Mount Pleasant High School senior, Anthony Orellana, has been chosen as a University of Texas at Austin Impact Scholar. Orellana was surprised with the news at MPHS on Friday, April 21 in front of an audience of counselors, principals, his parents, and some of his friends. The most surprising part was that he did not apply for the scholarship as students are specially selected from the entire applicant pool. Of the over 66,000 students who applied for freshman admission at UT Austin in the fall of 2023, just over 18,000 were admitted. And of those, only 72 students in the entire state of Texas were selected to receive Impact Scholarships. Orellana is the third MPHS senior chosen for this prestigious honor in the last two years.

Impact Scholarships recognize incoming, high-potential students who are making an impact in their local communities with a $48,000 scholarship ($12,000 per year over four years at UT) to cover the cost of their tuition.

Students are chosen to receive the award based on demonstrated leadership, proven academic success, perseverance, commitment to their schools and communities, and the information provided in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Orellana will attend the University of Texas at Austin where he will pursue a degree in Psychology and will be a member of the UT Debate team. He is considering a career as a Psychology Professor or possibly attending law school. He is the son of Onelia Orellana and Vicente Arroyo.

Photo:

2023 University of Texas at Austin Impact Scholar presentation (L to R) Vicente Arroyo, Onelia Orellana, Anthony Orellana, Dallas Admissions Center Counselor Tyliaiah Johnson