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Saturday, May 6, 2000

16 receive Selena Foundation scholarships

A&M-CC undergrads pursuing music, theater are first group to be awarded funds

By Cynthia Hodnett
Caller-Times

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Pictured are honorees Shelley Meyer (front row from left), Stephanie Ozuna, Aaron Clay, Rebecca Crown and Alison Funk; Deborah Forbus (back row from left), Sonya Hutherson, Brannon Stegall, Richard Rodriguez, Heather East and Jennifer Farley. Not pictured are Robert R. Benavides, Jesus Castillo, Jason Lee Feriend, Bobby Lopez and Robert G. Martinez.

Jennifer Farley, a 27-year-old theater major at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, hopes the memory of a local singer will help lead her down the path to becoming a famous actress.
   But a recent divorce and other personal setbacks have made the road to success a little rocky for Farley.
   "It has been tough to pay for school," she said. "I was taking one class a semester and I have changed majors a couple of times before deciding that I wanted to major in theater."
   Farley and 15 other music and theater majors recently became the first students to receive $650 scholarships from The Selena Foundation. The money is awarded in memory of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez, who was killed five years ago by the president of her fan club.

Selena Scholarship Recipients Music: Shelley Meyer Stephanie Ozuna Deborah Forbus Sonya Hutcherson Jesus Castillo Richard Rodriguez Brannon Stegall Bobby Lopez Theater: Aaron Clay Robert R. Benavides Rebecca Crown Heather East Jennifer Farley Jason Lee Feriend Alison Funk Robert G. Martinez

   "I admire all the work and dedication that Selena put into her performances, and it encourages and it shows me how working hard can pay off," Farley said.
   Each student will use the scholarship to cover the cost of two courses in their major, said Don Luna, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences.
   "I know of three incoming freshmen who will be able to take theater courses because of this award, and of one student who is in the lower-income bracket who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend school if it weren't for this scholarship," he said.
   To qualify for the scholarship, the students were required to audition and present a resumé, he said. They also were selected based on their achievements in the classroom.
   "They didn't have to be Hispanic or be involved in Tejano music to be eligible for this scholarship, Luna said. "But they did have to be leaders or potential leaders in class."
   "It is really wonderful for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to be honored by the Selena Foundation and the Quintanilla family who worked hard as performers," he said.
   "By awarding the scholarships, they are awarding students who are working hard to develop their craft," he said.
   The Selena Foundation was established in 1995 after the Quintanilla family received unsolicited donations from mourners worldwide in Selena's memory, said Elvia Hernandez, executive director of the foundation.
   In 1997, the Selena Foundation presented a $10,000 endowment to A&M-Corpus Christi for a scholarship to be established in Selena's name for music and theater students, Hernandez said. Since then, the foundation has presented $10,000 to the university every year to add to the endowment, with the first scholarships being awarded this year, she said.
   "The family decided that a scholarship would be appropriate because Selena wanted to support continuing education," Hernandez said.
   "(Selena) was active in stay-in-school projects, encouraging children to stay off drugs and continuing their education," she said. "(Some of her) family (members) were musicians, and this is just a way to help local performers to reach their goals."
   Bobby Martinez, a 32-year-old theater major, works as a bartender, sets up local performances and owns a karaoke DJ group to help for college.
   "Trying to pay for school, working full-time and going to school full-time is very hard," he said. "I am very glad that they saw fit to help people like me who are less fortunate to reach their goals."
   Martinez said he caught the acting bug caught him after he played a cowboy in a school play.
   "I just felt at home on stage," said Martinez, who co-founded 10th Street Theater. "I have had a lot of jobs throughout the years, but theater is something I have always wanted to do."
  

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Staff writer Cynthia Hodnett can be reached at 886-4334 or by e-mail at hodnettc@caller.com

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