PHARR, Texas – Continuing its mission of making students’ post-secondary education dreams a reality, the PSJA Education Foundation recently awarded over $348,000 in scholarships to 160 seniors in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) in addition to a little over $54,000 provided to teachers for grants and literacy initiatives.
“It is an honor to continue to be able to help our students with their post-secondary education, funding innovative classroom projects through Mini Grants, and giving to help promote literacy districtwide,” said the PSJA Education Foundation President Jesus “Jesse” Vela, Jr. “This is not possible without every single person who donates and contributes each year. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”
Founded in 2013, the PSJA Education Foundation comprised of mostly proud PSJA ISD Alumni, has helped enhance educational opportunities for the youth and families of PSJA ISD thanks to sponsorships and donations from alumni, local businesses, and hundreds of district staff members through monthly payroll deductions.
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Each year, the most coveted award given to the top-rated applicant per high school is the Joel “Joey” Gonzalez Presidential Scholarship worth a total of $16,000 for a four-year period. This was the fifth year this commemorative scholarship, honoring the memory of the Foundation’s first President, is given to five PSJA ISD graduates: Alma Carrillo from PSJA ECHS; Amanda Martinez from PSJA North ECHS; Paulina Hernandez from PSJA Memorial ECHS; Adrian Avendano from PSJA Southwest ECHS; and Kailey Wilson from PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM ECHS.
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In addition, the Foundation awarded the 3rd Annual Dr. Daniel P. King Leadership Scholarship worth $10,000 for a four-year period in honor of Retired PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Daniel P. King. The recipients were: Ana Gutierrez from PSJA ECHS; Sarah Rodriguez from PSJA North ECHS; Aaron Pulido Salinas from PSJA Memorial ECHS; and Anaelda Ramos from PSJA Southwest ECHS.
The first Superintendent Leadership Scholarships in the amount of $1,500 made possible with proceeds from the 2022 PSJA State of the District were also awarded this year to: Natalia Cavazos, PSJA ECHS; Ashley Cantu, PSJA North ECHS; Juan Ramirez, PSJA Memorial ECHS; Ana Rodriguez, PSJA Southwest ECHS; and Samuel Rebollo Quiñones, PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM ECHS.
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Thanks to the continuing support from generous donors, the PSJA Education Foundation has raised and awarded over $2.6 million to students and educators in PSJA ISD within a 10-year period.