Eight graduating seniors from Westchester Academy of International Studies (WAIS) were each awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Westchester Alumni Association (WAA) during the academy’s Upper School Honors Night on May 14.
The scholarship recipients, Blair Bagwell, Diane Duann, Emily Pyle, Cristina Rodriguez, Isabel Rodriguez, Jordan Schipul, Kyle Smith, and Andrew Weikel, were each involved in numerous outstanding organizations and academic programs such as the International Baccalaureate Program, Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Director’s Advisory Council.
They also took part in various community service organizations and events such as Amigos Latinas for College, Campus Reforestation, Rotary Interact Club, Pennies for Patients as part of the National Cancer Campaign, and musical performances at various nursing homes in the city. In addition, they were also involved in activities and memberships such as theatre, drill team, lacrosse, tennis, math and medical clubs, yearbook staff and student council.
The WAA has sponsored the Westchester Alumni Association Student Scholarship Program since the award was established in 2005. Pamela Mudd Conlan, WAA Board Member/Treasurer and Westchester Class of ’73, was instrumental in the development of the WAA Scholarship Program.
WAA Board Member/Scholarship Fundraising Chairman David West, Westchester Class of ’73, worked to increase program awareness and funding this year. “There was no way I could turn down the opportunity to work with the WAA in securing scholarship funding for the graduating seniors of Westchester,” he said.
“Costs for attending a college or university have risen enormously since I attended Texas A&M, and we need to do anything we can to assist these students in pursuing higher education and securing their place in the future workforce of Texas.”
There are no administrative expenses for this program, and every dollar collected is earmarked for scholarships to Westchester Academy graduating seniors. Special thanks go to all of the generous donors who made these eight scholarships possible. To donate, go to www.westchesterwildcats.blogspot.com and click on the link for the Spring Branch Education Fund, or visit the Association’s blog at WAA Blog, for more information.
Written by: Kelli Trapnell, Communications Intern