Ten students awarded scholarships through LSCO Ambassador program
Published 8:17 am Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader Lamar State College Orange introduces it’s inaugural Ambassador Program. Lamar State College Orange President Dr. Thomas Johnson, left, with Jillian Simmons of Vidor, Madison Fischer of Bridge City, Carrissa Slaughter, back, of Bridge City, Graycn Gilbreath of Vidor, Dylan Garrett, back, of Bridge City, Sarah Tucker, front, of Buna, Jonatan Ramirez, back, of West Orange – Stark, Roshni Lauji, front, of West Orange – Stark, Grant Johnson, of Vidor, and Provost Dr. Al Barringer.
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader
By Dawn Burleigh
The Orange Leader
Ten top students in the top 25 percent of their graduating class were awarded a full year scholarship for up to 15 credit hours at Lamar State College-Orange as part of the new Ambassador Scholarship Program at the college.
Students graduating this year from Bridge City High School, Buna High School, Vidor High School, Vidor AIM, and West Orange-Stark High School.
They are:
Bridge City High School
- Madison Fischer majoring in Nursing
- Dylan Garrett majoring in Nursing
- Carrissa Slaughter majoring in Nursing
Buna High School
- Sarah Tucker majoring in Nursing
Vidor High School
- Graycn Gilbreath majoring in Nursing
- Grant Johnson majoring in Criminal Justice
- Jillian Simmons majoring in Nursing
Vidor AIM
- Jamie Raughton
West Orange-Stark High School
- Roshni Lauji majoring in General Studies
- Jonatan Ramirez majoring in Process Operating Technology
“These students will be the face of Lamar,” Lamar State College President Dr. Thomas Johnson said. “We want the best and brightest to attend Lamar State College-Orange.”
Johnson spoke of attending a four-year college where the students were told to look to the left, look to the right, and only one would still be there in a year.
“That crushed me,” Johnson said. “I looked left and looked right and they looked a lot smarter than me. I went to a two-year college and they said, ‘You belong here.’ I learned a lot there and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.”
One requirement Phi Beta Kappa is to complete at least 90 college credits (usually about three years) with a 3.75 cumulative GPA (or be in the top 10-12 percent of your class).
Johnson added going to college not only changed his life but his whole family.
“I have nieces and nephews that say, “Well if Uncle Tommy can do it, so can I,’” Johnson said. “This school can change lives.”
As part of the program, the students are responsible for:
- Enrolling and maintain full-time at LSCO with a 3.0 overall GPA
- Attend training session and required meetings (monthly)
- Serve the college an average of 4 hours a week throughout the semester
- Assist college Recruiter with community events, high school visits, and college fairs
- Campus Tours and Welcoming Groups to campus
- Special Assignments
- An opportunity to be the face of LSCO for advertising and marketing
- Have transportation to off-campus events
As part of the awards for being selected the new Lamar Ambassadors will receive full-tuition and fees scholarship for one year (Fall and Spring) up to 15 semester hours per semester, LSCO Student Ambassador shirts and blazer, networking opportunities with LSCO faculty, administers and community representatives, opportunity to develop leadership skills and career, an end of semester appreciation event as well as a Certificate of Service Award.
“You are outstanding,” Johnson told the new ambassadors on Monday. “You are leaders. That is becoming rarer and rarer. When you do for others, you are doing something right. You are the first class of ambassadors and you will always be the first.”
Director of Advising, Counseling, Testing, and Recruiting Andrea Stephenson said she was part of a similar program in school.
“There is no doubt you will go far where ever you want to go,” Stephenson said.
Provost Dr. Al Barringer added the possibility of leadership workshops for the ambassadors.
“You will become better leaders,” Barringer said.
Family, friends and significant others were asked to continue to be supportive of their students.
Applications for the 2020 Ambassador Scholarship will be accepted beginning January 2020.
