Joanna Liu, senior at Flour Bluff High School, received an early Christmas present from the University of Texas. She was surprised at her home on December 14th as a UT Austin Impact Scholarship recipient. The $48,000–$12,000 per year for four years–scholarship will cover Joanna’s cost of tuition at the University of Texas-Austin.
After Joanna received a UT backpack and the $48,000 scholarship, she quietly said ‘Thank You’ as she wiped a tear of joy from her eye.
The Impact Scholarship recognizes students who are making an impact in their communities through demonstrated leadership, proven academic success, perseverance and commitment to their school and community. Joanna is one of four students from the Coastal Bend who received the scholarship on December 14th. Overall, The University of Texas will awarded 60 Impact Scholarships throughout the State of Texas as part of Impact Texas Day.
At Flour Bluff High School, Joanna is a member of the National, Science and Spanish Honors Societies; Student Council and Interact Club. Her work through the various school sponsored clubs have provided a number of opportunities including volunteering and tutoring.
Each year, representatives from the University of Texas visit students at their home to surprise them with the full-tuition scholarship. Ramon Blakely, director of recruitment for the University of Texas, presented Joanna her ‘big check’. Mr. Blakely also visited and presented scholarships to students from Miller, Sinton and Tuloso-Midway High Schools.
Joanna plans to study Biochemistry at the University of Texas-Austin in fall of 2020 with a long term goal of becoming a pediatrician.