The Valero Alamo Bowl started a scholarship program in 2000 with 25 San Antonio high school students splitting $50,000 in scholarships.
For the 2018-2019 school year, the Valero Alamo Bowl will award over $1 million to 135+ San Antonio high school and college students. This amount is projected to be the largest scholarship total in Valero Alamo Bowl history and tops among all 39 bowl games.
The first $600,000 will be split between the 78 winners of Valero Alamo Bowl Student-Athlete Scholarship winners who were recognized at the H-E-B Scholarship Awards Luncheon on December 13.
The students included at least one winner from every San Antonio area public school and well-established private school. The scholarships were awarded on the basis of academic achievement, teacher recommendations, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities and varsity sports as well as honors received and a personal narrative.
In addition to the luncheon, the winners will be recognized on-field during the Valero Alamo Bowl courtesy of game tickets provided by Frost.
The Bowl’s college program is called the Valero Alamo Bowl Community Partners scholarship and is funded by the Bowl and matching programs at all six of San Antonio’s four-year universities.
In its third year, the scholarship total and number of winners will be announced at the start of next college football season. Last year’s program had 63 winners from University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M–San Antonio, Trinity University and UTSA sharing $420,000.
“We are proud the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl features our fifth straight Top 25 matchup,” said Valero Alamo Bowl Chair Michael Kiolbassa. “Increasing our commitment to the Big 12 and Pac-12 Conferences has allowed the Valero Alamo Bowl to bring highly ranked teams with excited fan bases such as Washington State and Iowa State to San Antonio. The impact on our community with our record scholarship giving and a total economic impact that should exceed our $40 million average will make this year very special.”
This year’s 78 Valero Alamo Bowl Student-Athlete Scholarship recipients listed by school are:
Curtina Lilly, Advanced Learning Academy, Curtina has played saxophone in the band for six years and is a member of the tennis team. She plans on attending Bates College in Maine to study pre-medicine.
Kendall Hunt, Alamo Heights High School: Kendall was an instrumental part of the successful tennis team at Alamo Heights and is the team captain this year. She also co-founded the special needs tennis program at the school, which helps teach the game to special needs students. She is also a tutor for freshman students at Alamo Heights and is a member of the Interact Club. She wants to study Marketing or Graphic Art at Notre Dame or the University of Texas.
Kyle McDonald, Antonian High School: Kyle is the student body president and 2-time all-academic and 3-time all-district baseball player. He is the State Robotics Champion and is a member of the National Honor Society. He intends on studying Business Management at Mississippi State University or Duke University.
Ramiro Olivera-Alba, Brackenridge High School: Ramiro is a 4-year member of the band and has led his section for two years. He’s spent two years as part of the National Honor Society and is a founding member of the Chess Club. He plans on studying civil engineering at Rice or the University of Texas.
Jasmine Torres, Brackenridge High School: Jasmine plays defensive-mid on the varsity girls’ soccer team. She also performs for the theatre department and is a member of the National Honor Society. She plans on studying math at Texas State or Our Lady of the Lake University.
Alessandro Acevedo, Brandeis High School, Alessandro is a member of the student council and the Vice President of the Alpha Club. Alessandro plans on attending the University of Texas and studying aerospace engineering.
Alejandra Wagnon, Brennan High School: Alejandra ranks 2nd in her class and has taken multiple AP classes. She won the Yes! Magazine Winter 2018 Essay Contest and has received multiple awards for her writing. She is member of the varsity tennis team and sings in the choir. She plans on studying theatre or English at New York University or the University of Chicago.
Cuauhtemoc Arizpe, Burbank High School, Cuauhtemoc is the president of the Burbank Student Council and a district champion in LD Debate. He is also the valedictorian for the 2019 class. He plans on attending Cornell or Brown to study engineering.
Sophie Winterle, Business Careers High School: Sophie is the 1st chair violist in the orchestra and a varsity member of the bowling team. She wants to study business management at the University of Southern California or UT Austin.
Maroun Harb, Central Catholic High School: He has served in multiple roles with the Maronite Youth Organization, as well as with the junior ROTC program. He has spent 8 years golfing and wants to study Computer Science at MIT or St. Mary’s University.
Abigail Diaz, Christian School at Castle Hills: Abigail is the alto section leader of the choir and played on the district champion volleyball team. She is the historian of the student council and wants to attend Yale or Princeton.
Alexandra Organ, Churchill High School: Alexandra is the team captain of the varsity tennis team and is an officer of the National Honor Society. She was selected by her coach to serve on the Chargers Athletic Leadership Committee. She wants to study Accounting at Texas A&M or Notre Dame.
Connor Jacobs, Clark High School: Connor has played football and soccer for years, helping him become a leader in the community. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has a 3.8 GPA. After graduation, he hopes to study pre-med at the University of Texas or Texas Tech, before going to med school.
Alex Rodriguez, Clark High School: Alex ranks in the top 5% of his class and was named a national Hispanic scholar this year. He is a member of the varsity tennis team and won a prestigious Accounting award at the UT Austin McCombs Business School. He wants to study chemical engineering at UT Austin or Texas A&M.
Tad Rosenberg, Clemens High School: Tad is a three-year member of the varsity soccer team and an Eagle Scout. He is the president of his school’s National Honor Society and plans on studying applied mathematics at Brigham Young University before pursuing a masters at Yale or Stanford.
Kyle Villanueva, Cole High School: Kyle was named the cadet of the year in the Cole High School Junior ROTC program. He serves as the National Honor Society treasure and is a member of the varsity tennis team. After high school, he’d like to study biomedical technology at Trinity University or Texas A&M.
Georgia Guinan, Communications Arts High School: Georgia is the team captain and a 1st team all-district swimmer as well as a long-time member of at the San Antonio Food Bank. She wants to study sports medicine at Oregon State or the University of Northern Colorado and then pursue her master’s in athletic training.
Milen Patel, Construction Careers Academy: Milen is an exceptional student at CCA and plays basketball there. Milen wants to study engineering at UTSA or the University of Texas.
Noah Christianson, Cornerstone Christian School: Noah is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. He plays trumpet in the band and is a member of the varsity track and soccer teams. He wants to study pre-law at Harvard or Rice.
Braelynn Barborka, East Central High School: Braelynn is the president of the Student Social and National Honor Society. She is also the captain of the varsity soccer team and team defensive MVP. Her post-high school plans include attending either Northwestern or the University of Washington to study pre-med and eventually become a doctor.
Sophia Rivera, Edison High School: Sophia is the team captain of the swim team and has won multiple races, in addition to captaining the water polo team. She is a member of AVID and the National Honor Society, and plans on studying psychology, nursing or film at UTSA or Texas A&M – San Antonio.
Gabriel Aparicio II, Floresville High School: Gabriel has been the captain of the soccer team since 2018 and is the president of the National Honor Society. He plans on attending Rice University to study chemical engineering.
Juan Gomez, Fox Tech High School: Juan is the vice president of the band and a 4-year member of the Health Occupations Students of American. He has volunteered at the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital and wants to study secondary education at the University of Texas or Texas Tech.
Nereida Jimenez, Fox Tech High School: Mereida Jimenez is a member of the Scarlett Spirit Pep Squad and the treasurer of the class of 2019. She has worked for the law office of Roger Perez and the 437th Criminal District Court and plans on studying business or psychology at the University of Texas or St. Mary’s before attending law school.
Zachary Baran, Great Hearts Monte Vista North: Zachary is a 2-year letter winner on the varsity swim team. He’s involved in multiple student organizations and wants to study chemical engineering at Rice or Georgia Tech.
Bianca Diaz, Harlan High School: Bianca was elected and served as both vice-president and president of the student council. She is a member of the National English Honor Society and editor-in-chief of the school paper. She is a six-year member of the club volleyball team and wants to attend Southern Methodist University.
D’Ago Morales-Ferrari, Harlandale High School: D’Ago is a varsity member of the Harlandale football team and was named to the All-Academic team. He is the president of the history club and is an active member in the National Honor Society and TEENS ACTS retreats. After high school, he plans on studying history at Vanderbilt or Texas A&M.
Jacob Avina, Health Careers High School: Jacob is the senior thrower on the track team and team captain of the basketball club. He plans on going to Rice University and then becoming a doctor.
Alyssa Flores, Highlands High School: Alyssa is the varsity softball captain and was named 1st team all-district in three straight years. She ranks 2nd out of 292 students in her class and has accepted a softball scholarship to play college ball at St. Mary’s University.
Jake Lee, Holmes High School: Jake is an all-district wide receiver for the Holmes High School football team. He is involved with AVID and the National Honor Society and would like to study civil engineering at Texas A&M Commerce or UTSA.
Maricella Kaples, Holy Cross of San Antonio: Maricella is the chief marketing officer for the robotics club and the vice president of National Honor Society. She’s a 4-year member of the academic team and has also tutored multiple grade levels after school. She is a member of the varsity basketball team and wants to study Graphic Arts at the University of Texas or at St. Edward’s University.
Jessica Quinones, Holy Cross of San Antonio: Jessica represents her school as a Student Knight Ambassador and as the LD debate team captain. She is on the varsity basketball team and a member of the National Honor Society. She plans on studying biology and pre-med at Rice or Texas.
Katherine Parish, Incarnate Word High School: Katherine is a 3-year letter winner on the varsity track team and has been an active volunteer at her church. She is a crew leader for the school’s drama club and plans on studying mechanical engineering at Texas A&M or Texas Tech.
Braden Hammond, International School of the Americas: Braden was the chair of debate for Model United Nations San Antonio and is now the Secretariat General of Auxiliary Operations for the organization. He is the captain of the golf team and has volunteered three times at the Valero Texas Open. He wants to study business at the University of Texas or Baylor.
Carlos Santiago, Jefferson High School: Carlos is a 4-year letter winner on the football team and 2-year member of the varsity tennis team. He is a member of the key club and academic decathlon team. After graduating, he plans on studying astrophysics at Baylor or UT Austin.
Matthew Stout, John Jay High School: Matthew is a member of the varsity swim team and the John Jay orchestra. He’ll graduate with a diploma of Science, Engineering and Mathematics from the John Jay Science and Engineering Academy. He wants to study geology or biology at the University of Kansas or Baylor.
Kate Esqueda, Johnson High School: Kate is a three-year member of the Johnson High School color guard and won freshman of the year and member of the year with the group. She has received multiple academic achievement awards through AVID and plans on studying biology at Texas A&M.
Kyle Martinez, Judson High School: Kyle is a 4-year member of the Judson band and has won awards in math competitions while in high school. He is a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. He wants to study mechanical engineering at the University of Texas or at UTSA.
Mikayla Johnson, Kennedy High School: Mikayla is part of the front ensemble of the JFK Marching Band and a section leader in the varsity concert band. She handles public relations for the class of 2019 and is involved in multiple other student organizations. She wants to study theatre and computer science and Northwestern or the University of Houston.
Evan Berkowitch, Keystone School: Evan is the president of the Keystone Student Council, as well as the founder and editor-in-chief of the school’s student newspaper. He started as a freshman on the varsity soccer team that won the area championship. Evan plans on attending Washington University in St. Louis or Duke University and studying chemistry, and then heading off to med school.
Jackson Covert, Keystone School: Jackson is an eagle scout and was named the best delegate at Model United Nations San Antonio. He is a two-time men’s doubles district tennis champion and wants to study history, economics or classics at Grinnell College.
Katrina Gutierrez, Lanier High School: Katrina is a one of the class representatives at Lanier High School and serves as the fundraising chair and is also the captain of the basketball team. She wants to study animal science at Smith College in Massachusetts and become veterinarian.
Joseph Cortez, La Vernia High School: Joseph is the president of the National Honor Society and student council. He is also a two-time national qualifier in speech and debate. He’s the captain and three-time letter winner of the varsity football team and plans on attending the University of Texas or Notre Dame.
Victoria Cruz, L.E.E. High School: Victoria is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. She is the chair of the Flute section of the band and volunteers at the San Antonio Food Bank. She wants to attend Trinity University or UTSA and study pre-med.
Kylan Perry, Lutheran High School: Kylan is the captain and academic all-state member of the school’s varsity volleyball team. She served as the class president both her sophomore and junior years, as well being a member of multiple student organizations. She would like to study management at the University of Texas or the University of Arizona.
Ricardo Guerrero-Mejia, MacArthur High School: Ricardo is the captain of the MacArthur varsity soccer team and the captain of the FC Dallas youth club soccer team. He is also a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. He wants to study biology at UTSA or Trinity and become a dentist.
Justice King, Madison High School: Justice ranks 19th in his class at Madison High and is the starting catcher of the baseball team. He’s also a member of the FFA and Interact Club. He wants to study accounting at Texas Tech or the University of Texas.
Elijah Lebron, Marion High School: Elijah is the team captain of the varsity football team and is also a letter-winner on the varsity baseball and basketball team. He aspires to become a nurse after studying nursing at Evangel University or East Texas Baptist University.
Michael Anthony, Marshall High School, Michael is on the Academic Decathlon team and a four-year member on the Cross-Country team and also runs track. He plans on attending the University of Texas to study engineering.
Omar Herrera-Miramontes, McCollum High School: Omar is one of the leaders on the McCollum varsity football team and ran track for the school. He worked as a crew member for the drama program for two years and wants to study political science at TCU or the University of Texas, before going to law school.
Bryanna Rich, McCollum High School: Bryanna is a four-sport athlete and competes as a violinist with the Harlandale ISD Mariachi Program. She is the senior class president and wants to study pre-med at the University of Texas or Texas A&M.
Megan Barton, Medina Valley High School: Megan is the varsity cheer captain and National Honor Society president. She has a 3.9 GPA and wants to study business at Brigham Young University before getting her MBA.
Jasmyn Medellin, Memorial High School: Jasmyn ranks third in her class and is a varsity letter-winner on the tennis team. She also serves as the student body president and as a member of the Mexican-American Unity Council. She wants to study public policy at Texas A&M or UTSA and use her degree to influence laws on education equality.
Abigail Dixon, O’Connor High School: Abigail is a 4-year member of FFA and president of the history and an active member of the national honor society. She wants to study business at Texas A&M.
Clarissa Fetter, Providence Catholic School: Clarissa is a two-sport athlete and is the captain of the cross country and track & field teams. She also serves as the executive treasure of the student council and is a member of the National Honor Society. Her post-high school plans include studying elementary education and business at Texas A&M.
Faith Bullard, Randolph High School: Faith is the president of the member advisory council for PEARLS for Destiny, a group that helps advance the next generation of female leaders. She ranks 8th in her class and plans on studying psychology at Baylor, with the hopes of becoming a psychiatrist.
Jared Lange, Reagan High School: Jared is a 2-time all-state selection in orchestra and is the 3-time national champion of Roman history. He also has a varsity letter on the academic team and wants to study economics at the University of Texas.
Garrett Lockamy, Roosevelt High School: Garrett is an active member of the student council and National Honor Society, as well as a member of the varsity football team. He wants to study criminal justice and become a fire investigator after college.
Matthew Leonard, St. Mary’s Hall: Matthew is the owner of Independence Shredding, which is a company that provides special needs adults with employment. He also is a softball coach for the special Olympics and was a 1st-team all-district baseball player. He wants to study Biology at Harvard or Princeton.
Charles Ware, Sam Houston High School: Charles plays receiver on the football team and was recently named the scholar athlete of the week. He is a 4-year member of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After high school, he plans on studying to become a teacher at North Texas.
Eduardo Mejia, Somerset High School: Eduardo is the captain of the Somerset High School band and a member of the student council. He is involved in multiple other student organizations and wants to study to be a pharmacist at UTSA or the University of Texas.
Emerie Poblano, South San High School: Emerie is the team captain of the varsity softball team. She has received multiple awards for her performance on and off the field, including 1st-team all-academic in the district. Emerie plans on studying pre-med at the University of Texas or Cal.
Lauryn Valdez, South San High School: Lauryn is a 3-year letter winner of the varsity golf team and has been part of the National Honor Society for three years. After graduating, she wants to studying nursing at UTSA or University of the Incarnate Word, before becoming a neonatal nurse.
Arthur Williamson, South San High School: Arthur has won awards as a baseball player at South San and also plays on the basketball team. He is an officer with C.I.S. Rising Scholars and a member of the National Honor Society. His college plans include studying biology and pre-med at Baylor.
Samantha Richardson, Southside High School: Samantha is a section leader of the Southside Marching Band, as well as an active member of AVID. She competes in UIL academic math and science competitions and plans on studying biology at UT Health or Baylor.
Andrea Garcia, Southwest High School: Andrea is a varsity tennis player at Southwest High School and served as junior class president and now as the senior class historian – with her help the student council has raised over $19,000! She wants to attend New York University and then apply to medical school after she gets her undergraduate degree.
Manuel Hernandez, Southwest Legacy High School: Manuel is a 4-year member of the color guard at Southwest Legacy and plays on the tennis team. He wants to study music, dance and writing at Ohio University or at New York University.
Nathan Cano, St. Anthony Catholic School: Nathan has a 4.2 GPA and is also the starting linebacker on the football team. He is active in student government and the school band. He wants to study Biomedical Engineering at Dartmouth or Yale.
Ronald Estes, Steele High School: Ronald is 2nd in command of a corps of cadets in the junior ROTC program at Steele High School. He is a varsity swimmer and qualified for districts and regionals his junior season. He has a 4.04 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. Ronald plans on attending the University of Texas.
Takayla Gibbs, Stevens High School: Takayla is a four-year member of AVID and a varsity member of the track and field team. She is active in the Spanish Honor Society and cosmetology club. She wants to study marketing at the University of Texas when she graduates.
Ronald Castellanos, Stevens High School: Ronald is a 4-year member of the Stevens High School soccer team and also plays club soccer. He is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers at Haven for Hope. After graduation, he plans studying marketing at UTSA or UT Austin.
Jordyne McClinton, Taft High School: Jordyne is the varsity volleyball and debate captain, as well a member of the National Honor Society and freshman mentorship program. She wants to study criminal justice at Texas State or the University of North Texas.
Warren Gignac, TMI Episcopal: Warren is the team captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams and an active member of the student council. He is also a four-year member of the TMI Corps of Cadets, part of the junior ROTC program. He intends on studying political science or psychology at Vanderbilt or Wake Forest.
Trestan Laird, Veterans Memorial High School: Trestan lettered two years on the varsity football team and is the captain of the varsity soccer team. He is a committee member on the student council and serves as a member of the Business Professionals of America. He wants to study biomedical engineering at the Air Force Academy or Baylor.
KeyShawn Williams, Veterans Memorial High School: KeyShawn serves as the president of the San Antonio Kappa League and plays football at Veterans Memorial. He wants to study journalism at Princeton or the University of Houston.
Bryan Lopez-Marmolejo, Wagner High School: Bryan is the president of the choir at Wagner and helps to lead his church’s praise band. He wants to study engineering at Texas State University or UTSA.
Dehmen Vidaurri, Warren High School: Dehmen is in his 12th year running cross country and is a member of both the Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society. He wants to become an officer in the Army after attending UT Austin or Texas A&M.
Kayleen Vargas, Young Women’s Leadership Academy: Kayleen is the vice president of the drama club, as well as the National English Honor Society. She plans on studying pre-med at UT Austin or Rice before pursuing medical school.
Garrett Lockamy is this year’s Brincat Award Winner. This scholarship is annually given in honor of 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl Chairman, Bob Brincat, a tireless advocate for the Bowl’s scholarship program who passed away after a courageous fight against lymphoma. Bob was a tremendous supporter of the scholarship program which is why we continue to provide a scholarship in his honor.
The Valero Alamo Bowl is also fortunate to have Shining Star ENERGY underwrite three scholarships. This year’s Shining Star Scholars are Ronald Castellanos, Lauryn Valdez and Arthur Williamson.