Temple College awards 423 scholarships totaling more than $372,350 to 383 students; Lifelong Leopard Awards presented
The Temple College Foundation hosted the 2024 Scholarship Reception Wednesday to honor 383 students who received a total of 423 scholarships this year and to recognize the many donors who provided the funding. The scholarships awarded totaled $372,350.
The Foundation also presented Lifelong Leopard Awards to The Greater Texas Foundation; donor and alumna Susan Kamas; Temple College faculty member Melissa Parker; and recent graduates Adrianna Rogers and Juliana “J.J.” Huckabay. The Lifelong Leopard Award is given to honor those who invest in Temple College and its students.
“This annual reception is always a highlight of our year as we’re able to recognize the remarkable people and organizations who invest in the lives of our Temple College students,” said Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole, Vice President of Resource Development and External Relations. “It’s a small way for us to say thank to donors and celebrate our many students who are pursuing their educational and career goals.”
View the photo gallery from Wednesday’s event.
During the ceremony, Dr. Christy Ponce, Temple College President, introduced each Lifelong Leopard Award recipient and thanked them for their years of dedication to the growth of the students and Temple College.
Lifelong Leopard Award Honorees
- Greater Texas Foundation, based in Bryan, Texas, has a vision for all Texas students to have equal opportunity to access and succeed in postsecondary education. In fall of 2020, under the guidance of President and CEO Sue McMillin, the foundation awarded Temple College a grant for $620,107 to create the Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) in Hutto. The Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) is a program that offers high school students an opportunity to earn 60 college credit hours in a STEM program before they graduate from high school. Temple has had this program since 2001, and in 2021 Temple College was able to start this program in Hutto. Today, there are more than 90 students in the Hutto program.
- Susan Kamas has served as Executive Director for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, as well as its predecessor, the Central Texas Private Industry Council, for over 35 years. Kamas graduated from Temple College and later attended Southwest Texas State and graduate school at Angelo State University. Kamas started the Susan and James Kamas Endowed Scholarship that benefits a student with an interest in one of the STEM fields. Kamas is a servant and an advocate, who is involved with the Rotary Club of Belton, Belton Chamber of Commerce, Killeen Business Resource Center and a member of Temple College Foundation Board. In addition, she has received numerous awards.
- Melissa Parker grew up at Temple College. As a young child, she roamed the hallways of the nursing building while her mom, Glynda Parker, taught nursing for over 30 years and later became the chair of the LVN program. Today, Melissa Parker serves Temple College as the department chair for Child Development. She is also the owner of Grace Discovery Center. To honor her mom, Melissa created the Glynda Parker Care with Compassion endowment. In addition, she created the Anthony William Parker, Jr. Scholarship to honor her dad.
- Adrianna Rogers graduated from the Temple College with and Associate of Arts and Sciences in Engineering Technology. Adrianna was a member of Temple College’s Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and served as president of the College’s SkillsUSA Club. Under her leadership, Temple College was one of 24 SkillsUSA Schools in the nation named as “Models of Excellence for 2024.” Rogers won the first place at the SkillsUSA national competition for Engineering and Technology Design. An active member of the Temple College community, she has volunteered countless hours for the Temple College Foundation as well as numerous other campus initiatives. Rogers is a CAD technician for Kiella Homebuilders.
- Juliana “J.J.” Huckabay graduated from Temple College with an Associate of Arts in Psychology. During her time at Temple College, Huckabay served as president of Temple College’s Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Under her leadership, Temple College placed regionally as a Top Texas Chapter, a top 30 chapter for the organization’s Career Readiness project, and won more than 20 additional chapter awards. In addition to the regional recognition, she led the chapter to win international awards and be recognized as a Top 100 chapter overall and Top 50 overall for the college project. Huckabay was awarded the All-Texas Academic Team medallion. The medallion is awarded to the top students from two-year colleges in Texas for outstanding academic achievement, exemplary community service and demonstrated leadership. Huckabay has been consistent with her service to her fellow students and always volunteers to assist on campus. She is dually enrolled at Temple College and Texas A&M-Central Texas, pursuing her undergraduate degree in social work.
ABOUT THE TEMPLE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
The Temple College Foundation supports Temple College by providing a means of receiving and administering gifts on behalf of the College. These gifts can be used to support student scholarships, programming, emergency aid, capital improvements and more. The goal is to make sure that financial need never gets in the way of students achieving their academic dreams.
ABOUT TEMPLE COLLEGE
Temple College is “Your Community’s College,” a dynamic and growing community college that equips thousands of Central Texas students with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century success. Temple College, which has campuses in Temple, Hutto, Taylor and Rockdale, offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs to students who seek to earn credits for transfer, graduate with an associate degree or complete a certificate for fast entry into the workforce.
Founded in 1926, Temple College has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence for 98 years. It is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs, from visual and performing arts to competitive athletics. The College has become one of the state’s premiere institutions for healthcare providers’ education and training, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development programs. The faculty and staff are committed to providing exceptional quality instruction.