Del Mar students get
scholarship worth $500
By Ramiro Lopez / Reporter
Although the Corpus Christi Hooks walked away with a 2–1 loss to the Springfield Cardinals on April 15, three lucky students from Del Mar College took home an extra $500 in scholarship money, courtesy of Gulf Coast Federal Credit Union. It was Hooks College Scholarship Giveaway Night at Whataburger Field and credit union representatives Debbie Baltazar and Jenobia Chamberlain made three DMC students glad they did not stay home.
Baltazar and Chamberlain awarded a total of nine $500 scholarships over the three-game series between the Hooks and Cardinals.
Biology major Robert Perez was the first of the lucky trio. Perez came out to the game for the cheap tickets and something fun to do on a Tuesday night.
“It’s a lot of money! It’s a lot of money! It’s even gas money right now. I’m excited! My heart’s pounding all fast. I’ve never won that much money before,” said an excited Perez.
Perez initially thought it was his friend Richard Perez who had won the prize.
“I heard the name and said, ‘That’s my friend Richard!’ That always happens. Our names are so close together.” Both Perezes showed up at the credit union table — one to congratulate a friend, the other to claim a prize.
Miranda Zuniga, a pharmacy technician major, was another lucky winner.
“That’s books easily,” said Zuniga about the $500 prize. “I get financial aid and this will cover what financial aid doesn’t cover.”
For Zuniga, this was a “two-fer” night.
“My cousin Roger brought me. With his work, he gets (Hooks) tickets, so he invited me and I came,” Zuniga said.
Herman Amaya, a radiology technology major, took advantage of the discounted ticket prices to take in a Hooks game with his friend Joseph.
“This is more than half of my tuition for the summer,” Amaya said.
Leonard Rivera, director of Off-Campus Programs for Del Mar College, spoke briefly before the game about the scholarship giveaway.
“This shout out goes to Jeremy Garza and the folks from Gulf Coast Federal Credit Union. Without their support we wouldn’t be able to have representation here tonight,” Rivera said.
April 15 was also Relay for Life Awareness Night at Whataburger Field. Some 14 million cancer survivors will celebrate another birthday this year thanks to the fundraising efforts for cancer research conducted by the Relay for Life organization.
Del Mar Regent James B. Boggs threw out one of four ceremonial first pitches to kick off Del Mar College Night with the Hooks.
