My favorite thing about attending the annual Lake Highlands Exchange Club scholarship awards breakfast is hearing about the diversity of the student recipients. Not just the racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity, though there is that, but some students are chosen because of grades and leadership, some for service and volunteer work, some for maintaining decent GPAs while supporting their families with afterschool jobs, and some for overcoming overwhelming obstacles. By awarding $118,500 to 49 kids, the Exchange Club is helping a wide variety of kids fulfill the American dream, even if several of them were brought here by parents or grandparents who struggled to get here from countries far from American shores.
You can see my photo slideshow here.
“One of the funnest things to do is interview these students,” said David Brown of the scholarship committee. “They’re our future teachers, firefighters, bankers and leaders. Parents, I’d like to congratulate you on a job well done. Teachers, we heard how you motivated and inspired them. Students, we hope you’ll return to Lake Highlands to make it your home.”
“We take our investment in these students very seriously,” added Cheri Luck. “These kids have committed to abstain from drugs and alcohol,” referring to the pledge that some of the scholarships require, “and they’ve earned our admiration for it. Each of them is very deserving of the praise and honor we have for them today.”
The recipients and their colleges are listed below. Congratulations all!
The Luck Family Foundation and David Tice Scholarships
Rodrigo Blas, Stephen F. Austin
Yordi Calix, UT-Arlington or SFA
Marilyn Domingues, University of North Texas
Stephanie Eyocko, Oklahoma University
James Iheke, Texas A&M University
Jordan Inman, TAMU
Asher Odom, University of Arkansas
Sarah Penny, University of Texas
Anna Sorensen, Texas Tech
Brianna Sutton, SFA
Exchange Club Academic Scholarships
Sarah Blettner, Southern Methodist University
Ashley Brandish, UT
Brinkley Field, UT
Jake Gaba, Dartmouth
Megan Garcia, Notre Dame
Megan Jodie, UT
Erin Larson, UT
Will Moomaw, TAMU
Abigail Nagle, University of California at Berkley
Sarah Norris, TAMU
Herb and Frances Walne Memorial Scholarship
Mesha Muse, UTA
Exchange Club Special Endowment Scholarships
Katherine Dodgen, Oklahoma Baptist University
Yonas Michael, TAMU
Hannah Pittman, Baylor University
Exchange Club Board of Directors’ Scholarships
Sarah Casburn, Texas Tech
Julia Dankberg, New York University
Sarah Dossou, Texas Women’s University
Lee Lueder, UT
Paige Moudy, UT
Sarah Penny, UT
Collin Plotts, Baylor
Nathan Schulman, Texas State
Peyton Slater, UT-Permian Basin
Bubba Smitham, UT
Jason Oglesby Memorial Scholarships
Luis DeLeon, TAMU-Commerce
Niani McDaniels, TAMU-Commerce
Carla Saucedo, Texas Tech
Data Jo Potts Memorial Scholarships
Brooke Morgan, University of Arkansas
Juan Sanchez, UNT
Janie Tekell, TAMU
Pelumi Wemida, University of Houston
Mitch Winkler, OU
Yoel Zehaie, UTA
The Melinda Ann Lee Memorial Scholarships
Kathryn Spurgin, Texas Tech
The Bob Potts Family Working Student Awards
Jamie Carson, Oklahoma State University
Isabel Dominguez, TWU
London Dority, TAMU
Ke’Shareon Ford, UNT
Jonathan Iheke, Texas State
Jeff Kane Memorial Scholarship
Max Aman, Texas State
