Hispanic Education Banquet to celebrate 2025 scholarship recipients

In June, Texas Baptists’ Office of Hispanic Education announced the winners of its 2025 Hispanic Education Scholarships. 

The scholarships celebrate Hispanic students who are pursuing higher education at universities affiliated with Texas Baptists. Nine scholarship recipients were selected from Texas Baptists churches across the state. 

The recipients are: Celina E. Aguirre, upcoming political science student at Dallas Baptist University (DBU); Luis Alfredo Esquivel, biblical studies student at Baptist University of the Américas (BUA); Osmara Dayanira Flores, clinical counseling student at Wayland Baptist University (WBU); Ana Martinez, nursing student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB); Jazmin Lizbeth Olivarez, business administration student at Baptist University of the Américas (BUA); Marlon S. Vargas Zea, business and theology student at Baptist University of the Américas (BUA); Jayson Villalobos, upcoming marketing student at Howard Payne University (HPU); Sofia Villarreal, human behavior student at Baptist University of the Américas (BUA); Libni Shetler, nursing student at Houston Christian University (HCU). 

The award process was coordinated by Hispanic Education Director Gabriel Cortés and the Office of Theological Education & Institutional Engagement. 

“We are deeply thankful to God for the opportunity to relaunch the Texas Baptists Hispanic Education Scholarship Fund. Funding for this scholarship is primarily provided by our dedicated sponsors, a majority of whom are Texas Baptists universities and seminaries. Their invaluable support is instrumental in making this endeavor a reality,” said Cortés. 

The scholarship recipients will be honored at the Texas Baptists Hispanic Education Banquet at First Baptist Church Duncanville, on July 1, during Convención, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas Annual Meeting. 

In addition to recognizing scholarship recipients, banquet attendees will hear remarks from Texas Baptists Theological Education & Institutional Engagement Director Stephen Stookey and Texas Baptists Executive Director Julio Guarneri. A keynote address will be given by Albert Reyes, President/CEO of Buckner International, and Olivarez, BUA scholarship recipient, will share her testimony. 

For more information about the banquet, contact Gabriel Cortés at gabriel.cortes[at]txb.org or call (214) 202-8395.