How They Became Million Dollar Students

Planning for the future can be scary, overwhelming and intimidating for families of future graduates. College isn’t cheap. Financial aid forms can be complicated, and students are all competing for the same scholarships.

Thankfully, North East ISD’s AVID program streamlines the process for our students and families.

And for seniors, Letty Hernandez and Brandon Vasquez Munoz, it earned them both over $1 million in scholarships.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, sets each child with dreams of earning a college degree up for success.

Letty is a 2023 MacArthur High School graduate. She knows without a doubt that she wouldn’t be attending college at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) this fall without AVID.

“Before AVID, I genuinely thought it was just me on my own,” said Letty. “I just thought high school would be it for me. I never thought I could get into college. I always thought I was limited to what I was able to do, but AVID really helped me believe that I could do more.”

Letty joined AVID at Garner Middle School and stayed the course at MacArthur, where she met Reagan Beres. She’s been teaching at MacArthur for more than 30 years.

She now teaches the AVID class, where she considers herself lucky to be able to support students who are striving to not only get into college, but earn scholarships along the way. With Beres’ support, Letty earned more than $1 million in scholarship offers during her senior year, including a Dell Scholarship worth $20,000. Letty now has enough scholarship money to pay for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She plans to study biology at UTSA and hopes to one day research medicine.

“When I found out that I got the Dell Scholarship, I emailed her at five in the morning to tell her. She’s an inspiration to me and so many others. I don’t know how I could ever thank her for what she’s done for me. She’s guided me the whole way.”

Brandon received similar guidance and support and is graduating this year from Johnson High School with more than $1.2 million in scholarship offers. His tuition will be totally covered at Cornell University, where Brandon plans to study mechanical engineering.

Getting involved in AVID his freshman year changed the trajectory of Brandon’s life, and he has the scholarships to back it up. One of his most impressive awards is a Bill Gates Scholarship worth more than $320,000.

“I think going to college for free is everyone’s dream,” said Brandon. “Honestly, I did not expect this. I was hoping to get something but over a million, I was very surprised. I think I owe a good portion of my success and everything I’ve achieved to AVID.” arysia

AVID is helping students like Brandon and Letty -- who weren’t even sure they’d attend college -- get their degrees debt free.

AVID is currently in 21 NEISD middle and high schools. Reach out to your counselor for more information.

North East ISD is proud of the men and women who graduated from our District and went on to make a positive impact on the world.

AVID places students into AP and Honors courses and puts them on the college track. They are also enrolled in the AVID Elective. For one period a day, they learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities.

Visit neisd.net/avid to learn more.