Zachary Charles Perez
Victoria Jade Perez
Joshua Carl Perez

Home Town: Edinburg, Texas
High School: Robert Vela H.S.
Recipient Years: 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 & 2017-2018
Institution: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Field of Study: Biological Sciences

ABOUT

Zachary started a Master’s in Biology at UTRGV while preparing for MCAT and starting his Medical School application. Victoria started a Master’s in Manufacturing Engineering at UTRGV with the hopes of becoming a Physician Engineer in the future. Joshua was accepted to the University of Texas-Austin School of Pharmacy where he will begin his PHARMD program in August of 2018

QUOTE

“We are so honored and thankful that we have been Stars Scholarship Fund recipients and that we are a Stars Scholarship Fund Family. With these scholarships, we have been able to focus on our studies, join university organizations and volunteer and provide services for various community events. Our family is grateful for your generosity. Without STARS Scholarship Fund, it would have been very difficult to complete our bachelor’s degrees and start our advanced degrees in STEM, Pharmacy and Health Services.”

Katarina Chapa

Home Town: Weslaco, Texas
High School: South Texas High School For Health Professionals
Recipient Years: 2015-2016, 2016-2017 & 2017-2018
Institution: Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Field of Study: Biological Sciences

ABOUT

Currently I am living in Corpus Christi, TX and working at the best job ever as a stay at home mom. My son was 4 weeks old when I graduated from Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and I am extremely proud to have had him there to watch me walk the stage. While in college, I maintained a job as a resident advisor on campus, while pursuing my studies and participating in extracurriculars. One of my greatest accomplishments while in college was getting my university recognized in a project in the Rio Grande Valley. Las Botas de Mercedes is a project in Mercedes, TX to support higher education, in which 3.5 ft tall aluminum boots are displayed all throughout town, each representing a different university. When I saw that my university was not represented, I got into contact with the city and fundraised enough money to have TAMU-CC added to the project. Our boot was placed in front of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Public Library, because of Dr. Garcia’s influence in both Corpus Christi and Mercedes. I was deemed an Outstanding Islander and received the Vice President’s Student Impact Award as a result of my commitment to the university. Currently, I am pursing my graduate degree.

QUOTE

“Stars Scholarship Fund is more than just a scholarship fund. It is a lasting community you become a part of with like-minded individuals all excited to see each other succeed. Besides the financial support provided by Stars Scholarship Fund, Stars Scholarship has introduced me to an incredible network of wonderful individuals all looking to make a difference in the world. I am extremely grateful to have met the wonderful people who make this scholarship fund possible as well as other scholarship recipients. As a result of Stars Scholarship Fund, I always felt supported, both financially and personally, to achieve my full potential while in college.”

Bianca Desiree Diaz

Home Town: Corpus Christi, Texas
High School: Collegiate High School
Recipient Years: 2017-2018
Institution: University of the Incarnate Word
Field of Study: Social Sciences

ABOUT

A recent graduate of UIW, I am now putting my degree to good use by working at San Marcos Treatment Center. SMTC is a residential treatment facility for children up to age 17 diagnosed with a wide range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. I plan to further my education at Texas State University. In the Fall of 2018 I will be starting a Master’s program for Professional Counseling. For now, my main goal is to integrate my knowledge with the real world, and figure out how this ‘Adulting’ thing works. It’s going pretty well so far!

QUOTE

“The Stars Scholarship allowed me to better focus on my senior year wholeheartedly. In years past, without the scholarship, I’d spent entire semesters so focused on whether or not I’d be able to pay tuition by the end of the semester that the financial strain of it all began to affect my performance and emotional/mental ability to tackle college. With this scholarship, I was able to go beyond what I thought I could handle during my final year as an undergraduate student. I was able to take on leadership roles within my university, volunteer positions that allowed me to put my knowledge to good use, and I was able to do research with one of my professors, and even present it at a regional conference. All without financial distress. I was able to achieve a great deal as a result of the financial security I earned by receiving the Stars Scholarship. I will be forever grateful, and the Stars Scholarship will always be a key memory from my final undergraduate year!”

Richard Villareal

Home Town: San Juan, Texas
High School: Fordson High School
Recipient Years: 2017-2018
Institution: South Texas College
Field of Study: Education

ABOUT

I am still attending college full time at Texas A&M Kingville to complete my Bachelors in Education. I work part as a local truck driver delivering trailers around Hidalgo county. At South Texas College I graduated with honors and maintained a 3.85 grade average. I participated in student organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society where I was elected Vice President. I was also an officer in the student group Writers in Literary Discussion and held the title of treasurer. I try to remain active in the community by volunteering for the Ambassadors of the Arts for the city of McAllen, but full time academics and part-time work has been demanding of my time. I recently completed a study abroad program with South Texas College and was awarded a Benjamin Gilman Scholarship for the trip to Spain, where we studied at the University of Salamanca.

QUOTE

“The Star Scholarship Award has reaffirmed the committment I have to put forth to improve myself through education and my goal to serve my community.”

Ava Krysteen Salazar

Home Town: Beeville, Texas
High School: A.C. Jones High School
Recipient Years: 2017-2018
Institution: Coastal Bend College
Field of Study: Business and Management

ABOUT

I graduated this past May with my Associated degree at Coastal Bend College. I am currently working at CBC in the Business Office as a cashier/technician. This upcoming Fall, I am going to Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi to major in Accounting. I plan to graduate with my Master’s degree to become a Certified Public Accountant and one day open my own accounting firm.

QUOTE

“With my father passing away and two kids in college, the Stars Scholarship helped alleviate some of the financial burden from my mother. ”

Jesus Minjares Martinez, Jr.

Home Town: Tornillo, Texas
High School: Tornillo High School
Recipient Years: 2017-2018
Institution: El Paso Community College
Field of Study: Engineering

ABOUT

I was able to finish my associate of science in electrical engineer this past may. Throughout my community college experience, I was able to get various scholarships including the Stars Scholarship. I have been truly blessed for such opportunities. I took part in a program called SSTEM at EPCC which gave my the chance of working with different individuals whose career was opposite of mine. Despite the differences in careers, we were able to work together and elaborate a project which was quite awesome. I will be attending University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) this upcoming fall pursuing my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineer and also my masters. There are so many milestones to achieve but due to the Stars Scholarship, I have gotten this far.

QUOTE

“The Stars Scholarship is indeed a scholarship that is so beneficial for students. I come from a middle-class family and I do not receive any excessive amount of financial aid. My family and I have always been on a budget and saving money it is quite hard for us. However, due to the Stars Scholarship, I was able to pay my tuition without any hassled. I am truly blessed to say I am a Stars Alumni. Students are always scared to apply for a scholarship for the fear of reject or lace of willing to fill out the application. I was in their same shoes once, and now I have gotten a total of four scholarships and paid all my associate degree with it. Once again Stars Scholarship thank you.”

Roberto Apolinar Villarreal

Home Town: Aransas Pass, Texas
High School: Aransas Pass High School
Recipient Years: 2015-2016 & 2017-2018
Institution: Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Field of Study: Business and Management

ABOUT

I just received a job offer from Adlucent, a digital marketing agency specializing in the retail industry, in Austin, Texas and start work on July 16th, 2018. I am thrilled to work for an awesome agency and find work that directly corresponds with my degree.

QUOTE

“Figuring out how to pay for college is one of the most stressful parts of earning a degree. The Stars scholarship relieved me of such a burden that allowed me to focus more on excelling in school. I graduated college with a healthy amount of debt and I owe part of my academic success to the Stars Scholarship Fund. I made the Stars Scholarship Fund proud by earning a 3.9 GPA upon completing my degree.”