 "Photo: Francisco J. Perez")
It isn’t typical for Carlyssa Villarreal to boast about her accomplishments, but those around her know she’s earned every right to do so. Villarreal earned the Valedictorian spot for La Joya High School this spring and is the first student in La Joya ISD history to become a Gates Millennium Scholar.
Villarreal always knew she was going to be attending Rice University from the very get-go, as it would allow her to remain close to her family and friends. She didn’t apply anywhere else, but a superb score on the ACT of 33 out of 36 caused Rice to quickly accepted Villarreal in early November, offering an all-expense-paid scholarship for undergraduate degree.
Villarreal got serious right from the start when she began high school.
“Since coming to La Joya High, she knew what is needed to take” said Counselor Lorelie Alvarez. “I was amazed by her when she told me exactly which classes she wanted for the next three years”.
The yearly tuition rate at Rice is about $40,000. Multiplied by four years and with inflation expected to occur, the amount is astounding, but Villarreal said, this award definitely lifts any financial burden. She also commented on the ground-breaking nature of the honor from the Gates Foundation, the world’s biggest philanthropic organization with an endowment of $35 billion
“I was not aware I was the first LJHS student to earn this scholarship,” she said. “Honestly, I’m just extremely relieved to know my college education is basically financed.”
This year about 1,000 students throughout 45 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories were awarded the scholarship. It can be used to pursue a degree in any undergraduate major.
She will soon leave the Rio Grande Valley to attend Rice, and Villarreal is in the midst of her graduation celebration and feeling “very grateful for all the financial aid and scholarship” she has received. But she also carries a heavy heart as her time at La Joya High is coming to an end.
While attending LJHS, she was involved in National Honor Society, Senior Class, Spanish Club, UIL, Computer Science Club, and Robotics
Villarreal will be graduating Friday at La Joya ISD Stadium in front of over 1,000 parents, teachers and district staff. Then, the future begins.
“Eventually I would like to become a neurosurgeon and possibly come back to the Valley to practice,” she said.
Villarreal is the daughter of Oscar and Martha Villarreal of Sullivan City. She will travel to Washington D.C. in June to be recognized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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