By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 23, 2023 – Twenty-four students soon will join the exclusive group known as the UTRGV Luminary Scholars. 

Last year, 24 students also made up the first cohort of scholars for UTRGV’s prestigious scholarship program. The program was made possible thanks to the historic $40 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, meant to enhance the university’s mission of improving student success and expanding educational opportunities. 

Also, donors H-E-B and Serafy Foundation helped with the Luminary Scholars program.

The new cohort and their families were welcomed to UTRGV at a banquet Monday, Aug. 21, at the Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg Campus. Students met with college deans, university leadership, UTRGV President Guy Bailey, and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Luis H. Zayas.

Bailey welcomed the scholars with inspiring words as they start their college journey and recognized the families for their support, and for entrusting the university with their child’s education. 

“When we talk about our future, you really are the future,” Bailey said. “Scholars are going to stay in the Rio Grande Valley and make this place an even better place to live. Students, thank you for choosing us. What we commit to you is a great education and setting you up for a wonderful future.” 

UTRGV kicks off the Fall 2023 semester on Monday, Aug. 28.

The scholarship program offers incoming undergraduate students room and board for the first two years and full tuition and mandatory fees for all four years.  In addition, full tuition and mandatory fees are also covered for a graduate or professional program, including the UTRGV School of Medicine or the School of Podiatric Medicine.   

The new students are all from Texas, from the Rio Grande Valley to League City, and from a variety of academic disciplines: 

• Karen Morales Barksdale, Mission, Accountancy.
• Marlina Perez, Raymondville, Marketing.
• Carlos Botello, Edinburg, Accountancy.
• Melody Beltran, Brownsville, Early Care and Early Childhood.
• Mia Adame, Mission, Mechanical Engineering.
• Nathaniel Deleon, Pharr, Mechanical Engineering.
• Francisco Espinoza, Edinburg, Mechanical Engineering.
• Diego Sepulveda, League City, Mechanical Engineering.
• Daniel Vela, Pharr, Music.
• Rosalisa Perez, San Antonio, Visual Communication Design.
• Kathy De Los Santos, Hidalgo, Biomedical Sciences.
• Daniela Garcia, Brownsville, Biomedical Sciences (Vaquero MD).
• Henree Maxine Ygona, Mission, Biomedical Sciences (Vaquero MD).
• Julissa Amaro Castillo, Brownsville, Biomedical Sciences.
• Natalie De Leon, San Benito, Integrated Health Sciences/Pre-Nursing.
• Tea Anderson, Port Mansfield, Integrated Health Sciences/Pre-Nursing.
• Emma Pezeshki, San Benito, Psychology.
• Sasha Rivera, Elsa, Psychology.
• Javier Gonzalez, Harlingen, Biology.
• Emily Morin, Edinburg, Biology (Vaquero MD).
• Julio De La Fuente Villarreal, McAllen, Biology (Vaquero MD).
• Julissa Pena, Zapata, Biology.
• Aidan Mata, Mission, Biology.
• Isela Torres, Alice, Mathematics.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey welcomes a new Luminary Scholar during a banquet held on Monday, Aug. 21, in honor of the 24 students who were awarded the scholarship. The scholarship program offers full tuition and fees for all four undergraduate years, and full tuition fees for professional or undergraduate programs the student is admitted to, including the UTRGV School of Medicine and UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

MAKING A PLEDGE 

Each of the selected Scholars takes a pledge to work in the Rio Grande Valley for each year beyond their undergraduate education that is funded. 

Pezeshki, from San Benito, was joined at the banquet by her parents, David and Maricela Pezeshki. Her plans are to major in psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology.  

Her world changed when she found out she was a Luminary Scholar, she said. 

“I felt so invigorated and motivated to change what the Valley can be and to be able to provide mental health services. It was so inspiring to receive this,” she said. 

Her parents said they are proud of what she has accomplished and want her to enjoy the college experience.

“When she told us she had gotten in, we were surprised and happy at the same time. We are very proud of her, she worked really hard to get it,” her father said. “All the credit goes to her.”

Fellow Scholar Botello, of Edinburg, said being a Luminary Scholar showcases the hard work and dedication he showed throughout his high school years. 

As he begins his college journey as a first-generation college student, he said, everything he does is for his parents, who gave him some great advice as he embarks on this new venture. 

“They told me to keep pushing through. There are going to be hard times, but they taught me we can prevail through them,” the accountancy major said. 

The majority of Luminary Scholars admitted are from the Valley, but a few are from around Texas. One of those students is Diego Sepulveda, from League City. He aspires to work in the mechanical engineering field, and what drew him to UTRGV was the engineering program. 

“I know the College of Engineering is a strong program within Texas, and I am excited for that,” he said. “The professors seem pretty chill and everything about the class aspect seems great.”  

His parents, Agripin Sepulveda Jr. and Angela Sepulveda are both from Edinburg and UTRGV legacy alumni. 

“We were really excited that he was able to receive this wonderful scholarship,” his mother said. “He’s the oldest of four, and this is a huge blessing. Most importantly it was something he wanted for himself. We’re so proud. My daughter is 16 and looks up to him a lot. And she’s thinking about attending UTRGV.”

 Learn more about the Luminary Scholarship Program by visiting utrgv.edu/luminary.

UTRGV administration and college deans welcomed the second cohort of the Luminary Scholars program. The new students are all from Texas, from the Rio Grande Valley to League City, and from a variety of academic disciplines. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)