Eight Dallas ISD Seniors Receive Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarships

• Educational program tops $2.5 million in awards
• Four-year University of North Texas at Dallas scholarship awarded
• Four-year University of Texas at Arlington scholarship awarded

DALLAS and FRISCO, TX (June 18, 2024) – Today, Deloitte*, the Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) and United Way celebrated the eight recipients of this year’s Deloitte/NTPGA Fairway to Success scholarships – a program that has now awarded more than $2.5 million to 96 Dallas ISD students over the past 17 years.

Alan De La Torre, Amy Lopez, Olayinka Ojo, Jocelyn Owens, Briana Perez and Stephanie Rodriguez each received a $20,000 college scholarship, which are funded through donations from Deloitte partners, principals, managing directors and professionals in North Texas.

Additionally, in collaboration with the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas), a full, four-year scholarship to the university was awarded to Jada Cole. And, Daisy Mondragon was awarded a full, four-year scholarship in collaboration with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).

“The University of Texas at Arlington is proud to collaborate with Deloitte and the Northern Texas PGA’s Fairways to Success.  The commitment and dedication to student success through access and opportunity have transformed the educational landscape in the region.  Congrats to this year’s scholars,” said Michele Bobadilla, University of Texas at Arlington, Senior Associate VP Outreach & Community Engagement.

Established in 2007, the Fairway to Success program annually awards scholarships to students based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement and financial need. The program spans four DISD high schools – W.W. Samuell, Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln and David W. Carter – and includes introducing students to golf and the life lessons of discipline, honor and integrity that are central to the game.

“Deloitte is proud to continue to support the Fairway to Success program. We see firsthand the benefits of sponsoring and mentoring young people in the community and offer our enthusiastic support to this year’s scholarship recipients,” said Dan Berner, North Texas Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP. “I’m proud of the work our professionals have done to support these students this year. It’s our hope at Deloitte that the students continue to succeed and apply the skills they’ve learned – both in the classroom and on the golf course – to their future professional endeavors.”

During the 2023-2024 school year, 79 DISD students took part in a virtual six-week college prep program led by Deloitte professionals as well as an after-school golf program. Students learned the basics of golf from PGA professionals, and graduating seniors who qualified by participating in the program had the chance to apply for the scholarships.

Fairway to Success also includes a mentorship component to support the scholarship recipients throughout their college careers. Scholarship recipients interact with Deloitte mentors who share their insights gained from working in a professional services environment. Mentors also help students explore potential career opportunities in the business and STEM-focused fields of study.

“Year after year we are so incredibly proud of our students and the work they do. I cannot thank Fairway to Success enough for recognizing the work that these students have done as well. We know that all our students need to be successful is opportunity and support. As they graduate from high school and with their associate degree, Fairway to Success provides them with the opportunity to attend a 4-year institution through scholarships and the support they need through mentorship. I look forward to our continued collaboration for many years to come,” said Jason Jewell, Assistant Principal at W.W. Samuell High School.

The NTPGA also employs past Fairway to Success recipients as interns each summer, furthering the recipients’ golf education that began on their high school campuses through Fairway to Success.

The 2024 Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success scholarship recipients are:

Jada Cole – Lincoln High School (UNT-D Recipient)
Jada is a 2024 graduate of Lincoln High School. She will pursue higher education at the University of North Texas - Dallas with plans to study psychology. Jada was a multi-sport athlete at Lincoln and also served as captain for the wrestling and power-lifting teams. Jada competed in track and field, and this most recent season she set the district record for women's pole vaulting. Not only was Jada involved in athletics, but she also served as the historian for the school’s student council. This summer, she is interning with PepsiCo in the Human Resources department. 

Alan De La Torre – David W. Carter High School
Alan is a 2024 graduate of Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center and David W. Carter High School was his home school for athletics. Alan has yet to decide where he will be attending school in the fall but intends on studying physical therapy since his goal is to one day he would like to be a physical therapist for a professional sports organization. Alan has a strong passion for soccer and is hoping to continue his career in college. Alan is the first of his family to attend college, while also being a first-generation high school graduate. When asked about his experience with Fairway to Success, he said he most enjoyed learning patience when playing golf. While in high school, Alan completed an internship with The Dallas World Aquarium. 

Amy Lopez – Thomas Jefferson High School
Amy, valedictorian of the 2024 Thomas Jefferson High School class, will attend the University of Southern California in the fall. Amy is moving to the West Coast to study pharmacology/drug development. She grew this passion by studying with her sister who is currently a pharmacy tech. Her goal is to one day work for big pharma in research development. In her free time, Amy enjoys painting, specifically using acrylic, or watching Disney movies. 

Daisy Mondragon – W.W. Samuell High School (UTA Recipient)
Daisy, the salutatorian of the 2024 W.W. Samuell High School class, is heading to the University of Texas at Arlington to study architecture.  In her younger years, she developed an interest in architecture. Even though she is the youngest in her family, she will be the first to attend college. When asked about the Fairway to Success program, she mentioned that she enjoyed getting to know her classmates better while golfing. 

Olayinka Ojo – W.W. Samuell High School
Olayinka, originally from Nigeria, is a graduate of the Early College High School Program and W.W. Samuell High School. Olayinka has intentions to further her education at the University of Texas at Arlington or Texas Woman’s University on the pre-med track. In her free time, Olayinka enjoyed running track for Samuell High School, where she also was team captain. She also manages her schoolwork with a part-time job at IHOP. She has a genuine interest in helping kids and has set a goal of becoming a pediatrician. 

Jocelyn Owens – Lincoln High School
Jocelyn is a 2024 graduate of Lincoln High School. Upon graduation, she will be headed to the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT-D). During her time at UNT-D, she will be a part of the track and field team and has the intention to study chemistry. Her career goal is to become a dentist. During high school, Jocelyn kept busy by being involved in the academic decathlon, e-sports club, and the local Boys & Girls Club. If she is not busy with school activities, she has a passion for cooking. This passion was introduced to her by her grandparents who operate a local catering business. The biggest lesson she learned while in high school is to take chances and not leave room for regret. 

Briana Perez – Thomas Jefferson High School
Briana is a 2024 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, as well as the P-Tech program, earning her associate's degree from Brookhaven College. This coming fall, Briana will be heading to Austin to attend the University of Texas and pursue studies in early childhood education. Briana was a part of the high school wrestling team and also worked El Rancho being promoted to head cashier. Briana wants to continue to be an example to her younger siblings by showing her leadership. 

Stephanie Rodriguez – W.W. Samuell High School
Stephanie, a 2024 graduate of W.W. Samuell High School and the Early College High School program, will attend the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) to study international business with a focus on German. Currently, her sister is also attending UTA and studying for the same degree, which influenced Stephanie. She hopes to study abroad while in school and to one day be a project manager for a German company. Stephanie has also found a connection with the Harry Potter series. Her sister introduced her to the series, and she stated that she feels a connection to them because of the mentor Harry had in Dumbledore is how she would describe how she views her older sister.

*Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of their legal structure.