The Valero Alamo Bowl announced its 2009 scholarship winners on December 16 at a special luncheon held at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse. Bowl Chairman Gene Dawson Jr. presented $100,000 in scholarships in the form of 25 $4,000 award to graduating San Antonio area high school seniors bringing the bowl's nine year local scholarship total to $625,000.

This year, two students were also selected for $5,000 awards as part of the inaugural Bob Brincat Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was created to honor the Valero Alamo Bowl’s past Chairman Bob Brincat who passed away last year after a courageous fight against lymphoma.

All of the scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, teacher recommendations, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities and honors as well as a personal narrative. Several of the students also excelled in their respective sports. This year’s recipients are:

Joshua Aoki, Roosevelt High School. Aoki hopes to attend the University of Texas in Austin and major in either Business or Art. He is an Eagle Scout and currently is captain of the Varsity Men’s golf team, and a member of the National Honor Society.

Christian Berry, San Antonio Christian High School. Berry hopes to attend the Baylor University and major in Pre-Medicine or Chemistry. He plays tennis and soccer at San Antonio Christian. Christian is also an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society,

Karina Castro, Holmes High School. Castro hopes to attend LeeUniversity in Cleveland, Tennessee and major in Political Science/Journalism. She is the founder of the Fusion Life Group and the Vice President of the Holmes Art Club. She is also a National Hispanic Scholar and a Member of the National Honor Society.

Allison De Luna, Holy Cross of San Antonio. De Luna hopes to attend the University of Texas or Notre Dame to major in Mathematics. Allison plays volleyball and softball and is a member of the Student Council. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Erica Dietzel, Communication Arts High School. Dietzel hopes to attend Brown University or Harvard University. She is the Senator on the Student Council and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of Helping Hands which is a community service club.

(Bob Brincat Scholarship) Aldric Dow, Jay High School. Dow hopes to attend the University of Texas and major in Architecture. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Spanish Club. Dow is a member of a GEOforce Program and volunteers his time at a daycare where he helps children with homework.

Jorge Escudero, O’Connor High School. Escudero hopes to attend the Columbia University or Texas A&M to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering. Jorge is a member of the football and soccer teams as well as a member of the National Honor Society.

David Grieder, Randolph High School. Grieder hopes to attend the University of Chicago or the University of Texas. David is looking to study Pre-Medicine and become a medical doctor. He is a member of student council and National Honor Society. David is also the captain of the swim team.

Robert Han, Reagan High School. Han hopes to attend the Rice University or Harvard University and major in the medical field to become a surgeon. He is a member of the Latin Club and Key Club.

Ethan Hulin, Stevens High School. Hulin hopes to attend the University of Texas and major in Chemical Engineering. He is a member of National Honor Society as well as a member of the soccer team. He is also an AP Scholar with Honor and volunteers his time at Elf Louise.

Nicole Hunt, Madison High School. Hunt hopes to attend the University of British Columbia to major in Bio Chemistry. She is a National Merit Scholar and a member of German club. Nicole has also volunteered as a VBS teacher.

Nickolas Kubik, Johnson High School. Kubik hopes to attend the University of Notre Dame and study Pre-Medicine. He is member of the National Honor Society and a member of the band at Johnson High School.

Andrea Kurth, MacArthur High School. Kurth hopes to attend Northwestern University and major in Journalism. She is a member of the swim team and the Secretary of the National Honor Society. Andrea is also a member of the Go Green Club and the MacArthur Brahma Tales Newspaper.

Jessica Lam, Keystone High School. Lam hopes to attend Brown University and would like to become a Physician. She is a member of the National Honor Society, French Club and the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio.

Thomas Loftus III, Alamo Heights High School. Loftus hopes to attend Rice University or Stanford University and major in Business. Thomas is a member of the baseball, football teams and a member  of National Honor Society as well as a member of the student council.

 
Jacob Markowski, Sam Houston High School. Markowski hopes to attend the University of Texas at Austin and hopes to major in Business Management. He is a member of the National Honor Society and member of Peer Assistance Leadership. Jacob is also the captain of the Decathlon team.

Angelek Marler, Memorial High School. Marler hopes to attend Northwestern University and double-major in Psychology and Dramatic Arts. She was a member and captain of the Speech and Debate Team and National Honor Society.

Joseph McDonough, The Atonement Academy. McDonough hopes to attend Texas A&M and major in Mechanical Engineering. He has been a member of Student Government, is an Eagle Scout and a Senior Patrol Leader. Joseph has also coached CYO Basketball and played soccer.

Mary Esther Morales, John Jay Science and Engineering Academy. Morales hopes to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in Biomedical Engineering. She is a member of the track team and was the Vice President of the Spanish Honor Society. Mary was also the Co-President and Public Relations Officer for Mu Alpha Theta.

Zachary Ogle, Alamo Heights High School. Ogle hopes to attend Princeton University and plans to major in International Relations. He is the captain of the swim team and President of the Interact Club. Zachary is the founder of the Clay Target Club and Treasurer of the Alamo Heights Environmental Club.

Jillian Ozuna, South San Antonio High School. Owna hopes to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in Civil Engineering. Jillian is a four year member of the band and the Secretary of her senior class. She is also a four year member of the track team.

Ciana Scaletti, Health Careers High School. Scaletti hopes to attend Texas A&M and plans to major in Animal Science. Ciana is the captain for the swim team and water polo team. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a tutor and a National Merit Commended Scholar.   

Jennifer Singleton, Warren High School. Singleton hopes to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in Biology. She was the captain of the volleyball team, an AP Scholar with Honor and a member of the National Honor Society. Jennifer is also the Missions Team Youth Representative, where she represents various missionary teams that will be on trips in the youth group.  

Lauren Smith, East Central High School. Smith hopes to attend Columbia University and major in Chemical Engineering. She is the historian for the Art Club and a four year member of the tennis team. Lauren has volunteered at nursing homes for eight years and is a member of the Beta Club.

(Bob Brincat Scholarship) Bethany Rae Tolar, St. Anthony Catholic High School. Tolar hopes to attend Texas A&M University and major in Public Relations. She has been a member of the basketball, softball, track, swimming and soccer teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the senior class editor of the yearbook.

Taylor Watson, Randolph High School. Watson hopes to attend the University of Rochester and major in Chemical Engineering and Music. She is the Drum Major for her high school band and the Vice President of the National Honor Society. She has also been a Student Council representative for the past three years.

Zachary Weems, The Atonement Academy. Weems hopes to attend Rice University and major in Biology. He is an Eagle Scout and a member of the basketball and soccer teams. Zachary is a member of National Honor Society and an AP Scholar with Distinction.

The scholarship winners each received eight tickets compliments of Valero and were recognized on-field during the first quarter of the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 2.

The Valero Alamo Bowl Scholarship Program is administered through the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation (a San Antonio scholarship clearinghouse) and funded through the support of bowl partners and the fundraising events of the Valero Alamo Bowl.