(Left to right) David Barron, Vice President of Enrollment Management at UT Tyler; Hassan Danish, senior at UT Tyler University Academy at Tyler; Dr. Julie Philley, president of UT Tyler; and Swoop, UT Tyler mascot. (Contributed Photo)

Four UT Tyler University Academy at Tyler seniors received life-changing news on Feb. 12 from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Hassan Danish, Melissa Hilbig, and Sofia Garcia were each awarded $40,000 in scholarships, while Mathew Deptula earned a coveted spot in the UT Tyler Honors College, which provides specialized courses, unique programming, and rigorous undergraduate research opportunities for high-achieving students.

UT Tyler President Dr. Julie Philley delivered the surprise announcements, celebrating the students’ academic excellence and dedication.

“We are just so excited that we’re here at University Academy today to present scholarships into our Honors College,” Philley said. “We’re here to congratulate these individuals for really being exceptional students and for their academic excellence as well as their commitment to serve our community.”

The UT Tyler University Academy (UTTUA) is a university charter public school serving grades K-12, with a focus on preparing students to graduate STEM College and Career Ready. This program serves the Tyler, Longview, and Palestine areas.

Family members, UTTUA at Tyler staff, and UT Tyler leadership gathered in the library to celebrate the students’ accomplishments. The scholarships awarded include the 2025 Honors Scholars ($10,000 per year) and UT Tyler Honors College acceptances ($2,000 per year).

According to Philley, more than 500 applicants were considered for 20 slots.

For Danish, the announcement was both a surprise and a relief.

“I feel so ecstatic,” he said. “I was told that there would be an announcement a couple of days ago, but I wasn’t sure when it was going to happen, so I was just nervous the entire time up until they called my name.”

Danish, who plans to study mechanical engineering, sees the scholarship as a crucial stepping stone toward his goals.

“(This scholarship) is definitely going to help with achieving higher education and getting through college,” he said. “There are so many great opportunities for people to look into higher education.”

In addition to scholarships, students can apply for the Promise Plus Program at UT Tyler, which provides financial assistance to in-state undergraduates by combining multiple aid sources into a comprehensive package. The program offers tuition-free education at all nine UT academic institutions for students from families earning $100,000 or less. Eligibility is determined using adjusted gross income (AGI), as reported on tax returns, similar to Pell Grants and state grants.

“UT Tyler’s committed to work with every student to make college affordable,” Philley said. “I think the University of Texas system has shown a deep commitment to do just that such that finances should not be a reason you cannot obtain the American dream, which is a college education.”

Hilbig, who intends to focus on biology and math at UT Tyler in preparation for a career in research, said the financial support is a game changer.

“It’s really exciting because it’s basically free college that pays for pretty much everything that I would need at UT Tyler,” she said. “So it’s really nice to not have to worry about having to pay for college.”

She was also drawn to UT Tyler because of its smaller class sizes and research opportunities.

“You can have better connections with your professors, and there’s more research opportunities than what you can get at a bigger college right now,” Hilbig said. “As a high school student, I’m already helping with one of the professors at Tyler.”

Philley emphasized the honorees are not only academically gifted but also remarkable individuals.

“The students that were chosen are incredible people,” she said. “They’re not just smart, but they also have a deep sense of self and are just really, really good people that are involved in our community.”