BRAZOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Student stories

Volume 2, Issue 1 Fall 2020

Meet Our new 2020 scholars Inside this issue of Student Stories, you will meet our 12 impressive new scholars. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, scholar selection presented a challenge this year, but the Brazos Education Foundation used technology to find a great group of students. Through Zoom, we interviewed finalists from 12 McLennan County high schools. Turn to page 2 to learn more about our recipients and to page 4 to learn how you can help. Join us for the 11th annual Education 4 Everyone Golf Tournament 11TH Annual education 4 everyone golf tournament

October 19, 2020

Ridgewood Country Club

Lunch: 11:30

Golf: 1:00

The BEF will host its 11th 100 percent of donations been more critical to our annual “Education 4 from the tournament go current and future scholars. Awards Ceremony Everyone” Golf Tournament directly to providing help for We continue to believe that Following on Oct. 19 at Ridgewood county students. The education is the key to a Tournament Country Club. Golf won't be Foundation's administrative better future,” said David the only thing on the expenses are generously Horner, director of docket. Participants can also underwritten by Brazos development. For look forward to lunch and Higher Education Service information on the golf dinner as well as some fun Corporation, Inc.“There has tournament, contact David and unusual activities. The never been a time that a at (254) 744-2396. best part is knowing that successful tournament has P AGE 2 S TUDENT STORIES Our 2020 scholars: Up close & personal

Moody High School First-generation scholar University High School Saluta- Gholson High School graduate Alisha Frost had Christian Ramos torian Ivette Padron earned graduate Karson Goates has an active high school graduated from Waco her associate’s degree from shown livestock for 10 years career. She served as High. He attends MCC while still in high school. and hopes for a career in cheer captain, played A&M and major in She plans to major in commu- agriculture., specifically goat varsity and , mechanical engineering. nications and sociology at the breeding. “I want to provide and participated in debate He was on the state- University of North Texas. A less fortunate kids with high and mock trial. A first- qualifying mock trial team Terry Scholar, Ivette was presi- quality and affordable show generation scholar, Alisha and served as secretary of dent of NHS and volunteered goats,” he said. During high is attending Tarleton State NHS. “Education has fostered in University’s well-regarded school, Karson served as a University, where she my growth, both personally Tax Preparation Program for volunteer firefighter. Pursuing plans to major in and professionally, allowing Waco residents. “It makes me a business degree through education. “I want to me to properly assess and happy to see that I am able to MCC’s University Center, he influence young minds,” resolve real-world help my community by using plans to also obtain a welding she said. situations,” he said. my knowledge,” she said. certificate from TSTC.

Valedictorian Jennifer Melany Olivares plans to First generation scholar Connally graduate MyrT’asia Aleman graduated from become one of our Elias Guadarrama dreams Gowan is pursuing a degree and is Healthcare Heroes. The future of being a civil engineer in biology at UT Austin. In studying biology at MCC with nurse attends the University and earned his associate’s high school, she was All-State the goal of becoming an or- of Mary-Hardin Baylor. A degree at MCC while still in , gold medalist in thopedic surgeon. While in graduate of Harmony Science in high school. The La Vega UIL Spelling and VASE art high school Jennifer partici- Academy, Melany served a graduate participated in club and a member of Key pated in NHS, UIL, cross coun- president of student govern- band, student council, Club, debate, FCA and stu- try and track. “This award will ment, was captain of the First soccer, cross country, dent council. She hopes to make my first few years less Robotics Challenge, cheer Math UIL and NHS. become a physical therapist. stressful and encourage me to captain and worked for Mag- “Getting this scholarship “Wanting this scholarship continue my path to my de- nolia Market. “I had to begin will help me obtain the does not derive from my com- sired career. It will give me the working at the age of four- career I wish for and not pulsion to obtain money, but hope and motivation that I teen to help make ends meet only help me but my family from my hunger for need to continue to believe I within my family,” she said. who greatly needs financial knowledge,” she said. can do this,” she said help,” he said. V OLUME 2 , I SSUE 1 P AGE 3 Our 2020 scholars: Up close & personal

Alfaro Guadalupe’s McGregor graduate Salutatorian Maddison Ives determination made him Natalie Aviles participated graduated from Rapoport graduate Taylor Mynar the first in varsity cheer, band, Academy’s Meyer High attends Tarleton State graduate to earn an National Honor Society, School and earned her University and is majoring associate’s degree while Interact Club, PALS, tennis associate’s degree from MCC, in animal science and still in high school. “I believe and was the student where she worked in the business. During high that I can do anything I set council president. The math lab. She attends Baylor school, she volunteered at my mind to,” he said. current Miss McGregor University, where she is two therapeutic riding Alfaro served as president attends Temple College to majoring in mechanical centers and worked at Fox of student council and study nursing. “I hope to engineering. “I would like to Run Ranch. “Horses have NHS. He placed first in UIL become a missionary and thank the Brazos Education taught me patience, math and accounting. He travel to Third World Foundation for giving Waco leadership, how to trust, is attending the University countries to help seniors the chance to receive how to be kind and how of Texas at Arlington and premature children,” she such an amazing scholarship,” to have courage,” she majoring in accounting. said. she said. said.

Congratulations to our recent graduates

A number of scholars became Brazos Education Foundation Alumni in the last year, and we will miss seeing them at our scholar workshops. But we know they will do great things in life. Currently, we provide scholarships to 47 students attending 17 colleges and universities in Texas. To learn more about all our scholar alumni, visit brazosfoundation.org/scholars/meet-our-graduates.

Brett Ramsey, Alicia Martinez, Edgar Oliverez, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, Texas State Technical Bachelor’s Degree in Bachelor’s Degree in Social College, Aerospace Engineering, Work Associate’s Degree in Minor in Chemistry Sylvia Conatser, Robotics and Industrial Stefanie Jimenez, Baylor University, Automation Baylor University, Bachelor of Arts Degree, Daniel Roush, Bachelor of Science in University Scholar Texas State Technical Nursing Safiq Sindha, College, Melissa Rodriguez, University of Texas at Austin, Associate’s Degree in Texas Tech University, Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Lineworker Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Technology Nursing Minor in Business/Design Cyerra Gage, Strategies St. Edwards University Robert Kelly, Bachelor’s Degree in Social Tarleton State University Work, Minor in Women’s Bachelor’s Degree in Studies Agribusiness Management Education 4 Everyone

2612 Washington Ave., Waco, TX 76710 (254) 732-1946 [email protected] Brazosfoundation.org

How you can help

or more than a decade, the and “tips” to prepare for the next There, you will learn more about the Brazos Education Foundation phase of their college experience. Foundation and its scholars. You can has helped students reach their even help the Foundation when you F  Emergency Funds 4 You: Scholars educational goals by awarding shop on Amazon through Amazon can receive financial assistance in renewable scholarships and providing Smile. You can even use Prime. Just visit case of an emergency that might support and training to qualifying Smile.Amazon.com and select the prevent them from pursuing their graduating seniors attending selected Foundation as the charity you want to education. high schools in McLennan County, help. Texas. The Foundation’s mission relies on  Care Packages: We want our Since our founding we have assisted donations from friends like you. Your scholars to know we are thinking more than 100 students attend colleges monetary donations will go towards: about them, especially at finals. We and universities within Texas. You can send each scholar a gift card and  Renewable Scholarships: 2020 find our scholars in engineering some treats at the end of the fall and Scholars receive $2,500 in programs, business schools, nursing spring semesters. scholarship funds for every year schools, trade programs, community they are enrolled in college and You can support the BEF in other ways. colleges and more. Our scholar alumni maintain a satisfactory GPA to We need volunteers to review and score work in Fortune 500 companies, pursue help pay for tuition, textbooks scholarship applications and interview graduate study, teach in local schools and supplies. scholarship finalists. We also would love and serve our nation as military officers. for you to share information about the  Success 4 College Workshops: The Visit our website at BEF with your friends and family, to brazosfoundation.org to learn more. Foundation conducts workshops subscribe to our online newsletter and to for Scholars to provide information follow us on Facebook and Instagram.