HOUSTON – KPRC 2 and American Furniture Warehouse are surprising 20 deserving high school seniors with scholarships in 2024. All students selected for scholarships have been nominated by their high schools.
The eleventh $2,500 scholarship winner from the Class of 2024 is Klein Forest High School’s Hayley Urquiza.
Urquiza is a determined senior who aspires to work in the health care industry with a focus on studying Radiology. She volunteers at hospitals and has worked with Project C.U.R.E. to collect donations of medical supplies and equipment for people in need. Urquiza also volunteers with her church food pantry and retreat programs.
Urquiza currently serves as Vice President for her school’s chapter of the Science National Honor Society. She is also an officer with HOSA, the Health Occupations Students of America.
Sharing her story with KPRC 2′s Melanie Camp, Urquiza noted that she has wrestled with substance abuse since eighth grade, but has made changes in her life to recover. Now, Urquiza says her grades and personal relationships have improved, writing, “I aspire to be a living example that overcoming addiction is possible. I strive to be a role model...for anyone facing similar struggles.” Urquiza urges other students to ask for help to overcome substance abuse or any issues they may be facing.
You can see the scholarship surprise for Hayley Urquiza in the video player at the top of this article.