High school students in the Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program attended their year-end recognition banquet last night at Baylor University’s Hurd Welcome Center, where $75,000 in scholarships were awarded to 11 local students.
The annual $20,000 Bradley Ray Hulse Memorial Scholarship, presented by Central National Bank and The First National Bank of Central Texas, was awarded to Xiara Berry, a Waco High School senior who plans to attend Huston-Tillotson University to study social work and psychology.
The remaining $50,000 was awarded to 10 other scholarship recipients.
- Nicholas Vaquera, University High School senior, was awarded the $15,000 All Star Scholarship, presented by the Magnolia Foundation. Vaquera plans to attend Texas A&M University to study construction science.
- Taniya Degrate, University High School senior, was awarded a $7,500 Distinction Scholarship, presented by the City of Waco. Degrate plans to attend Jackson State University in pursuit of her goal to become an OBGYN.
- Elisha Taylor, Midway High School senior, was awarded a $7,500 Distinction Scholarship, presented by the City of Waco. Taylor plans to attend Texas Southern University to study sociology and law.
- Jared Gonzalez, Midway High School senior, was awarded a $6,000 Distinction Scholarship, presented by Premier ER & Urgent Care, McLennan Community College & Atmos Energy. Gonzalez plans to attend Texas State University to study mechanical engineering.
- Kolten Buth, Midway High School senior, was awarded the $5,000 Ambassador Scholarship, presented by the Magnolia Foundation. Buth plans to attend the University of North Texas to study anthropology and history.
- Ariel Farley, Rapoport Academy senior, was awarded the $4,000 No Boundaries Scholarship, presented by Brazos Masonry. Farley plans to attend the University of Houston to study communications and public relations.
- Teraney Williams, Robinson High School senior, was awarded the $3,000 Persistence Scholarship, presented by John & Jennifer Manning. Williams plans to attend McLennan Community College and Tarleton University to study nursing.
- Lauren Serrato, University High School senior, was awarded the $3,000 Alton Davis Memorial Scholarship, presented by the Davis Family. Serrato plans to attend Baylor University to study sports medicine.
- Zuleika Martinez, Harmony Science Academy senior, was awarded the $2,000 Merit Scholarship. Martinez plans to attend Texas A&M University to study forensic science.
- Tyrone Sumpter, Waco High School senior, was awarded the $2,000 Reaching Back As You Climb Scholarship, presented by Ashley Phillips, LEAD alum and Alliance Bank Central Texas. Sumpter plans to attend Millsaps College to study real estate and criminal justice.
The LEAD program is a business and education partnership that pairs high school students from China Spring, Connally, Harmony School of Innovation, La Vega, Lorena, McGregor, Midway, Rapoport Academy, Robinson, Methodist Children’s Home, University, Waco and West, 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, nearly $700,000 in scholarships have been awarded to students.
The LEAD program launched in 2005 with one mentor and five students. Since beginning, the program boasts a nearly 100% high school graduation rate with graduates moving on to some form of post-secondary education. This year, the program included more than 80 mentors and more than 150 students.