Austin College senior Nancy Pineda-Gama of Dallas, Texas, has been awarded a 2020 IME BECAS/ HACEMOS Dallas Scholarship for this academic year. Successful applicants evidenced academic achievement, personal strength, and leadership. The scholarship is designed to assist Mexican students and/or students of Mexican origin residing in the United States.
The recipient selection process included consideration of academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, and a statement of career and educational goals and objectives.
Nancy began her college education at El Centro College in Dallas, where she was on the President’s Academic Honor Roll, received El Centro College’s Distinguished Service Award, received Phi Theta Kappa honors, and she founded the El Centro LULAC Club, awarded Outstanding Student Organization.
Upon transferring to Austin College where Nancy is completing a major in environmental studies and a minor in biology, she also made the Dean’s List. Her outstanding work in the Office of Career Services was recognized with the Nelda Lambert Work Study Excellence Award.
Nancy is a member of the Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) and of THINK, an organization dedicated to environmental awareness, education, and action. She served as the president of Clyce Hall last year and is a member of Los Amigos and the Society of Modern Art. She is a teaching aide in the Biology Department and a Sallie Majors Religious Life Intern.
Nancy has done considerable service beyond her college campuses. She was a programs administration intern and exploration coach with Big Thought in Dallas; an education intern and Mackenzie Fellow with the Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas; and, most recently a Day Camp leader for the Vogel Alcove in Dallas that provides “trauma informed care through diverse program experiences for students ages 5 to 12.” In January 2020, Nancy completed an academic internship with United Way of Grayson County, where she learned about the financial and marketing needs of the non-profit community.
Austin College Director of Career Services Margie Norman wrote the recommendation for Nancy’s application. “Nancy has one more year at Austin College and without a doubt, she is leaving her mark and a strong legacy,” Norman wrote. “Her amazing attitude in the face of adversity and her willingness to go the extra mile in everything she touches will be extremely difficult to replace when she graduates.”
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.