The College Station ISD Education Foundation awarded a record-breaking $212,000 in scholarships to 124 graduating seniors on Monday, May 11, at the Brazos Center in Bryan. Students, families, donors, and community members gathered to celebrate the recipients at the Foundation’s annual scholarship reception, sponsored by Avinext.
“We are excited to support graduating seniors as they pursue higher education and prepare for the workforce,” said CSISD Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Benden. “It is only through the incredible support of our community that we are able to help launch these students into the next chapter of their lives.”
Scholarships will support students pursuing a wide variety of postsecondary pathways, including technical schools, four-year universities, and Ivy League institutions. Recipients plan to study fields such as aviation, agriculture, business, engineering, education, healthcare, and skilled trades.
Scholarship awards ranged from $1,000 to $4,000 and were based on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, community service, financial need, and vocational pursuits.
These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of local businesses, organizations, families, and community members. This year’s leading corporate sponsors included Amarillo National Bank, FUJIFILM Diosynth Technologies, H-E-B, Mercedes-Benz of College Station, St. Joseph Health, Van Stavern Small Animal Hospital, and VLK Architects. In addition, local families and community groups funded academic, career and technology, special interest, and memorial scholarships.
“Avinext is proud to partner with the Education Foundation to encourage young leaders as they pursue their career goals,” said Robert Orzabal, Avinext President & CEO and CSISD Education Foundation board member. “We see this as a critical investment in the future of our community.”
The Education Foundation accepts scholarship applications annually from December through March. Applications are reviewed in April by a Foundation board committee, and scholarships are awarded each May. Recipients are selected through a blind review process based on scholarship criteria, academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and volunteerism.
