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Scholar Spotlight

Ruby Mendoza in cap and gown

Ruby Mendoza

Graduate of University of Texas at Dallas 2020
Lizeth Alvarez in graduation gown and cap

Lizeth Alvarez

Graduate University of Texas at Dallas 2020
Galvan Alfredo

Alfredo Galvan

HSF Scholar

Ruby Mendoza

Ruby Mendoza standing in front of reflecting pool holding graduation cap

Ruby graduated from Plano East Senior High in June of 2012 with aspirations of going to college to get a degree. This was not only her ambition. Her mother dreamed of “having a better future for her family.”

Her parents came to the United States in 1993 looking for better opportunities for themselves and their family. However, at some point, her parents still needed to work multiple jobs each to pay their house bills, much less pay for their daughter to go to college, no matter how much they wanted to. The Hendrick Scholarship Foundation awarded Ruby a scholarship after high school that came with academic advising, coaching and life skills training to help her succeed. She is the first one in her family to go to college.

With the aid of her coach, Lynn Huselton, the HSF Student Success Committee, the HSF staff and our generous donors, Ruby graduated this Spring from University of Texas at Dallas Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and Healthcare Administration.

The Hendrick Scholarship has given me an opportunity to complete my educational goals. It gave me hope when I was not sure what would happen after high school graduation. It made me believe that dreams do come true.

Lizeth Alvarez

Lizeth Alvarez in graduation gown and cap

Lizeth graduated Plano East Senior High in June of 2015 with a dream of having a career that she loved and, in the end, having the ability to help her parents and give back.

Lizeth wanted to be a teacher and college was the next step, but the financial burden was too much. She knew that her parents would want her to go to college, since they had not had the opportunity. The Hendrick Scholarship Foundation awarded Lizeth a college scholarship that included academic advising, coaching and life skills training to help her succeed. She is the first one in her family to go to college.

With the aid of her coach, Nell Pearce, the HSF Student Success Committee, the HSF staff and our generous donors, Lizeth graduated this Spring from University of Texas at Dallas with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Elementary Education. Lizeth is now teaching 3rd grade at a local elementary school in Plano ISD.

I love being able to help elementary students further their education…It’s a true passion that I have for becoming a teacher.

Lizeth Alvarez at her preschool graduation

Alfredo Galvan

Alfredo Galvan - Hendrick Scholar

The program has helped me a lot financially, but, on top of that, they have helped me connect with a lot of people, like my coach Nick Smith. He really helped me with a lot of things, like guiding me through all my classes. If I have any questions about certain material, I could go with him and just talk about it. However, after the first few meetings, hanging with Nick didn’t just become somewhere I needed to go, but somewhere I wanted to go just because we just clicked. I like to go with him just to hang, talk about the field, and new things coming up.