Miranda Mendoza, a Northeast Texas Community College sophomore Honors Scholar and Vice President of the college?s PTK chapter, has won the two-year $48,000 Francis Monaghan Excellence Scholarship to attend the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
Mendoza also has received lucrative offers from the University of Arkansas, and St. Edward?s University in Austin.† She is choosing St. Thomas both for the financial coverage, and for the advantages that being in the heart of Houston can bring.
?I love architecture and art, the city, and its people, and will be delighted to work in a close-knit liberal arts community,? Mendoza said.
Mendoza was a top student for two years at NTCC.† She became the leading student researcher, and commentator of the honors film, the†Chronicles of Harriet Potter Ames,†featuring the film†at several events.† As Vice President of Alpha Mu Chi, she oversaw student ushers and concession sales during Whatley performances.† Mendoza won invitations to present scholarly work at the 2014 and 2015 meetings of the Great Plains Honors Council, as well as the 2014 meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council in Denver.† She came in second, earning $300 at the 2014 Northeast Texas Poetry contest, and read her poem over K-Lake radio.† Along with Kelli Knepp, with whom she shared laurels in poetry and choral lines in NTCC?s student choir, Miranda published the 2014 NTCC Webb Chapter annual report in the journal,†Touchstone.†
The Monahan Award Committee based their selection both on academic standing, and on activities in honors. Francis Monahan was a versatile prelate and college builder, according to a university admissions officer.
?In both academics, and in community service, Miranda was reliable, fun to be around, hard-working, sophisticated, and an ultimate team player,? NTCC Honors Director, Dr. Andrew Yox said.† ?Homeschooled by her mother, Mary Lee, and taught also by her father, Eduardo, the Spanish teacher at Mount Pleasant High School, Miranda was also one of the most well-read scholars we have had, having consumed a small library of classics before she came to NTCC."
For more information about Honors Northeast, contact Dr. Andrew Yox at 903-434-8229 or ayox@ntcc.edu.†For more information about NTCC?s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, contact Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner at 903-434-8253 or mweinbrenner@ntcc.edu.† Since 2009, top students at NTCC have won 20 national awards in addition to many regional, state, and institution-based awards such as won by Mendoza.
