Central High School salutatorian Keyla Contreras speaks during commencement exercises Friday at Stephen F. Austin State University’s William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches.
Central High School salutatorian Keyla Contreras speaks during commencement exercises Friday at Stephen F. Austin State University’s William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches.
A Central High School senior recently had to make a tough decision: picking one full college scholarship over another.
Keyla Contreras was recently chosen as a recipient of full rides from both the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She plans to major in biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University.
“I’m a first-generation student, so this is really a neat opportunity for me,” Keyla said.
Susie Jones, CHS’ college and career coordinator, said Central ISD superintendent Justin Risner annually receives information regarding college scholarship opportunities and forwards them to her. She shared the THECB opportunity, known as the Texas Leadership Scholars Program, with the top 10% of the senior class.
Keyla filled out the application packet. Out of 2,100 applicants, she wound up being one of just 14 students selected to receive a full ride through the TLS program.
In July of 2024, Jones nominated some CHS students for the Gates Foundation scholarship, known simply as The Gates Scholarship. Keyla was among them and received an email directly from the Gates Foundation.
That began a long process of interviews and strict deadlines throughout the past year as the foundation narrowed down the more than 48,000 applicants. On Easter Sunday Keyla was notified that she was selected to receive The Gates Scholarship.
“I had a big decision to make,” Keyla said. “I researched the benefits of each one and ended up picking Gates.”
But Keyla is not the only local recipient of this scholarship. In fact, she’s not even the only member of the Contreras family to receive the same. Her cousin Isabel, who attends Baylor University, received the Gates Scholarship in 2023.
“I have to think there aren’t too many families who can say they have two Gates Scholars,” Jones said.
Following Friday’s graduation ceremony (Keyla is salutatorian), she will attend 11-hour virtual meeting sessions each Saturday and Sunday to get to know other recipients. This summer she and this year’s other 779 recipients will attend the Gates Scholarship Summer Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Gates Scholarship will cover all Keyla’s college expenses, including a computer, food, housing and insurance. She is eligible for five years of free school, including up to a year in study abroad programs. Additionally, the foundation provides a liason on campus in College Station.
“The support network from the Gates Foundation is great,” Keyla said. “It continues on and could lead to job opportunities in the future.”
Keyla is the vice president of the CHS National Honor Society chapter and competes on the robotics team. She is also a member of the superintendent’s advisory committee and the Drug Free All-Stars.
Central High School’s graduation was held Friday night inside the William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches.
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