Page 4 • Saturday, May 21, 2022 • The Leader
Waltrip student earns prestigious scholarship to UT By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Jose Olivares’ dream is to own his own repair business for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. His oldest son has a plan to make that happen. Yahir Olivares, an 18-yearold senior at Waltrip High School, has been selected for the prestigious Forty Acres Scholars Program at the University of Texas at Austin. He’ll receive a full ride as well as networking opportunities and a stipend that can be used for enrichment activities such as studying abroad, community service ventures and personal and professional development. The younger Oliveras said his long-term goal is to earn a business degree so he can start an HVAC repair company with his father, a Mexican immigrant. “The summer between my sophomore and junior year (at Waltrip), I decided that I wanted to become a businessman,” Olivares said. “My dad, his dream was to have his own HVAC business, but he really couldn’t manage it or start it up. He wasn’t familiar with the business field.”
Olivares is one of 19 high school seniors from across the United States who was selected for the scholars program, out of more than 3,400 applicants, for the UT graduating class of 2026. The program is administered by the Texas Exes alumni association, which says on its website that the program “inspires and nurtures visionary leaders and helps them use their talents to benefit society.” Olivares visited the UT campus in early March along with 59 other finalists for the scholarship program. Later that month, he said he learned he had been picked as a recipient. When he got the email letting him know, Olivares was back in Austin working with his dad, who is an HVAC technician. It was a special moment for father and son. “Maybe destiny. Maybe the universe aligned,” Yahir Olivares said. “Honestly, I think it was something from the big man, from God.” According to his bio on the Forty Acres Scholars Program website, Olivares is fluent in Spanish, plays the guitar and is a two-time UIL Academics District Champion for social studies and
current issues and events. He also has been an ambassador for the EMERGE program in Houston ISD, which helps first-generation and low-income students get into the nation’s top colleges and universities. Olivares said he is ranked 14th in a senior class with more than 400 students in terms of his grade-point average. He will be the first person from hWaltis family to attend college. “I’m really excited,” he said. “I don’t think I would have went to UT if I hadn’t gotten the scholarship. I don’t know if I would have been able to pay for college because of my parents’ financial situation.” Olivares, who lives in the Langwood neighborhood, said his academic strengths are problem-solving and a strong work ethic. He attributes the latter trait to his father and mother, Maria Flores, who has worked occasional cleaning jobs while being the primary caretaker for Olivares and his two younger brothers. Along with earning a business degree so he can start an HVAC repair company with his dad, Olivares said he wants to give back to the
Contributed photo Waltrip High School student Yahir Olivares, a first-generation American, has been selected for the Forty Acres Scholars Program at the University of Texas at Austin.
community that has nurture him and put position to enjoy a opportunity. “I promise to take
helped him in unique
tage of it, not only for me, but for the rest of my community,” he said. “I want to start organizations and fundraisers and pretty much set
advan-
an example. Although you might go to a Title I school, if you set your mind to do something, you really can get far.”
Heights’ Baldwin authors book about Harvey relief efforts storm and was inspired by their efforts. He said the Lockes coordinated donations, Vega was in charge of food, Smaile put up sleeping cots and Brombacher “did whatever” was asked of him. “I never saw them before in my life until I was there in my wet bike clothes,” Baldwin said. “It was a weird experience, one of those opportunities you have and you either take it or you don’t.” Baldwin also credited the efforts of two of his employees at Boulevard Realty, Aaron Flores and Mario Castillo. He said his real estate business took a hit while he focused on recovery efforts for the better part of four months, which is something he described as a tradeoff, since he gained some respect and perspective. He also witnessed Houstonians paying the good will forward as part of a group that delivered goods and supplies to Puerto Rico after a subsequent hurricane devastated that island. And when trucks from wineries in California made dropoffs in Houston, Baldwin said he witnessed some of those trucks being filled with N95 masks that could be delivered to California and used by people combatting wildfires. “I want people to remember that unique point in time,” Baldwin said. “It’s worth remembering, and not that we had a hurricane. Forget the damn hurricane. It’s what happened after the hurricane that’s really the true spirit of the city and even the nation.”
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
People seem to be more divided than ever nowadays, particularly politically. So Bill Baldwin wanted his first book to focus on something that brought a city – even a nation – together. Baldwin, a prominent Heights resident who owns a real estate firm in the neighborhood, released a book this week titled, “Heroes, Hope, and High Water: Life Lessons in Turbulent Times.” It is about the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when Houstonians banded together amidst historic flooding and volunteered to help neighbors and even strangers. “It seems like the world’s focus is on things that divide us versus things that unite us,” Baldwin said. “Harvey was an example of how united we really are. That’s the message of the book.” “Heroes, Hope, and High Water” was scheduled to be released Thursday, according to Baldwin, who said it is about 100 pages and includes first-person accounts as well as photographs he took while volunteering at the George R. Brown Convention Center and operating the Houston Relief Hub out of a warehouse in Sawyer Yards. He said the book is a collection of life lessons, such as treating others with respect and the value of helping others in their time of need, while highlighting some of the people and organizations that proved to be unsung heroes. Hardback copies of the book are available for pur-
Photo from diangelopublications.com Bill Baldwin, a Heights resident and owner of Boulevard Realty, released a book this week called “Heroes, Hope, and High Water: Life Lessons in Turbulent Times.” It is about how Houstonians banded together in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
chase online at www.diangelopublications.com/books/ heroes-hope-high-water, at a cost of $22.50. Baldwin said they also are available at stores such as Manready Mercantile, 321 W. 19th St. Suite B; KuhlLinscomb, 2418 W. Alabama St.; Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet St.; and in the gift shop at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 5601 Main St. “I had never written a book before,” Baldwin said. “It was fun for me to do.” Baldwin owns Boulevard Realty, 927 Studewood St. Suite 100, in addition to being a member of the Houston Planning Commission. He is a past president of the Houston Heights Association, having served multiple terms, as well as a former Leader of the Year. He said his book is an extension of a commencement speech he gave in 2018 at
his alma mater, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. And the seed for that speech was planted on the morning after much of Houston flooded in August 2017, when Baldwin said he ventured out on his bicycle to survey the damage and ended up downtown at the George R. Brown Convention Center, an early relief hub for Houston-area residents seeking high ground, shelter and basic services. Baldwin said he spent about a week coordinating volunteer efforts at the convention center and then opened the Houston Relief Hub at a Sawyer Yards warehouse donated by Jon Deal, who in turn was the first recipient of a copy of Baldwin’s book. The relief hub operated for 112 consecutive days, with Baldwin saying thousands of volunteers helped to receive and sort a
Hope in Your Storm By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
Living in Houston we are no strangers to storms. If you have seen the news this week the forecast for this year is that we may see an above average year for hurricanes and tropical storms this year. In Acts 27, Luke records the story of a ship with 276 passengers that went through a storm. This storm was so powerful that after two weeks of fighting the wind and the waves the Bible says that the people on board lost all hope of being saved. Paul stood up in the middle of the ship and made three powerful statements that should resonate any person who is going through a storm whether it includes real wind and rain or is just a big life challenge. Paul states that he knows who he belongs to, who he serves, and who he believes. Paul knew that he belonged to God, that
his life’s purpose was to serve God, and that he believed God’s Word. Here is the question each person should consider. When you come to the end of yourself and are not sure where to turn do you know who you belong to? Who is responsible for you? Is it just you or maybe another family member who is looking out for you? There is great hope in knowing that as a child of God you belong to Him. He will take care of you! Consider as well who you serve. If you exist to serve God, then any situation that arises you can know that your job and purpose is to serve God. No matter the struggle your job is to serve the Lord and you can trust as His servant that God is leading and guiding you. Finally, you must remember who you believe. If you believe God, then you can trust His Word and obey Him. If you don’t believe God then what do you believe? The reality for every person is that they will go through storms in life. Will you find your hope in God?
Photo from diangelopublications.com “Heroes, Hope, and High Water: Life Lessons in Turbulent Times,” is a new book published by Heights Realtor of Houston Planning Commission member Bill Baldwin.
wide range of goods that were quickly dispersed to thousands of residents in need. They also helped provide information and resources. The hub received donations from all 48 states in the contiguous U.S., according to Baldwin, with the Cajun Navy from Louisiana being among the organizations that lent a hand. And he said there were “thousands of groups just like them that never got recognized.” “We had 18-wheelers lined up every morning,” he said.
“We filled up a warehouse every day and depleted it every day, not knowing if we were going to get anything the next day. It was Houstonians helping Houstonians, no questions asked. It was pretty impressive in the moment.” Among the Houston residents highlighted in the book are Chris Brombacher, Aaron and Tommy Locke, Rick Smaile and Pablo Vega. Baldwin said he met them all at the George R. Brown Convention Center in the aftermath of the
Runoff, from P. 1A signed in April after 31 years. Jones recently won the special election to fill the seat until the end of the year, by a margin of 202 votes out of 4,408 cast. Coleman has endorsed Jones, while U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is among
• SPJST Lodge 88, 1435 Beall St. • Memorial Elementary School, 6401 Arnot St. • Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton St.
those backing Bess. The closest May 24 polling places to local neighborhoods include: • Hogg Middle School, 1100 Merrill St. • West End Multiservice Center, 170 Heights Blvd.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
I Say a Prayer Today!
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