Lufkin HIgh School Senior Receives Prestigious Marine Scholarship

One of the new traditions that numerous school districts host is some form of a scholarship night. During this ceremony, graduating seniors are presented with awards and scholarships that they will use for their next level of education.

Sometimes the presenters are from colleges or institutes that teach students a trade. Many of the presenters are from area agencies, civic organizations, and businesses.

At many of these scholarship awards nights, representatives from military branches are also on hand to give out high-dollar scholarships to students. Such was recently the case at Lufkin High School when the Marines landed to make a huge scholarship presentation.

Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Joel Blackmon and Captain (Capt) Tyler Vaughan, Executive Officer were on hand to present Lufkin High School senior Leonardo Osorio with the Frederick C. Branch Marine Corps Leadership Scholarship valued at $230,000.

This prestigious scholarship was given to only 300 students across the nation, of which only 18 were from Texas. Staff Sergeant Blackmon said that Leonardo Osorio was the second candidate out of all of the applicants in Texas and the first to receive this scholarship at Lufkin High School.

Leonardo is planning on attending Tuskegee University in Alabama majoring in aerospace engineering. This private university is located in Tuskegee, Alabama. Notable alumni include singer Lionel Richie and actor Keenan Wayans. Famed agricultural scientist and inventor George Washington Carver was a professor at Tuskegee Institute.

From left: From left: Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Joel Blackmon, Leonardo Osorio and Captain (Capt) Tyler Vaughan, Executive Officer