazteca.com.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to building the middle class of the countries where it operates, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies TV Azteca (www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

For more information, visit www.gruposalinas.com

SOURCE Grupo Salinas, Fundacion Azteca, Fundacion Azteca America, Plantel Azteca, TV Azteca, Azteca America, Elektra and Iusacell