Pasco senior takes home $30,000 scholarship
Stefanie Nuez stood on a stage Friday night in front of nearly 2,500 people wearing a nervous smile and holding a certificate with shaking hands.
She couldn’t quite believe her name had been called, and that she had just won a $30,000 scholarship to help her fulfill her dreams of higher education.
“I had no idea,” the Pasco High School senior said after the ceremony. “I knew I was a finalist, but I didn’t know I’d get it.”
Announcing Nuez as the winner of the Dan and Sue Frost Scholarship was the culmination of the 90-minute Hispanic Academic Achievers Program award ceremony held at TRAC in Pasco.
More than $90,000 in scholarship money was given to 30 students in the program, which was created 19 years ago to recognize academic excellence by Hispanic youths in grades four through 12.
Scholarships ranged from $1,000 to the $30,000 award that HAAP co-founder Ruben Lemos described as “the granddaddy of them all.”
In previous years, the Frost scholarship was $24,000, split over four years of college. Lemos said Dan Frost called him a few days ago and said he was upping the amount because of rising tuition costs.
Lemos initially said the award would be $30,000 per year, making a total of $120,000 for Nuez, but after the ceremony corrected himself and said it would be $30,000 total.
The momentary gaffe didn’t make winning the award any less sweet for Nuez, who said she has worked hard to follow in the footsteps of her sister, Gabriela Nuez, a former HAAP student who won the Frost scholarship in 2003.
“I’m very happy, very proud, very honored,” Stefanie Nuez said. “I can’t describe. I have dreamed about this since I was in fourth grade.”
Her father, Pablo Nuez, said he was proud to see both of his daughters get the award.
“They have worked very hard,” he said. ” … It’s just awesome.”
Stefanie Nuez plans to use the money to attend the University of Washington and major in biology. Her eventual plan is to go to dental school and become a pediatric dentist.
“I really like the dental environment,” she said. “I’m in love with biology. I love science. … I want to help people and give back to my community. When kids come to my dental practice, they (will) feel they’re getting the quality care they deserve.”
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