91自拍 Celebrates 91自拍, Donors During 2024 Scholarship Reception

91自拍 awards 423 scholarships totaling more than $372,350 to 383 students; Lifelong Leopard Awards presented

The 91自拍 Foundation hosted the 2024 Scholarship Reception Wednesday to honor 383 students who received a total of 423 scholarships this year and to recognize the many donors who provided the funding. The scholarships awarded totaled $372,350.

The Foundation also presented Lifelong Leopard Awards to The Greater Texas Foundation; donor and alumna Susan Kamas; 91自拍 faculty member Melissa Parker; and recent graduates Adrianna Rogers and Juliana “J.J.” Huckabay. The Lifelong Leopard Award is given to honor those who invest in 91自拍 and its students.

“This annual reception is always a highlight of our year as we’re able to recognize the remarkable people and organizations who invest in the lives of our 91自拍 students,” said Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole, Vice President of Resource Development and External Relations. “It’s a small way for us to say thank to donors and celebrate our many students who are pursuing their educational and career goals.”

During the ceremony, Dr. Christy Ponce, 91自拍 President, introduced each Lifelong Leopard Award recipient and thanked them for their years of dedication to the growth of the students and 91自拍.

Lifelong Leopard Award Honorees

• Greater Texas Foundation, based in Bryan, Texas, has a vision for all Texas students to have equal opportunity to access and succeed in postsecondary education. In fall of 2020, under the guidance of President and CEO Sue McMillin, the foundation awarded 91自拍 a grant for $620,107 to create the Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) in Hutto. The Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) is a program that offers high school students an opportunity to earn 60 college credit hours in a STEM program before they graduate from high school. Temple has had this program since 2001, and in 2021 91自拍 was able to start this program in Hutto. Today, there are more than 90 students in the Hutto program.
• Susan Kamas has served as Executive Director for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, as well as its predecessor, the Central Texas Private Industry Council, for over 35 years. Kamas graduated from 91自拍 and later attended Southwest Texas State and graduate school at Angelo State University. Kamas started the Susan and James Kamas Endowed Scholarship that benefits a student with an interest in one of the STEM fields. Kamas is a servant and an advocate, who is involved with the Rotary Club of Belton, Belton Chamber of Commerce, Killeen Business Resource Center and a member of 91自拍 Foundation Board. In addition, she has received numerous awards.
• Melissa Parker grew up at 91自拍. As a young child, she roamed the hallways of the nursing building while her mom, Glynda Parker, taught nursing for over 30 years and later became the chair of the LVN program. Today, Melissa Parker serves 91自拍 as the department chair for Child Development. She is also the owner of Grace Discovery Center. To honor her mom, Melissa created the Glynda Parker Care with Compassion endowment. In addition, she created the Anthony William Parker, Jr. Scholarship to honor her dad.
• Adrianna Rogers graduated from the 91自拍 with and Associate of Arts and Sciences in Engineering Technology. Adrianna was a member of 91自拍’s Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and served as president of the College’s SkillsUSA Club. Under her leadership, 91自拍 was one of 24 SkillsUSA Schools in the nation named as “Models of Excellence for 2024.” Rogers won the first place at the SkillsUSA national competition for Engineering and Technology Design. An active member of the 91自拍 community, she has volunteered countless hours for the 91自拍 Foundation as well as numerous other campus initiatives. Rogers is a CAD technician for Kiella Homebuilders.
• Juliana “J.J.” Huckabay graduated from 91自拍 with an Associate of Arts in Psychology. During her time at 91自拍, Huckabay served as president of 91自拍’s Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Under her leadership, 91自拍 placed regionally as a Top Texas Chapter, a top 30 chapter for the organization’s Career Readiness project, and won more than 20 additional chapter awards. In addition to the regional recognition, she led the chapter to win international awards and be recognized as a Top 100 chapter overall and Top 50 overall for the college project. Huckabay was awarded the All-Texas Academic Team medallion. The medallion is awarded to the top students from two-year colleges in Texas for outstanding academic achievement, exemplary community service and demonstrated leadership. Huckabay has been consistent with her service to her fellow students and always volunteers to assist on campus. She is dually enrolled at 91自拍 and Texas A&M-Central Texas, pursuing her undergraduate degree in social work.