The Galleria Chamber of Commerce presented Memorial High School graduate Amanda Kvinta with a $1,500 scholarship June 9 during the group’s sixth annual Vintner Dinner. In addition, Kvinta was given a trunk, valued at $1,700, filled with costly but necessary college supplies, including a laptop computer.
“Most scholarships help ease the burden of skyrocketing tuition for college freshmen, but few programs address the cost of supplies for students,” Galleria Chamber president Don Sweat said. “To fill that gap, the Galleria business community not only awards $1,500 scholarships but also gives students Chamber College Trunks filled with valuable supplies necessary for campus life.”
Kvinta was also given the opportunity to present the Chamber’s PathMaker Award for excellence and dedication to Dr. Ann Williams in recognition of a teacher who had profoundly affected her life. Dr. Williams has been teaching English for 29 years, and currently teaches Shakespeare and Advanced Placement Dual Credit English classes at Memorial High.
Kvinta and three Houston ISD students from Lee, Early Challenge and Lamar high schools, were chosen from about 40 area high school seniors who had submitted scholarship applications in April. Kvinta and the other three scholarship recipients were selected based on grade-point average, College Board test scores, community service, school activities, leadership, work experience and socioeconomic hardship.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House hosted this year’s Vintner Dinner, and Messina Hof Winery supplied select vintages. Thank you to all of the generous sponsors involved with this scholarship, and congratulations to Amanda and Dr. Williams!
For more information about the Galleria Chamber of Commerce, visit www.galleriachamber.com.
Written by: Kelli Trapnell, Communications Intern