Student Recipients for Laurel Scholars at TAMIU Named
This Fall, three Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students begin the next chapter in their lives as the latest recipients of the Oscar M. Laurel Endowed Scholarship at TAMIU.
Magaly Portillo of United South High School, Chelsea Villarreal of Cigarroa High School, and Ashley Vasquez of Hector J. García Early College High School were named Oscar M. Laurel Scholars by scholarship donors Mrs. Oscar M. Laurel, Elsa Laurel Nicholson and Rebecca and Oscar Laurel.
The Scholarship is awarded to first generation college students and provides students’ tuition for four years and each Scholar with a laptop computer.
Elsa Laurel Nicholson, family spokesperson, said this year’s recipients are impressive and noted they represent a historic moment in the life of the Laurel Endowed Scholarship.
“They are truly outstanding young women who stood out among a very qualified pool of applicants and we’re very happy to welcome Magaly, Chelsea, and Ashley to our Oscar Laurel Scholars Family,” said Nicholson. “With their awards, the Laurel Endowed Scholarship has now awarded over $600,000 in student awards since we began eight years ago. The Texas A&M University System has done an excellent job in managing the Endowment Fund, and our family looks forward to awarding scholarships in perpetuity to students wishing to attend TAMIU,” she noted.
Oscar M. Laurel Scholars, left to right, Magaly Portillo, Ashley Vasquez, and Chelsea Villarreal
The Laurel Family initiated the Endowment in 2008 and the first recipients were selected in 2010. A total of 34 TAMIU students have been named Laurel Scholars to date.
In order to be considered for the Laurel Endowed Scholarship, students must be a high school senior, have a 3.5 or better GPA, demonstrate 95% or better attendance, be first generation college-bound, have applied for FAFSA and must be accepted to TAMIU.
Laurel Scholars must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better as a full-time student and commit to 15 or more hours of community service during the school year in order to qualify for Scholarship renewal for eight semesters.
For additional information, students may contact their high school counselors or the TAMIU Office of institutional Advancement at 956.326.2176, email:valentina.flores@tamiu.eduor visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library.
University office hours are from 8 a.m – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
University information is also available online at tamiu.edu and through the University’s social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.