As seniors across Spring Independent School District prepare to graduate next month, 19 of those seniors had reason to celebrate Tuesday evening. Those students, while attending the Huntsman Scholarship Reception at the Randall Reed Center, were set to receive up to $20,000 in scholarship funds from Huntsman Corporation.

Several representatives from Huntsman Corporation were also in attendance, including the company’s Chairman, President and CEO Peter Huntsman.

“Don’t thank me. Don’t thank the company,” Huntsman said. “You have earned this. You have worked hard. You took the time to study. You took the time to rise above. This is your achievement.”

The Huntsman Scholarship Program, now in its fourth year with Spring ISD, recognizes the achievements of students from 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. 

Last year, the company decided to expand the program, awarding three additional scholarships to students pursuing certificates or an associate degree in STEM, transportation, distribution and logistics, manufacturing or energy. 

Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa has been involved with the scholarship program since its inception, when Huntsman Corporation approached the district over five years ago looking for ways to impact the surrounding community.

“They kept asking about our students, and what would make an impact on them,” Hinojosa said. “They wanted to invest directly in our students. That’s why they created the Huntsman Scholarship Program, to put the money exactly where it makes a difference – making an impact not only on the students, but most importantly on the families.”

Applications for the Huntsman Scholarship Program were evaluated on unweighted grade point averages, class rank, academic achievement, leadership, career goals and letters of recommendation. The total financial commitment from Huntsman to each year is over $325,000. 

For Dekaney High School senior Braxton Morgan, who is headed to Sam Houston State University in the fall, receiving this scholarship will help him kickstart his career, including possibly becoming a police officer one day.

“It will be a big help financially, and take some of that burden off us,” he said. “I’m thankful because this will be a big help.”

His mother, Johnetta Williams Morgan, is grateful to have a company like Huntsman Corporation in the community that saw a need and tried to make an impact.

“It’s really hard to find community-based businesses that help the youth and things like that,” she said. “Huntsman has an excellent team who helped guide the students and made the application process so easy, and it really was incredible to see.”

Hinojosa also said that the support of Huntsman Corporation over the past four years has had a major impact on the district, and that impact will see ramifications for a long time.

“As parents and educators, we want for our kids what we couldn’t have ourselves. That’s why we are all here,” Hinojosa said. “Huntsman is making that possible for our students, year after year after year.”

Recipients of the 2024 Huntsman STEM Scholarships include:

Dekaney High School

• Aaliyah Banks
• America Lerma
• Braxton Morgan
• Anthony Russell

Spring High School

• Kemira Edwards
• Cassidy Layne
• Jashaun Richard
• Nevaeh Taylor

Westfield High School

• Ashley Nguyen
• Chibuike Okoye
• Tina Tran
• Crystal Vazquez

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School

• Jian Rover De Lara
• Patricia Garcia Rios
• Temitope Johnson
• Daniel Quilantan

Recipients of the 2024 Huntsman Trade Certification Scholarships include:

• Charity Briscoe, Spring High School
• Skye Fellows, Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
• Jamie Peterson, Westfield High School