Project GRAD Houston honors HISD scholarship recipients
HOUSTON – College scholarships was recently awarded to over 750 Houston Independent School District (HISD) students – a more than $3 million scholarship commitment – recently at the George R. Brown Convention Center. For the 21st consecutive year, Project GRAD Houston awarded college scholarships to seniors from the 2012 graduating classes of Davis, Reagan, Sam Houston, Wheatley and Yates High Schools.
The theme for the evening, “From Diplomas to Degrees,” captured the intent of the Project GRAD scholars to continue their educational journey beyond high school. Invited family members and school district officials observed as each recipient received a medallion to wear at their school’s graduation ceremony – a visible symbol of meeting all the requirements of the scholarship. Guest speakers for the evening included scholarship recipients from each of the HISD/Project GRAD high schools, Project GRAD co-founders James and Kathryn Ketelsen, and college-graduated GRAD scholars.
“With 56 percent of all jobs in Texas requiring some sort of college education by 2018, and only 34 percent of adults in Texas currently having a degree, our students’ college pursuits are an investment in not only their own futures, but also in the future of Texas,” says Dr. Ann B. Stiles, Project GRAD Houston Executive Director.
This year’s graduates join over 6,000 other qualifiers who have enrolled in college with the Project GRAD scholarship since the program’s inception in 1992, an investment of more than $24 million from Project GRAD Houston, the El Paso Corporate Foundation, the James P. Grizzard Foundation, LINN Energy, the Edgar and Mary Frances Monteith Education Fund, the Fayez Sarofim Education Fund, the U.S. Department of Education – GEAR UP Trust, and other community partners. Visit www.projectgradhouston.org for more information.
