- 08.14.07
Temple Student Wins “Don't Mess with Texas” Scholarship
(TEMPLE, Texas) — A Temple High School student’s efforts to keep her campus clean earned her the top prize in the Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program.
A panel of judges awarded Andrea Ciceri the grand prize scholarship of $3,000 for spearheading a recycling campaign at Temple High School. She received her check during an official presentation at the 40th annual Keep Texas Beautiful luncheon in San Antonio.
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.”
Winning Student Starts “Put It Here” Program
Ciceri has been involved in Keep Temple Beautiful and has participated in litter cleanups. Through these experiences, she was motivated to develop the “Put It Here” recycling chapter at Temple High School. The program allowed students at the school to earn volunteer hours by keeping the campus litter-free.
When asked about litter prevention and the environment, Ciceri said, “Something needs to happen. People need to be involved because we’re inheriting the earth.”
She was surprised to learn she won top honors in the scholarship competition. “I hoped for it but did not expect to win. I plan to continue my litter prevention efforts at Trinity University. The university has welcomed me to start my own litter prevention program on campus.”
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.”
