MARFA — Family, friends and Marfa ISD faculty gathered in the Gregg Auditorium to celebrate the academic achievements of the Shorthorn Class of 2024 at a scholarship award ceremony last week. Student Success Coordinator David Natividad emceed the awards as the senior class, a total of 23 students, sat onstage.
This year’s academically highest-ranking seniors, Valedictorian Jack Marquez and Salutatorian Jaidan Villa, were honored first. Samantha Martinez and Isaac Nuñez were also honored as Miss and Mr. MHS — a special designation for students who have shown academic as well as leadership skills, voted on by staff members.
Each year, MISD seniors compete for scholarships on the local, state and national levels. Scholarship committees consider student GPAs, scholastic honors, community engagement, personal character and more when reviewing student applications and essays for scholarships. In total, the 2024 scholarships awarded totaled over $81,000.
Students receiving the Sul Ross State University Presidential Plus Scholarship will receive a full ride including tuition, fees, housing and meals. The scholarship is provided to area high school students due to a grant from the Permian Basin Area Foundation. The following scholarship list was provided by Marfa ISD. If you have additions or corrections, please email editor@bigbendsentinel.com.
Yvette Avila
$1,000.00 Kirr Martin Family Scholarship, Sul Ross State University Presidential Plus Scholarship
Andru Bentley
Tuition and fees, Odessa College Wrangler Promise Scholarship
Ana Gallegos
$2,000 Marfa Rotary Club Scholarship
Esdras Flores
$500 Judd Foundation Scholarship
Samantha Martinez
$1,000 Marfa Live Arts Crown Scholarship, $500 Judd Foundation Scholarship, $500 Big Bend Sector Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Association Scholarship, $2,000 WesTex Community Credit Union Scholarship
Jack Marquez
$10,000 Thomas Edens Scholarship (Valedictorian), $2,000 Marfa Rotary Club Scholarship, $1,000 in Marfa National Bank Scholarships, $1,200 Marfa Shorthorn Athletic Booster Scholarship
Oscar Meraz
Sul Ross State University Presidential Plus Scholarship
Isaac Nuñez
$1,000 Marfa ISD PTO Scholarship
Jaden Nuñez
Tuition and fees, Odessa College Wrangler Promise Scholarship
Fernanda Rivera
$250 Judd Foundation Scholarship, $300 Marfa Shorthorn Athletic Booster Scholarship, $8,000 Vicki Pfeifer Scholarship
Tony Saenz
$1,000 Western Technical College Scholarship
Liani Salcido
$1,000 CMC Business Scholarship, $1,350 Mando and Josie Vasquez Memorial Scholarship
Luis Solis
$250 Judd Foundation Scholarship, full ride to Sul Ross State University via the Big Bend Regional Medical Center and Workforce Solutions Borderplex Nursing Pipeline Scholarship
Jaidan Villa
$40,000.00 Vicki Pfeifer Scholarship, $5,000 Thomas Edens Scholarship (Salutatorian), $500 Cynthia Hibbitts Memorial Scholarship, $500 Marfa National Bank Scholarship, Sul Ross State University Presidential Plus Scholarship
Zachary Wilson
Tuition and fees, University of Texas Permian Basin Falcon Promise Scholarship