Seguin area generates not one but two of the top students to be accepted to UT

(Seguin) — Although it’s talking about its campus in Austin, the motto for the University of Texas “What Starts Here Changes the World” might have already started here in Seguin for the upcoming fall. That’s because not one but two local high school seniors recently received the life-changing surprise of an $80,000 scholarship from the University of Texas.

In fact, Seguin High School Senior Danielle Nyame and Navarro High School Senior Sophia Castillo were two of only three students to receive the $80,000 scholarship as part of the 2025 UT Austin Impact Scholars Program.

Not only were they two of three, but they were also selected from a pool of thousands of candidates.

Caroline Enriquez, UT’s director of holistic review, helped explain this prestigious accomplishment.

“We had over 91,000 students apply for freshman admissions this year of which these two students were applicants within that pool and because of their

academic performance over the years through high school – their leadership, their involvement – all of the things that they put their blood, sweat and tears into, they gained admission. For one, that was a huge feat because of the 91,000 students, we admitted a little over 18,000 students total for freshman admission and of those 18,000 plus students, they were among just three students selected to be presented by the board on that particular day,” said Enriquez.

Enriquez says the students were presented and completely surprised with the news during the Hook ‘Em House hosted by UT Austin and the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) on March 7. Enriquez says making things even more special is that both students are products of the Seguin area.

“It’s pretty remarkable that we had two come from Seguin. We not had one come from Seguin since we started the program in 2018 and so this is really cool that we had two students that rose to the top that are from the same hometown and it being a smaller community too, I think it says a lot about the students from Seguin,” said Enriquez.

Enriquez says their selection for the $80,000 scholarship was again based on their application and the changes that they have already made to improve the environment of their family, school or community.

“As we review applications because we really do read every single one that is complete and on time and we can make scholarship recommendations out of our review and that’s part of how this works and when we see something special in a student from that point, then they kind of get under our radar to make sure we are paying special attention to them in our scholarship consideration process. They definitely stood out amongst the batch of 18,000 plus students and its students that we wanted to recognize and do something special for,” said Enriquez.

Nyame says the whole event itself was a total surprise and still can’t believe the fanfare and appreciation that was shown by the Longhorn community.

“While I’m there, I am introduced to the admissions team, and I actually get into an Uber with someone else from Seguin. Her name is Sophia, and we did not make the correlation whatsoever. We were like ‘OMG. You’re from Seguin? I’m from Seguin? That’s crazy.’ So, we get to the venue, and we are still being introduced to so many people. We are getting a tour of the entire place and we are just eating refreshments and having a good time and then after that, that’s when the Longhorn Band came out and they had just started the whole entire conference – the introduction and then we actually had the vice president of UT come onto the stage and he is the one that actually introduced us. After that, we were gifted jackets that were embroidered with UT Austin but while all this was happening, Joey Williams (director of marketing, university marketing and communications) actually came onto the stage with three big checks of $80,000 and that’s when I found out I was getting a scholarship and I realized that the whole mantra of the day for the South by Southwest Conference that day was to award the 2025 Impact Scholars,” said Nyame.

Nyame says being selected as an Impact Scholar is just one of the benefits of having worked so hard these last few years. She says that work is not going unnoticed.

“Very vaguely do people know the journey and the hard work and the dedication that all four years of high school have led up to receiving this moment. Seeing all your hard work actually pay off and actually not only be recognized but be recognized by the university as that is something that just doesn’t happen on the daily – knowing that I was one of the people that actually got recognized was truly just like ‘I did it! I did it!’ said Nyame.

Sharing that same excitement is Castillo. Castillo, like Nyame, says the experience was a complete surprise and serves more as a testament to overcoming obstacles and defying expectations.

“I had absolutely no clue that I would be receiving this scholarship and so to me, it really felt like a full circle moment for all the work that I put into for the past four years in high school. Immediately, I thought of my parents’ sacrifices. I mean I am a first-generation student so to be on that stage was more than just receiving funding. It was truly everything to me because my parents are from Mexico and to be here in America and to have a foundation of education, it meant the world. I’m almost at a lost of words, right now, thinking about it again,” said Castillo.

Although they have each received the $80,000 scholarship, neither of the ladies has confirmed an official commitment to the public university. Castillo, who has also already been confirmed as this year’s Valedictorian for Navarro High School, says their hard work has not only secured the funding for their future, but it has provided them with options.

“So, I am not completely secure that I am going to UT Austin in the fall. I recently just got accepted into the University of Norte Dame and the Johns Hopkins University. So, UT is one of my top options but I’m very overwhelmed and blessed with options,” said Castillo.

UT officials say the impact scholarship is the largest scholarship awarded by the university.

Both young ladies say they hope to confirm their future school by next month.