D.D. Hachar Honors Program Class of 2001 and President's Scholars Named

In Laredo, businessman D. D. Hachar was a well-known philanthropist of uncommon generosity. His legacy lives on at Texas A&M International University thanks to the D. D. Hachar Charitable Trust, which funds the D. D. Hachar Honors Program.

This year, 29 high school students were accepted into the program, which is now entering its second year. The new class members will begin honors classes this Fall.

They are the following:

Alexander High School: Humberto Rodriguez, Vanessa A. Vasquez

Cigarroa High School: Carlos Fernandez, Adrian G. Herrera, Vanessa Hernandez, Daniel Landeros, Luis C. Olivas, Dora A. Reyes

Martin High School : Alejandra Astudillo, Alondra de la Fuente, Cynthia Dougherty, Hilda L. Enriquez, Guadalupe Aimee Medina, Rosa G. Moreno, Rocio Moya, Lupita Romero

Nixon High School: Gabriela de Hoyos, Alma E. De Leon, Patricia De Luna, Gabriela V. Garza, Kristina Martinez, Cecilia Ramirez, Gloria Z. Treviño

St. Augustine High School: Juan J. Hernandez

United High School: Susie Flores

United South High School: Victor Gardea, Andromeda Hall, Caleb Hernandez, Mayra E. Montes

All students interested in participating in the program must be residents of Webb County. Family income cannot exceed $65,000 adjusted gross income per year, with an additional increase of $5,000 per child attending a university.

Students with a score of 1100 on the SAT (24 ACT) and average high school grade of 95 or a score of 1200 on the SAT (27 ACT) and an average high school grade of 90 or graduating in the top 5 per cent of their class can be considered for the program.

To apply to the D. D. Hachar Honors Program, students must submit a composition on a theme of their choice, in addition to a completed application and two recommendations from either teachers or school councilors. If selected, the student must enroll in 12 credit hours per semester. The program scholarships are reviewed every year and the studies must comply with the program criteria.

The D. D. Hachar Honors Program provides for student tuition, books and fees for all four years of the student's undergraduate program. A four-year scholarship would be equivalent to more than $12,000.

Six President's Scholars, who must meet the same academic criteria as D. D. Hachar Scholars have also been selected.

They are:

Martin High School: Joseph P. Byrd

St. Augustine High School: Marila Cavazos, Bridget Herschap

United South High School: Juan Moran-Lopez

United High School: Miriam Pelto

Zapata High School: Amanda E. Garcia

Students or parents interested in receiving more information about the D. D. Hachar Honors Program should contact Dr. Carlos Cuellar, program director, at 956.326.2626, or email him at ccuellar@tamiu.edu.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu