Two Longview High School seniors awarded $48,000 scholarships to University of Texas at Austin.
It’s a great day to be a Lobo and a future Longhorn. We could not be prouder of these outstanding young women.
Kay Ray – Director of the Longview ISD Foundation
Longview, TX – In a moment of shock and celebration, Longview High School seniors Taylen Johnson and Omika Patel were surprised with four-year tuition scholarships worth $48,000 each directly from The University of Texas at Austin.
The scholarship presentation was a surprise, with the students revealing their scholarship checks to an emotional crowd. Parents, teachers, and administrators erupted in applause as Johnson and Patel, both International Baccalaureate students, realized the magnitude of the honor. The powerful moment became even more evident as parents began crying tears of joy as a sense of pride filled the room.
Alely Zavala, an admissions counselor at The University of Texas at Austin, emphasized the significance of the moment. ”It is incredibly rare for two students from the same high school to receive this level of scholarship from UT Austin, which speaks volumes about the talent and dedication of Taylen Johnson and Omika Patel,” Zavala said. “We are thrilled to welcome them to the Longhorn family, and we know they will make a lasting impact on our campus and beyond. Hook ’em!”
As the celebration continued, attendees joined together to sing The Eyes of Texas and proudly held up the Hook ‘em Horns hand sign in tribute to the students’ next chapter as Longhorns.
“It’s a great day to be a Lobo and a future Longhorn,” said Kay Ray, Director of the Longview ISD Foundation and a proud UT alumna. “We could not be prouder of these outstanding young women.”
About
Longview ISD is a premier public school district in East Texas, serving more than 8,000 students across 13 campuses. Committed to academic excellence, innovation, and student success, Longview ISD offers a diverse range of educational opportunities, including advanced academics, fine arts, athletics, and career and technical education programs. The district embraces the all by fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for college, careers, and beyond. For more information, visit lisd.org.
