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SOI 2022 recipients
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Southeast Texas announced the names of students who earned the Student of Integrity Scholarships, awarded by the group’s Consumer Education Foundation, on May 2.
Since its start in 2019, the program has awarded 14 students with a total of $35,000 in scholarships. Prior to the Student of Integrity program, BBB Southeast Texas set up an endowment with Lamar University in 1998 that continues to provide scholarships to College of Business students.
The honorees receive a one-time, $2,500 scholarship made payable to the college, trade school or university of their choice upon enrollment. Each year, a team of independent judges selects the finalists from close to 100 applications from across eight counties in the Southeast Texas service area.
This year’s students, along with other businesses and organizations, will be recognized on June 9 at the 2022 BBB Torch Awards at the Beaumont Civic Center. BBB SETX invites those interested in attending to visit bbb.org/local/0845/
tae-event.
The 2022 BBB Southeast Texas Student of Integrity recipients are Emma Grace Alvey, Hardin Jefferson High School; Colin Angel, Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School; Keira Hemmert, Hardin Jefferson; Claire Larson, Hardin Jefferson; Ian Rothenberger, Nederland High School and Averie Varnado, Port Neches Groves High School.
Alvey will be attending the University of Texas in the fall with plans on eventually attending law school. She has political aspirations and wants to do all in her power to ensure just and fair treatment for all.
Angel will be studying Electrical and Computer Engineering with a possible double major in Business at the University of Texas at Austin. After college, he has plans to start his own technology company in the Austin area.
Hemmert has been accepted to the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. She wants to learn all aspects of the business field, so that she may later use that degree to open her own dental practice, specializing in pediatric dentistry.
Larson plans to attend Louisiana Tech University in the fall. She will be majoring in marketing and minoring in photography, with plans of continuing her volunteerism and community involvement. She is excited to start her next chapter in life.
Rothenberger will attend Lamar University for his bachelor’s degree and has plans to obtain his teaching certificate and stay within the local Southeast Texas area to start his career. He has a desire to help his community the way others helped him. He also has plans to obtain his Ph.D. to either become a professor of History with an emphasis on East Asian studies or to become a school district administrator.
Varnado will begin pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Texas this fall. During this time, she plans to intern at the Capitol of Texas to learn the ins and outs of state government. She plans to attend law school in the pursuit of one day fulfilling her biggest career goal: Chief of Staff for the U.S. President and/or a seat in Congress.
BBB Southeast Texas President/CEO Liz Fredrichs said, “Congratulations to all the Southeast Texas students who embrace volunteering in our community, excel in scholastics, and strive to take on leadership roles in their schools, workplace or local nonprofits. BBB is honored to recognize these students at our 2022 Torch Award for Ethics program.”
Individual tickets are $85, with table sponsorships at $750. Purchase tickets and registration at bbb.org/local/0845/tae-event.