College is Covered
Two excepional graduates were offered more than $1 million in scholarships each
Written by Megan Middleton
Recent Crowley ISD graduates Corey Ellis and
Jasmine Paz are leaving high school with more than just
diplomas.
The two are headed to college with full four-year
scholarships — and the skills they need to succeed on
the road ahead.
Ellis, a North Crowley grad, is bound for Southern
Methodist University, and Paz, a Crowley grad, will
attend Texas Christian University.
In addition to hard work and determination, another
common denominator in their success was AVID.
The college and career readiness program stands for
Advancement Via Individual Determination. Ellis and
Paz participated in AVID since middle school.
“We, as a Crowley ISD family, are so proud of Jasmine
Paz and Corey Ellis because they exemplify what AVID
is all about,” Angie Wilkinson, AVID district director,
said. “They took advantage of all the opportunities in
advanced academics as well as staying in AVID and
using those AVID strategies.”
Both were accepted to more than a dozen schools and
offered more than $1 million in scholarships each.
“They are symbolic of so many of our other AVID
students who are accepted into college, receive large
scholarships and are going to go on and become college
graduates and make us all so proud,” Wilkinson said.
SMU PRESIDENT’S SCHOLAR
Ellis plans to attend SMU’s Lyle Engineering School
and major in computer science and mathematics.
“I’m excited mostly about the internships and the
opportunities that are on campus,” he said. “With
the engineering school, every major works with some
14 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Summer 2018
company. There are always so many opportunities to
actually get yourself ahead in the industry. That’s the
main reason I wanted to go to SMU.”
It also allows him to stay close to home and family.
Ellis earned the President’s Scholarship at SMU.
President’s Scholarships are awarded to 20-25 students
who have shown exemplary academic skills, according
to SMU. It is SMU’s most prestigious merit-based
scholarship. The award is for full tuition and fees plus
study abroad. Students who live on campus also receive
a scholarship for room and board.
“It was a big shock to even be mentioned for it,” Ellis
said of the scholarship.
“Not having to pay anything for it is a real blessing,
especially because it’s the one school I really wanted to
go to,” he said.
Ellis’ mom, Jana, said her son fell in love with SMU
in the ninth grade, but he also was adamant that he did
not want to cause his parents a financial hardship.
“When we got the notice that he got (the President’s
Scholarship), it was a dream come true,” Jana Ellis said.
“We were like, ‘This is nothing but God.’ We were just
really happy and very proud.”
Ellis challenged himself throughout high school with
tough coursework, such as Advanced Placement (AP)
classes. He even quit football his junior year to focus
more on academics.
“Since ninth grade, whatever is the hardest class at
the school, I’m in it,” he said. “I never thought, ‘I want
to take it easy.’ I wanted to work hard in each of my
classes. I wanted to know that whatever I did, I always
put my best foot forward.”