Newest Sames Scholars Members Welcomed During Annual Orientation at TAMIU
The newest high school Sames Scholars Cohort was introduced at a recent gathering held at Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library Great Room.
The Sames Scholarship Program is a college-bound mentorship program that pairs high school students with TAMIU faculty mentors throughout their high school experience. Upon completion of high school, it offers students a four-year scholarship to TAMIU that supports tuition.
Founders Hank and Elizabeth Sames are celebrating the 21st year of their unique scholarship program providing funds, mentors and support for first-generation and high-risk college-bound high school students. The Sames Scholars program, founded in 2002, pairs United Independent School District high school students with TAMIU faculty.
To be eligible for the Program, high school freshman students must meet the economically disadvantaged State criteria, be the first-generation college-bound in their family, meet monthly with their designated TAMIU mentor, maintain a 90 percent GPA, and maintain 95 percent attendance while in high school.
The newly chosen high school cohort and their respective high schools introduced include: United South High School - Cynthia Mata and Julia Paredes; United High School - Amberly Herrera; Alexander High School - Diego Hernández and Marco Antonio Rodríguez, II; Lyndon Baines Johnson High School - Jorge A. Jaime, Julieta Castañeda and Yadhira Tellez.
The cohort also includes: United South High School – Janie Magayanes, United High School - José Carlos Guzmán, Celine Guzmán, Alexander High School – Amanda Cortez, Kathleen Vidaurri, and Lyndon Baines Johnson High School – Alejandro Peña, Marely Mejía, and Kiara Castillo.
Currently, there are 21 Sames Scholars in high school being mentored by 12 TAMIU professors and 17 TAMIU scholars. High school students include Cynthia Mata and Julia Paredes, Diego Hernández Jorge A. Jaime, Julieta Castañeda, Yadhira Tellez, Darlene Sepúlveda, Dahiana Vásquez, Shannon Morales, Britney Hernández, Dana Rios, Mia Saucedo, and Neila Solíz. TAMIU students include: Alexa González, Gustavo Luján, Nanci García, Rebeca Montiel, Nabila Guerra, Alberto Sánchez, Jaime Chapa, Ana Landeros, Andres Espinoza, Anthony Vásquez, Karyme Rodríguez, Jorge Sáenz, Dannia Segundo, Jasmine Oviedo, Mia Piñeda, Laila Lozano, and Abigail Borrego.
Additional guests present at this year’s Orientation included Elizabeth Sames, Thomas Piña, Chief Operating Officer, Sames Auto Group, and several TAMIU offices including Financial Aid, Recruitment and School Relations, Outreach and Pre-College Programs and Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement, who hosted informational booths and answered questions for both students and parents present.
To learn more about the Sames Scholars Program, U.I.S.D. 9th graders can contact their high school counselors or the TAMIU Office of Institutional Advancement at 956.326.2167, email Azeneth.vazquez@tamiu.edu, or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Suite 260.
