Setting the Course: "Tu Futuro" Scholarship Recipients Announced

By Marie Jacinto

 

Future Gators Liliana Valdez and Luis Rodriguez recently received some of the best news any high school senior could hope for: Full scholarships covering the cost of a four-year UHD undergraduate degree, thanks to the Univision/UHD “Tu Futuro” scholarship program. Liliana and Luis got the surprise announcement that they both would receive the scholarship during a ceremony held recently at the Univision Houston station. Lots of UHD dignitaries were on hand, including Provost & Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Deborah Bordelon, Enrollment Management Vice President Daniel Villanueva, Advancement & University Relations VP Javier “Jay” Zambrano, and University Relations Assistant Vice President Debra McGaughey. 

All applicants for the scholarship had to meet UHD admission criteria and write an essay describing their unique story, sharing how a college scholarship would help them positively impact their community. Representatives from Univision Houston and UHD selected the winners from more than 500 scholarship applications.

Liliana Valdez, a senior at Chavez High School, Houston ISD, is planning to major in Business. Liliana said in her essay: “This scholarship will not only help me achieve my personal goals but help my ability to give back to my community. I am majoring in business so I can develop the skills and experience to be an entrepreneur. I am going to start my own clothing brand in designing streetwear clothes and have my own foundation that will help fund low-income schools. This foundation will help provide students with the academic support and resources they need so they can have a brighter future.  I will help provide access to up-to-date technology and educational resources. I want students to be provided with the same type of experience as a student coming from a high-income school.”

Luis Rodriguez is a senior at Aldine High School, Aldine ISD, and hopes to major in Biology, attend medical school, and become an orthopedic doctor.  Luis shared in his essay: “A scholarship will help me alleviate the stress associated with educational expenses which will give me a chance to continue my studies in getting my degree in Biology. Following my bachelor’s, I will further my education by going to medical school and becoming a doctor.”

“The opportunity to continue my studies will provide me with leadership skills which will then enable me to conduct my research and solutions to challenges that my community’s healthcare lacks,” he continued. “I’ve frequently gone to hospitals throughout my life, a journey that began at the age of 10 when I underwent my first surgery after an accident. Throughout my hospital visits I questioned myself on how medical procedures worked and how the human body worked. At the age of 10 I knew what I wanted to be and that's to be a doctor.”

The “Tu Futuro” scholarship program is the result of a partnership and collaboration between Univision Houston and the University of Houston-Downtown. The program was launched in January 2021 for high school seniors residing in the Greater Houston area with the purpose of awarding a local student a full scholarship. The “Tu Futuro” scholarship is part of Univision Houston Contigo (With You) community empowerment initiative.