– Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS), an educational nonprofit, announces the recipients of the Society of Petroleum Engineers–Gulf Coast Section (SPE-GCS) scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year. Each of the four students will receive a $12,000 scholarship, renewable for up to eight college semesters ($1,500 per semester), to help fund their higher education.
This year’s scholarship recipients, including the high school attended and college choice, are:
- Alexa Guadarrama, Spring Woods High School, Spring Branch ISD – Lone Star College (nursing)
- Brandon Lozano, Milby High School, Houston ISD – University of Houston (mechanical/aerospace engineering)
- Laiyla Breahn Pierce, Lamar High School, Houston ISD – Louisiana State University (mechanical engineering)
- Fatima Ramirez, Spring Woods High School, Spring Branch ISD – Texas A&M University–San Antonio (criminal justice)
In addition, Lozano received the AYRE Realty Scholarship, a one-time $1,000 award.
Lozano and Pierce, who plan to pursue engineering and other STEM-related careers, were selected by the SPE Scholarship Committee to attend a one-day Roughneck Camp at ExxonMobil’s Houston facilities. The program brings together engineering students, industry professionals and business leaders for hands-on learning and career exploration in the energy industry…