UTSA names 22 new Roadrunners as 2023-2024 Terry Scholars

MAY 15, 2023 — UTSA announced today that 22 students from across Texas have been selected by the Terry Foundation® to be Terry Scholars® at UTSA. This competitive scholarship program is designed to help high achieving, motivated and community-minded students develop in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and community.

Terry Scholars are distinguished by a deep rooted desire to enrich the general welfare of the community and an established record of leadership.

Created by Houston philanthropists Howard and Nancy Terry in 1986, the Terry Foundation is the largest private scholarship provider in Texas. Terry Scholarships are awarded at 13 Texas public universities. Terry Scholars are selected based on three criteria: academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and financial need.

The Terry Scholarship is a last dollar scholarship that provides Texas high school seniors entering their first year in college with up to eight semesters of funding toward their first bachelor’s degree. The scholars also receive funding to support a study abroad experience.

Additionally, Terry Scholars at UTSA participate in regular service projects and enjoy the camaraderie of being part of community of scholars whose lives are enriched by making a difference in their communities.

“Terry Scholars at UTSA have a record of getting involved and giving back to their communities in remarkable ways,” said Kristi Meyer, assistant dean for special programs within the UTSA Honors College. “They come to UTSA with a deep desire to serve and leave with the knowledge, experiences, skills and confidence to focus that passion into careers and other efforts that make a lasting impact in Texas and beyond.”

Fall 2023 Cohort of Terry Scholars at UTSA

Aerial Arizola, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy. She will join UTSA as a business analytics major.

Angela Avila, a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a senior at Collegiate High School. She will join UTSA as an interdisciplinary studies major.

Brayton Beam, a resident of Sealy, Texas, is a senior at Sealy High School. He will join UTSA as a computer science major.

Aileen Campos, a resident of Weslaco, Texas, is a senior at Donna High School. She will join UTSA as a communication major.

Pedro Cordova, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School. He will join UTSA as a computer science major.

Claudia Garcia, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School. She will join UTSA as a biology major.

Diamond Gomez, a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a senior at Foy H. Moody High School. She will join UTSA as a criminology and criminal justice major.

Jaqueline “Jackie” Gonzalez, a resident of Laredo, Texas, is a senior at Lyndon B. Johnson High School. She will join UTSA as a kinesiology major.

Bethany Gordon, a resident of Houston, Texas, is a senior at Clear Lake High School. She will join UTSA as a biomedical engineering major.

Daniel Guel, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at STEM Early College High School. He will join UTSA as a mechanical engineering major.

Marissa “Mars” Guel, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at STEM Early College High School. They will join UTSA as a multidisciplinary studies-cyber intelligence major.

D’Vonne Hmielewski, a resident of Sealy, Texas, is a senior at Sealy High School. He will join UTSA as a computer science major.

Uyen-Ngoc “Natalie” Le, a resident of Houston, Texas, is a senior at Cypress Lakes High School. She will join UTSA as a cybersecurity major.

Jasmine Leal, a resident of Mathis, Texas, is a senior at Mathis High School. She will join UTSA as a management major.

Tory Marin, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at East Central High School. She will join UTSA as a mechanical engineering major.

Javier Martinez-Ortiz, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School. He will join UTSA as an electrical engineering major.

Natalia Morado-Mata, a resident of Laredo, Texas, is a senior at Julieta & Frank Staggs Academy of International and STEM Studies. She will join UTSA as a biology major.

Abigail Navarro, a resident of El Paso, Texas, is a senior at J.M. Hanks High School. She will join UTSA as a biology major.

Yanelly Palao, a resident of Del Rio, Texas, is a senior at Del Rio High School. She will join UTSA as a kinesiology major.

Kylee Reid, a resident of Uvalde, Texas, is a senior at Uvalde High School. She will join UTSA majoring in cybersecurity and art.

Sarah-Esther “Sarah” Sarabia, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at STEM Early College High School. She will join UTSA as a biology major.

Alyssa Sierra, a resident of San Antonio, is a senior at Young Women’s Leadership Academy. She will join UTSA as a kinesiology major.

“Each new Terry Scholar is selected after a personal interview with a panel comprised of current and former Terry Scholars and members of the Foundation Board of Directors,” said Yvonne Moody, Terry Foundation president and executive director. “We believe in the immense potential of these students and hope to cultivate that potential for the betterment of our state and nation. Terry Scholars are provided a tremendous support network and last-dollar funding which allows them to graduate debt free. We know this sets them up for success and opens future doors of opportunity. We congratulate the 2023 Terry Scholars and are eager to watch them grow and thrive in the years to come.”

Terry Scholars must be Texas residents who are entering college for the first time, rank in the top 25% of their high school class, possess a strong record of community volunteerism and leadership, and demonstrate financial need. The most competitive candidates have a demonstrated history of involvement in activities, outstanding scholastic achievement and a well-rounded personality marked by a desire to succeed.

Applications for the incoming Fall 2024 class will open in September 2023 and are due on December 1, 2023.

Terry Scholars at UTSA also benefit from being part of the diverse and close-knit community of scholars within the Honors College. Home to about 1,800 hardworking, achievement-oriented, conscientious students across all majors, the UTSA Honors College offers one of the most unique experiential honors curricula in the nation. Its practical, hands-on approach to learning allows students to chart their own path and achieve their highest potential. In addition to the Terry Scholar program, the college also manages the prestigious UTSA Top Scholar program.

— KC Gonzalez