Hoffman Foundation Scholarship

2007 Scholarship Recipients

Lola Ayala

Mirabeau Lamar High School

University of Houston

The loss of both parents might prompt some students to give in to sadness and defeatism, but Lola Ayala has refused to let such a tragedy stand in the way of her academic success. Thanks to a lot of hard work and dedication, she has been an outstanding student at Mirabeau Lamar High School and is a member of the National Honor Society. She has achieved this academic success while also working as a hostess at the Monsoon Wok & Lounge and a model for the Hollister Company.

In her spare time, Lola enjoys dancing, and her commitment to community service has led her to help build houses for low-income-earning people as part of the renowned Habitat for Humanity program and to do volunteer work with her church and the Knights of Columbus. Knowing that a college education is essential to a successful future, she plans to attend the University of Houston and a fashion institute and study cosmetology, and her career plans focus on work in the fashion, cosmetics, or magazine-publishing industries.

Mecca Bellard

Kashmere High School

University of Houston

Mecca Bellard is a proud product of the Houston Independent School District. She attended J. C. McDade and Kashmere Gardens Elementary Schools and Francis Scott Key Middle School, where she was a member of the National Junior Honor Society in grades 6 through 8. After joining the student body of Kashmere High School, she became a member of the Technology Club and served as the president of the Ram Guard Squad for two years. She was also accepted into the National Achievers Society and served as Student Council president in 2006.

As a junior, Mecca pursued extracurricular activities such as softball and golf while also working at Fiesta and serving as the president of the Student Council. She has done volunteer work for the Houston Urban League, and her hobbies include reading and writing poetry. Realizing that college is a place where a young person can start a new life, she plans to attend the University of Houston and earn a degree in Human Development and Family Studies so she can “influence children to make something of themselves.”

Eva Briones

Stephen F. Austin High School

University of Houston

Working up to 40 hours a week as a cashier has not prevented Eva Briones from succeeding in high school. For the past three years, the Honor Roll student has carried a full load of Advanced Placement and honors courses at Stephen F. Austin High School while working to help her family make ends meet. She has also found time to participate in extracurricular activities such as the Science Club (in which she served as the treasurer), Empowering Teen Leaders, the National Honor Society, and the Academic Achievers Program, a college-preparatory program sponsored by the City of Houston.

She has committed more than 250 hours of her time to community service while participating in such events and projects as school and beach clean-ups, food drives, and Toys for Tots toy drives. A dedicated worker who also earned Employee of the Month honors at Fiesta, she plans to attend the University of Houston as the first step in achieving her longtime dream of helping neglected and abused children by becoming a clinical psychologist. “I want to take advantage of every opportunity presented,” says Eva, “because I know it will pay off later on.”

Tearra Brown

Evan Worthing High School

University of Texas at Austin

Tearra Brown is dedicated to being successful. Competition brings out the best in her, she says, and she has definitely excelled. Ranked number three in her graduating class at Evan Worthing High School, where she has a perfect attendance record, she is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Honor Roll, and Worthing’s Book Club. The first person in her family to go to college, she plans to study biology at the University of Texas at Austin with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatrician.

Tearra’s commitment to “giving back to my community and educating young people” has led her to mentor students at Buchanan Grimes Elementary School and to volunteer in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. A gifted athlete and performer as well as a high-achieving student, she was a member of the Worthing track team and softball team and was captain of the dance team for three years. Her other activities include serving as Miss Worthing and working as a photographer on the yearbook committee. She also enjoys dancing, playing outdoor sports, and creating routines for Worthing’s drill team.

Ashley Carter

Phillis Wheatley High School

Prairie View A&M University

Described by those who know her as “energetic,” “respectful,” and “someone who takes pride in her work,” Ashley Carter is someone who perseveres in the face of adversity. “The ability to adapt to different situations is vital,” notes Wheatley High School registrar Bennie Smith, “and her talent for this is uncanny.”

Ashley has worked hard to become the second person in her family to attend college, and Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) helped her pursue that dream. But she is committed to serving others as well as to getting a good education. She has worked as an office assistant in the counselor’s office at Phillis Wheatley High School and as a volunteer at the Pleasant Hill Retirement Center.

Ashley has also worked at Wheatley’s Go-Center, which helps students research and apply for college scholarships. She has taken part in the Talent Search, 21st Century College Prep, and Communities in Schools programs, and she is a member of the Diamonds of Excellence program for young women. To continue serving the community, Ashley will major in nursing at Prairie View A&M University.

Tony Chan

Phillis Wheatley High School

University of Houston

Tony Chan has big dreams, and he is willing to work hard to achieve them because he knows that extraordinary effort can produce success. His mother walked through mine fields with her family to escape war-torn Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era, which allowed her to create a better life for herself in America.

Tony also knows that a college education is the key to a successful life, and he has been an outstanding student so that he can go to college and be a good role model for his younger brothers and sisters. Described by those who know him as “an excellent student” and a “future leader with sound judgment,” Tony is also a member of the National Honor Society. He was awarded the Superior Cadet Ribbon as a member of the Phillis Wheatley High School JROTC, and has also served as co-commander of Wheatley’s award-winning JROTC drill team.

Always fascinated by “how technology has changed the way the world works,” Tony plans to study computer engineering and mechanical engineering at the University of Houston because “I want to create something that changes people’s lives.”

Lacey Chapron

Booker T. Washington High School

Prairie View A&M University

An honor student at Booker T. Washington High School, Lacey Chapron knows the profound effect that teachers have on their students. That is why she is determined to become a teacher herself. “I want to help underachievers and underprivileged children become productive members of our community,” she says, so “I plan to attend Prairie View A&M University and major in secondary education. But my ultimate career goal is to become the superintendent of a school district so I can help set higher education standards.”

Lacey spent three years in Booker T. Washington High School for the Engineering Professions, and is ranked in the top 15 percent of her class. A student leader as well as an outstanding student, she is a drum majorette for the Washington High marching band and a member of the Mademoiselles social club, the Student Leadership team, and the Mayor’s Youth Council. She enjoys dancing enough to consider making dance her minor in college, and her community activities include participation in the Breast Cancer “Race for the Cure” Walk, Thanksgiving Feast, and Houston International Festival."

Fernando Chávez

Barbara Jordan High School for Careers

West Point

Fernando Chávez has always wanted to accomplish noteworthy things, and he has definitely succeeded. He will be the first person in his family to attend college, the first person in his family to serve in the armed forces, and the first graduate of Barbara Jordan High School for Careers to attend any of the United States military academies.

Accepted into West Point, Fernando plans to earn a bachelor of science degree and then serve as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. His preparation for a military career includes outstanding service in the Jordan High JROTC, where he was assistant commander of the Silver Guard non-service-weapon drill team, head of the JROTC Peer Tutorial program, and executive officer of the Barbara Jordan Third Battalion.

Fernando’s academic record is just as impressive. Ranked number three in his class and a member of the Honor Roll and Student Advisory Board, he was president of his junior class and has won five Barbara Jordan Academy Advanced Placement and Pre-Advanced Placement awards.

 

Zuri Dale

Barbara Jordan High School for Careers

Texas Southern University

Zuri, who graduated in the top five percent of her class, learned from watching her mother struggle that “education is the only way to inoculate myself and my family against…desperate financial situations.” The youngest of five children—and only the second member of her family to attend college—she feels an obligation to be her very best so that she can make a difference in society.

To accomplish this goal, Zuri takes her education seriously, maintaining both perfect attendance and a 4.1 GPA while taking Advanced Placement courses. She also strives to improve the world around her by taking on leadership roles in the National Honor Society, the Mayor’s Youth Council, and the Principal’s Student Advisory Board.

Described as a “visionary whose character is above reproach,” Zuri won a Gold Key for writing in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and served as a Mickey Leland Kibbutzim Ambassador to Israel, where she helped teach children while representing the United States.

Zuri plans to attend either Texas Southern University, Texas Tech University, or Lamar University, where she will major in biology. Her ultimate goals are to become a biomedical researcher and discover a cure for AIDS.

 

Lawrence Edwards

Ross Sterling High School

Texas Southern University

Driven by a lifelong fascination with cars and technology, Lawrence intends to pursue a college degree in electrical engineering from Texas Southern University. He considers success not just something to strive for exclusively for his own benefit, but also something to achieve so that others may learn from him and follow his example.

Described by those who know him as a kind and respectful young man with a solid understanding of computer-programming concepts, Lawrence reveals his dedication to excellence both by seeking extra tutoring for himself when he needs it and by assisting fellow students in mastering difficult physics principles. In January 2007, he also participated in the BP Physics Challenge at Space Center Houston, where he learned how to build and launch rockets.

Lawrence has already obtained constructive experience in the professional world, having worked for a company that installed carpet, tile, and upholstery. From that job, he developed both an understanding of sound managerial practices and a solid work ethic.

In his spare time, Lawrence enjoys volunteering at Faith Christian Church International, where he films sermons and operates audio equipment as part of the media ministry.

 

Lauren Gordon

Phillis Wheatley High School

Lamar University

For Lauren Gordon, family is the driving force behind all of her decisions, particularly when it comes to pursuing higher education. The Student Council representative knows that in order to provide for her son and achieve the kind of life she wants, she must accomplish that objective.

Fortunately, Lauren is very self-motivated, setting goals for herself that she doggedly pursues until she achieves them. She is also well on her way to a college degree, having received both high-school and college credit for a Business Computer Application Systems course she completed.

Lauren is known for being extremely focused in her studies, and she displays a tenacious determination to master difficult pre-calculus concepts. She also works hard to help her peers, assisting them both in the classroom and in the Youth Training Academy Program in which she participates. Unsurprisingly, her teachers describe her as an “exceptional” student who is “extremely gifted” in math.

Lauren is ranked in the top 15 percent of her class at Wheatley High School. She will attend Lamar University this fall.

 

Jeremy Goss

Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions

Baylor University

If anyone is destined for a career in medicine, that person is Jeremy Goss. Inspired by the passion of a fellow student for helping people and deeply moved by the photos of suffering children that she shared with him, Jeremy realized he wanted to become a doctor his sophomore year in high school.

To accomplish this goal, Jeremy will pursue a degree in medicine at Baylor University, specializing in reconstructive plastic surgery. He chose his major not because of the prestige often afforded doctors in society, but because he would have “the ability to change lives on a level that no other career can.”

Jeremy has already developed quite a reputation for his excellent bedside manner, after working directly with patients through a volunteer program in the Texas Medical Center. But his dedication to helping others does not end there. He has also served as a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and his tutoring of third-grade students in reading, math, and science helped one youngster to raise his previously failing grade to a B.

Jeremy also participates in the Student Council, Business Professionals of America, and Health Occupations Students of America.

 

Antonyo Johnson

Phillis Wheatley High School

Lamar University

Antonyo Johnson learned early on that “a college education is the key to success.” Now, the aspiring high-school basketball coach aims to reach for that key by pursing a degree in kinesiology and business management at Lamar University.

Antonyo hopes to attend college on a basketball scholarship, but as captain of both the varsity basketball and football teams, as well as a member of the varsity track team, this gifted athlete might well have his pick of sports scholarships to choose from.

In his spare time, Antonyo volunteers at a number of organizations, including the Houston Food Bank. He has also worked with the Fourth Ward Homeowners’ Association, delivered reading materials to elderly neighbors, and maintained the grounds of a local cemetery through the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program.

Antonyo is a member of his school’s Student Council and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by his peers. He has also served as senior class vice president and prom committee president, and he has received “Best Speaker” and “Outstanding Physics Student” awards.

 

Natasha Miller

Westside High School

Texas Tech University

Growing up without the benefit of a stable home life did not prevent Natasha Miller from achieving. Instead, it made her even more determined to succeed. After moving to Houston in the sixth grade to stay with an aunt and uncle, Natasha got the support she needed to improve her grades and match her peers academically. That experience taught her the value of hard work and perseverance, and gave her the confidence to succeed in college. “You can’t be a failure if you try your hardest,” she explains.

Natasha is described by those who know her as reliable, articulate, generous of spirit, and extremely well-organized. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the junior varsity softball team, Students Against Drunk Driving, and the Rally Pack (an on-campus “spirit” group). She is also a recipient of the Girl Scouts of America’s Silver Award, the second-highest honor attainable in scouting. She has demonstrated leadership both in her troop activities and as a freshman mentor and volunteer at Wolf Camp (freshman orientation).

Natasha intends to attend Texas Tech University and become a social worker so that she can help others in the same way she was helped as a child.

 

Ambhar Miranda

Phillis Wheatley High School

University of Houston

Ambhar Miranda knows what it means to be a leader. With three younger sisters constantly looking to her for guidance, she recognizes the responsibility she bears to serve as a positive role model. Ambhar has met that challenge well, by maintaining a 3.88 GPA while serving as senior class vice president and yearbook editor at her school, as well as a technical assistant on the weekends for a national Internet service provider. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Business Professionals of America.

Described by those who know her as “tenacious,” “inquisitive,” and “a great communicator,” Ambhar is currently ranked third in her graduating class. She plans to attend the University of Houston (UH), where she will study hotel and restaurant management. Her ultimate goals are to own her own business and to contribute to the end of world hunger.

In her spare time, Ambhar enjoys reading, writing poetry, cooking, and creating crafts. She also participates in summer academic enrichment programs at UH and community outreach efforts such as the March of Dimes Walk America and the annual AIDS Walk.

 

Maurice Renfro

Evan Worthing High School

Prairie View A&M University

Maurice Renfro is described by those who know him as “a brilliant student” and “an insightful young man,” which explains how he became salutatorian of his senior class. A disciplined student and dedicated musician, Maurice maintained a GPA of 4.26 while balancing a job at a local fast-food restaurant and marching in his high-school band. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Worthing book club, and he has served as both the vice president of Student Government and the president of Student Council.

Maurice has given back to his community by participating in a number of council-sponsored service projects, including a holiday food drive, a Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills community-involvement day, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Silent March. He is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and has received awards for “Most Outstanding Magnet Student,” “Most Improved Marching Band Student,” and “Most Outstanding Music Theory Student.”

Maurice will attend either Prairie View A&M University, the University of Texas, or the University of Houston, where he will pursue a degree in medicine. His ultimate goal is to become a physician so that he can help others and make a difference in the world.

 

Danielle Richardson

Kashmere High School

Texas Southern University

Danielle Richardson has big plans for her life. The dancer and Future Business Leaders of America member wants to travel the world, start a family, and give back to the community. But Danielle knows that all of these goals start with higher education, so she will seek a degree from college, where she can “grow into a responsible adult.”

To get there, Danielle participates in Texas Southern University’s Upward Bound Program, as well as her school’s book club and cheerleading squad. She also acts as a leader among her classmates, providing them with such quick, professional, and courteous help in their computer classes that they often request her by name when they have problems.

Unsurprisingly, Danielle is described by those who know her as “a hard worker” who “has set high goals for herself.” She enjoys singing in her church choir, entertaining the residents of nursing homes, and serving as co-captain of the cheerleading squad.

Danielle will attend Texas Southern University in the fall.

 

Anastacia Robinson

Kashmere High School

Houston Community College

The challenge of homelessness is what gave Anastacia Robinson an understanding of how important higher education is to success. Watching her parents struggle to provide for her and her siblings without the benefit of college degrees made her realize the absolute necessity of acquiring one. That determination is what led Anastacia to excel in school, earning a ranking of third in her senior class as well as her induction into the National Honor Society.

Described by those who know her as “imaginative, industrious, and talented,” Anastacia had served in leadership positions as secretary of Future Business Leaders of America and as co-captain of the tennis team. She has also worked in the apparel department of a local retailer and volunteered at the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital preparing rooms for patients.

In her spare time, Anastacia enjoys reading, writing poetry, and playing tennis.

She will begin her pursuit of a degree in pharmacology at Houston Community College this fall.

 

Brittany Robinson

Jack Yates High School

Jackson State University

For as long as Brittany Robinson can remember, education has been extremely important in her family. However, when her mother had to drop out of college to support the family, Brittany made a commitment to graduate from a four-year college. To keep that promise, she will begin classes at Jackson State University in Mississippi this fall and then pursue a career in child psychology.

Before earning the distinction of salutatorian for the 2007 graduating class of Jack Yates High School, she was named to the National Honor Society and received numerous awards, including Top Advanced Placement World History and the Gerald Smith Eminence Awards.

Brittany has been active in the Ladies of Distinction, the DECA marketing association, and the school newspaper staff. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, she played softball and was an athletics trainer and statistician for the varsity football team. She has also served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross, the Star of Hope, and Project GRAD.

Jarrett Simien

Booker T. Washington High School

Texas A&M University

Jarrett Simien believes that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” That’s why this Honor Roll student intends to pursue a degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. Determined to improve the lives of others at every opportunity, Jarrett has volunteered as a church usher and prayer leader, a coach for a local youth football team, and an algebra tutor for his classmates.

Jarrett even helps others when he is hurting. As a freshman, he sacrificed his college fund and the money he had earned mowing lawns to help his mother after an apartment fire destroyed their home. The following year, he donated his wages to help pay for the funerals of both his grandmother and his aunt, who died less than a week apart.

Despite these losses, Jarrett still managed to maintain a 3.84 GPA in his classes, and his skill on the football field led to a starting position as linebacker his sophomore year and the captain’s position the following two. Jarrett also excels academically. He is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and is a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Council, and the Student Leadership Committee.

Jelani Sims

John Dulles High School

University of Oklahoma

Jelani Sims always analyzes statistical research from credible sources prior to making a decision. When the U.S. Department of Labor released statistics that students who graduated from college earned 38 percent more than did students with just high-school diplomas, Jelani decided he would go to college.

His commitment to that decision deepened after reading a study by a Princeton University sociologist that found that 50 percent of black men were unemployed. With his innate ability to conduct research and draw conclusions, it was not surprising that Jelani chose a career in journalism. He has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma, where he plans to major in that field and minor in religious studies.

Jelani has excelled academically at John Dulles High School, earning membership in the National Honor Society and demonstrating strong leadership qualities in music and theater. As a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, he organized and produced theatrical workshops for at-risk children and helped tutor students on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Deeply concerned with hunger among children and hurricane-relief efforts, he also volunteers to help raise funds for these issues.

 

Maretta Smith

Jesse Jones High School

Prairie View A&M University

Clearly, Maretta Smith is destined for a career in the classroom. Already considered the “go-to” person among her peers for help in various subjects, she has also tutored children at the New Peaceful Rest Church for the past four years.

Maretta is known for her “calming spirit” and as someone who “instinctively takes it upon herself to ease others’ confusion of suffering.” Her assistant principal describes her as “diligent, focused, and determined,” noting that she is “very capable” academically and extremely self-motivated.

Maretta’s ultimate goal is to obtain a doctoral degree in education so that she can continue to help “at-risk” students who are traditionally underserved. “The beauty of education is that it continues to break down racial and economic barriers,” she says. “It is my ambition to impart this lesson to my students.”

In her spare time, Maretta enjoys dancing and participating in Demoiselles, an on-campus service and social club. She will attend Prairie View A&M University in the fall, to begin her career as an educator.

 

Reid Turner

Aldine High School

Prairie View A&M University

Reid Turner did not have to look very far for his inspiration to go to college. Recently, his own father returned to school and obtained a higher-level diploma at the age of 46.

Now, Reid is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a degree in agriculture from Prairie View A&M University. Already, he has worked with professors and other students at that institution through a summer internship program in which he earned the first-place prize two years’ running for his research projects. Reid also completed an Eagle Scout project in February in which he renovated two rooms at Love United Methodist Church.

At Aldine High School, Reid is considered a leader among his peers. He was elected captain of the varsity football team and named “Mr. Aldine” as the best student representative of the school his senior year. He has also received awards for his work in the drama club and participated in the Student Leadership Organization, Young Men Taking Charge, Peer Mediation Group, and school choir (in which he served as historian).

 

Martha Walker

Barbara Jordan High School for Careers

Texas A&M Univeristy

Martha Walker wants to start a new trend in her family by being the first to go to college. She plans to study business administration at Texas A&M University and has already gained work experience with insurance and financial giant AIG through the Business Career Preparation program. Her goal is to inspire future generations of family members to live successful, professional lives.

Martha is a member of the National Honor Society and is in the top 10 percent of the 2007 graduating class of Barbara Jordan High School for Careers. She has served as secretary and class treasurer of the Student Council and has been active in the community, volunteering for both the Houston Area Urban League and the Houston Key Club.

Martha’s teachers agree that she has high expectations of life and continuously strives to accomplish goals that she sets. “She has always demonstrated a pleasant attitude as she follows through on assignments with diligence and dedication,” says Business Education teacher Vivian Moran. “She meets the daily challenges in life head-on and always stays focused.”

Candace Wattree

Phillis Wheatley High School

Tuskegee University

Candace Wattree loves animals and plans to study pre-veterinary science at Tuskegee University in Alabama. But while the future looks bright for her now, Candance’s life has not always been so pleasant. Just two years ago, she stood in the dark winds and rain of Hurricane Katrina, watching the undertaker lower her adoptive mother’s casket into the ground.

Candace resided with her sister while attending Phillis Wheatley High School. It was there that she was inducted into the National Achievers Society and Honor Roll. Because her deceased mother and sister both held master’s degrees, they inspired Candace to continue with her education through graduate school.

In addition to winning many academic awards, Candace has been active in numerous extracurricular and community service activities. Wheatley High School English teacher Stacie Waller says, “Candace’s attributes of diligent studying, moral fortitude, and intrinsic motivation will carry her through a successful college career to her ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian."