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Sunday, October 22, 2000

267 students honored for achievements
18 get scholarships in Distinguished Scholars program
By Chris Neely
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

The following are among the 18 students awarded scholarships as South Texas Distinguished Scholars by the Caller-Times in a ceremony Saturday: Kimberly Buehring (from left), Amanda Green, Emi Alaniz III, Lori Flores, Theresa Guajardo, Kristen M. Gillis, Amy Mrazek, Beau Schilling, Jamie Ahrens, Veronica Martinez and Autumn Exelbert. Those not pictured are San Juanita Coronado, Rita C. Garcia, Rey Borrego Jr., Jamie L. Lashua, Jessica Foust, Renee R. Diebel and Charles Roberts.

Lori Flores could write a book about her accomplishments at Alice High School, but she would rather read one, preferably one about philosophy.
   "In the car on the way here I was reading Descartes," said Lori, a senior. "I love...philosophy."
   Lori thinks, therefore she is one of 18 area students awarded $225 scholarships in the 12th annual Caller-Times South Texas Distinguished Scholars program.
   An awards ceremony Saturday at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi honored 267 area students, nominated by their schools in nine categories: achiever, career and technology, communication, general academic, performing and fine arts, science, service and leadership, spirit and student-athlete.
   Lori, who won one of the general academic scholarships, wants to be a teacher so she can reach out to children.
   "I want to make a difference," she said.
   Channel 6 News anchor Cheryl Alexander, who co-hosted Saturday's ceremony, said Lori and her fellow honorees already have made a difference.

David Adame/Caller-Times

Caller-Times editorial page editor Nick Jimenez speaks to students, family members and well-wishers at the 12th annual Caller-Times South Texas Distinguished Scholars program Saturday at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

   "I mean, they come from every walk of life and have achieved everything from performing at nursing homes to excelling at calculus," Alexander said. "They make the community a better place, and so often they're not recognized. This is the perfect opportunity to recognize kids like this that we just don't hear enough about."
   Emi Alaniz III, who plays baseball and football for Sinton High School, earned honors as a student-athlete, but he says he would rather be an accountant.
   "I really enjoy the whole calculus thing, and I'm really good at it," Emi said. "I'm interested in learning more about it."
   Emi hopes to play college baseball and said being a South Texas Distinguished Scholar should help him as he looks for a school.

Distinguished Scholars series

Today: South Texas Distinguished Scholars awards ceremony
Monday: Science scholarship winners and honorees
Tuesday: General academic winners and honorees
Wednesday: Career and technology winners and honorees
Thursday: Achiever category winners and honorees
Friday: Service and leadership winners and honorees
Saturday: Spirit winners and honorees
Oct. 29: Communications winners and honorees
Oct. 30: Student athlete winners and honorees
Oct. 31: Performing and fine arts winners and honorees

   "It looks good on applications," Emi said. "Hopefully they'll see that I'm not just a student-athlete but also a well-rounded student, that I'll go to class and do the work and not waste my time."
   Emi's father, Emi Alaniz Jr., said the scholarship is a testament to his son's ability to set priorities.
   "There've been some challenging times, it hasn't been a smooth road," the elder Alaniz said. "There's so many pressures out there nowadays for kids to battle. It's just difficult, and he's done a good job of staying focused."
   There have been some bumps along the way for Rockport-Fulton High School senior Kristen Gillis, as well. Kristen, who earned a performing and fine arts scholarship, came to the ceremony on crutches after surgery to put her knee back together. An old cheerleading injury, she said.
   "I just did a jump and I came down wrong," said Kristen, who wants to study music at the University of Texas. "I get off the crutches Monday, so I'm really excited."
   Kristen's mother, Pam Gillis, said the knee injury is only the latest hurdle Kristen has overcome this year. Kristen's father, Clay Gillis, business manager for Gregory-Portland Independent School District, was killed in May in a plane crash at Houston's Hobby Airport.

David Adame/Caller-Times

Some of the 267 students honored in the 12th annual South Texas Distinguished Scholars program for their achievements and their parents listen as Caller-Times editorial page editor Nick Jimenez talks to them.

   "We've had a rough year," her mother said. "He would be so proud. He always has been proud of Kristen. He would be very proud."
   Nick Jimenez, Caller-Times editorial page editor, said the families of this year's honorees should be as proud of the award as the students themselves.
   "I always think we ought to give certificates to the parents and the brothers and the sisters and the uncles and the aunts and the grandmothers, because there is no accomplishment that is done by itself," said Jimenez, who has organized the event for 10 years. "It may not take a village, but it certainly takes a household to put it together, I think."



Staff writer Chris Neely can be reached at _886-3794 or by e-mail at neelyc@caller.com

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