If it wasn't for scholarships, Katie Kornarhens would not have attended college.
A senior Digital Media major from Mayde Creek High School, neither of Katie's parents attended college and were not in a position to fund her pursuit of higher education. Throughout her college career, Katie has been awarded various scholarships, including several from the College of Technology, to cover the cost of tuition and fees for her entire degree plan.
"I am blessed by the donors that make these scholarships possible, and I work hard in my classes each semester to make sure their money is put to good use," Katie said. "I don't believe that scholarships should pay for poor grades, so I feel especially motivated to make good grades."
Scholarships have long been a way for individuals and corporations to make a direct impact on the life of a College of Technology student. Many of these students would have never enrolled in college to begin with, like Katie.
Receiving a scholarship allows students to focus more on studies and spend less time balancing work and school demands. Junior Tinisha Bonaby received the Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mullineaux scholarship last year, and as a result, is able to only work one job this summer and take summer courses to get ahead. In previous summers, she worked two full-time jobs.
"I was honored to be chosen as a recipient," said Tinisha, a digital media major from Westfield High School. "I have been able to participate in more activities since I don't have to work so much during the school year, and it really feels great. This scholarship has helped me enjoy college life more."
The donor of Tinisha's scholarship, Richard Mullineaux, began funding the scholarship with his wife Karen about 10 years ago.
"We chose the University of Houston because it provides the opportunity for a premium university education to a large number of Houston area high school graduates," he said. "We chose the College of Technology because it provides a unique, university-level education in the applied technologies that are so critical in today's world. I continue to fund this scholarship annually and ultimately, it will become an endowed scholarship."
Thanks to the generosity of donors like Mullineaux, nearly $350,000 has been awarded to College of Technology students in scholarships since 2007, including nearly $74,000 awarded recently for the 2011 – 2012 academic year.
Scholarship award amounts range from $250-5,000 and donors may make gifts of any amount to the general COT scholarship fund or a named scholarship in honor of a loved one or organization.