EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Several Borderland students from two IDEA high schools were surprised with scholarships to go to the University of Texas at El Paso on Thursday afternoon.
Seven students from IDEA Rio Vista and two from IDEA Mesa Hills were given the UTEP Excellence Scholarship award, a recognition IDEA said celebrates students’ academic achievements.
According to IDEA, as part of the scholarship, some students receive up to $2,000 per year for four years, totaling $8,000 to support the pursuit of their degree.
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KFOX14/CBS4 spoke with one of the honored students from Rio Vista, as well as a teacher, who both said they are really excited.
“I think it’s that these students did the hard work and it certainly paid off for them,” said AP English Teacher Matthew Mundem. “I think it’s amazing and it shows what a great job the teachers here at IDEA Rio Vista are doing.”
AP English Teacher Matthew Mundem from IDEA Rio Vista. March 5, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
Furthermore, Mundem stated that he can already imagine the students who will get the scholarship next year, adding that he believes that there will be more than seven from Rio Vista.
“I’m so happy and proud and excited to be a future miner,” Student and scholarship recipient Lyla Alvarez said, adding that she had no clue she won and was genuinely surprised this morning.
Seven students from IDEA Rio Vista receive the UTEP Excellence Scholarship. March 5, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
Below is the list of the recipients:
IDEA Rio Vista College Preparatory
Leticia SoriaEdgar Muñoz-RegaladoLyla AlvarezDamaris Leon MartinezPaulina GamaLeslie HernandezMariano Melendez-Chao
IDEA Mesa Hills College Preparatory
Manuel RubioMelissa Jauregui
Last week, IDEA said that two students from the Edgemere campus, Eliana Lopez and Luis Avalos, were surprised and honored with scholarships as well.
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The IDEA Rio Vista campus is located at 210 N. Rio Vista Rd. in Socorro.
The IDEA Mesa Hills is located at 405 Wallenberg Dr. in West El Paso.
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