Across the Bluebonnet area, scholarship recipients lead teams, serve communities and pursue ambitious goals

By Connie Juarez and Kirsten Tyler

Across Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s service area, the co-op’s 213 scholarship recipients  this year are proof that achievement is about more than grades alone. These recent graduates supported teammates, led student organizations and gave back to their communities, all while preparing for their futures.

The students, from 39 high schools in 11 counties, demonstrate that leadership and service take many forms, from classrooms and competition fields to service projects and youth mentoring.

Take, for example, Brenham High School graduate Sadaf Shireen. She expanded her interest in medicine through Healthcare Occupations Students of America, an organization that prepares students for healthcare careers through competitions and connections with medical professionals. Sadaf has served as the group’s chapter president while becoming a multiyear state qualifier in events such as healthcare issues and creative problem solving. Through the healthcare organization, known as HOSA, as well as internships and opportunities to shadow professionals, she got firsthand exposure to the medical field. “One of the most impactful experiences I had was shadowing Dr. Rema Malik, a vascular surgeon. I was able to observe procedures in the catheterization lab and follow her throughout her day, from surgeries to patient interactions.”

Sadaf said this experience gave her a deeper understanding of the medical profession and strengthened her interest in pursuing medicine. She plans to study biochemistry on a pre-med track at Brown University before attending medical school, with cardiology as her top interest.

Other scholarship recipients built leadership and confidence through athletics. Kaleigh Medina, a graduate of Luling High School, played softball and was a basketball team captain. She was named all-district as a junior and senior and helped lead the Eagles to their first playoff appearance in several years. 

Sports helped shape both her career goals and her mindset when facing challenges. After spending time with family members in hospital intensive care units, Kaleigh plans to major in nursing at Texas State University.
“I’ve learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable and having confidence to trust yourself and go for it,” she said.

Sports also taught Braxton Bowden lessons that extend beyond the football field. The four-year football player at Bastrop High School helped lead his team and anchor the offensive line from the center position, where he read defenses and communicated with teammates. He participated in team community efforts, including mentoring younger athletes through Bear Camp, which emphasizes accountability and a strong work ethic.
“I’ve always loved the leadership, the competition and the bond you build with your teammates on and off the field. It’s something special,” Braxton said.

He will attend Texas State Technical College to study process operations and cybersecurity.

These students’ accomplishments reflect a larger story among all the Scholarship of Excellence recipients across Bluebonnet’s service area. They are building leadership through organizations focused on responsibility, teamwork and service.

Gunner Chovanec

Bellville High School, Austin County
The National FFA Organization

Among this year’s Bluebonnet scholarship recipients, 59 students were involved in FFA, making it one of the most popular organizations in the group. Founded nationally in 1928 as Future Farmers of America, the organization has had a home in Texas since 1929. Today, FFA prepares middle and high school students for leadership and careers in agriculture, food and natural resources through hands-on learning, classroom instruction and community involvement. Scholarship recipient Gunner Chovanec, a Bellville High School graduate, spent four years in FFA after starting in 4-H when he was 8. Gunner, who has shown broiler chickens at both county and major livestock shows, earned first-place senior showmanship honors at the Austin County Fair this year. Showmanship competitions evaluate students on presentation, confidence and their understanding of the project. Raising livestock taught Gunner discipline through the daily demands of animal care. “Showing animals takes a lot of responsibility — waking up to feed them, making sure the temperature and fans in the barn are right, getting the feed mixed to the right ratio and keeping everything clean,” he said. Bellville FFA members also participate in community service projects, including organizing canned food drives, creating cards for breast cancer patients and assembling care packages for military personnel. Gunner plans to attend Texas A&M University and study to become a mechanical engineer. He said his experience in FFA — along with working on tractors and equipment at his grandfather’s cattle business —  helped inspire his career ambitions.

Cassandra Baugh

Elgin High School, Bastrop County
Dance

Cassandra Baugh, an Elgin High School graduate, auditioned for the Elgin Purple Diamonds dance team as a sophomore and remained on the team throughout high school. Cassandra, who began dancing at 2 years old at the Dancin’ Jazzi Dance Studio in the Austin-Manor area, participated in camps, training and classes during the summers throughout high school to maintain her skills and stamina. “I learned discipline and time management,” she said. “It takes a certain amount of exercising, including cardiovascular and light- and bodyweight exercises, and dedication, to be part of the team.” Cassandra was the 19-member team’s social officer for the 2025-2026 school year. She worked with other officers to host team-bonding events and build floats for community parades, all while encouraging and coaching other team members. She is headed to the University of Texas at Austin to study kinesiology. Although Cassandra does not plan to include dance in her courses at UT, she said “the work ethic and motivation I learned while dancing will help me succeed in my classes. I know it won’t be easy, but in the end it will be worth it.” After college, she plans to attend graduate school to obtain a physician assistant license and specialize in orthopedics.

Calvin Wunderlich

Brenham High School, Washington County
Fishing clubs

Student fishing clubs across Texas compete primarily through the Texas High School Bass 
Fishing Association, established in 2013. The association organizes bass-fishing tournaments for students, educates them on conservation and responsible angling, and sets rigorous academic standards. Calvin Wunderlich of Brenham competed through the Brenham High School Anglers Club. The Brenham club has about 20 members. During tournaments, teams of two student anglers are paired with an adult captain who operates a boat. Teams participate in five tournaments each year, and Calvin traveled to area lakes including Conroe and Limestone to compete. He joined the club as a freshman, drawn to the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. “I’ve learned how to read underwater topography using sonar, understand fish behavior and figure out where to fish based on conditions,” Calvin said. The organization also emphasizes responsibility and conservation awareness, including size limits and regulations, and the reasoning behind them, he said. As vice president of the Brenham club this past school year, 
Calvin helped coordinate tournament logistics, including organizing meeting times, managing communication and making sure team members knew where to go. Calvin plans to attend Texas A&M University to study animal science, driven by a passion for livestock production and the lessons he learned growing up in a family dedicated to agriculture.

Cayden Zboril

Caldwell High School, Burleson County
Basketball

Of the 213 Scholarship of Excellence recipients, 154 were involved in athletics during high school, including Caldwell High School graduate Cayden Zboril. His passion for basketball started when he was 3. “Basketball, like any sport, is fun. It can be hard, though,” Cayden said. “When you step on the court, you’re 
not going to make every shot. You have to work for it.” Participating in athletics builds discipline, confidence, lasting relationships and community connection. For Cayden, that meant coaching younger students in the Dime Box Little Dribblers program and sharing his knowledge with students with disabilities. Cayden will study sport management at Texas Tech University. He knows college may not be easy, but he believes he has built a strong ability to persevere through participation in athletics. After college, he hopes to attend law school and become an agent representing players and managing sponsorships.

McKenzie Burch  

Lexington High School, Lee County
Health Occupations Students of America

The global Health Occupations Students of America organization, known as HOSA, promotes and supports young leaders through education, collaboration and hands-on experience. For McKenzie Burch, a Lexington High School graduate who joined HOSA as a sophomore, the organization helped her discover a passion for helping others live healthier lives. Hands-on work, she said, is what suits her best. As part of the 41-member chapter, McKenzie found joy partnering with We Are Blood, a nonprofit blood bank, to host blood drives in her community. “We would let everyone know, students, teachers, friends and family, that they could come donate blood to help support the community,” she said. “Most times, that was all we had to say. They would come donate.” McKenzie plans to study nursing at Texas Tech University. While she wants to focus on pediatrics because she enjoys working with children, she remains open to other areas of nursing that may interest her.

Trent Hagan

Lockhart High School, Caldwell County
Band

Making music in the high school band was on the list of 30 scholarship recipients’ activities this year. Trent Hagan began participating in his school band in sixth grade and eventually played the trombone in Lockhart High School’s Roaring Lion Band. As a band section leader, Trent worked closely with younger students, helping them learn marching techniques and stay prepared during rehearsals. The role gave him early leadership experience and reinforced the importance of leading by example, he said. Band also taught him independence and time management. “Nobody holds your hand. You have to learn your music on your own and be prepared,” he said. “We also have some crazy practice schedules, especially during marching season. We had morning practices before school at 5 a.m. and then late nights after games, so you really learn how to manage your time.” The Roaring Lion Band performed at school ceremonies and local events, including Borchert Loop Elementary’s groundbreaking in 2025. “Having a band at these events brings a sense of celebration and community spirit,” Trent said. Trent plans to attend Texas A&M University to study computer engineering. Band has shaped his discipline, teamwork and appreciation for music — skills he said he plans to carry into college and beyond.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENTS

All 213 recipients live in Bluebonnet-served homes with a parent or guardian who is a member.

Austin
Asmaa Botielhassani, Camila Campos, Fernando Campuzano, Saul Loredo Bravo

Bastrop
Kailei Anzaldua, Braxton Bowden, Kristen Browning, Paige Burnett, Veronika Davis, Kendall Eddie, Lilly Fiore, Sophia Finke, Giselle Gallardo, Lillian Gregory, Betsy Herrera, Lesly Herrera-Fraga, Addison McCarus, Samantha McFarland, Joshua McLauchlin, Mia Neighbours, Sarah Nix, Alexis Riffett, Breanna Rosa, Loren Rosalez, Hannah Sagebiel, Olivia Wyrick

Bellville
Darcy Luedke

Bleiblerville
Gunner Chovanec

Brenham
Jillian Allen, Kolbe Asmussen, Kylie Baker, Wyatt Crampton, Evan Curtis, Abigail Dowling, Hagen Frank, Braeden Gandy, Cooper Hodde, Molly Jones, Briar Kalkhake, Hailee Klekar, Nathan Knobloch, Caleb Landry, Lillie Lehrmann, Kate Martin, Paige Marth, Caleb Maurer, Madison McCain, Jase Mueller, Antonie Najera, Logan Rivas, John Rodriquez, Isabella Romero, Sadaf Shireen, Tristin Shugart, McKenzie Tiemann, Raelynn Traill, Calvin Wunderlich

Burton
Stephanie Donnell, Paige Fritsch, Aerynn Huntsman, Cadeyn Manley, Kayegan Meyer, Kolbie Parker

Caldwell
Sarah Boniol, Tanna Boykin, Cayle Canon, Chase Clark, Emma Davis, Larisa Foster, Kaylan Groce, Adeline Hicks, Tanzley Johnson, Reese McManus, Maria Alejandra Medina, Kimberli Vasquez-Ramirez, Kylie Vogler, Cayden Zboril

Carmine
Alin Soto

Cedar Creek
Brian Ayala, Isabella Contreras, Marco Cortez, Merrique Deschambault, Juan Dominguez Jr., Kendal Farr, Paisley Faske, Sophie Hernandez, Kimberly Ibarra-Mendoza, Isabell Ortiz-Vasquez, Juan Rangel, Mackenzy Roberts, Naila Sanchez, Richard Torres Jr.

Chappell Hill
Grasyn Hinze, Avery Swierkowski, Zoe Zwerneman

Dale
Briseida Alvarado, William Freeman, Omar Marquez, Kayli Salas

Del Valle
Ximena Gutierrez, Eva Lopez

Dime Box
Kodi Hitchcock, Joseph Mikulin, Caleb Rackel, Chansidy Straughter

Elgin
Erika Avila, Cassandra Baugh, Crystal Cano-Barrientos, Gabriela De la Cruz, Bianca Galindo, Macy Heine, Brynn Leschber, Cassie Rice, Camila Sandoval, Amy Simon, Lizbeth Zayago

Fayetteville
Mason Fenhaus, Jessica Rohde

Flatonia
Callie Ruyle

Giddings
Sharron Adair, Rilynn Creek, Peyton Dees, Gunnar Fromme, Riley Greene, Emmerson Harville, Morgan Malone, Addyson Mersiovsky, Kyle Montgomery, Kylee Smith, Rylee Smolik, Kamrie Stewart

Ledbetter
Airion Thomas

Lexington
Emilia Bayer, Teal Brockenbush, McKenzie Burch, Joseph Freeman, Brock Herring, Carson Jackson, Jackson Koester, Robert Kellenberger, Rebekah Madison, Landri Milligan, Jordan Muhl, William Ramsey, Brooke Scheler, Keely Schumpert, Lee Siegmund, Kirby Smith

Lockhart
Abigail Burnett, Emory Burton, Cristian Cruz, Andrew Davis, Jaeda Eckford, Zoe Goerlitz, Trent Hagan, Gavin Hinckley, Saylor Martinez, Naomi Nava, Marissa Sosa, Danica Valadez

Luling
Brandon Cunningham

Manor
Sophia Cabra-Lezama, Elian Cabrera-Gamez, Lizeth Lopez Cardona, Devin Everett, Melanie Garcia, Natasha Garza, Thang Khai, Angel Mondragon, George Nwankwo, Landon Osisiogu, Irvin Ortiz-Arellano, Jessica Perez, Jackelyn Reyes-Del Rio, Karla Salas, Nathalia Torres, Jose Bautista Zamora

Maxwell
Mackenzie Mayfield, Analia Sepulveda

McDade
Ethan Dax Colosky, Summer Jacobs, Aurelio Montoya Jr.

New Ulm
Alejandra Diaz

Paige
Ariadnne Andrade, Samuel Diaz-Suarez, Alaylah Martinez, Cristal Orocio, Michael Ramos, Zanaida Reyes

Red Rock
Renee Herrera, Ryan Watson

Rosanky
Avery Hammons, Brooke Wilhelm

San Marcos
Joseph Gerhart, Paris Gonzalez, Kaleigh Medina, Kant Nyi Lu, Angelina Vazquez, Lukas Wagner, Isabella Zertuche

Smithville
Kendall Bezner, Lucca D’Amico, Julieta Huerta, Red Muniz, Carter Natal, Lily Sabrsula, Emma Short

Somerville
Braxton Fritcher, Adia Ramos

Staples
Lexzura Battise

Washington
Shelbey Cross, Taylor Groce, Colin Schomburg