Four Tech Prep Scholars graduating from Rio Grande Valley high schools have been named recipients of the 2011 Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Tech Prep Scholarships, which total $15,000.

Roberto A. Rocha of Edinburg High School won the $5,000 scholarship to a university of his choice. He will attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas, pursuing a four-year nursing degree. Roberto has followed the Tech Prep health sciences career pathway and taken courses in Medical Terminology and Heath Science Tech II.  He has also completed the Certified Nursing Assistant program offered in collaboration with South Texas College.  “It has allowed me to develop skills that one could only hope for.  I feel so privileged to have taken this Tech Prep course before college,” he said.    

For Roberto, job shadowing at a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit confirmed his career choice. After seeing a patient’s face light up as the nurse came in and observing their personal interaction, Roberto knew he wanted to follow that model.  “The classes have prepared me to where I know I can walk into Baylor University and feel confident. The classes were such a blessing.”

Josie Hernandez, graduating from Rio Hondo High School, will apply her $4,000 scholarship to Texas State Technical College to study Criminal Justice.  Initially Josie intended to become a nurse and participated in the dual enrollment Certified Nursing Assistant program.   After realizing that she wouldn’t enjoy a career in healthcare, Josie’s research and interests took her to law enforcement where she sees many job possibilities and opportunities.  “I want to be a part of keeping my community safe.  I want to know I’m going to wake up and love going to work each day.”

William Marshall Webb of Harlingen High School won the $3,000 scholarship to UTPA where he will study media technology and video production.

 “I took Principles of Audio and Video Production and discovered my love of the craft,” William said. “The Tech Prep courses were very instrumental in inspiring me to push myself to be better and prepare me for pursuing jobs in the real world.”

In one Tech Prep course, William worked with the school’s KHGN studio on production packages including live football coverage. The course led him to summer job as a video production assistant which gave him valuable experience but also “a better perspective on my career choice in the real world.” Combined classwork and experience have allowed William to discover his leadership qualities and given him an opportunity to work with professionals in his field.  Now confident in his ability to learn and work in video production, he sees himself ten years from now behind a camera and “shooting the next big blockbuster of an Oscar-winning film.”

Julieta M. Garcia, Hanna High School in Brownsville, will apply her $3,000 scholarship to health science studies at the University of Texas at Brownsville. While job shadowing at Valley Regional Hospital, Julieta discovered the field of physical therapy. UTB, she found, had a unique program for physical therapy which divides study between the Brownsville and San Antonio campuses.  “It convinced me that I will receive a great education,” she said.  In ten years Julieta sees herself working as a pediatric physical therapist and saving to start her own facility.