Amigos 2023
Scholarship Award Recipients
Yessica Gutierrez
Amigos Student Ambassador and scholarship recipient
School: The University of Texas At Austin
Major: Government and Social Work double-major
Future plans: I am currently studying for the LSAT and hope to go to law school after undergrad!
Amigos de Jesus has helped my academic journey by providing me with the financial support necessary to pursue my education. The financial support from Amigos has allowed me to dedicate more time to my studies. I am grateful for the support and resources Amigos de Jesus has to offer.
For high school students, my advice would be: don’t be afraid to ask questions! People are more than willing to offer you support and share their knowledge. The more questions you ask, the more you’ll learn about the resources around you and how those resources can help you achieve your future goals!
Maria Valencia
Amigos Student Ambassador and scholarship recipient
School: Saint Thomas University Houston, TX
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Major: Nursing
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Future Plans: I plan to get my BSN in nursing, go back home and immediately start working as a pediatric nurse.
Amigos De Jesus has helped by making my dream come true. Because of them I was able to pursue my dream of further education and my passion.
I would encourage all High School students to take advantage of every opportunity and to believe in yourself-you never know your full potential until you take a leap of faith.
Sofia McComack
Amigos Student Ambassador and scholarship recipient
School: University of Alabama
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Major: Aerospace Engineering
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Future Plans: After I get my bachelor’s, I plan to go for a master’s, and maybe even a doctorate. Currently, I am working towards getting an internship at NASA, and I may even decide to work there someday.
My advice for a high school student would be to experiment with your interests. You don’t have to be set in stone on what you want to be and do, there’s plenty of time to figure it out. Personally, I went through high school doing computer science, but now am in college doing aerospace engineering. And still, I don’t know if I want to do aeronautics or astronautics, but the great thing about that is that I can do a bit of both until I decide. Some people know exactly what they want to be, and some people take longer to figure it out. Either way, that’s okay. So delve into your interests, and you’ll find something that you’re passionate about.
Yaretzy Ramos
Amigos Student Ambassador and scholarship recipient
School: Avenue Five Institute
Major: Hairdressing
I graduated from Wimberley High School in 2022, knowing from a young age that I wanted to become a hairstylist. When it came time to apply for college, I thought about what career path truly excited me. Realizing academics weren't my passion, I decided to enroll in cosmetology school to pursue my dream of working in the beauty industry.
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After touring programs in Austin, I chose Avenue Five Institute's South Austin location for its 9-month hairdressing certification. From August 2022 to May 2023, I immersed myself in the coursework. I met some of my closest friends, gained important technical skills and creative confidence.
Now a licensed graduate, I work as an associate at a salon in South Austin. My experience reaffirmed following one's authentic professional passions. College does not fit every student’s talents and interests- my advice is to the follow the career path that you are most interested in. Trade schools focused on vocational careers can offer bright futures doing what you love. I am so happy with my career and so excited for what's to come!
Ramon Alvarez Moreno
Amigos Student Ambassador
School: Texas State University
Major: Construction science and management. (Science and engineering college)
Future Plans: Once I graduate from Texas State University, I hope to position myself in a local Texas construction company so that I can obtain the needed experience in the field. After about a year, I hope to earn a higher position or move to another company to learn more operational ways, enrich my knowledge, and develop more connections. Eventually, I hope to put a team of the best performing people together and make a nationwide company that specializes in commercial and residential projects.
After moving to Texas from Mexico during middle school, Ramon graduated Wimberley High School in May of 2023. He worked very hard to become proficient in English with the goal of being able to attend college. Ramon is an outstanding student who has excelled in both academics and community service. He is currently in the college of Science and Engineering studying Construction and Management at Texas State University. Ramon has big ambitions and we are thrilled that he is our first Amigos Ambassador. He will serve as a
mentor to WHS students like him who want to be life changers in their families and communities.
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"I enjoy using my free time to play sports such as soccer and basketball. Cooking has made its way into my life, as I am now pursuing a more healthy lifestyle. I'm also invested in learning Portuguese, which I hope will help boost my career. On rainy days, I crave sitting near a window and reading anything that I find appealing or watching a Netflix series from my couch. I'm also a fan of the Zelda video game franchise."