TOMBALL, Texas – When Ana Duran moved from Mexico to the United States in 2012, she could not speak a word of English, but after years of hard work, she not only became fluent with the English language, she, along with two other Lone Star College-Tomball students were recently awarded the Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarship, which provides funding toward completing a bachelor’s degree.
“This is so amazing,” Duran said. “Being awarded this scholarship proves that hard work definitely pays off. When I moved here, I felt like my entire life was starting over. I couldn’t speak English and for the first time in my life, my whole family was together. Everything was totally different from the way it had been for me and my family. My father moved to the United States when I was only two months old to help make a better life for us, so my first time seeing my dad was when I moved here at 15 years old.”
The Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarship is awarded to non-traditional students who are transferring from a Texas community college or university and are working toward their first baccalaureate degree. These students must have been accepted for admission to a Terry-affiliated public university in Texas. Each scholarship amount is renewable for up to three years.
Duran, who is attending the University of Texas, was awarded $16,700 per year. The two other LSC-Tomball students, Isabella Willingham, who is attending Texas A &M University, was awarded $18,000 per year, and Carmen Castellanos, who is attending Sam Houston State University, was awarded $17,500 per year.
LSC-Tomball TRiO Student Support Services Advisor Michesha Washington described all three students as well deserving. “These students are high-achieving and hard-working students who really put in the effort to stand out. They were very active Trio participants in their volunteer efforts as well as took initiative in multiple leadership opportunities. We couldn’t be more proud.”
“When I first found out I received the scholarship, I was just shocked and filled with joy and happiness,” Willingham said, before adding, “I still have a hard time wrapping my head around being a Terry Scholar recipient. I feel as though it is a huge honor and blessing to receive the Terry Foundation Scholarship. It will allow me to focus on my grades and give me the chance to be able to participate and help with some research projects at Texas A&M. To not have to stress about money is a huge benefit and allows me to focus on the more important things, like getting into a graduate program.”
The Terry Foundation, a Houston-based philanthropic organization, which Nancy and Howard Terry established in 1986, provides scholarships for outstanding Texas students, who show a record of leadership in school and community, financial need and strong academic abilities. The foundation has assisted hundreds of students with scholarships that provide financial assistance as well as academic, cultural, social and leadership opportunities and support throughout the college experience.
For information on the Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarships, go to terryfoundation.org. For information on LSC-Tomball programs of study and available scholarships, please visit LoneStar.edu/tomball.
Lone Star College-Tomball is located at 30555Tomball Parkway, at the intersection of SH 249 and Zion Road. For more information about the college, call 281.351.3300 or visit LoneStar.edu/Tomball.