LEAD Program Awards $70,500 in Scholarships to 17 Local High School Graduates

This year, high school students in the Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program were presented scholarships at home!

The Greater Waco Chamber team as well as members of the LEAD committee caravanned to the houses or schools of each of the students who earned LEAD scholarships this year.

“This is the largest amount of money we’ve been able to award,” said Rachel Martinez, program director. “We’re so proud of these students and we’re excited to positively impact them this year. Every student who interviewed this year received a scholarship; we are incredibly grateful to all of our scholarship sponsors who make these funds available to these students.”

The annual $20,000 Bradley Ray Hulse Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Jordan Burks, a Waco High School graduate who plans to attend the University of Texas to study economics.

The remaining $50,500 was awarded to 16 other scholarship recipients.

  • Waco High School graduate Angel Sanchez received the $10,000 LEAD Distinction Scholarship. Sanchez will attend Texas A&M University to study business management.
  • Waco High School graduate Melissa Moya-Martinez received a $6,000 Ambassador Scholarship. Moya-Martinez will attend the University of Texas to study health professions.
  • University High School graduate J.C. Olvera-Perez received a $5,000 Ambassador Scholarship. Olvera-Perez will attend the University of Texas at Arlington to study architecture, interior design and business entrepreneurship.
  • Waco High School graduate Trenton Freeman received a $5,000 Ambassador Scholarship. Freeman will attend McMurry University to study kinesiology.
  • University High School graduate Fernanda Candia received a $4,500 Ambassador Scholarship. Candia will attend Tarleton State University to study business and architecture.
  • Methodist Children’s Home graduate Nikkie Andrews received a $3,500 No Boundaries Scholarship. Andrews will attend McLennan Community College to study social work.
  • Waco High School graduate Michael Aguilar received a $3,000 No Boundaries Scholarship. Aguilar will attend Baylor University to study journalism.
  • La Vega High School graduate Zyrah Cashaw received a $3,000 No Boundaries Scholarship. Cashaw will attend the University of Texas at Arlington to study nursing.
  • Midway High School graduate Takayla Rose received the $2,500 Battle Family No Boundaries Scholarship. Rose will attend McLennan Community College and plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Arlington to study sonography.
  • Rapoport Academy graduate Arath Herrera received the $2,000 Alton Davis Memorial Scholarship. Herrera will attend the University of North Texas to study broadcast media.
  • Waco High School graduate Xavier Williams received the $1,000 Reaching Back As We Climb Scholarship. Williams will attend McMurry University to study computer and technology.
  • Midway High School graduate Jadyn Davis received a $1,000 LEAD Merit Scholarship. Davis will attend McLennan Community College to study business marketing.
  • La Vega High School graduate Jennifer Cordero received a $1,000 LEAD Merit Scholarship. Cordero will attend McLennan Community College and plans to transfer to Tarleton State University to study criminal justice.
  • Rapoport Academy graduate Julianna Ramirez received a $1,000 LEAD Merit Scholarship. Ramirez will attend the University of Incarnate Word to psychology.
  • Waco High School graduate Carlos Perez received a $1,000 LEAD Merit Scholarship. Perez will attend Tarleton State University – Waco to study accounting.
  • Waco High School graduate Naiyeli Perez received a $1,000 LEAD Merit Scholarship. Perez will attend McLennan Community College to study nursing.

The LEAD program is a business and education partnership that pairs high school students from Waco, University, Robinson, Rapoport Academy, Harmony School of Innovation, La Vega, Connally, Lorena, Midway and the Methodist Home with business leaders to foster mentoring relationships that educate and expose students to various business fields. By improving the students’ knowledge of higher education and potential career paths, they expand their goals for their future. Through this program, the Greater Waco Chamber hopes to motivate these students to graduate high school and pursue higher education, which in turn ensures greater employability and quality of life.

Since 2010, scholarships totaling more than $450,000 have been awarded to students.

The LEAD program launched in 2005 with one mentor and five students.
The Bradley Ray Hulse Memorial Scholarship is sponsored by Central National Bank and First National Bank of Central Texas. Other scholarship sponsors include the Brazos Masonry, Battle Family, City of Waco, Davis Family, Englander dzignpak/PCA, Magnolia Foundation, Manning Family, McLennan Community College, Tymco and What-A-Burger.

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