Extra Credit

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey honors Trimble Tech scholarship winners on House floor

Update

The one minute speech happened at about noon. MV TCU Floor Remarks 4-26-2013.

Veasey said: "I commend these students. I know they will wear their purple with pride."

Original Post

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey plans to speak on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this morning to honor students from Fort Worth's Trimble Technical High School who won full scholarships to Texas Christian University.

The remarks will likely take place between 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. central time, an official with his office said. Watch it live on CSPAN here.

The students were among several area high school seniors recently named TCU Community Scholars. Here's a Star-Telegram report on the 7 winners from Trimble Tech and five winners from Sam Houston High School in Arlington. And a news release from Fort Worth ISD on TCU scholarship winners.

The $200,000 awards are enough to finance all four years of their undergraduate college careers. The cost for an academic year at TCU is estimated at $48,530, including tuition, room, meal plan, books and supplies.

Here's part of what Veasey (TX-33) plans to say: "The students chosen from Fort Worth's Trimble Technical High School add to the prestige and quality of the Community Scholars program and TCU overall. Each of these students are bright, motivated and accomplished. Not only do these students exhibit academic excellence, but they also take part in volunteer work, extracurricular activities and demonstrate leadership in their communities."

In the photo: Sharron Herrea, FWISD Student Engagement Office; Victoria Herrera, TCU Representative; Beatrice Gutierrez, TCU Representative; Elijah Herring, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Nian Dim, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Consuelo Cuevas, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Ysenia Ortiz, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Mariah Mathews, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Miguel Lopez, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Alejandra Benavidez, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Maria Delgadillo, Tech Senior – 4 year Student Engagement and Completion Scholarship; E. Omar Ramos, Principal Tech High School. Photo from FWISD

 

Jessamy Brown

Childrens Lighthouse collecting donations from families, public to support West

Childrens Lighthouse Learning Centers in the Metroplex are collecting donations for families in the city of West in the aftermath of the deadly explosions on Wednesday.

They are collecting these items: 

bottled water, toiletries, blankets, diapers, formula, bottles, toys, first aid products, cots, air mattresses, pillows, linens, pet food, pet crates/carriers, medical supplies, alcohol, car seats, boosters.

The Fort Worth-based company plans to send seven vans with the items to West on Friday, April 26, a spokesman said in an email.

Rose Morelock, vice president of operations for Fort Worth-based Childrens Lighthouse issued this statement:

"At times like these, we need to all pull together to help support our neighbors. Our thoughts and prayers go out the victims and their families in West, Texas. We are hopeful the supplies and relief aid we bring next Friday will help ease the burden of losing a loved one." 

Donations can be dropped off at these Childrens Lighthouse childcare centers: 

• 11845 Alta Vista Road, Fort Worth
• 1001 Point Vista Road, Hickory Creek
• 5025 Teasley Lane, Denton
• 2029 W. Hebron Parkway, Carrollton
• 4095 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney
• 3420 W. Risinger Road, Fort Worth
• 6250 Matlock Road, Arlington
• 4636 Texas 360 South, Grand Prairie

Jessamy Brown

New scholarship aims to help first-generation students at UT Arlington

First-generation college sophomores at the University of Texas at Arlington will be able to access a new scholarship thanks to the newly established Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy First Generation Scholarship Program.

A new $1 million endowment was established with the help of a $500,000 gift committed by the Gandys. Their gift aims to provide scholarships to sophomores who excel academically and who are the first in their families to attend college.

UTA sophomores will be selected for the scholarship based on merit and financial need. The Gandy’s gift was doubled in value through the university’s Maverick Match program, which leverages UTA’s natural gas royalties to encourage new donations.

Shirlee Gandy, president of RPM Commercial in Fort Worth, earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UTA in 1970. She also serves on the university’s development board.

“I was the first in my family to graduate college, and at the time I did not realize the tremendous impact it would forever have on my life,” Shirlee Gandy said in a press release. “...We wanted to make this financial commitment to help first generation students achieve their goals.” 

Gandy said students can apply for the scholarship for their sophomore year plus the junior and senior years.

 “It’s not a one time thing,” she said, adding that she and her husband want to ease the burden of student debt for these students.

Gandy said the rising cost of tuition, housing and books can result in painful student debt.

Georgina Martinez, a 21-year-old first-generation college student, said she juggles her studies with two jobs. She also relies on UTA academic aid programs through the Maverick Promise to pay for tuition. She said it is a major effort to continue to find scholarships to pay school bills, but investment in higher education is key to a better future.

"Education is the way to go," Martinez said.

-Diane Smith

 

Fort Worth students receive four-year scholarships

Seven Fort Worth seniors received the Chesapeake Scholarship awards this week worth a combined $56,000. Each scholarship is renewable up to four years as long as students remain eligible.

The student winners are Raul Dominguez (South Hills), Elizabeth Ellis (Paschal), Tilija Stanojevic (Paschal), Aurora Perez (South Hills), Alexis Cotton (Southwest), Veronica Valles (Pashcal), Christian Castaneda (Polytechnic).

At right is a picture of the scholars with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. The Chesapeake Scholarship fund was created in 2007. Awards haven been given to 63 Fort Worth and Dallas students in that time.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Photo courtesy of Chesapeake 

Fort Worth teens receive Horatio Alger scholarship

Thirteen students received the Horatio Alger State Scholars award sponsored by the BNSF Railway Foundation. The scholarship gives the teens $5,000 to use toward college, and the students will receive financial aid guidance through the program.

Teens are chosen based on academic performance, community service and strength of character shown by overcoming personal obstacles. Since 1984, the Horatio Alger Association has given $2.5 million in scholarships to Texas students. The 2012 winners are:

·         Marlene Aguayo, Carter-Riverside High School
·         Kiera J. Carey, Trimble Technical High School
·         Mariela Garcia, Trimble Technical High School
·         Reagan D. Harris, Trimble Technical High School
·         Diana Hernandez, Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School
·         Erika Herrera, South Hills High School
·         Vanessa R. Homesley, Carter-Riverside High School
·         Lorena Lomeli, Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School
·         Jazmine S. Olwalia, North Crowley High .School
·         Abel M. Perez-Arita, Polytechnic High School
·         Thuy H. Truong, Fort Worth Country Day School
·         Miriam Villegas, Carter-Riverside High School
·         Jazmine Y. Williams, Trimble Technical High School

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Record number of youth exhibiting at Tarrant County Junior Livestock Show

This year's Tarrant County Junior Livestock Show And Youth Fair has drawn a record number of young people, with 536 youth signed up to exhibit 1,229 livestock and youth fair projects, officials said.

"People want to get involved with something that is kid friendly and family friendly," said Show Secretary Darla Crouch-Reynolds.

The show is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. Livestock divisions are: cattle, equine, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine. Fair divisions are: welding, art, baked goods, crafts, decorated cakes, horticulture, leathercraft, photography, sewing/handwork and pee wee.

Here's a report on the show from the Star-Telegram.

By the numbers:

• 2012: $20,000 in scholarships to be awarded
• 2011: $18,000
• 2010: $11,250
• And, back in 1994: $400

• 2012: 536 exhibitors and 1,229 livestock and fair entries
• 2011: 490 exhibitors and 1,248 entries
• 2010: 456 exhibitors and 1,200 entries
• 2009: 447 exhibitors and 1,083 entries

Jessamy Brown

High schools vie for top musical theater awards

Teen thespians from Tarrant County schools will learn on May 21 which high school playhouses have earned coveted Betty Lynn Buckley Awards for top musical theater.

Keller's Central High School picked up eight nominations for its production of Urinetown. They are: best musical, best orchestra, excellence in choreography, best male actor, two best female supporting actors, excellence in costume design and excellence in lighting design.

Several winners will get college scholarships worth $500.

Nominees for Best Musical: The Boyfriend (Birdville High School); Urinetown (Central High School); Anything Goes (Colleyville Heritage High School); The Sound of Music (Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts); Back to the Eighties (Fort Worth Country Day School); and Kiss Me Kate (Trinity Valley School).

Nominees for Best Student Orchestra: Carroll Senior High School; Central High School (Keller); Colleyville Heritage High School; Grapevine High School; Mansfield High School; Richland High School (Birdville).

Jessamy Brown

Few applicants for local Chesapeake scholarship

Scholarship organizers worried that only about two dozen seniors have applied for the Chesapeake Scholarship as of Friday. The award gives the winning student $20,000 a year for four years to help pay for college expenses. Fort Worth school district seniors are eligible as are seniors from Adamson, Madison and North Dallas high schools in Dallas. Click here for more information about the scholarship and get the application here. The scholarship was created as part of a partnership with Chesapeake Energy and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The deadline to apply is April 15.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Baseball player pitching in to help Arlington student

Texas Rangers player Hank Blalock is offering Arlington school district juniors a $10,000 college scholarship, but those interested need to show some hustle. The deadline for applications is March 6.

In a press release from the district, Blalock said he wants the money to be awarded to a high school junior so they can "go into their final year of high school knowing that they have the ability to take their education to the next level, and not have to worry about how to pay for it."

An essay and letters of recommendation are required. To get an application go here or visit any Arlington school counselor.

- Traci Shurley

HEB seniors: Get your scholarships here

The HEB ISD Educational Secretaries' Association Scholarship applications are now available for download on the Trinity High School website and in the counseling offices of LD Bell High School and KEYS Learning Center. The scholarship is open to all district students who are seniors. The application deadline is Monday, March 2, 2009. To download the application from the Trinity Web site, click on the Senior College Information link, then scroll down and open the folder called "Scholarship Applications."

--Matt Frazier