Michelle Lee Galvez and UPDATE Los Fresnos High School

July, 2007
Michelle Galvez, a 2007 Los Fresnos High School Tech Prep Texas Scholar graduate, has been awarded a $4,000 Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Scholarship to Texas State Technical College. She will enter the Chemical Environmental Program to become an analytical chemical technician.

2008 UPDATE: Michelle Galvez was honored in a Valley Morning Star newspaper article on April 15, 2008, for landing a job that pays $50,000 a year. Galvez, 20, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Chemical Environmental Technology at Texas State Technical College and completed her last semester while working at Formosa Plastics Corp. in Point Comfort, Texas.

Michelle describes her job this way: "At Formosa Plastics, I am in the Analytical Lab Department and I test the process water for contaminants. The process plants are the areas where they create the plastics or polymers. All of the water they use becomes waste, and I test it before they deposit it into the Port Lavaca Bay in between Point Comfort and Port Lavaca." Michelle Galvez is protecting the environment with her work. That's an important job for a high-achieving young lady!

During her studies at TSTC, Galvez maintained a 4.0 GPA. She also volunteered as a peer mentor, served as the Student Government secretary and danced with the TSTC dance team. “I’m determined. If you want something bad enough, you go for it. You go for your goal,” Galvez said.

According to The Slice of Life article in the Valley Morning Star, Galvez won the job over candidates with master’s degrees. She was quoted as saying she wanted to inspire high school students to continue in their education, wherever they go. “Just because they come to a technical college does not necessarily mean they will make less money than someone with their bachelor’s degree.”