TYLER, Texas (KLTV) -The University of Texas at Tyler surprises recipients of their Honors College Scholarships at Van High School.
From books to tuition and fees, college can get expensive. For high school seniors Sean Dangerfield, Ariana Martinez, and Cindy Landaverde from Van High School in East Texas, the weight of paying for college has been lifted off their shoulders.
The three high school seniors just got one step closer to fulfilling their college dreams, including Landaverde.
“I still really wanted to go to college and have a career and this really showed my parents that I can…oh my gosh..“ says Landaverde. ”It really showed them that I can do it.”
Winning the scholarship reminded her of how far she’s come as a first generation college applicant with the drive to be the first in her family to graduate from college.
“Like I’m the older sister and everything,” says Landaverde as she fights back her tears. “So, I’m not used to this.”
Over 500 students from across the state of Texas applied to the elite Honors College scholarship program for the University of Texas at Tyler, but only 20 received an award.
“To get honors scholars and get the large scholarship money is even more competitive,” says UT Tyler President, Julie V. Philley.
For Dangerfield, he was amongst a few selected to win the Honors Scholars of a total of $40,000 in scholarship money.
“I’ve been planning to go to UT Tyler for a really long time now,” says Dangerfield.
He says he is wanting to go to college to become a mechanical engineer.
“This is a really big step towards that dream,” says Dangerfield.
For Martinez, who is also a first generation college applicant, she says she’s excited to be able to study something she’s passionate about.
“I want to be a doctor,” says Martinez. “So that means I’m going to be able to go to college and afford school because my parents can’t afford it, so it just means a lot to me.”
With only a few months away from graduation, they feel prepared for the opportunities ahead of them.
UT Tyler has expanded their Patriot Promise Program this year. If a student’s family makes $100,000 a year or less, they’ll be able to receive tuition and fee free at UT Tyler when applying.
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