January 26th, 2010
Texas State students win Wilson-Rockefeller prizes

Old Main at Texas State.

STAFF REPORT

Three Texas State students have been granted 2010 fellowships for minority students entering the teaching profession from the Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Veronica Arellano, an interdisciplinary studies major from San Antonio, Ambra Green, an interdisciplinary studies major from Victoria and Estella Reyna, an education major from Connell, WA, are the Texas State students earning the fellowships.

The three Texas State winners were among 25 students representing 16 universities to earn the honor. Texas State was one of only two schools to have three students selected.

Students designated as Rockefeller Fellows are eligible for scholarship grants totaling up to $22,100 beginning in their junior years and ending after that fellow has established a career as a public school classroom teacher.

Rockefeller Fellows initially receive grants of $2,500 during the summer of their junior years to undertake projects related to teaching. Following graduation, they can receive awards of $12,000 to $16,000 for full-time graduate work in teacher education or related fields.

Upon completion of graduate work, fellows are eligible for loan repayments of $1,200 annually for each of the first three continuous years the fellow serves as a public school classroom teacher. Since 1997, a total of 17 Texas State students have received Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Fellowships: Lydia Rousey, Prisciliana Delgado, Audrey M. Estupinan, Gabriel Garza, Raul Gonzalez, Nora Perez, Coretta Doss, Maria Tinajero, Lisa Jefferson, Stefanie Sierra, Patrice Resse, Danielle Alvarado, Roxanne Lopez, Stephanie Lopez, Tyrone Sutton, Albert Walker and Ashley Weaver. Fellowships were not awarded from 1998-2000 or in 2009.

To be eligible for the Rockefeller awards, students must be enrolled in one of the 28 colleges and universities chosen for the program. Those institutions have shown a record of commitment to the education of minorities and have the stated goal of improving teaching in public schools. Participating universities may nominate up to three students.

Rockefeller Fellows are selected based on academic performance, written and oral communication skills and commitment to public service.