Rep. Dwayne Bohac Awards Textbook Scholarships to Local High School Graduates

HOUSTON – Four local high school seniors who demonstrated an interest in serving the public through government were awarded a Dwayne Bohac Textbook Scholarship on Aug. 21. This marks the sixth year that high school students in state Rep. Bohac’s legislative district have received money to purchase textbooks for their first semester of college.

“I remember the challenges of my first year in college,” Bohac said. “Textbooks are costly, and every dollar helps. A college education is absolutely essential in today’s world, and education is very important to me. I am gratified to be able to help in this way.” According to an article appearing in Sunday’s Houston Chronicle, textbooks can cost students up to 60 percent of their total educational expenses.

A committee of local leaders carefully reviewed student applications from area high schools. Receiving scholarships were Michael Lauck from Scarborough and Rebecca Traylor from Waltrip, and for the first time, judges were unable to decide on a single winner from one of the schools, so the outcome was a tie between Kim Ngo and Erika Wheat from Spring Woods High School.

Applicants competed based on SAT and ACT scores, grade point averages, class rankings and extracurricular activities, especially those that cultivate character development and promote public service. Students were also required to write a 200-word essay completing the thought, “I feel the primary political challenge for my generation is….” In their essays, students addressed terrorism, innovative ideas for affordable health care, the need to become energy independent, and taking time to research the facts before voting, rather than making decisions based solely on information reported by the media.

In addition to their insightful thoughts, this year’s scholarship recipients revealed impressive credentials. Traylor’s volunteer work includes building houses, planting trees, rebuilding parks and after-school tutoring. She plans to attend the University of Houston. Ngo served as president of productions for Junior Achievement and as captain of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). She plans to attend Trinity University in San Antonio. Wheat volunteered more than 50 hours at the Junior High Drama Guild and also tutored students at Westwood Elementary in math. She plans to attend St. Edwards University in Austin. Lauck was involved in community service activities through his church. He traveled to New Jersey to feed the homeless, to Key West to visit a retirement home and landscape a new school, and to New Orleans to help build a park. He also served as a delegate to the county political party convention. He will attend Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. All are members of the National Honor Society.

For more information on the scholarship program, please contact your respective high school counselor.