Ethany Thomas, Richardson High School
Sixteen Dallas-area high school seniors received a total of $34,000 in academic scholarships from the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation and it's supporters at its 35th Annual College Scholarship Dinner. Scholarship recipients include four RISD students. These scholarships are renewable over four years for a total of $136,000. Outside the dinner, the YMCA awarded an additional $117,500 to 65 continuing college students who re-qualified for prior scholarships based on academic achievement.
Funds for the scholarships are made possible through the F.W. and Bessie A. Dye Foundation.These funds were given to the Dallas Y’s Foundationto provide post secondary scholarships for local youth subject to certain items and conditions. YMCA Scholarships and Dye Scholarships funded by the Dye Foundation are distributed to students who demonstrate the desire to attend and complete college. Dye scholarships are awarded based on motivation, achievement and financial need. Also considered are high school grades, college entrance exam scores, and community involvement. Students receiving a Dye scholarship can attend college anywhere in the world.
"Since 1981, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas has awarded nearly $4 million for educational scholarships to young adults from the Dallas and North Texas area and we are proud to again continue this tradition for the 35th consecutive year," said Gordon Echtenkamp, CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. Students receiving scholarships must provide enrollment information, grades, and community service hours in order to renew the scholarship. “We are going to provide scholarships to 16 kids because it’s not just about youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The work that we do really emanates from the mission of the Y: To put Christian values into practice through programs that build health spirit, mind, and body for all.”
Students awarded scholarships are as follows: Victoria Byrom from Richardson High School, Callie Cowart from Marcus High School, Sean Fabris from JJ Pearce High School, Bobbye Hampton from the School for Talented & Gifted, Bryan Harris from JJ Pearce High School, Shelby Helmer from Rockwall High School, Brianna Houston from Greenhill, James Lilly from Cistercian, Gabriel Palacios from Hillcrest High School, Shelby Patterson from Woodrow Wilson High School, America Rodriguez from Hillcrest High School, Awa Sy from MacArthur High School, D’Juan Taylor Hillcrest High School, Ethany Thomas from Richardson High School, Patricio Viera Perez from Dr. Ralph H. Poteet High School, Raymond Willams from Williams Preparatory.