Scholarship Recipients

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

e are excited to announce the winners for this year's Texas Rural Water Foundation Scholarships! The Student Scholarship Program is designed to assist young people in the furthering of their education by helping to offset the costs of college tuition, fees, books or room and board. Based on a rubric including academic achievements, community involvement and potential benefit to the rural water industry, students are given score totals based on their application.

This year, we awarded six scholarships to deserving students pursuing a higher education:

The Dwayne Jekel Scholarship

The Jo E. Ball Scholarship

Thanks to an endowment set up by the family of Dwayne Jekel, we are pleased to award the annual Dwayne Jekel Scholarship to our highest scoring applicant. Mr. Jekel served on the Texas Rural Water Association Board of Directors for 30 years from 1982-2012 and was a water industry leader. He was the owner and operator of D&L Service Company in Cameron, Texas. Dwayne Jekel’s dedication to water and his community will never be forgotten. Through this year's scholarship of $3000, his legacy and mission will continue thanks to the generosity of his family. The Dwayne Jekel Scholarship recipient is Tate Holzhaus, a seventh generation Texas Alsatian with deep family ties to rural Texas. His work on the Holzhaus’ small family ranch taught him the value of ingenuity in the field and trial and error in working with machine modifications and keeping rural systems running. As a beneficiary of his area’s rural water system and a ranch hand keeping a well pump functioning for their livestock, Tate saw firsthand the work that goes into clean drinking water. His uncle, Bruce Alexander, is the TRWA Vice President and runs East Medina County SUD, Tate's home system. Tate will begin his freshman year this fall at UTSA, where he hopes to earn his engineering degree so he can do his part to supply rural areas with safe, quality water.

Tate Holzhaus

Hometown: Castroville, TX School: UTSA Major: Engineering

Special this year, we are awarding a scholarship in the name of Jo E. Ball, a longtime friend of rural water who passed away late last year after losing his battle with brain cancer. Jo was the manager of Bolivar Peninsula SUD and before that was the manager of Trinity Rural Water.

He was a leader in the industry who remained very active with TRWA, volunteering at events, attending conferences, and participating as part of our emergency response efforts. Jo made a lasting impact on our Association and we will never forget his contributions to our industry. We are honored to give this scholarship of $2500 in his name.

The Joe E. Ball Scholarship recipient is Amanda Branecky, a junior at the Univeristy of Texas. As a high schooler Amanda played volleyball, ran track, served as Class President and accumulated over 500 hours of community service. Amanda was also the 2020-21 recipient of her family's water supply corporation's (Aqua WSC) Ernest William Bracewell, Sr. Memorial Scholarship. She is a first generation college student in the McCombs School of Business pursuing a degree in Management Information Systems. Amanda is currently the Social R

epresentative and Diversity and Inclusion Chair for her sorority, Kappa Delta. She is also a member of the

Amanda Branecky

Hometown: Bastrop, TX School: UT Austin Major: Business - Management Information Systems

Luke Read

Hometown: Belton, TX School: Texas A&M Major: Engineering

Luke just wrapped up his senior year at Belton High School. He graduated as a member of the National Honor Society and in the top 2% of his class. Outside of school, Luke is heavily involved in his church, 4-H, and FFA. As a member of FFA, Luke participated in the Agricultural Advocacy Leadership Development Contest and Natural Resource Career Development Contests, and serve as an officer for the Belton FFA for three years. He finished his high school career as Texas 4-H State Council President, Texas 4-H At-Large Delegate, Texas 4-H Water Ambassador and Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador.

Luke is headed to A&M this fall in the hopes that his engineering degree will help him learn how to combat the water shortage crisis facing the rural water industry. We are pleased to award him this scholarship in the amount of $2000.

Erynn Hosek

Hometown: Poth, TX School: Texas A&M Major: Accounting and Finance Management

As an upcoming senior, Erynn is finishing her degree in the Professional Program of Accounting at the prestigious Mays Business School at A&M. Erynn is a campus leader involved with Aggie Women and 180 Degrees Consulting, the world’s largest university-based consultancy for nonprofits and social enterprises.

Erynn is the daughter of Kenneth Hosek, the operator of Three Oaks Water Supply Corporation. The Hoseks’ passion to provide safe water to the community and the encouragement of her rural hometown inspired her to work toward a certificate in Nonprofit and Social Innovation as a part of her degree program.

Erynn was a 2020-21 TRWF Student Scholarship recipient and will be receiving this $2000 scholarship as a continuation toward her higher education.

Scholarship recipients continued on next page

Landon Theiss

Hometown: North Zulch, TX School: Texas A&M Major: Kinesiology

Landon is headed to A&M after a high school career as a member of the National Honor Society; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA); Student Council; Principal’s Council and Vice President of his Senior Class. As a leader in FCCLA, he was the Region IV Vice President of Competitive Events and Peer Involvement. He also placed 1st at Nationals in FCCLA. Landon's mother, Karen Theiss has worked at Wickson Creek SUD for 23 years and is a TRWA Emerging Leaders Program alumni and current coach.

Landon's plan is to earn his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology on the path to Occupational Therapy school for a graduate degree in Speech Pathology. We are pleased to award Landon this $2000 scholarship toward his collegiate studies.

Laura Macmanus

Hometown: Harlingen, TX School: Texas A&M Major: Engineering

Laura is the daughter of Brian and Nancy Macmanus and just wrapped up her junior year at Texas A&M. As a student at Harlingen High School she graduated as Salutatorian and the District Council Youth Advisor and Cameron County Council President through the 4-H program. As an incoming senior at A&M, she is a group leader of John 15, a freshman Catholic organization that focuses on faith, personal development and community, and she is active with her church choir. She is also a member of the University’s Traditions Council and a former resident advisor. Laura hopes to finish strong in her academic career at Texas A&M and to deepen her involvement on campus. Her father, Brian, is TRWA's Immediate Past President and the general manager of East Rio Hondo WSC. Laura is a former recipient of the Dwayne Jekel Scholarship (2019-20), and receives this $1000 as a continued scholarship toward her higher education.