Seven seniors were celebrated today for earning the Texas Christian University Community Scholars Scholarship during first period outside principal Juan Villarreal’s office.

The full-ride scholarship grants each student a quarter of million dollars for a four-year undergraduate degree and includes room and board, books, and an opportunity to study abroad.

“I am extremely proud of our students,” Villarreal said. “They exemplify what true Texans should be. They work hard throughout the year. They’re very involved. Some of these students are involved in many extracurricular activities. They also have full-time jobs, some of these students. They have to juggle a lot of things. As Mrs. Carter said earlier today our students are well prepared to tackle just about everything that comes their way because of what they have to endure day in and day out and I’m very excited for them.”

Texan Student Media reporters asked the seniors a few questions about their scholarships.

Ethan Paredez, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“It means a lot to me. It means that I have the bag secured and I don’t have to spend money out of my pocket.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I’m going to study global business because I’ve always planned on majoring in business.”

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“I see myself in an internship for a business company.”

Titan Henderson, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“It means a lot actually, cause in my freshman year I always said that I didn’t want to go to college because it’s too expensive and I didn’t want to pay for it, and my dad said don’t worry I’m not going to have to, and I just responded uh we’ll see about that. So this year I actually didn’t have to pay for college and that feels really good, and my mom cried and that makes me really happy.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I want to study law and economics. The reason I chose law is because I always wanted to be a lawyer and I’m really good at arguing with people. But when I was 10 years old I was put on trial and stuff for something I didn’t do. It was like some fighting and stuff that I wasn’t a part of. But the lady that goes against you had me with footage and stuff like that and finding a lawyer was probably one of the hardest things to do in my life. So when I found a lawyer it was really refreshing, and that’s why I want to be a lawyer. I want to do eco, cause I want to know more about the economy and help out in any way possible.”

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“Hopefully somewhere like Bill Gates, somewhere rich. Just living the life I want. Something I could be proud of.” 

Veronica Arrocha, 12 

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“Winning the TCU scholarship means a whole lot. It means that my family won’t have to worry about me and how I’m going to find the money to pay for college. They won’t worry about me anymore, financially. And just overall making them proud, and just continuing my education.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I plan to study psychology at TCU. I’ve always been interested in how others act and what they do so ever since middle school it’s always been interesting to me.”

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“After TCU I honestly see myself starting my own psychology business and I’m just super excited to be my own boss.”

Jonathan Sanchez Camacho, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“Winning this scholarship means a lot to me just because of my family. I just didn’t want it for myself but also for my family who couldn’t continue their college education and also it’s really important to come from a different country and have these opportunities and just work hard toward a big goal.” 

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I would like to study dance because dance has been a part of me since I was little. It has always been my back up whenever I was just not doing really well. It has helped me through a lot, just expressing myself through movement. I would like to showcase that in college, and just to help other people who are going, who have the same experience as me, who also have a part in dance, a passion for dance, and who would like to continue.”

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“I see myself opening a school of dance, probably in Mexico since that is where I grew up and just to provide more opportunities as well to people like me, or just students, especially male dancers who don’t have the resources to do so.” 

Oyindamola Ogunhibe, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“Winning the scholarship means a lot to me, cause I know my parents can’t really afford college and we have other kids in our family, who are going to go to college soon and it just takes a burden off of them. It makes me feel so proud that I can do this for them and to free them from this burden.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“When I go to TCU I plan to go into nursing.” 

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“After TCU I see myself going into medical school in hopes of becoming a general surgeon in the near future.”

Adeyemi Johnson, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“It means everything to me really. Like my mom doesn’t have to pay for my college. I don’t have to pay for my college, so I can have an easier life in college.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I’m looking to go into pre-med. I want to be a pediatrician, like taking care of young kids.”

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“After TCU I see myself going into medical school and working hard to achieve my goals in the future.” 

Eniola Akinbo, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“Winning this scholarship was a great experience for me because I’ve always been excited to go to TCU and being able to go there with a full-ride is so amazing and being able to connect with my other friends that go to TCU. I’m really appreciative of the scholarship and I’m grateful to be a frog for the next four years.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I will be studying business information systems. I would like to learn more about technology and be able to connect with business, and also I have other family members that are into the field and I would like to continue with that.” 

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“After TCU I see myself working in Microsoft working in computer analysis and making a lot of money.”

Cristopher “Cris” Gamez, 12

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

“Winning the TCU Community Scholarship is everything to me because it means that my parents won’t have to pay for my college. It means that every sacrifice that they’ve ever made for me is worth it. All the times that we spent not having any money, eating food that wasn’t good, spoiled food like all the pain that we went through was finally worth it. I finally understand God’s plan at this point.”

What will you study at TCU? Why?

“I want to study mechanical engineering at TCU because I’ve always really liked creating my own things. Like I used to make like my own toys. Having no money I had to get like get some lollipops to make my own toys. I would like the wrestling figures so I would make like my little chairs and title belts in stuff. I mean I love that kind of stuff. So I want to keep pursuing that creativity in me. I also kind of like math sometimes.”

Where do you see yourself after TCU?

“After TCU I would really want to keep living here in the DFW area. There’s a lot of growth here socially and economically so I want to be part of the growth. I want to keep coming back to Sam Houston to give back to the community that gave so much to me. I want to give back to the teachers and to the future students that are coming into TCU to give them that hope that I had when I first came here. I hope to make some kind of scholarship for them. That’s one of my goals.”