2025-2026 Scholarship Recipients
$5,000 Scholarship Recipient
LORENA CERDA
St. Edwards University
*Payne Auto Group
$4,000 Scholarship Recipient
MALLOREE MIRELES
Texas A&M University
*Payne Auto Group
$3,000 Scholarship Recipient
ALDO VALADEZ
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
$2,500 Scholarship Recipients
MARIAFERNANDA MONTEMAYOR
Texas A&M University
*Mercedes-Benz of San Juan
JESUS PENA
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
BRANDON THOMAS
Trinity University
*North Park Lexus RGV
ERIN YANEZ
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Sames Ford McAllen
$2,000 Scholarship Recipients
ALEXIS AGUILAR
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Clark Knapp Honda
KAYLA CANTU
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Tipotex Chevrolet
JADE CARDOZA
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Payne Auto Group
TREVOR HUDDLESTON
South Texas College
*Payne Auto Group
$1,500 Scholarship Recipients
GRETTELL CORONA
Texas State University
*Payne Auto Group
RAEANA LOPEZ
Texas State University
*Sames Ford Harlingen
ALAINA CASTILLO
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Tipton Ford
GABRIELA CASTILLO
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
YSA MENDOZA
University of Texas
*Hacienda Ford
EDWARD POLACO, JR.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*North Park Lexus RGV
$1,000 Scholarship Recipients
JENNAKA MARTINEZ
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Hacienda Ford
JASMIN PENA
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
CRISTIAN PEREZ
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
SERENA CANO
South Texas College
*Payne Auto Group
MIRANDA CHAPA
University of Texas San Antonio
*Payne Auto Group
DIEGO HERNANDEZ
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
SERGIO LOZANO
Texas A&M University
*Bert Ogden Auto Group
KARLA RAMOS
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*North Park Lexus RGV
CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ
Texas State University
*Clark Knapp Honda
ISABELLA SANTOS
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
*Mercedes-Benz of San Juan
JULYSSA TREVINO-FAZ
Texas A&M University- Kingsville
*Payne Auto Group
Valley Automobile Dealers Reward $50,000 in Scholarships to Students
The Valley Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) and its board members are pleased to announce they are rewarding $50,000 in total with scholarships to 28 recipients of the VADA Scholarship Fund for the 2025-2026 academic year. The recipients will be recognized on Tuesday, July 29 at the VADA Annual Luncheon to be held at Embassy Suites at McAllen Convention Center, following a business meeting with keynote speaker Dr. Maggie Hinojosa, UTRGV Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Student Affairs and Deputy to the President. These students will receive a scholarship ranging from $1,000 - $5,000. Since the VADA Scholarship Fund was established in 2017, VADA has rewarded $348,000 in scholarships, all due to the support from the annual VADA Sporting Clay Shoot and the Jon Buquet Memorial Golf Tournament. The dealers and all VADA’s Associate Members remain dedicated to continued education for students in the Rio Grande Valley.
The Fund was created to support dealership employees and their children attending any college, university, or technical school of their choice.
“It makes me proud to see our dealers united in the shared mission of giving back and investing in the future of higher education for the people who make our industry possible,” said Jason Gonzalez, President of VADA and General Manager of North Park Lexus Rio Grande Valley. “From service bays to showrooms, every team member plays a critical role in keeping our dealerships running smoothly and serving our communities with excellence,” he added.
The auto industry is resilient and continues to evolve, impacted by changes in the global economy and new regulatory issues like metal license plates. VADA Executive Director Lexi Buquet said she is grateful to the Board of Directors and their continued leadership and vision.
“The local franchise dealers are passionate business leaders and incredibly generous individually, and as a group, they are an economic and charitable force driving the Rio Grande Valley community,” Buquet said.