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Nothing was going to stop Alyssa Pacheco from pursuing her lifelong dream of attending a leading liberal arts college on the East Coast.
Not even the rather astronomical tuition and fees that tend to be associated with attending one of these establishments.
Pacheco, a proud product of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of the San Antonio Independent School District, was keenly aware that her middle-class education would not be enough to cover the costs of the nationally renowned Middlebury College in Vermont.
Unperturbed, Pacheco did her research and successfully applied for the San Antonio Area Foundation Glenda Woods Fellowship, offering a total of $ 40,000 during her four years at Middlebury. The Area Foundation scholarship enabled her to bridge the gap between family contributions and Middlebury financial aid.
“Not having to take out loans? So that I can focus only on my education? Thought Pacheco, 21, a senior who is about to earn a degree in political science. “It was just amazing. “
She would love to see other South Texas kids like her with big dreams and aspirations know that the best colleges and universities in the country are within their reach, especially if they are worried that they will not be able to attend due to fees. high tuition.
Now even more help is on the way.
the San Antonio Region Foundation already manages over 100 scholarship funds and it is now adding to that arsenal – a big time.
Thanks to the unprecedented generosity of an anonymous donor, the Area Foundation announces the creation of the new Legacy Scholarship Fund. In what will become one of the largest scholarship programs not only in our region but nationally as well, it will provide the same level of support that Pacheco has received for dozens of local students every year. .
The Legacy Scholarship will award 50 students from Bexar and Webb counties $ 10,000 per year for their undergraduate careers, or $ 40,000 each in total. This means that the Area Foundation will pay out $ 2 million per year in scholarships through this new fund alone, which will bring our annual scholarship donation to around $ 5 million to $ 7 million.
“We could not be more touched by this tremendous show of selflessness towards the future leaders of our community,” said Marjie French, CEO of the Area Foundation. “We are so honored, not only by this act of generosity, but also by the confidence we place in defending these future leaders. “
The eligibility requirements stated by the donor are straightforward: Applicants must be high school students living in Bexar and Webb counties with proven leadership qualities. The donor also indicated a preference for applicants to higher education institutions with a religious affiliation.
The details of the schedule are still being worked out, but entries will start to be accepted this fall and the first round of winners will be announced in spring 2022. The focus is on juniors so that those selected enter their final year. and can plan accordingly for college knowing that they will be able to count on their Legacy scholarship.
Pacheco, who plans to go to law school, was delighted to learn of this big boost to the Area Foundation’s already strong scholarship program.
This is just further proof that the organization is the go-to resource for students like her who like to think big and are determined not to be put off by financial challenges.
“The role the Foundation plays in helping students is extremely important,” she said. “Nothing prevents us from representing SA in the best schools in the country and we have the Foundation by our side to make it happen.”
