Just a Thought: It is Graduation time
By Steve
Walker
Well it is that time of the year for
high school and university students in San Antonio to get ready to walk the
stage for graduation ceremonies. Today for example, Jefferson and Lanier High
Schools are hosting their ceremonies back to back later this evening at the
Alamo Dome. Northside ISD will host five high school graduations Monday through
Friday this coming week.
Students from everywhere in the metro
area are gearing up for the parties, celebrations of long anticipated
completion of at least a four year marathon of classes that culminates in a
degree or diploma.
Many graduating high school students
who can’t afford the sticker value of a college education are frantically
looking for scholarships and other avenues to pay for their degrees. Many
parents are doing their best to help their kids achieve that goal with
financial help by working two jobs and taking out loans. For many families in
San Antonio this will be the first generation to obtain a college degree.
The journey actually begins when a
student graduates from middle school. This puts them on the path to achieve a
higher education and sets the tone for what they may choose for their lifelong
career.
As high school prepares them with
basic life skills to allow them to compete in the workforce, it comes to
fruition their senior year when they begin the journey of choosing whether to
go to college or not and which college or tech school to attend to complete their
career choices.
For many the hardship of the
financial burden is often so overwhelming to the point of discouragement, that
they either give up or indefinitely postpone their dreams of a better life and
financial security.
The students of Bexar County live in
a somewhat more positive environment than most. Our community values education
and therefore works diligently to assist families in being able to send their
children forward in their pursuit of higher education. As a former teacher
at Fox Tech, Memorial and McCollum high schools I know that to be true.
This support comes in the form of
scholarships and financial assistance from the many individuals and
organizations and foundations within Bexar County. These groups work year round
raising funds to be able to award deserving students the opportunity to make a
better life for themselves and their families. It also encourages those
students who succeed in obtaining their educational goals to return to their
community and become productive citizens who pay it forward.
One of the many educational
organizations whose sole purpose is to ensure that local students are given the
chance to receive a scholarship to pursue their education is the La Prensa
Education Foundation spearheaded by Millie Duran.
Millie, wife of La Prensa
Publisher Tino Duran has
successfully raised well over two and a half million dollars in scholarship
monies over the years.
Recently I was privileged to cover
this year’s fundraiser gala once again as I have done numerous times in the
past.
As an active member of the San
Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) I have also been involved
in a number of fundraising events for aspiring young journalists. In fact in July
we will host our annual SAAHJ Gala Ceremony that will award scholarships to
worthy students, many from the Hispanic community.
There are many other organizations,
foundations and individuals who feel strongly about ensuring that the
educational future will be bright for not only students, but the entire
community. This is a win-win for everyone in Bexar County.
And as always, I write “Just a
Thought.”
Steve Walker is
a Vietnam Veteran, former Journalist and Justice of the Peace.
