9 El Paso Students Win UTEP Excellence Scholarships

When Lyla Alvarez walked into IDEA Rio Vista on Thursday morning, she had no idea her college plans were about to get a whole lot easier.

Alvarez was one of nine students from two El Paso IDEA high schools surprised with UTEP Excellence Scholarships. Seven students from IDEA Rio Vista and two from IDEA Mesa Hills received the awards, which provide up to $2,000 per year for four years.

"I'm so happy and proud and excited to be a future miner," said Alvarez, who admitted she was genuinely shocked by the surprise announcement. For students like her, the $8,000 total scholarship removes significant financial barriers to pursuing a college degree.

The recipients include Leticia Soria, Edgar Muñoz-Regalado, Lyla Alvarez, Damaris Leon Martinez, Paulina Gama, Leslie Hernandez, and Mariano Melendez-Chao from Rio Vista. Manuel Rubio and Melissa Jauregui from Mesa Hills also received the honor.

AP English Teacher Matthew Mundem watched his students receive the recognition they earned through countless hours of studying and dedication. "These students did the hard work and it certainly paid off for them," he said.

The Ripple Effect

The scholarships represent more than financial support for nine families. They're proof that academic achievement in El Paso's public schools opens real opportunities for college education without leaving home.

Mundem is already looking ahead with optimism. He can picture next year's recipients and believes more than seven students from Rio Vista alone will earn the scholarship in 2027.

The celebration continued momentum from last week when two students from IDEA's Edgemere campus, Eliana Lopez and Luis Avalos, received similar scholarship surprises. These awards show UTEP's commitment to investing in homegrown talent and keeping bright students in the borderland.

Excellence scholarships like these create a pathway for students who might otherwise struggle to afford college tuition, turning academic success into tangible rewards that shape futures.