10 May 2010
Third year of scholarship awards $5,000 to outstanding student-athlete
DALLAS—Andrea Melendez, a senior at Hillcrest High School, has been awarded the Eric Louis Brown Memorial Scholarship for the 2009-10 school year. The award honors an outstanding Dallas ISD student-athlete with a $5,000 scholarship.
As a student, Melendez had one of the highest GPAs on the Hillcrest girls' basketball team and scored well on her college entrance exams. She is a first-generation college student in her family, and plans to pursue a nursing degree. She has been accepted to Concordia University in Austin and Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton.
Melendez has competed at the varsity level in basketball, cross country and track all four years of high school. Girls head basketball coach Rachelle Leonard said Melendez was a positive leader for her teammates, and one of her hardest-working players. Leonard said the qualities that best describe Melendez include honesty, trust, character, hard work and reliability. Cross Country coach Venessa Warnock said that Melendez exemplifies an excellent work ethic and leadership ability. Melendez served as team captain, Warnock said, and was always prepared to run well at meets as well as cheer on her teammates.
In her application, Melendez said she learned that the meaning of teamwork wasn't about others helping her be her best. "The facts hit me hard because I wasn't used to the idea," she wrote. "But I soon realized that if I wanted to be a part of the team I needed to work with them and not do my own thing."
Over time, everyone working together translated to more success. "Teamwork goes a long way, not only in sports but in education as well," Melendez wrote. "I feel that when you work as a team and all want to reach the same goal, anything is possible."
The scholarship is named in honor of Eric Louis Brown, a dedicated athlete and beloved student at David W. Carter High School, who died following a football practice. Dallas ISD established the scholarship in his memory. Scholarships of $5,000 will be awarded annually for the next 10 years to a district student who has demonstrated excellence in both academic and athletic pursuits. The first scholarship was awarded in 2008.
"Top two public high schools in the country—School for the Talented and Gifted and School for Science and Engineering. Finding great schools is hard; finding our list's two top schools close together in the same building is beyond belief."
-Newsweek Magazine