At EOAC, Moving Families Forward is more than a statement about the programs we provide. It is a commitment shared by the people who work here every day.
This year, EOAC employees are putting that commitment into action in a particularly meaningful way.
Through the EOAC Employee-Funded Scholarship, five students have each been awarded $1,500 scholarships, representing a total investment of $7,500 made possible entirely by EOAC employees.
We are proud to congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients:
Jasmine Slaughter
Joselyn Moreno
Melissa Cortez
Amelia Vargas
Alexis Levine
This fall, recipients will continue their educational journeys at institutions including Texas A&M University, Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and Tarleton State University.
Employees Giving Back to Families
What makes this scholarship especially meaningful is how it is funded.
EOAC employees voluntarily contribute from their own paychecks to create the scholarship fund. Those contributions are then awarded to individuals and families who have been connected to EOAC services and are pursuing higher education, technical training, or professional development.
In other words, this is a scholarship funded by EOAC employees and awarded by EOAC employees.
It is one more way our team demonstrates that serving families does not end when a particular service is complete. We believe in the potential of the people we serve and want to invest in the opportunities that can help them build lasting stability.
Choosing Five From Many
Selecting this year’s recipients was not easy.
The Employee-Funded Scholarship Committee reviewed numerous applications from individuals pursuing a wide range of educational and career goals. Committee members read personal statements, considered applicants’ educational plans and financial needs, and reflected on the role EOAC has played in each applicant’s journey.
Again and again, the applications spoke about perseverance, family, opportunity, and the desire to use education to create a different future.
One applicant reflected on what EOAC’s support had meant during difficult seasons:
“It wasn’t just a program, it became a support system.”
Another described the lasting impact of participating in Head Start as a child:
“Because of Head Start, I entered school more confident, prepared, and motivated to succeed.”
For another applicant, EOAC’s assistance helped provide stability during a period of financial hardship and reinforced an important message:
“They helped provide support when we needed it most, which took a lot of pressure off my family.”
And one Head Start parent shared how EOAC’s impact continued well beyond her children’s classrooms, describing Family and Community Advocates who encouraged her throughout her own educational journey and reminded her that her goals remained within reach.
These stories represent exactly why the scholarship exists.
Education as a Path Forward
The recipients have different goals, experiences, and destinations, but their applications share a common theme: education creates opportunity.
Among the applicants were aspirations to enter nursing and healthcare, pursue business careers, become an immigration attorney, continue into advanced education, and ultimately use their own success to serve others.
Several spoke about wanting to create greater stability for their children and families. Others described becoming the first in their families to pursue certain careers. Many expressed a desire to someday offer the same encouragement and support to others that they once received.
One applicant summarized that hope beautifully:
“I want to make the most out of this opportunity and prove that their support was worth it.”
That is an investment our employees are proud to make.
Moving Families Forward, Together
The Employee-Funded Scholarship captures something special about EOAC.
Our employees spend their careers helping families navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and pursue greater stability. Through this scholarship, they are choosing to personally invest in what comes next.
A $1,500 scholarship can help with tuition, books, supplies, transportation, uniforms, or other expenses that can become barriers to completing an education. But the message behind the scholarship may be just as important:
We believe in you. Keep going.
To Jasmine, Joselyn, Melissa, Amelia, and Alexis, congratulations. We are excited to see where your education takes you, and we are honored to be a small part of your journey.
We also extend our sincere thanks to every applicant who shared their story with the scholarship committee. The quality of the applications made the selection process incredibly difficult, and we are grateful for the time, courage, and thought each person put into applying. We wish every applicant continued success as they pursue their goals.
Finally, thank you to the EOAC employees who contribute to this scholarship and to the Employee-Funded Scholarship Committee members who dedicated their time to reviewing applications and selecting this year’s recipients.
Because when we invest in education, believe in potential, and create opportunities for people to take their next step, we are doing exactly what EOAC is here to do.
Moving Families Forward. 💙