Local teenagers awarded surprise Lamar scholarships; share stories behind success
Published 12:20 am Thursday, March 14, 2024
Mackenzie Howell and Brady Vo show their support for Lamar University. (Courtesy photo)
Lamar University personnel surprise Brady Vo with a special scholarship presentation at Nederland High School. (Courtesy photo)
Nederland High School principal Natalie Gomez is seen with Mackenzie Howell and athletic director Scott Rich. (Courtesy photo)
Those pictured include Binh Vo, Michelle Vo and Brady Vo, along with Big Red. (Courtesy photo)
Mackenzie Howell, center, with mother Alison Howell and father Lance Howell and Lamar University mascot Big Red. (Courtesy photo)
Lamar University Admissions Counselor Madeline Tzul, from left, Binh Vo, Brady Vo, Michelle Vo and scholarship coordinator Jane Tzul are pictured. (Courtesy photo)
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NEDERLAND — Two high achieving Nederland High School students have earned full ride scholarships from Lamar University.
Mackenzie Howell was awarded the Premier Scholarship and Brady Vo was awarded the Presidential Scholarship.
Both seniors have an inner drive pushing them toward success, which led them to being top scholars.
Mackenzie Howell
The teen pushes a high standard when it comes to academics.
She works to be successful in every class and puts a lot of time in her work and studying. In order to stay organized, she uses a daily planner and lots of sticky notes.
This has led her to a 3.98 grade point average.
“I feel absolutely blessed to be awarded the Premier Scholarship,” Howell said. “I am so thankful that the Lord placed people throughout my whole life to equip me and prepare me to earn this great reward and to be successful in the future.”
Mackenzie Howell made headlines when she was 5 years old as a book author.
Howell moved to action after watching a documentary on Nickelodeon about an earthquake that happened in Haiti.
“After seeing that documentary, God wouldn’t let me forget about those precious children I saw, and I knew I had to do something to help,” Mackenzie said. “Since then, God has allowed me to be His hands and feet in a small village in Haiti called Bigarade.”
Howell began as a little girl with a lemonade stand, bake sales and coin drive. She was since published two children’s books, “Leila’s Big Difference” and “Leila’s New Friend.”
She has also helped build two schools in Haiti and start a nonprofit called Promised Ministries that operates the schools in Haiti and an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
This is fitting for a student who has chosen to earn a degree in education and become an elementary school teacher. Through the years she has made numerous trips to Haiti to visit the schools.
“While visiting the two schools, I was able to observe one of the teachers and her class. I saw how the students just adored their teacher and how intently they were listening and paying attention to her. Later that day, I realized these students understand education isn’t just a right, but it is a blessing,” Mackenzie said.
She saw how the teacher was making a difference in the children’s lives and changing their future by giving them an education.
The busy senior is also a varsity cheerleader, varsity cross country runner and varsity track runner.
She is student body president, First Priority president and a member of the National Honor Society and terrific Nederland Teens clubs.
She looks forward to a career as a teacher, where she can instill knowledge and confidence into her students and leave them with impacts that far outlast her.
“I hope that each student who goes through my class will be inspired and know that little people can make a big difference,” Mackenzie said.
Mackenzie’s mother, Allison Howell, said her daughter has always been an ambitious, self-disciplined student — characteristics not limited to her academic studies.
“She gives 100 percent in everything she does, whether it is sports, school clubs or helping others,” Alison Howell said. “She has also been surrounded by the most amazing teachers and coaches throughout her school career. NISD has truly done more than educate her. The educators here have loved her, encouraged her and helped her to become all God is calling her to be.”
When describing her daughter, Alison highlighted how Mackenzie is accomplished and humble, which is a unique combination of qualified in a person, especially a young person, she said.
Since she was a little girl, others have looked up to Mackenzie.
“She has carried that heavy weight of being a role model through her school and sports achievements and her work in Haiti with grace and humility,” Alison Howell said. “She truly is a picture of what it looks like to love like Jesus, and I am so proud to be her mom.”
Brady Vo
It seems obvious why Brady Vo, with a 4.7480 weighted GPS (unweighted 4.0), is at the top of is class.
He was recently awarded the Presidential Scholarship by Lamar University.
“I am honored to receive it, and I feel very rewarded for my hard work over these years of high school,” Vo said.
“Through a combination of hard work, time management and effective methods of studying and completing assignments. A moment of my time spent working was never half-hearted and always to the best of my ability.”
The top student is a busy one. He is on Student Council, and is a member of Terrific Nederland Teens, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
He also has his future path chosen — computer science.
He chose computer science because of an interest in coding and computers.
He also loves the way the field operates and finds the self-study style of learning coding languages suits his skillset.
As for the future, Vo is excited and has confidence that he has the tools to reach his goals.
His mother, Michelle Vo, said she is thrilled and thankful her son was awarded the scholarship.
Vo, she said, kept up with his studies on his own, even from a very early age.
The proud mom described Vo as intelligent, goal-oriented, mature and dependable.
