TAMIU Awards $25,000 in Student Scholarships

Over $25,000 in Scholarship gifts provided to Texas A&M International University have been awarded to graduating local and area high school students or students transferring to or continuing their studies at TAMIU.

Earlier this summer, the University provided $68,000 in student scholarship awards.

The generosity of Laredoans, private and public corporations have helped to make these scholarship awards possible, said new TAMIU president Dr. J. Charles Jennett.

"We salute their support of our University and of the students who will begin their higher education pursuits here," Dr. Jennett said.

Jennett said that while the State of Texas has been kind to the University in its funding requests, the need for student scholarship funding is crucial.

"Our Office for Advancement and External Affairs, under the direction of Dr. Janet K. Black, has worked diligently to help secure scholarship funding from a broad-range of caring individuals, groups and corporations united in their commitment to helping students better themselves, he said.

Dr. Black said scholarship gifts to the University have proven popular with local, area and national supporters.

"Scholarships gifts are an enduring way of providing students with access to their future through education. We have been fortunate to find many individuals, groups and corporations who are eager to help students to reach their goals, she explained.

The Scholarship awards range from one year to four-year and from $1000 to $7,000 in value, TAMIU officials said.

Dr. M. Stephen Brown, Dean of Student Affairs, said the scholarship awards are historic in both the life of the University and those of students receiving the awards.

"These awards include some of our first four-year scholarships provided at our University. For the students receiving these awards, they represent their chance to realize their dream of higher education here in Laredo, explained Dr. Brown.

He added that the scholarship gifts are only part of an aggressive financial aid program available to students that includes student loans, work study opportunities and more.

The scholarship awards were highly competitive with criteria including academic performance, SAT/ACT scores, community service and responses to essay questions. Student applications and essays were reviewed by the University's Scholarship Committee, comprised of members of the faculty of each of the University's four Colleges and Student Affairs Administrators.

"These students who are receiving these awards represent the best and brightest of their generation. These awards will allow them an opportunity to proceed to their next level of self-betterment, he said.

Students and their respective awards include:

Coca-Cola Freshman Scholarships

 

Recipients receiving one-year awards of $2,500 include Karina Elizondo, United High School; Jose C. Hernandez, United South High School; Erica Morales, Zapata High School and Ami De la Fuente, Carrizo Springs High School.

 

J. C. Davila Criminal Justice Memorial Scholarships

 

Recipients of $1000 one-year awards include TAMIU students Kay L. Epperson and Gabriel E. Martinez.

 

Garcia Mental Health Systems Scholarships

 

Recipients of $1,000 one-year awards include Mario A. Valdez, Martin High School and Michael Long, TAMIU student.

 

Alfredo Supervielle Spanish Scholarship

 

Elvia M. Arzola, a TAMIU student is the recipient of this $1,500 one-year award.

 

Mall Del Norte Transfer/Continuing Students Scholarships

 

Recipients of one-year awards ranging from $500 to $1,000 include Lillian A. Castillo, LCC transfer; Hector G. Cavazos, LCC transfer; Maribel Diaz, LCC Transfer; Hilda M. Garcia, TAMIU student; Maria E. Gomez, TAMIU student; Patricia B. Gonzalez, TAMIU student, and Celina Niave, LCC transfer. Also, Oscar Ramirez, TAMIU student; Elsa Santos, LCC transfer; Dorina C. Shadid, LCC transfer; Monica Tellez, TAMIU student; Donna L. Vick, TAMIU student and Dolores Villarreal, LCC transfer.

 

Texas Sesquicentennial Scholarship

 

Arturo Botello is the recipient of this four-year renewable scholarship which pays full tuition and fees. He is Nixon High School graduate.

 

For additional information on TAMIU's financial aid program, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (210) 326 - 2225. Office hours are from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday and from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

For information on providing scholarship gifts to TAMIU students, please contact Dr. Janet K. Black at the Office for Advancement and External Affairs at 326-2175.

Additional information on TAMIU can be secured by email at enroll@tamiu.edu or by visiting the University's Home Page at http://www.tamiu.edu.