UT Tyler surprises 20 East Texas seniors with honors scholarship

Published 7:36 am Sunday, February 15, 2026

The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) delivered big news to several high schools across East Texas this past week, surprising seniors with $10,000 Honors College scholarships and celebrating their academic achievement, creativity, and community involvement.

“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,” said Dr. Julie Philley, president of UT Tyler.

UT Tyler awarded 20 Honors College scholarships this year and visited schools across the region, including Whitehouse, Bishop T.K. Gorman, Tyler ISD Early College High School, Tyler Legacy, Rusk, Brownsboro, Frankston, and Martins Mill high schools.

“This is the best part of my job. I absolutely love it,” Philley said. “There are so many talented students right here in East Texas.”

Among those surprised was Peter Davis, a senior at Grace Community School, who received the scholarship on Monday in front of his supportive peers.

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

Excelling in both math and science, Davis also impressed the scholarship committee during his interview by building a ceramic chess set, demonstrating the combination of curiosity and practical skill UT Tyler looks for in Honors College students.

“We thought his chess set was great,” said Dr. Paul Streufert, dean of the Honors College. “We loved his quiet strength, his curiosity, and his ability to navigate both the STEM world and the humanities world.”

Streufert said the visits were a fun way to connect personally with students while delivering the scholarship news. 

“It was fun because we don’t normally get to hang out with students, deliver good news, and hand out jumbo checks. It was such a blast,” he said.

Streufert added that the scholarships were meant to support students before they enrolled at UT Tyler, providing both financial assistance and early recognition for the university’s most promising scholars. 

“We really value curiosity and hard work,” he said. “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.”

Davis planned to pursue civil engineering after high school, saying he wanted to explore the field to make sure it was the right path for him.

“But I think that’s a good fit for me because I like math and science and stuff like that,” Davis added.

He credited his family, especially his parents, for helping him succeed, saying they encouraged him and provided support throughout his schooling, allowing him to attend Grace Community School and pursue his academic and creative interests.

“I’m very grateful for what I got today,” he said. “I worked pretty hard for it and I’m just happy that it happened.”

UT Tyler’s Honors College provided specialized courses, unique programming, and rigorous undergraduate research opportunities for high-achieving students.

Streufert offered advice for those considering furthering their education: “Be curious about everything,” he said. “Find the thing you love and do as much to connect with it as you can.”

Tyler ISD recipients 

On Wednesday, four Tyler ISD seniors  Miunna Davis, Leely Nguyen, and Alexa Sanchez from Early College High School, and Sri Mandlem from Tyler Legacy High School – were also awarded the scholarship.

“We are incredibly proud of these students and the dedication they have shown throughout their academic careers,” Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said in a press release. “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.”