San Antonio Student Earns "Don't Mess with Texas" Scholarship
- 08.11.06
San Antonio Student Earns “Don't Mess with Texas” Scholarship for
Leading Campaign to Keep High School Campus Clean
Three college-bound Texans win third annual scholarship
(SAN ANTONIO)-A college-bound student from San Antonio will use money from the third annual Don't Mess with Texas scholarship program to help pay for her university education.
Allison Cohen received a $1,500 Don't Mess with Texas scholarship for spearheading local litter-prevention efforts at her high school.
The family of David D. Barton, M.D. sponsored the Texas Department of Transportation's 2006 Don't Mess with Texas scholarship program, which awarded one $3,000 and two $1,500 scholarships to graduating Texas high school students who implemented a creative and sustainable solution to a litter problem in their school or community. The late Dr. Barton was an advocate of both higher education and litter prevention, and this year's scholarship donation honors his commitment to helping young people pursue their college degrees.
“Now in our third year, we've been able to provide $16,000 in scholarship funds to deserving students,” said Doris Howdeshell, TxDOT Travel Division Director. “While research reveals Texans younger than 25 are most likely to litter, the number of applications we received shows that a lot of young people are passionate about the environment and are doing their part to keep Texas litter-free.”
Cohen founded a student organization called “Keep Mac Beautiful,” named after her alma mater MacArthur High. With Cohen's efforts, the number of trashcans on the 30-acre campus increased three-fold, and students began utilizing the trashcans after she led a schoolwide campaign called “Stop before you drop.” Keep Mac Beautiful is now an established on-campus group, where students receive community service hours for volunteering.
“It is wonderful to be recognized for doing something I'm passionate about,” said Cohen. “I'm really proud to have won the scholarship. Now, underclassmen at my high school have stepped up as new leaders of Keep Mac Beautiful.”
Cohen plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station later this month as a political science major.
“I'm looking forward to being on campus,” said Cohen. “I'm definitely interested in joining an environmental club at Texas A&M.”
The other two scholarship winners were Max Goerte of Telephone, Texas, and Dani Schumacher from Bastrop, Texas.
High school seniors were invited to apply for the Don't Mess with Texas scholarship at www.DontMessWithTexas.org. Students supplied a written essay and provided two letters of recommendation. The scholarship is open to Texas graduating high school seniors who plan to attend accredited two- or four-year colleges or public or private universities in Texas.
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