The proof that hard work can indeed pay off was ceremoniously delivered in large mailing envelopes over the course of two rewarding days courtesy of the Killeen ISD Education Foundation.
Making unannounced stops at eight KISD high school campuses Thursday and Friday, Foundation Director Leslie Gilmore, along with Foundation board members and staff plus some very happy counselors, principals and other faculty members, surprised more than 70 seniors with college scholarships and credit hours totaling nearly $100,000.
“All the work that we do throughout the year to raise money culminates in the kids getting these scholarships,” Gilmore said with a wide smile that was seemingly permanent for two straight days. “When you see their faces, how excited they are, and you know you’ve taken a tiny bit of that burden off of their family, all of us on the staff and the board, we cry, we smile. Just seeing the students makes everything worthwhile.”
To view more photos visit Killeen ISD's Flickr page here.
Funded by generous local donors, the scholarships will help the studious, well-versed recipients hit the ground running when they step onto college and university grounds next fall.
More than 200 applications were received by the Education Foundation, and $99,850 were spread among 76 recipients.
“This means a lot. My high school years have had a lot of challenges. I’ve worked really hard and tried my best,” said Killeen High senior Jazmin Arango, who received her award with 12 others at the KISD Career Center. “This is very motivating and it shows that hard work is really worth it. This will help me because I really needed this.”
Arango said she plans to earn her associate degree in nursing from Temple College.
“The Education Foundation is amazing,” she said. “I am very thankful that they recognize students. I hope to one day be able to give back as well.”
The big reveals –– unique at every location –– were accompanied by boisterous cheers. There also were plenty of hugs, high-fives, handshakes and a few tears.
At Harker Heights, students were tricked into thinking they were to fill out a senior survey in the library. Soon enough, a ready-for-fun group barged in with noise makers to break the good news.
At Pathways, Lilly Taylor was called out of class over the PA system and when she turned the corner into the cafeteria, dozens had gathered to applaud. Pathways principal Bobbie Reeders used Taylor’s success story as a tangible example of what’s possible as she recited an impromptu motivational speech that grabbed everyone’s attention and encouraged all to do their best.
Early College High School invited the students’ parents to bask in the celebration, which was carried out in pep-rally fashion complete with music and a giant group of classmates that saw 21 friends receive scholarships.
“I’m really surprised, honestly, but very grateful and happy and thankful. It takes a lot of stress off of me,” said Ellison’s DeShawn Sutton, who will use his scholarship to assist in finishing his associate degree at Central Texas College. “Thank you very much to the Education Foundation for this opportunity. I hope what I do with this will accomplish a lot and make them proud.”
Students were required to submit information such as their GPA and service hours, and compose an essay. The pool of applicants then was pored over by Foundation staff and board members, and awardees were matched with specific criteria of the scholarships.
“This is awesome. It was a long process but I’m glad it turned out how it did,” said Harker Heights’ Grant Schoel, who will attend Texas A&M and plans to major in Rangeland, Wildlife, & Fisheries Management.
The students’ work isn’t quite finished. To receive the money, they must produce a hand-written thank-you note –– some of them already started on that almost immediately after opening their envelopes –– and provide acceptance and enrollment information from their collegiate destinations.
The 76 winners will be featured as guests at the Distinguished Alumni and Student Scholarship Recognition banquet April 3 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.
“It’s an honor to be selected and chosen for this. I’m so thankful for everyone who helped get me this far,” said Schoel, who expressed gratitude toward the Foundation and the Harker Heights counselors. “There were a lot of moving pieces in play and they’ve helped me so much.”
Chaparral: Madeline Dano, Madison Edwards, William Hickok, Abigail Jimenez, Ahonesty Lawrence, Derek Mercado, Abbigail Watson, Amara Wiltzius
Early College: Peyton Carpenter, Aundrea Del Pozo, Jasmine Escalante, Ester Farmer, Erica Fumador, Kathrin Hernandez, Mario Hinojosa, Aariyon Holt, Camia Mateo Carrasquillo, Angel Otero, Shawn Owens, Angelea Phillips, Isabel Ramos, Ariana Ramos, Thomas Ramsey, Jessica Reesman, Evelyn Reyes, Aminah Robinson, Nelly Rodriguez, Stephany Zamora
Ellison: Kathryn Baldovino, Lynnae Bentley, Wardah Bhatti, Chanelle Cancel, Jonathan Dominguez, Jaylyn Madueno, Nabihah Nasir, A’nya Pato, DeShawn Sutton, Franke Yepez Infante
Harker Heights: Joshua Bambe, Rylee Bethune, Gabriella Del Pilar, Cheyenne Harvey, Donte Jennings, Wonkuk Lee, Jolie Mounthongdy, Isabella Rivera, Grant Schoel, Joshua Veiga, Jordan Wood
Killeen: Jazmin Arango, Anelisse Arriaga, Karina Balderas, Sophia Camacho Guerrero, Jasmine Conant, Georgia Daskalakis, Erica Escala, Janetta Fabian, Xavier Flores, Saraly Gallardo, Samantha Garcia, Stephaniel Hernriques, Veronika Irizarry, Julie Navidad, Devi Ramsumare, Dakken Thurston, Se’Arrah Wright
Shoemaker: Chilna Alcine, Carlos Diaz Torres, Brenden Findley, Anya Fishburne, Angela Nguyen, Benjamin Peevy, Jomar Rodriguez Santiago, Kadence Taylor, Rebecca Wilder
