IWA student attends college through gift from Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Incarnate Word Academy senior Cristian Fernandez has received a full one-year scholarship to study at Texas A&M University-Kingsville beginning this fall semester. The scholarship was donated by A&M-Kingsville.

A&M-Kingsville President Dr. Steven H. Tallant and Manuel Lujan, associate vice president for enrollment management, presented the scholarship to Fernandez at a luncheon on Monday, May 20.

Fernandez, who plans on majoring in business administration, said he is happy to learn that he was the chosen recipient for the scholarship.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” said Fernandez, who will be the first in his family to attend college. “It feels good because I will be able to have the education that my parents were not able to have.”

The scholarship was donated to IWA as an auction item at the school’s annual benefit gala early this spring. Gloria Hicks, an IWA grandparent, bid the scholarship and then donated the scholarship back to IWA.

Fernandez was chosen by IWA President Charles D. Imbergamo to receive the scholarship.

This past fall, IWA announced a partnership with A&M-Kingsville to begin a dual-enrollment program for juniors and seniors.

This program will provide students with greater access to rigorous college course work while in high school, and bridge the divide between high school and college – providing an affordable option to get ahead. This program also will continue the transition of well-motivated students to higher education, and access new ways of integrating levels of schooling to better serve the intellectual and developmental needs of college-bound students.

This school year, 100 percent of IWA’s seniors have applied to at least one Texas college or university. Thirty-three or 46 percent of seniors have applied to a local college or university and 11 or 15 percent of those students have made a final decision to remain local. Many of these students understand the importance of studying and working in the south Texas area–allowing themselves to further their education to help build a stronger community.