“This is a very great honor, and she will be recognized,” assistant principal Mark Schroeder said. “It means a lot for hispanics as a whole because it is apart of the PSAT.”

The NHRP was started in 1983 to recognize outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students. Out of a possible 253,000 Hispanic/Latinos, only 5,000 were selected.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a top scholar in America out of so many people,” Stephenson said. “I feel blessed. I am proud of my accomplishment, and I hope to make my family and my community proud too.”

In order to be eligible for the award, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino, achieve the minimum PSAT cutoff score and achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. Stephenson said her education at THS had helped prepared for the PSAT.

“Texas High has helped me to reach my utmost academic potential and really helped me to grow and learn more in order to stretch my abilities as far as they go,” Stephenson said. “I am looking at Auburn University and other colleges that fit my interest.”

Although it is not a financial award, being named a scholar is an important academic recognition that should help Stephenson with college acceptance and scholarships.

“I want to thank all of the teachers who have all helped me learn everything that prepared me to obtain this prestigious award,” Stephenson said. “I also want to thank all the TISD administrators for making this a great place to go to school.”