By JASON COLLINS
Bee-Picayune staff
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posted May 7 -
Leo Sayavedra was one of the first members of his family to go to college and had it not been for that decision, his life would have been vastly different.
“It has been great. It has been a lot of fun,” Sayavedra said he recalled his career which included 48 years in academia. “For the most part it has been a very exciting time – all because I went to college.
“Had I not gone to Trinity (University) or anywhere else... none of that would have happened. It was Trinity University that opened all these doors for me.”
Sayavedra will be the guest speaker at the Joe Barnhart Lectureship series at the A.C. Jones High School auditorium at 9 a.m. Friday.
It is also during the lectureship that the recipients of the scholar’s award will be announced.
In the running this year for the prestigious $30,000 award are juniors Eric Soza, Audrey Jones, Hillary Garza and Eric Taylor.
Of the 16 applicants, these four students were chosen by a three judges.
“You have to make yourself look really good on paper. That comes from three years of hard work,” said Paula Duffy, director of the Joe Barnhart Scholarship Fund. “Those judges look at every single thing.”
The application, available to the top 10 percent of juniors at A.C. Jones High School, reminds the students that while grades are important, it isn’t the only criteria.
“The award is not necessarily based on the highest scholastic standing and would take into account the student’s potential for contribution to the world in areas of civics, religion, other humanities, business or professions and the arts,” the scholarship reads
The four remaining students will now face an interview Thursday with trustees from the Joe Barnhart Foundation asking them questions about their future careers and themselves.
On Friday morning, towards the end of an lectureship, the students will find out who has won the scholarship.
Sayavedra, who is speaking prior to the scholarship announcement, said that he intends to encourage not only those up for the scholarship, but all the students in the auditorium to not stop their education with a high school.
“I went to college back in 1956,” he said. “I was one of those very very fortunate kids that ultimately had the opportunity to go.”
“In those days, college was reserved for the elite community,” he said. “Now many opportunities have been provided for kids.
“College continues to be demanding... and requires focus and attention.”
Sayavedra said that those students who think they can coast through college like high school, will find out quickly that this world of higher education is completely different.
“There are no shortcuts,” he said. “It requires dedication and hard work.”
Sayavedra said that his career in education happened by chance.
He had graduated Trinity University with a degree in mathematics but wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for a living. At that time, companies were recruiting math majors to the computer field but he wasn’t ready to spend another three years in college.
So, he got his teaching degree and went to work in Duval County.
As the years went by, he continued his education, ultimately earning his doctorate.
This month, he will retire as vice chancellor from the Texas A&M University System.
Hs most noted accomplishment there was as president in which he oversaw the successful transfer of Laredo State University into the Texas A&M System in 1989.
Having grown up in a time when college was something uncommon and out of reach for many, Sayavedra said he wants to encourage the students to go.
“For the most part, Mexican-Americans and African-Americans would drop out in droves by the time they were in the sixth, seventh or eighth grades,” he said. “Those who continued and graduated from high school were few and far between.”
His high school was unique because of the dedication of the teachers.
“We had 53 high school graduates,” he said. “And 80 percent, or the last 40 of us, went off to school and pursued higher education. The point being, out of 53, 40 went off and tried to achieve a higher level of education which was unprecedented for a school in Duval County.”
Sayavedra said his message to the students will be that a college education isn’t something to be taken lightly, but with dedication, it is possible.
“If I could do it, anybody else can,” he said referring back to the obstacles faced by his generation.
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