Texas high school student awarded full-tuition scholarship to Thiel at surprise school event

Posted January 23, 2024 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Texas high school senior Giovanna Castro, of Frisco, Texas, won an academic scholarship worth $146,000 to Thiel College during a surprise presentation Tuesday morning at the high school.

Castro is one of five full tuition scholarship winners. The Heritage High School student was chosen from a field of 767 eligible students and 177 applicants. Winners were chosen after participating in one of two scholarship competitions where students were interviewed by faculty and staff members. She plans to major in biology.

Thiel College graduate Brittany DeCarmine ’18, who lives in the suburban Dallas area, represented Thiel during the event.

Castro is member of Heritage High School’s Student Government Association. She is also a student ambassador and participates in the school’s Peer Assistance and Leadership program, which matches junior and senior students with younger students. The older students spend recreational time with elementary and intermediate school students. The program benefits both students as younger students receive extra attention that can help improve behavior and academics, and the older students learn responsibility and how to give to others.