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Two Students Merit Fr. Vincent J. Guinan Scholarships
8/27/2009
 The University of St. Thomas has awarded two incoming freshmen with the Father Vincent J. Guinan Scholarship, which covers full tuition. This year’s awardees are Patricia Hotze and Shelby Stinner-Trimble.
The scholarship is named after Fr. Guinan, who led the Basilian fathers in establishing the University and served as the founding president.
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be Catholic, meet specific academic requirements, submit a 500-word essay and recommendation letter from a high school principal or guidance counselor. The top 10 finalists must also complete an on-campus interview with the selection committee. The recipients are required to join UST’s Presidential Ambassadors and be active in Campus Ministry.
“This annual scholarship is awarded to a select number of students who excel academically and demonstrate themselves to be a good fit for the Catholic mission of the University of St. Thomas,” said Arthur Ortiz, associate director of admissions. “Candidates are Catholic students who are serious about attending a Catholic university in order to strengthen their Catholic formation. The selection committee determines which students are likely to contribute to the UST community in keeping with the Basilian core values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Students receiving a Guinan Scholarship are considered the elite of the elite.”
Patricia Hotze, a graduate of St. Thomas Episcopal High School, chose UST because it offered, “the academic options of a big university, with a small-school community feel.”
Hotze is the fifth child in a Catholic family of six children, all of whom attended public universities.
“Without this scholarship, I would not be able to attend a private, Catholic university,” Hotze said. “It’s very important to gain a deeper understanding of your faith. You can do that at St. Thomas in addition to your studies.”
At UST, Hotze is in the Honors Program, plays for the Lady Celt’s volleyball team and plans to pursue the Cooperative Engineering and Technology program between UST and Texas A&M, University of Houston and Notre Dame.
 While in high school at Incarnate Word High School in San Antonio, Shelby Stinner-Trimble observed a couple UST classes with her older sister, Sasha Stinner-Trimble. Impressed by the knowledgeable, engaging and approachable professors and the University’s Catholic identity, Stinner-Trimble was sold on UST. She plans to major in biochemistry, and was also drawn to UST because of the University’s high acceptance rate into medical school.
“I knew I wanted a strong Catholic university,” Stinner-Trimble said. “At UST, the Catholic presence is clear in everything from the curriculum to the community. My whole family loves this school. Even after my sister and I graduate, my family intends to be lifelong UST supporters.”
Stinner-Trimble expressed her gratitude for the Fr. Guinan Full-Tuition Scholarship.
“It is such an honor to receive this scholarship,” she said. “It makes me feel like my efforts in high school are being recognized. This honor carries great expectations which I fully intend to fulfill as I work to become a leader on campus.”
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