Twenty UISD high school juniors have received substantial scholarships ($40,000 each), thanks to an anonymous donor who contributed the money through the Legacy Scholarship Program at the San Antonio Area Foundation.
A total of 25 scholars were honored at a reception on April 10 at Texas A&M International University where the evening kicked off with beautiful music by the United South Mariachi Band. Twenty scholars were from UISD and five scholars were from LISD.
“We are very blessed and grateful to have received those funds and we get to distribute these funds to students from Laredo, and from Bexar County and San Antonio,” said Bernice Uresti, executive director of the Legacy Scholarship and Scholars Program.
“This scholarship can be a life-changing scholarship,” Uresti said. “Really, students can use it to pay for tuition, for books, for fees … they may receive other scholarships that may help them as well. This is just adding to that pool of scholarships.”
“When they graduate from college, they will encourage their kids to graduate from college, so it is a life-changing experience,” Uresti said.
Melissa Ramirez, director for guidance and counseling with UISD, said this particular scholarship has been in existence for three years.
“This is the largest scholarship we have in existence for UISD,” Ramirez said. “It’s a $40,000 scholarship and it’s $10,000 for every year,” she added. The scholarship is for students who attend any public or private school in Texas.
“So the student has to agree to stay in the state of Texas. If not, they will lose the money,” Ramirez said.
“We’re really excited about this, and we really want to thank the San Antonio Area Foundation because it is an amazing opportunity for our students,” Ramirez said. “I see the excitement in the students. This is going to motivate them to continue to move forward and to continue to apply for other scholarships.”
At UISD, there were 189 applicants and 20 students were selected, bringing in $800,000 in scholarships this year.
Sofia Martinez, a junior at Alexander High School, said she learned that she was a recipient through an email she received at school several weeks ago.
“I was very excited and immediately called my mom. I am really grateful for the scholarship,” she said.
She plans to be a pediatrician who works at a hospital and is considering University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M University.
Martinez encouraged students considering applying for the scholarship to do as much community service as possible and to be really involved with the school and community.
Also part of the reception was a panel of officials from TAMIU who offered insight and guidance to students.
The student speaker of the night was Sophia Duarte of Alexander High School.
She spoke of the anonymous donor, referring to the “selflessness, kindness and generosity of others who have shaped me into the person I am today.”
“”They don’t just donate money. They impact destinies,” she said. They “affect profound transformation within an individual’s lifetime,” Duarte said. “It has the power to change a recipient’s future.”
Growing up with her mother and two sisters, she imagined a college life out of town but “it felt out of reach.”
Now, thanks to the money, “a huge weight is lifted off my shoulders,” Duarte said. She said that the students can dream bigger, becoming doctors, engineers, lawyers and educators.
“It fosters a proud sense of validation and empowerment,” she said.
The following are the scholars from UISD: Mayte Beltran, John B. Alexander, Mariajose Cosio, John B. Alexander, Sophia Duarte, John B. Alexander, Ashley Nieto, John B. Alexander, Robert Martinez, John B. Alexander, Isabella Flores, John B. Alexander, Sofia Martinez, John B. Alexander, Alfredo Ramirez, John B. Alexander, Luke Garcia, John B. Alexander, Arad Inurreta, John B. Alexander, Mateo Canamar, John B. Alexander, Abigail Flores, John B. Alexander, Carlos Mendoza, Lyndon B. Johnson, Oscar Mireles, United High School, Erika Flores, United High School, Jose Mendoza, United High School, Athena Aguilera, United High School, Juan Ramos, United High School, JoAnn Gonzalez, United South, Leslie Rodriguez, United South.
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