Local banks announce scholarship recipients

IBC Bank-Laredo and Commerce Bank continue their support of higher education by awarding area students with the A.R. Sanchez Sr. Memorial Scholarship as they venture into college and start a new chapter of their lives.

Scholarships are granted to students who demonstrated a "Do More" attitude and leadership in student and community affairs throughout their years in high school.

Born into a humble family, Antonio R. Sanchez Sr., the namesake of the scholarship award and the founder of IBC Bank, was a strong supporter of making higher education available to those interested in bettering lives. Sanchez's commitment to the power of learning lives on in the A.R. Sanchez Scholarship Award, which is bestowed annually upon deserving high school seniors in South Texas and Oklahoma.

"Awarding the A.R. Sanchez Sr. Memorial Scholarship is an important part of IBC's 'We Do More' philosophy," IBC Bank-Laredo Chairman and CEO Dennis E. Nixon said. "The students receiving the scholarship are the future leaders and we are extremely honored to assist in the pursuit of their higher education goals."

President and CEO of Commerce Bank, Ignacio Urrabazo said, "Being able to carry on the legacy of A. R. Sanchez is an honor for Commerce Bank and contributing to the future success of these young people is beneficial to the community as a whole."

This year, IBC Bank-Laredo and Commerce Bank presented a total of 34 A.R. Sanchez Sr. Memorial Scholarship Awards, each valued at $1,000 to students throughout the area.

IBC Bank recipients:

Lizaldo Gutierrez & Hiram Fernandez - St. Augustine High School

Daniel Olmos & Oscar Garza III - United South High School

Andres Martinez & Carolina Avila - John B. Alexander High School

Jada Cantu & Ivette Alfaro - Laredo Early College High School

Farid Rangel & Samantha J. Ramos - J.W. Nixon High School

Ramon Martinez III & Elizabeth Sarai Hernandez - Martin High School

Deneb Patoni & Milton Cisneros - L.B. Johnson High School

Natalia M. Rivera Forti & Destiny Hernandez - Gateway Academy- Townlake

Jessica Diaz & Carolina Gamboa - Gateway Academy- Sierra Vista

David Nuñez & Carlos Alvarado Jr. - Cigarroa High School

Jose O. Garza & Matthew Muriel - United High School

Sandra & Korina Contreras - Harmony Science Academy

Commerce Bank recipients:

Andrea Santos Viejo - John B. Alexander High School

Valeria Hernandez - Cigarroa High School

Amanda Aleman - Laredo Early College High School

Dario Zamora - Gateway Academy- Townlake

Victor Canales - L.B. Johnson High School

Maria Vazquez - Martin High School

Pedro Ledezma III - J.W. Nixon High School

Cassandra Guardiola - United High School

Maximiliano Paniagua - United South High School

Alejandra Montemayor - St. Augustine High School

Source: Local banks announce scholarship recipients