Students named TCU Community Scholars
Once a Texan, always a Texan. But this fall, seven more Sam Houston High School seniors will be Horned Frogs, too! 听
鈥淚t warms my heart every year,鈥 said Sam Houston听counselor Cynthia Carter. 鈥淚t takes time, and these kids work so hard.鈥 听
Selected as , their hard work sure paid off. The seven students were honored Monday with a celebration with classmates and family and a clap-out to end the day. That鈥檚 what happens when you鈥檙e heading to TCU on scholarships valued at more than $280,000 each. The future is bright for Sam Houston鈥檚 soon-to-be biology, nursing, business and political science majors.
鈥淲e are so excited to do this together,鈥 said Angelica Garcia, whose best friend Samantha Leos will be right there beside her. 鈥淚 called her immediately and told her to check her phone right away.鈥 听
For Leos, the email almost didn鈥檛 seem real. 听听
鈥淚 couldn’t believe it at first,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 worked really hard, and I shed a lot of tears.鈥 听
Cheering the scholars were听Garcia and Leos鈥 teammates from the school鈥檚 cheer team along with students from Sam鈥檚 P-TECH and AVID programs. It also helped expose those freshmen and sophomores to the possibilities that await them. 听
Each year, awards 50 scholarships to students at 13 Title I high schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The four-year scholarship includes a supportive residential experience and opportunities to study abroad. 听
Around December or January, students find out if they鈥檝e been admitted to the university before they can be considered as a community scholar. Once admitted, the application process begins. Finalists attend a dinner, go through interviews and visit TCU where they learn more about their career pathway. 听
In addition to the seven who were selected, Sam Houston had six other students who were finalists for the scholarship.听
鈥淭hese kids are amazing,鈥 Carter said. 鈥淭hey are good human beings, they are kind individuals, they are compassionate individuals and they are concerned not only about Sam Houston but about their peers and about others.鈥 听
That鈥檚 why when they were asked to speak about their experience leading up to the scholarship, they all chose to share their own advice to inspire others. 听
鈥淭ake the risks,鈥 said Zerahann Ondieki. 鈥淕et out of your comfort zone, there are so many new opportunities out there. Don鈥檛 sit on your potential. Don鈥檛 limit yourself. It鈥檚听hard, but you never know what could be at the end of the road for you.鈥听
Garcia felt the same way.听
鈥淭ake advantage of your opportunities because you never know where they may lead,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think any of us ever thought we鈥檇 be here. Keep going and never give up.鈥听
With the support of their teachers and counselors, they were able to do just that.听
鈥淭hey are why we’re even here right now,鈥 Garcia said. 鈥淭hey didn’t leave our side for a second.鈥 听
The experience for other recipients like Christopher Montano was similar. 听
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have done it without them,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited and I’m ready.鈥 听
So, let the countdown to the fall semester begin. 听
鈥淚鈥檓听so proud,鈥 Carter said. 鈥淭hey did it.鈥听
And although they鈥檙e taking on their purple and white, they鈥檒l always bleed red and blue!听
Way to go Texans! Congratulations to the seven TCU Community Scholars: 听听
Luis Andrade 听
Caleb Dixon听
Angelica Garcia听
Samantha Leos听
Stephani Lopez听
Christopher Montano 听
Zerahann Ondieki