Student gets scholarship worth $125k
- Pathways student wins scholarship for Oklahoma City University.
- The student, an illegal alien, says the scholarship's requirements were stringent.
Jonathon Lopez
By Scott D’Amico, Online Editor
Hard work is carrying one high school senior all the way to his own American Dream.
Pathways Middle College High School senior Jonathon Lopez was named a recipient of the Clara Luper Scholarship, a $125,000 award to Oklahoma City University.
Pathways is a five-year school on campus that allows high school students to earn college credit through concurrent enrollment.
“They based their decision on academics and community involvement,” Lopez said.
The requirements for the scholarship were stringent.
Applicants were asked to write an essay and also to attend an interview.
Lopez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, said he wrote about his struggles as an illegal resident.
One of those struggles occurred after he was chosen to represent the U.S. National soccer team.
“I couldn’t go because of my immigrant status,” Lopez said.
Another struggle, he said, was being able to get a job.
Currently Lopez interns at a local credit union, but because of his immigration status, he can’t be put on the payroll.
“They’d be willing to hire me,” Lopez said. “But I don’t have a Social Security number.”
Despite his struggles, Lopez has made himself into a success.
Along with finishing his high school education, Lopez also is taking college classes at OCCC.
He said by the time he’s finished with this semester he will have completed 37 credit hours.
For Lopez, high school, college, and an internship aren’t enough to keep him satisfied.
He also spends time coaching soccer at a local Catholic high school. “I help coach Sacred Heart’s soccer team. I like helping kids and my community.”
Online Editor Scott D’Amico can be reached at onlineeditor@occc.edu.
