Due to the generous sponsors in the Fort Stockton community, Pecos County, and many others, 30 Fort Stockton High School seniors will be heading to college with a significant head start to their college and technical careers.

A total of $232,050 of scholarship money was formally awarded to the students on May 12 at the annual Fort Stockton Annual Scholarship Banquet.

Sponsors give money to the students through the NCAA Clearinghouse by way of Olga Sanchez, head of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Fort Stockton ISD. The total amount of scholarships given through Sanchez, who plays a large role in connecting and recruiting sponsors to students, was $43,950.

Sponsors gave $188,100 through the clearinghouse by the help of the school district.

The event featured four speakers who were previous scholarship recipients that found great success following high school.

Former scholarship recipients and Fort Stockton High School graduates Angela Diaz and Joseph Diaz, who are brother, were two of the four speakers at the ceremony. The Diaz’s talked and about their college experiences and the paths they took to be successful. Angela is graduating from Texas A&M San Antonio and Joseph graduated from McMurry University.

Former FSHS graduate, Triple R Welding owner, and entrepreneur Andy Rivera, spoke with fellow former graduate Cesar Trejo, who graduated from Lincon Tech. Both explained the route they took after college and that going into trade school or acquiring a trade skill paved their paths.

JB Gallegos was the introduction speaker and judge Ruben Salinas provided the invocation at the event.

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce provided dinner to all guests.

Students who received a scholarship(s) were Dominic Aguilar, Domenic Aguilera, Lauryn Calderon, Izabella Diaz, Alyana Dominguez, Elijah Escajeda, Petra Escajeda, Alexia Galindo, Gabriela Galindo, Caleb Garcia, Darian Garcia, Andrew Gonzales, Viviana Leyva, Luis Mendoza, Selena Mendoza, Reagan Munoz, John Christian Napay, Kendrick Porras, Andrew Rangel, Aiden Rayos, Daniel Renteria, Devon Rodriguez, Yanet Rodriguez, Alexia Sanchez, Elias Sanchez, Ysabella Sanchez, Kaylee Soto, Miguel Trejo, Desiree Williams, Natalie Ybarra.

The following were the sponsors and/or memorial scholarships that provided over $200,000 to the 30 Fort Stockton High School seniors:

• Joe & Dora Hayter Scholarship

• AMC Rentals

• Bella Terraza

• Triple R. Welding

• Terrazas Furniture

• First National Bank

• Cash Express Inc.

• Fort Stockton Lions Club

• In memory of Ben Gallegos

• State Farm Insurance/Kessia Ledesma

• Seals Blydes

• Xi Zeta Lambda

• Ronnie & Dionesia Chavez

• In memory of Ray Falcon

• James I Trott Scholarship

• In memory of James David Jepson

• In memory of Brother Johnny Salinas

• Linebarger Goggan Affy’s

• Pecos County State Bank

• 33 Lead Foundation Scholarship

• Kevin Marler Memorial

• Matthew Quiroz Scholarship

• Phil M Adams Scholarship/Fasken Foundation

• Dr. Auden Velasquez & Lexi Velasquez

• Robert & Anette Gonzalez

• In memory of Johnny Salinas

• American Metals

• Pecos County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary

• Kia Tays Accents

• Stockton Ford Inc.

• McKenzie Land & Livestock

• Presidential Merit Scholarship

• City Bank

• Fort Stockton Garden Club

• Pecos County State Bank

• Fort Stockton Chamber of Commerce

• Donavyn Vaughn Scholarship

• Ignition Service & Supply

• Ledesma Properties

• George T & Gladys Abel Scholarship

• Maverick Academic Scholarship

• In memory of Linda Alvarado

• First United Methodist Church

• The Dora G. Terrazas Scholarship

• Honor Graduate: Highest Ranking Graduate

• Be a Unicorn Anahi Granado Memorial Scholarship

• Alex Gonzales Family Trust

• Lincoln Tech Scholarship

• Abell Hanger Foundation

• In memory of Uncle Johnny Salinas