The Valero Alamo Bowl’s first scholarship program began in 2000 with 25 local San Antonio area high school students receiving $2,000 scholarships to attend the college of their choice.
Last December the Valero Alamo Bowl selected 76 winners from 65 San Antonio area high schools to share in $590,000 of scholarships as well as committed to add a second scholarship program for local universities.
As part of today’s Rudy’s Bar-B-Q Pigskin Luncheon, the Valero Alamo Bowl recognized 64 college juniors and seniors representing all six of San Antonio’s four-year universities: University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M–San Antonio, Trinity University and UTSA.
These scholarship winners will share in $420,000 funded by the Valero Alamo Bowl and matching programs at each university. With a goal to reward junior and seniors who have both excelled in the classroom and demonstrated an interest in seeking employment in San Antonio, each university determined its own selection criteria and the amount of each individual award.
“Extending our scholarship program to help local college students finish their degree is a fantastic way to kick off the Valero Alamo Bowl’s 25th Anniversary season,” said Mike Chapman, 2017 Valero Alamo Bowl Chairman. “Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the universities and our partners who helped grow our event. In addition to this year’s projected total economic impact of $45 million to our city, the Valero Alamo Bowl is very proud to award scholarships to every participating San Antonio high school and university.”
The 64 college scholarship winners are:
University of the Incarnate Word
Alexander Cardenas: Alexander is a senior, studying Communication Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies. After interning with San Antonio Sports, a non-profit organization that embraces the local community through the power of sports, he wants to be involved with sports and similar organizations in the future.
Alaric Chaney: Alaric is a junior, majoring in Communication Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies. Alaric’s experience as the captain for the Spurs Sports and Entertainment WNBA dance team has had a major impact on her life, and she hopes to continue along that path.
Noah Fuentes: Noah is a senior where he is currently studying Business Management and Communications. His ultimate dream is to be an attorney being that he has a passion for helping people.
Nancy Gallegos: Nancy is currently a junior, majoring in Communication Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies, and minors in English and Business Administration. After interning with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) District 18 office, she now knows she wants to continue a career with USCIS, as an Immigration Services Officer, and from there move up to an adjudicator, and hopefully return to UIW to complete her Graduate degree.
Amanda Garcia: Amanda is currently a senior, majoring in Business Administration. She is a first generation American and college student who has taken her family’s history as a source of strength to better herself. After graduation, she will attend Graduate school to obtain an MBA or Masters in Marketing.
Angela Gutierrez: Angela is a junior majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in General Business. She is currently on the UIW golf team and participated in two internships at the Republic Golf Club this past year. Her future goals include getting her Masters and pursuing a career in the business industry.
Patrick Manjarrez: Patrick is a senior studying Education to become an Elementary Special Education teacher. He plans on attending Graduate school in the near future, but is currently focusing on preparing to become a fantastic teacher.
Celeste Martinez: Celeste is a Business Administration student with a Management concentration. Celeste has participated as an athlete in her local roller derby league, known as the Heart of Texas Skaters, for almost five years now. She states that roller derby has influenced her future goals being that she wants to become an entrepreneur of a roller skating business.
Daniel Mata: Daniel is a senior pursuing a Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management with a minor in Accounting. His aspirations are to use this knowledge to work as an athletic director for several years, until he is able to create a non-profit, fully funded basketball team for underprivileged adolescents.
Adriana Ortega: Adriana is a senior majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting and a concentration in Finance. Adriana plans on being an entrepreneur, starting her own solar panel installation business to better the community.
Lawson Picasso: Lawson is a senior graduating with her Bachelors in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing in May 2018, and is the President of the Business Club at UIW. When she is not attending classes and organizing club meetings, she is pursuing her own career under her business, D’Nago Marketing. She works in social media marketing, public relations, and training business owners in social media.
Andrew Remelius: Andrew is a junior Communication Arts student where he is the assistant sports and operations director for the university’s TV program, UIWTV. He plans on using the experience he has gained from the school to be a technical director for a professional sports team and hopes to advance the impact of the organization he works with through increased national coverage.
Frank Rivera: Frank is currently a senior studying to complete his bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration. A goal of his is to continue the growth of his existing media production company, Reel Mission Media. After graduation, Frank plans to gain experience in his field of study, and ultimately wants to business venture when financially secure.
David Rodriguez: David is a junior pursuing a Business Management and Economics. His interest in Business Management comes from his love of building projects from the ground up, especially after spending time as a missionary in Kibeho, Rwanda and St. Lucia, South Africa building schools and houses for the local community. His goals upon graduation include pursuing an MBA and eventually owning his own construction company.
Sarah Tanner: Sarah is a junior majoring in Communication Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies. Sarah serves as the team manager to the UIW synchronized swimming team which is currently ranked third in the United States. Prior to that, she swam for 10 years, competing and medaling at many prestigious national competitions such as, U.S Nationals, U.S Opens, and Junior Olympic Championships. Sarah plans to pursue a career in Broadcast Journalism or Public Relations.
Karla Valdez: Karla is a senior, Communication Arts major with a concentration in Media Studies. She plans to become a professional screenwriter. Her future goals are to work with Pure Flix Studios, a Christian based film studio, and work with Disney Studios to create heart-felt movies like “Remember the Titans.”
Our Lady of the Lake University
Jorge Cavazos: Jorge is a senior Computer Information Systems and Security major from McAllen.
Yovanna Cervantes: Yovana is a junior Computer Information Systems and Security major from Thermal, California.
Brandell Collins: Brandell is a senior Kinesiology major from San Angelo.
Guadalupe Espinosa: Guadalupe is a junior Education major from Mesquite.
Bobbi Gonzales: Bobbi is junior Criminal Justice major from San Antonio.
Michael Light: Michael is a junior Education major from San Antonio.
Alexandria Moreno: Alexandria is a junior Education major from San Antonio.
Erica Robertson: Erica is a junior Education major from San Antonio.
Victoria Robledo: Victoria is a junior Computer Information Systems and Security major from San Antonio.
Sumer Sagasta: Sumer is a junior Education major from San Antonio.
Jaythy Teschner: Jaythy is a junior Computer Information Systems and Security major from San Antonio.
Paula Villarreal: Paula is a senior Computer Information Systems and Security major from San Antonio.
Dawn Villareal: Dawn is a junior Psychology / Pre-Counseling major from Weslaco.
Guadalupe Villegas: Guadalupe is a junior Computer Information Systems and Security major from San Antonio.
Orren Williams: Orren is a junior Computer Information Systems and Security major from Houston.
St. Mary’s University
Patricio Botello-Faz: Patricio is a junior Exercise and Sport Science major who plays men’s soccer at St. Mary’s University. An All-Heartland Conference selection last season, Botello-Faz earned Preseason All-Conference honors this year after netting six goals a year ago. He was a member of the Heartland Conference Honor Roll.
LaBraile Fields: LaBraile is a senior Exercise and Sport Science major who played women’s basketball at St. Mary’s University. A former All-Heartland Conference selection, Fields was named the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in steals (83) last season.
Jack Kaiser: Jack is a senior Finance and Risk Management major who played baseball at St. Mary’s University. A Preseason All-American entering his senior year, Kaiser earned All-Region honors as a junior when he belted a team-leading 53 RBI and 10 home runs. He was a member of the Heartland Conference Honor Roll.
Jonathan Ledger: Jonathan is a senior Exercise and Sport Science major who played men’s golf at St. Mary’s University. A two-time Heartland Conference Golfer of the Week, Ledger helped lead the Rattlers last season to their first conference championship in eight years. He was a member of the Heartland Conference Honor Roll.
Lisa Tomenendal: Lisa is a senior Environmental Science major who played women’s soccer at St. Mary’s University. She helped lead the Rattlers to the Heartland Conference Tournament in each of her two seasons with the team, totaling two goals along the way. She was a member of the Heartland Conference Honor Roll.
Texas A&M–San Antonio
Israel Aguero: Israel is a senior at TAMU-SA and his major is Kinesiology with a minor in Special Education. He plans on being a teacher and a coach.
Keyla Arrambide: Keyla is a senior majoring in Business Administration-Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Project Management. Keyla hopes to earn her Master’s Degree in Data Analytics and become a Database Administrator/Information Systems Manager.
Luz Cano: Luz is a junior majoring in Bilingual Generalist EC-6. His goal is to become a bilingual elementary school teacher. He is eager to earn his degree to begin his career and inspire the lives of those around him.
Analysa Castillo: Analysa is a junior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Sociology.
Samuel Davila: Samuel is a junior majoring in Computer Information Systems.
Laraysha Hall: Laraysha is a junior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and pursuing a minor in Early Child-Grade 6 Generalist.
Danielle Holms: Danielle is a senior majoring in Biology.
Dillon Rau: Dillon is a senior who plans to graduate summa cum laude or with the highest of honors. He also works at Northwest Vista College in the Math and Engineering Department as an administrative assistant. He plans on attending graduate school in the future.
Tabatha Rodriguez: Tabatha is a senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies (EC-6 Education). She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2018. She is a mother of three and a first-generation student.
Ashley Sandoval: Ashley is a junior Supply Chain Management major. She hopes to graduate with honors and work in either the transportation or manufacturing sector of supply chain.
Victoria Terrazas: Previously a student at Northwest Vista College, Victoria graduated from with an associate’s degree in Business Administration. She is now a junior studying Accounting and plans to start her career here in San Antonio after she graduates.
Ricardo Venegas: Ricardo is a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in psychology.
Trinity University
Paige Adrian: Paige is a senior Economics major and hopes to go into the field of urban economics (combining her interests of economics and civil engineering) to help repair and gentrify declining urban areas into functional cities.
Annie Barahona: Annie is a senior studying Business Administration (Finance & Business Analytics) and wants to work in health care administration, specifically the functional arms of compliance or business analytics, to ensure that all constituencies (patient, provider and caregiver) have a positive experience with the health care system, and work to solve healthcare problems of the underprivileged.
Faith Deckard: Faith is a senior Biology major and hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in sociology in order to expand the scope of research/knowledge related to people with criminal records and mental health challenges. In conjunction with this, she hopes to become a college professor who challenges students to broaden their perspectives and world view.
Holly Gabelmann: Holly is a junior Theatre major and wants to attend graduate school for scenic design and ultimately a doctorate in theatre history. During this journey she plans to work at Texas theatres with a goal to one day teach at a university. Her passion is teaching people to express themselves through art, specifically underrepresented groups.
Haleigh Garza: Haleigh is a senior Communication major and hopes to pursue a career in sports, particularly strategic marketing or communication, with an eye towards law school down the road. She wants to ultimately combine these areas of interest to enhance and elevate the fan experience within sports.
Jeanette Gutierrez: Jeanette is a senior studying Art History and hopes to obtain a doctorate in art history with a focus on modern and contemporary Mexican art with a desire to educate the public about Mexico’s history through its art.
Emma MacEachern: Emma is a senior studying Business Analytics and Technology and wants to live and work in San Antonio for a San Antonio based start-up or USAA. She is interested in being part of the team that guides the company’s decision making and wants to remain a part of the professional and cultural community of San Antonio.
Sara McCarty: Sara is a senior Communication major and hopes to live and work in San Antonio with a professional focus on developing social media strategies for companies and clients.
Janett Muñoz: Janett is a senior Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major and wants to combine her background in the sciences and interest in serving the community by pursuing a graduate degree in public policy with a concentration in health. Her ultimate goal is to serve communities with structural and systemic disadvantages relative to healthcare.
Samuel Steup: Samuel is a senior studying Engineering Science and hopes to combine his knowledge of machine design and technical theatre towards developing theatre venues and equipment, specifically hardware and motorized rigging, by working as an engineer for a major theatrical equipment development firm.
Danielle Trevino: Danielle is a senior Communication and Studio Art major and wants to pursue a career at Texas Public radio or public broadcasting with a desire to bring people together through a common understanding of current events facilitated by varied multimedia. She is passionate about the relationship between visual communication and political discourse.
Deliasofia Zacarias: Deliasofia is a senior Studio Art and Business major and hopes to pursue a dual graduate degree in art administration and policy and modern and contemporary art history. She is passionate about educating and inspiring new generations of the importance of arts and culture.
UTSA
Bryce Alley: Bryce is a fifth-year senior and Management major from Longview, Texas and a four-year letter winner for golf who posted a 73.1 average as a senior in 2016-17.
Blake Bogenschutz: Blake, a fifth-year senior and Civil Engineering major from Carthage, Texas, played quarterback for the Roadrunners during the 2014 and 2015 seasons before an injury cut short his career.
Randee Crawford: Randee, a fifth-year senior is a Kinesiology major from Livingston, Texas, is a first-team all-conference performer for softball who shares the school’s single-season record with 64 RBIs.
Aimee Ponte: Aimee, a fifth-year senior is a Multidisciplinary Studies major from St. Sampson’s, Guernsey, is a four-year letter winner for golf who registered a 74.8 average as a senior in 2016-17.
For more photos from the luncheon including ones each individual school, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/valeroalamobowl/photos/
For 2017, the Valero Alamo Bowl Student-Athlete program will again select at least one graduating high senior from every San Antonio area public school and established private school.
The application is now available at each school’s guidance office and the selections will be made in December based on academic achievement, teacher recommendations, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities/varsity sports, honors received as well as a personal narrative.
About the Bowl
The 25th annual Valero Alamo Bowl will kick off on Thursday, December 28 at 8 p.m. It will be the fourth straight year the Valero Alamo Bowl will feature the #1 teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences after the College Football Playoff.
The previous 24 bowl games have brought 1.44 million fans to the Alamodome, 145 million ESPN viewers and $824 million in total economic impact to San Antonio, while contributing $97 million to participating conferences/universities and awarding $3 million in local scholarships.
Last year’s match-up between #10 Colorado and #12 Oklahoma State was the highest ranked matchup in Valero Alamo Bowl history and the game’s third straight Top 15 matchup. The event delivered a $50.1 million total economic impact for San Antonio.
To get up-to-the-minute information, follow the Valero Alamo Bowl on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat (@valeroalamobowl) or visit https://alamobowl.com/about/community-outreach/.
