When You See a Need, Pay it Forward
After graduating from Luther Burbank High School in the 1950’s, Ruben Escobedo attended San Antonio College (SAC) and later transferred to St. Mary’s University. When The University of Texas at San Antonio was created in 1969, he was pleased to see the city’s first public university begin providing affordable options for further higher education. Through the years, he and his wife, Veronica, became closer to UTSA as three of their four children proudly graduated from the univeristy.
In 1996, the Escobedos created the Ruben M. and Veronica S. Escobedo Endowment Scholarship Fund to support university transfer students. “We believe in giving back. If we have the resources it’s our responsibility to help students,” said Veronica.
The scholarship fund primarily supports UTSA transfer students who have attended SAC and are Luther Burbank High School alumni. “We wanted to give students who didn’t have the resources to complete their studies the same opportunities our children had. I am impressed with the quality education our children received and how involved UTSA is in the San Antonio community” added Ruben.
First generation student, Audrey Stipe ‘15 is one of the 25 Escobedo Scholars. Unsure of her educational path, Stipe transferred from SAC to UTSA. As a UTSA student, she found her passion in manufacturing. Receiving the Ruben M. and Veronica S. Escobedo Scholarship gave her the opportunity to focus on her intense studies and lab work without the stress of working additional jobs to support her needs.
“When I received the scholarship, not only did it eliminate my worries about paying tuition, but it also made me feel like someone believed in me. I come from a family where neither of my parents graduated college, and my father did not see a need for higher education. It was amazing that someone was confident in me and thought I was deserving of the opportunity to become successful in my career of choice,” expressed Stipe.
In 2015, Stipe graduated from UTSA’s College of Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and is now the Lead Integration Manufacturing Engineer for Boeing on NASA’s deep space exploration program. She has proven herself as a successful engineer, quickly rising in the ranks, which she attributes to Ruben and Veronica’s generosity.
Today, Stipe remains connected to the university and as a member of the UTSA Alumni Association regularly gives back.
“Because of the Escobedos’s generosity, I believe it is important for me to pay it forward so that other students can have the same opportunities I was given,” concluded Stipe.
—Jordan Allen, Development Writer
