Wimberley seniors offered $8.1 million in scholarships

Graduating seniors at Wimberley High School aim high when it comes to selecting the perfect college and earning scholarships to make their dreams achievable. Parents, loved ones and community donors packed the J. Gary Wyatt-Lydia Miller-Wyatt Lone Star Theatre May 18 to revel in the great news of their students receiving full-ride, merit and local scholarships. During the ceremony, aptly named, Shoot for the Stars, the big scholarship reveal totaled $8.1 million.

“This is an awesome time of year for our seniors. Shoot for the Stars is an evening for them to be celebrated and rewarded for their hard work during their 4 years of high school. I am bursting with pride at their success and am confident that they will stand out among their peers when they set foot on college campuses all over the United States,” said Pamela Phillips, Wimberley High School Junior-Senior Counselor.

Ian Burnette was the top earner with $2,450,826.00 in scholarships and offers. His athletic scholarships included nearly $243,000 from Texas Christian University and similar offers from 12 other universities.

Preston Cranford, a Commended National Merit

Scholar, was also one of the top scholarship recipients, earning a full-ride to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) valued at about $284,000, an additional $500 from the Ron “Doc” Richards Honorarium Scholarship, another $1,200 from the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association, $4,000 from the FirstGen Scholarship, $5,000 from PEC and a $20,000 Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Scholarship.

This was the first time a WHS student earned the Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Scholarship. As part of the award, Cranford nominated a teacher who significantly impacted his education, Denise Garza, Science Department Chair and his Pre-AP and AP chemistry teacher. She was recognized as the Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Scholarship Educator of Distinction.

Railie Calhoun, the top-ranking female and valedictorian in the class of 2018, also amassed an impressive scholarship total with TASSP All-State Academic Excellence Award, an Ozona National Bank Scholarship for $500, $1000 from each of three organizations, the Wimberley Institute of Cultures Bill Johnson Memorial Scholarship, the Wimberley Water Supply Corporation, the Wimberley High School Theresa Hebert Memorial Scholarship and the Central Texas Medical Center Foundation. She received the Becca’s Closet Spirit of Generosity Rebecca Kirtman Memorial Scholarship for $1,500 and $3,000 from the Wimberley Community Civic Club Scholarship. She also earned a $10,000 scholarship from Pedernales Electric Cooperative and a Wimberley Lions Club Academic Scholarship for $8,000. Two universities offered Calhoun scholarships, The University of Texas at Austin offered her the Presidential Scholarship totaling more than $58,000 and the Texas Christian University offered her an academic award of $80,000.