Mayor Emeritus Lila Cockrell Scholarship Program
The San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce Foundation (SAWCCF) presents its performance-based Mayor Emeritus Lila Cockrell Scholarship Program for full-time nontraditional students at the Alamo Colleges District. The Foundation’s resources will be funneled through the Alamo Colleges Foundation ACT) since a well-established application selection and disbursement of funds model has existed for years.
The goals are to provide full-time nontraditional women students with money for college and to provide incentives for academic success leading to degree completion. In the United States over $20 billion is provided annually for scholarships.
We are continually adding new scholars to our program, so make sure and check back in for future announcements!
Rosemary Kowalski Scholarship Program
We have just initiated our 2nd Scholarship Program partnering with the University of Texas A&M San Antonio! This program will focus on a 4-year degree for students that need a more extensive education program. We are currently searching for our first student for this program so check back soon for further news!
Scholarship Recipients
Carla Mandujano
Carla is a 35-year-old mother of two children who are 10 and 12 years old. Her children were the reason for her to attend college. She wants them to know that anything is possible in life! Carla is a full-time Head Start teacher for Parent/Child Inc, and her goal is to transfer to UTSA where she plans to receive her Bachelor's in interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Math and Science. She is proving to other parents that it is possible to go to college no matter how old you are!
Shanysh Woods
When Shanysh applied for college in 2021, she was living in a Salvation Army Shelter and working as a Housekeeper in a Nursing Home. The residents at this Nursing Home encouraged her to go to school and get a degree as a Social Worker. Shanysh is attending SAC and will transfer to A&M San Antonio in the fall of 2024.
Erika Plascencia
Erika is originally from Mexico, but Texas has been her home since 2004. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is currently enrolled in San Antonio College pursuing a Business Management: Financial Option Associates Degree. Erika is a member of The National Society of Leadership Success, The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a first-generation college student. She is a full-time employee, full-time student and a full-time Mom. A mother of 5 young children between the ages of 11 and 3 years old and she and her husband have been married for 13 years. When Erika is not working or studying, she is at the soccer fields cheering on her children.
Vilma Suazo-Marquez
In March of 2014, Suazo-Marquez and her family left her home of Honduras behind to escape the constant fear of living in danger. Arriving in San Antonio in 2015 she buckled down in order to complete a traditional 4 years of high school in 2 years. She accomplished all of this while learning speak and comprehend English. Having to contribute to the household income and being a new mother became a small setback towards her goals; however, she was determined to show herself, and her family, that she can achieve a higher education and provide a better future for her daughter and her family. She works to obtain her associates degree in biology to become a Registered Dietitian or Biology teacher.
Chelsea Kae Davis
Chelsea is a native of San Antonio with a passion for numbers and equations. From a young age, she found solace in the order and certainty that math provides, offering her a sense of clarity amidst the chaos of the world. As a mother of four beautiful children, she has discovered a calling to share her love of math and pursue a degree in mathematics. Chelsea enjoys spending time with her children, baking, and cultivating fruit trees. Above all, Chelsea's family is her motivation to strive for excellence.
Jacqueline Davis
Jacqueline is a widowed mother pursuing an education in surgical technology. She is a first-generation college student and had to beat all the odds to get where she is now. Being in the medical field has always been her biggest dream. Jacqueline suffered from a severe illness when she was young and had to finish High School online and struggled in applying for college. However, she is now able to attend several classes online to pursue her degree while being a full time stay-at-home mom. Our financial support is helping Jacqueline pursue her degree and help care for her son at the same time!