UT Tyler Surprises 20 East Texas Seniors with Honors Scholarships

The university awarded $10,000 scholarships to high-achieving students across the region.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) surprised 20 high-performing high school seniors across East Texas with $10,000 Honors College scholarships. The students were recognized for their academic achievement, creativity, and community involvement. UT Tyler visited several schools in the region to personally deliver the scholarship news.

Why it matters

The scholarships aim to support promising students in East Texas before they enroll at UT Tyler, providing both financial assistance and early recognition for the university's top scholars. UT Tyler values curiosity and hard work in its Honors College students, as these qualities help them navigate their studies and generate meaningful ideas.

The details

UT Tyler awarded 20 Honors College scholarships this year and visited high schools in Whitehouse, Tyler, Rusk, Brownsboro, Frankston, and other East Texas communities to surprise the recipients. Among the students recognized was Peter Davis, a senior at Grace Community School, who impressed the scholarship committee with his combination of STEM skills and creative abilities, such as building a ceramic chess set.

  • UT Tyler visited high schools across East Texas this past week to deliver the scholarship news.
  • Peter Davis received his scholarship on Monday in front of his peers at Grace Community School.

The players

Dr. Julie Philley

President of UT Tyler.

Peter Davis

A senior at Grace Community School who received the UT Tyler Honors College scholarship.

Dr. Paul Streufert

Dean of the Honors College at UT Tyler.

Miunna Davis, Leely Nguyen, Alexa Sanchez, and Sri Mandlem

Four Tyler ISD seniors who were also awarded the UT Tyler Honors College scholarship.

Dr. Marty Crawford

Superintendent of Tyler ISD.

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What they’re saying

“This is a group of not just smart students — they're all high-performing with high GPAs — but they're also great people, very creative, and want to give back to our community and region.”

— Dr. Julie Philley, President of UT Tyler (tylerpaper.com)

“It was kind of shocking because I had no idea. I didn't even fix my hair — I just brought my soccer cleats to get ready to play soccer.”

— Peter Davis (tylerpaper.com)

“We thought his chess set was great. We loved his quiet strength, his curiosity, and his ability to navigate both the STEM world and the humanities world.”

— Dr. Paul Streufert, Dean of the Honors College (tylerpaper.com)

“We really value curiosity and hard work. Curiosity motivates study and helps you navigate the world, and hard work is what makes curiosity meaningful. It allows you to generate ideas and produce results. Those are the two main qualities we look for in students.”

— Dr. Paul Streufert, Dean of the Honors College (tylerpaper.com)

“We are incredibly proud of these students and the dedication they have shown throughout their academic careers. Their success reflects not only their hard work and perseverance, but also the strength of the opportunities and support systems within Tyler ISD. They are well-prepared to thrive at UT Tyler and beyond.”

— Dr. Marty Crawford, Superintendent of Tyler ISD (tylerpaper.com)

The takeaway

The UT Tyler Honors College scholarships recognize and support high-achieving students in East Texas, providing them with both financial assistance and early validation of their academic and creative talents. This investment in the region's top scholars aims to cultivate the next generation of curious, hardworking leaders who will contribute to their communities.