Rep. Guillen Awards Full-Paid Scholarship to Roma Grad

AUSTIN -- On Feb. 6, State Representative Ryan Guillen (D-Starr County) awarded recent Roma High School graduate Anthony Paulson with the Texas Armed Services Scholarship at the UTPA Visitors Center in Edinburg. Rep. Guillen presented Paulson, a cadet in UTPA's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), with a full-ride scholarship check for $75,000. Anthony will receive $15,000 per school year for up to five years to help pay for all of his college expenses. Guillen selected him for the scholarship program during the fall semester of 2011.

"What ultimately impressed me with Anthony is the deep level of respect he has for all veterans who have honorably served our nation, both young and old," said Rep. Guillen. "I also appreciate Anthony's passion for science and his desire to expand his interest in the field of medicine while proudly serving in the U.S. Army, as it is an area of study he greatly enjoys. I'm sincerely glad to see him become a recipient of this exceptional scholarship."

An excited and grateful Paulson at the ceremony noted, "It is a great honor and privilege to have received this award. I thank my family and God for molding me into the person I am today and UTPA's ROTC and Representative Ryan Guillen for giving me the opportunity to represent the university and its ROTC program in the years to come."


The purpose of the Texas Armed Services Scholarship program is to encourage students to become members of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Merchant Marine, or to become commissioned officers in any branch of the armed services of the United States.

The nomination process is competitive, as each State Representative and State Senator is able to nominate one student from their district, and the Lieutenant Governor and Governor are able to nominate two students each from throughout the entire state.

"I'm extremely pleased to hear of Anthony's recent success in being awarded this scholarship and I appreciate Representative Guillen for recognizing him for his fine work," stated Roma I.S.D. School Board President Arturo Perez. "On behalf of the students, faculty, and school board of Roma Independent School District, I wish Anthony the very best in all of his future endeavors."

"Anthony is a young man of integrity who is known for putting forth his best effort at all times," said Roma I.S.D. Superintendent Jesus O Guerra, Jr. "He was an outstanding student while at Roma High School and will continue to make our community proud."

(In the photo from left to right: Elaine Rivera, UTPA Executive of Director Student Financial Services at UTPA; State Rep. Ryan Guillen; Cadet Anthony Paulson; Dr. Walter Diaz, UTPA Dean of the College of Social And Behavior Science; and Lieutenant Colonel Maricela Alvarado, UTPA Professor of Military Science - Army ROTC)