Following the successful launch of the Rusk TJC Citizens Promise scholarship program in 2014, the sixth group of Rusk High School seniors is preparing to join the TJC freshman class of 2019.
The Rusk TJC Citizens Promise is one of the earliest Promise programs in the United States and the first such initiative in Texas. The Rusk TJC Citizens Promise initiative covers up to $4,000 per year for two years at TJC. In addition to graduating in the top half of their class with a minimum 2.5 GPA, qualifying students must also reside in Rusk ISD and must have attended Rusk High School for grades 11 and 12.
The 63 eligible Rusk seniors were introduced during a special event Tuesday in the RHS auditorium. The event was attended by the entire student body.
Speakers included TJC Chancellor Dr. Mike Metke, State Sen. Bryan Hughes, Margaret Perkins of the Perkins Family Foundation, and Bre’Ann Higgins, who was the first Rusk High School senior to accept the Rusk Promise Scholarship in 2014. Higgins, a 2016 TJC honor graduate, recently received her bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.
This year’s eligible students are: Diana Alcantara, Jessica Alcantara, Hillary Alexander, Braedon Anderson, Alyssa Aranda, Emily Arnwine, Mercedes Barfield, Landri Bayless, Kacey Besson, Caidyn Boggs, Peyton Byrne, Sean Chaffin, Kyla Coston, Chasity Coutee, Madison Davlin, Katrina Dickey, Bryce Driver, Shyann Fairchild, Mary Elizabeth Fletcher, Andrew Gates, Austin Gates, James Glaze, Vanessa Ochoa Godinez, Tatum Goff, Jacqulyn Gowin, Zachary Guess, Deana Hale, Abigail Hood, Cade Hughes, Jessica Husband, Valerie Ivy, Victoria Ivy, Byron Johnson, Colt Kinney, Faith Lenard, Hunter Lewis, Avery Luna, Emily Marquez, Dayana Martinez, Seth Matlock, Emily McCalister, Nicholas McCalister, Caleb McNair, Kaleb Moore, Julia Morgan, Dustin Nino, Addison Norton, Macey Perry, Brayden Pike, Megan Rains, Michael Rosales, Bryan Salvador, Sydnee Seeton, Emmalee Shaw, Stormy Shuptrine, Brooklyn Thomas, Karli Vaught, Rachel Walley, Anthony Watson, Bryce Wimer, Nicole Winfrey, John Wofford and Zachary Zea.
Megan Cumbee, TJC scholarship recruitment and retention coordinator, is designated solely to providing assistance to Rusk TJC Citizens Promise Scholars.
Cumbee, a 2006 Rusk High School graduate, keeps in contact with Promise scholars throughout their senior year at RHS and holds a series of workshops and meetings especially for them and their parents, to ease the students’ transition from high school to TJC.
The Rusk TJC Citizens Promise program is a partnership between TJC, the TJC Foundation, Rusk ISD, Citizens 1st Bank and The Perkins Family Foundation.
For more information on the Rusk TJC Citizens Promise, go to www.tjc.edu/ruskpromise.