For Gabriel Rodriguez, it is an opportunity to attend Texas A&M without the distraction of having to work through college. The $5,000 a year scholarship, a total of $20,000 over the next four years, from Huntsman Corporation will give the Wunsche High School Class of 2022 student the chance to follow his dreams.

“I was kind of concerned about having to work,” the future civil engineering student said. “I wanted to put my academics first, so getting this scholarship from Huntsman is very helpful. Now I’ll be able to focus directly on school.”

Rodriguez, who has attended Spring ISD schools his entire life, was one of 22 students from Spring ISD awarded scholarships from Huntsman, as part of an ongoing partnership between the company and Spring ISD.

The Huntsman Scholarship Program, now in its second year, is recognizing the outstanding achievements of 16 students from four of Spring ISD’s high schools with a $20,000 scholarship – $5,000 per year – for attending an accredited college or university and majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or business-related fields. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years by maintaining a 3.0 grade point average.

For Peter Huntsman, the Chairman, President and CEO and son of the company’s founder, the scholarship program is about extending the legacy created by his father, as well as his grandfather and great-grandfather who were both teachers.

“Education is something that’s always been near and dear to our heart,” Huntsman said. “We have done this in the communities where we do business over the last 40 years.”

In an expansion of the scholarship program this year, six scholarships worth $1,250 each were extended to selected students pursuing certificates or an associate degree in STEM, transportation, distribution and logistics; manufacturing; or energy. The total financial commitment from Huntsman to this year’s scholarship recipients is over $325,000. 

For Huntsman, the decision to partner with Spring ISD and expand the program in its second year was an easy one.

“It’s one of the great dividends that we have as a company, being able to support these communities,” he said. “These are the future officers, the future managers and directors of our company. This is our future here tonight.”

Applications for the Huntsman Scholarship Program were evaluated on unweighted grade point averages, class rank, academic achievement, leadership, career goals and letters of recommendation. 

In total, the STEM and CTE scholarships amount to a total financial commitment of $327,500 from Huntsman Corporation over the next four years.

“This community partnership with Huntsman is an incredible opportunity for our Spring ISD students, and illustrates the incredible dedication and commitment from Huntsman to the Spring community,” Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinjosa said. “This will truly have an effect on Spring for generations to come.”

Along with the 2022 recipients, scholarship winners from the Class of 2021 were also recognized on Wednesday, since last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic.

Recipients of the 2022 Huntsman Scholarship include:

Dekaney High School

• Isabella Flores, CTE
• Alantis Green, STEM
• Miguel Flores Lopez, STEM
• Stephany Ramirez, STEM
• Fernando Lugo, STEM

Westfield High School

• Marilyn Argueta, CTE
• Ashley Martinez, CTE
• Estefania Medina, STEM
• Joseph Medina, CTE 
• Cyrus Ng, STEM
• Krystal Nunez, CTE
• Cindy Pham, STEM 
• Ambria Wickliff, STEM  

Spring High School 

• Morgan Campbell, STEM
• Kalyn Hitchens, STEM
• Muhammad Khan, STEM
• Abdulah Neal, STEM

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School

• Valerie Cosmi, STEM
• Alejandra Cozajay, STEM
• Jocelyn Khalaf, CTE 
• Gabriel Rodriguez, STEM
• Bryce Sheffield, STEM