Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Mass and scholarship presentation

IWA sophomore Gabriella Vargas (left) received scholarship from Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation members Cecilia Garcia-Akers, Jim Akers and Steve Arnold.

IWA sophomore Alexsander Villagomez (left) received scholarship from Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation members Cecilia Garcia-Akers, Jim Akers, and Steve Arnold.

On Jan. 16, the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation announced the recipients of its first distribution of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia and Wanda Fusillo Garcia Scholarship. Getting the scholarships are to Incarnate Word Academy sophomores Gabriella Vargas and Alexsander Villagómez.

The scholarships were presented after the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Mass celebrated in the Corpus Christi Cathedral. The scholarship presentation was held in the St. Joseph’s Hall at the Corpus Christi Cathedral immediately following the Mass.

Vargas and Villagómez were chosen as the scholarship’s first recipients after applying and submitting an essay on how Dr. Hector P. Garcia influenced their lives. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship to be used towards his or her junior and senior year tuition at IWA.

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation first announced the scholarship to the IWA community on Sept. 18, 2013, Dr. Hector P. Garcia Day as set forth by the Texas legislature.

IWA was chosen as the foundation’s first recipient due to the academy’s commitment to excellence in education and its close personal relationship with the family of Dr. Hector P. Garcia. All of Dr. Garcia’s daughters are graduates of IWA, and Dr. Garcia was the personal physician of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament convent for many years.

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation was organized to educate statewide and national communities about the continuing historical relevance and legacy of Dr. Hector P. Garcia. It also was organized to encourage and promote the continuation of his ideals through establishing charitable projects and education scholarships, and by working with various universities to support those whom the foundation believes share and actively strive to promote the same ideals that Dr. Garcia held so dear.

Funds will be used to provide scholarships for various individuals, including, without limitation for, veterans and other non-veteran students at the post-secondary education level who demonstrate a passion for promotion of civil liberties, and to support projects that continue and strengthen the ideals and values exemplified by Dr. Garcia.

The foundation was formed under the guidelines and rules of the IRS non-profit 501c3 and is a recognized non-profit corporation by the state of Texas.