- 08.14.07
Muenster Student Wins “Don't Mess with Texas” Scholarship
(MUENSTER, Texas) — A Muenster High School student’s campus cleanup efforts earned her one of three scholarships awarded through the Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program.
Melissa Cox received a $1,000 scholarship for spearheading local litter-prevention efforts on her school campus. She received her check at her graduation ceremony.
EnviroMedia Social Marketing sponsored the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2007 Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program, which awarded one $3,000 and two $1,000 scholarships this year to help high school students pay for their university educations.
“The Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship is one way for us to create a dialogue with teens about not littering,” said Brenda Flores-Dollar, program manager for TxDOT’s Travel Division. “When students address their community’s litter problem and encourage others to get involved, our Don’t Mess with Texas message becomes even more credible.”
Elementary Students Learn About Recycling, Litter from Cox
Melissa Cox has participated in various trash pickups as a high school student and also served on the Keep Muenster Beautiful board for two years. Her litter prevention activities included setting up recycling bins at her school’s athletic events and making announcements to remind others to throw away their trash.
Cox also implemented a program at a local elementary school where she described different types of trash, taught what could be recycled, how to recycle and the importance of not littering.
“I spent a good amount of time in my high school career doing community service, so it’s nice to be rewarded with money for college,” said Cox. She plans to join an environmental club at the University of Texas at Austin in the fall.
Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program
TxDOT received more than 200 applications from high school seniors across the state. The field was narrowed down to a group of 10 students by an independent screener and was then further finalized by a panel of judges. Including this year, top environmentally-focused high school students have received $21,000 in funds through the Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program.
This year’s two other scholarship winners were Andrea Ciceri from Temple, Texas and Melissa Cox of Muenster, Texas.
Students were required to write an essay about their own sustainable solution to a litter problem in their school or community. The scholarship is open to Texas graduating high school seniors planning to attend accredited two- or four-year colleges or public or private universities in Texas.
“We know the class of 2008 will be just as motivated about the environment as this year’s group of exceptional teens,? said Flores-Dollar. ?We encourage all high school students to talk to their guidance counselor and apply next spring.”
