Students overcome barriers to achieve college dreams

Apr. 19, 2021

Garland ISD is proud to announce that seven high school seniors have been named Dell Scholars, setting a district record (most named in one year) and representing 2% of Dell Scholars nationwide. Even more impressive, four out of GISD’s seven Dell Scholars started life in other countries, speaking Amharic, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese. These tenacious seniors will all be first-generation college students, realizing a dream with the help of the AVID program.

Reaching a major milestone at a young age, these highly motivated students learned how to excel while facing challenges and achieve what seemed out of reach. As a child in Mexico, North Garland High School student Brenda Vazquez said she wouldn’t have qualified or even thought about going to college. AVID helped Vazquez and her fellow Dell Scholars secure a college education by amplifying their academic rigor, ambition and perseverance.

All GISD Dell Scholars will receive $20,000, a laptop, textbook credits and ongoing educational support. Our list of honorees is below.

2020 Dell Scholars

  • Karen Mira Lopez, Lakeview Centennial High School
  • Zakarya Mohammad Ameen, Naaman Forest High School
  • Helen Fisseha, North Garland High School
  • Janeth Millan, North Garland High School
  • Brenda Vazquez, North Garland High School
  • Faven Asefaw, Sachse High School
  • Hoang Do, Sachse High School

Information provided by Garland ISD.

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