Press release from Southwest Texas College

   03-05-26 {Uvalde, Texas) Southwest Texas College (SWTX) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Showmanship Scholarships, recognizing outstanding young livestock exhibitors from across the tri-county district. Each year, the Agricultural Management Department awards a $500 scholarship to the winner of the showmanship award in each of the livestock county classes at the three livestock expositions in the district. To take advantage of this award, recipients must enroll at SWTX.

  This year’s county-level scholarship winners include exhibitors in Uvalde County, Real County and Zavala County across pee wee, junior, intermediate and senior divisions. Showmanship scholarships were awarded in species and classes such as rabbits, goats, lambs, swine, steers, broilers, horses and angora goats, reflecting the depth of student participation in local agricultural programs.

  Uvalde County showmanship scholarship winners were recognized across multiple livestock categories. In Angora Goats, Maura Astling (Senior) and Sadie Ayala (Junior) earned scholarships. Market Broilers winners were Grant Williams (Senior), Ellie Lopez (Intermediate) and William McLaughlin (Junior). Breeding Sheep honorees included Hallie Moore (Senior), Ryanne Brewster (Intermediate) and Jackson Bravo (Junior). Meat Goats scholarships went to Brett Dreyer (Senior), Briggs Davenport (Intermediate) and Kenedy Ramirez (Junior). Commercial Heifer winners were Carley Phillips (Senior), June Driskill (Intermediate) and Harlo Hale (Junior). In Rabbits, London Grace Hobbs (Senior), Morgan Lackey (Intermediate) and Audrina Rodriguez (Junior) were recognized. Farm Projects scholarships were awarded to Ariana Castro (Senior) and Rhett Chambers (Intermediate). Steer division winners included Jazzlean Gomez (Senior) and Easton Parker (Junior). Horses honorees were Carley Phillips (Senior Halter) and Tres Korczynski (Junior Halter). Swine scholarships went to Adan Viramontes (Senior), Kinlei Verstuyft (Intermediate) and Claire Verstuyft (Junior). Lambs winners were Miles Hale (Senior), Briggs Davenport (Intermediate) and Cora Yeaman (Junior).

  In the Real County Showmanship Scholarship program, pee wee winners were Raelynn Keich (Rabbits), Reba Whitlock (Goats), and Caroline Upchurch (Broilers). Junior division honorees were Kylie Haecker (Rabbits), Kinley Chisum (Goats and Lambs), Millie Duke (Swine), Amira Carbajal (Broilers), Sunny Teague (Horses) and Addison Baker (Angoras). Senior division awards went to Jordyn Lindstrom (Rabbits and Horses), Bricen Salazar (Goats), Mason Hamilton (Lambs), Maggie Duke (Swine), Kyle Johnson (Broilers) and Chase Baker (Angoras).

Zavala County’s 2026 Showmanship Scholarship winners included, in the Junior Division, Lucas Hurst (Steers), Justin Graciano (Goats), Brody Zimmerman (Lambs), and Marcus Avila Jr. (Swine). Intermediate Division honorees were McKynze Rangel (Goats), Maylee Zimmerman (Lambs), and Jocelyn Maldonado (Swine). Senior Division scholarships were awarded to Markus Montellano (Steers), Nathan Martinez (Goats), Italia Aviles (Lambs), and Aranda Vasquez (Swine).

“These scholarships honor the hard work, dedication and leadership our youth demonstrate in the show ring, and they also create a bridge from the county fairgrounds to college classrooms,” said Dr. Hector Gonzales, SWTX President. “We are excited to welcome these students to Southwest Texas College and support them as they pursue their educational and career goals in agriculture and beyond.”

The Showmanship Scholarship may be applied toward tuition and fees at SWTX by recipients who enroll as college students after high school. For more information about scholarships and financial aid opportunities at Southwest Texas College, visit the college’s scholarships webpage or contact the Financial Aid Office at (830) 591-7318.

About Southwest Texas College
Southwest Texas College is a regional, “open door” institution serving an 11-county area that stretches from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border. Since 1946 SWTX has provided accessible, affordable, high-quality education that prepares students to successfully transfer to senior colleges and universities; enter the job market; pursue their professional and personal goals; and contribute to the economic growth of the region. The company’s mission is to enrich lives and advance growth through the education of our diverse communities.

 

To learn more about SWTX, visit swtxc.edu. For more information on this story, contact Ismael Martinez, SWTX Social Media/Public Relations Specialist at 830-591-2942 or imartinez@swtxc.edu.

  The Faculty Association of Southwest Texas Junior College awarded four $500 scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year to Luis Constancio of Del Rio, Steven Duenes of Eagle Pass, Ashley Gonzales, and Nataly Santos of Uvalde.

  Constancio and Duenes are recipients of the academic program scholarship, while Gonzales and Santos received the technical program scholarship.

   The SWTJC Faculty Association Scholarship Program provides $500 awards to four students – two who have chosen an academic major and two who have chosen a technical major.

  Applicants are selected during the fall semester, and disbursement occurs at the start of the spring semester.

  Selection criteria include leadership, character, and extracurricular involvement. Students must be enrolled full-time and in good standing for the fall and spring semesters.

  Other qualifications include earning a minimum of 3.0 overall grade point average on all SWJTC college-level coursework, 500 words typed essay about why college is important to them, and providing two letters of recommendation from two SWTJC faculty members

Photo: Back Row: (l-r) Tony T. Moreno, Andrea Perez, Hector Gonzales,
Nora Gonzalez, Jesse T. Moreno, Jr.
Front row: Rosemary Ruiz, Carla Duran, Yolanda Hernandez, Yesenia Salinas

  Jesse R. Moreno Sr. and his family presented the Jesse T. Moreno Jr. Memorial Scholarship to four first-year students in the Southwest Texas Junior College registered nursing program on Aug. 18 in Uvalde.

  Recipients of the $500 scholarships were Carla Duran and Yesenia Salinas, both of Eagle Pass, Rosemary Ruiz of Uvalde, and Yolanda Hernandez of Carrizo Springs. Scholarships provide financial assistance throughout their first year at Southwest Texas Junior College.

  Jesse T. Moreno Jr. died on Jan. 27, 2014, at 56, after a 16-year battle with multiple myeloma.

  The son of Mr. Moreno Sr. and the late Andrea Torres Moreno, he graduated from Uvalde High School in 1976. He attended Southwest Texas Junior College, where he graduated in 1978 with an Associate of Arts degree.

  After SWTJC, he went to the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in San Antonio and obtained a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1981.

  During the scholarship presentation, Nora Gonzalez, the sister of Mr. Moreno junior, spoke briefly with the students about what it meant to award her brother’s scholarship to them.

  “We are so happy to give this award to four very deserving students,” said Nora Gonzalez. “We’re very happy to be presenting this award to you on behalf of my brother.”

  Andrea Perez and Tony T. Moreno, siblings of Mr. Moreno Jr., along with SWTJC President Hector Gonzales, were on hand for the scholarship awards presentation.

  This scholarship is awarded to a registered nursing student in the first year of the program. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA on prerequisite courses and submit a 200- word essay on personal background, reasons for wanting to be a nurse, and obstacles encountered along the way.

  The SWTJC registered nursing program is designed to prepare graduates to practice in a complex and ever-changing healthcare environment.

  Individuals wanting to enroll in the nursing program may contact Dr. Margorie L. Lieck, SWTJC Director, Licensed Vocational Nursing & Associate Degree in Nursing Programs, at (830) 591-7230.