This fall, the UTSA Honors College proudly welcomes a new class of high-achieving students selected for three of the university’s most prestigious scholarship programs: Top Scholars, Terry Scholars® and Texas Leadership Scholars.
The scholars programs offer transformative support and experiences to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential and a deep commitment to service.
The incoming class includes 10 Top Scholars, 22 Terry Scholars and 13 Texas Leadership Scholars — students chosen through competitive selection processes at the university or statewide level.
While each program has a distinct focus and set of benefits, they are united by a shared mission — to develop thoughtful, community-minded leaders equipped to make a lasting impact on campus, across Texas and beyond.
The Top Scholar program is the university’s premier merit-based scholarship, offering a full-ride package that includes tuition, fees, housing and a stipend. Scholars benefit from small cohort sizes, personalized mentoring, undergraduate research opportunities and targeted leadership development.
For incoming neuroscience major Zoe Dou of San Antonio, the program was the deciding factor in her choice of UTSA over several other Texas universities, including Baylor University, Texas A&M University and Trinity University.
“The Top Scholar program made me choose UTSA,” Dou said. “I am excited to build community through the program and take advantage of the many opportunities that will help me reach my highest potential.”
The Terry Scholarship, funded by the Terry Foundation®, supports outstanding Texas high school graduates who show strong leadership skills and a commitment to service. At UTSA, Terry Scholars receive full-ride scholarships and are part of a well-established support system that emphasizes academic achievement, service and personal growth.
MEET ALL THE SCHOLARS
Incoming Terry Scholar Waheed Adekanmbi, a biochemistry major from Katy, Texas, chose UTSA over many prestigious institutions across the country, including the University of Texas at Austin, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and Vanderbilt University.
“I heard UTSA has a great community, with helpful faculty and people ready to help you grow, and that really spoke to me,” Adekanmbi said. “Personally, I’m looking to better myself, and being in a community that supports me will make that all the more possible.”
The Texas Leadership Scholars program, now in its second year at UTSA, is a statewide initiative supported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The program provides full cost-of-attendance scholarships to high-performing students from across the state who are dedicated to leadership and public service. In addition to financial support, the program includes a four-year curriculum focused on leadership development, mentoring and service learning.
Texas Leadership Scholar Rose Mary Rubi Mathews, a business studies major from Laredo, was very active both inside and outside the classroom at Early College High School. She held leadership positions in Student Council and the National Honor Society, founded a dance group and maintained a 4.0 GPA.
“Balancing leadership, academics and extracurriculars taught me time management, teamwork and perseverance,” Rubi Mathews said. “I’m eager to get involved at UTSA, build connections and continue growing.
“I chose UTSA because of its strong academic programs, welcoming campus culture, and the unlimited opportunities offered through its many student organizations,” she added. “It also provides valuable resources, internships, and experiences that will help me prepare for my future career, all while keeping me close to my family and support system.”
The scholars represent the very best of UTSA’s student body — motivated, capable and driven to make a difference. As members of the Honors College, they will engage in interdisciplinary learning, collaborative research and a variety of hands-on experiences that prepare them to lead with curiosity and purpose.
Home to more than 2,800 hardworking, achievement-oriented, conscientious students across all majors, the UTSA Honors College offers one of the most unique experiential honors curricula in the nation. Its practical, hands-on approach to learning empowers students to chart their own path and achieve their highest potential.
One of the unique strengths of the Honors College experience is the intentional living-learning environment created for these students. All incoming scholars reside together in Guadalupe Hall alongside other Honors College students, fostering a supportive, tight-knit community from Day 1. This early immersion in a collaborative and academically focused setting helps scholars build the relationships and networks that are vital to their personal and professional success.
Applications for the next class of Top Scholars and Terry Scholars will open September 1, with a deadline of December 1. Applications for Texas Leadership Scholars will be available through high school counselors on October 1.
