SMU is an expensive school. What some may not realize is the opportunity that has been presented to many students through the Texas Equalization Grants for students that may not have chosen SMU originally.
“The most gratifying part of the experience was being able to personally thank the senators and representatives for supporting the Texas Equalization Grant, and telling them our stories of why the grant is important to us,” Tyrone Davis, a junior biology and chemistry major, said.
Davis, Nayelly Dominguez and Chanesia Johnson visited Austin, Texas Wednesday afternoon on behalf of SMU and of students around Texas to tell their representatives what they thought of the program.
They hoped their appreciation would ensure that TEG would be around for future generations to take advantage of.
“The representatives and senators were really excited that we were there. I think that we were fresh faces and new life to them,” Johnson, junior biology and psychology major, said.
The TEG is a grant averaging approximately $3,309 given to 25,474 Texas students.
There are currently 1,500 TEG recipients at SMU.
The program, founded in 1971, was designed to give low and middle income students an opportunity to attend more expensive institutions.
When given a chance to attend such an institution students like Davis, Dominguez and Johnson have taken hold of the opportunity.
Dominguez is a sophomore majoring in economics, French and engineering management and information systems.
Dominguez relished the opportunity to meet a congresswoman and talk about the grant’s impact on her.
“SMU has given us so much to have this opportunity, [so] to give back to them was amazing,” Dominguez said.
The experience in Austin is one the students won’t soon forget.
These grants have inspired them to keep on pushing and make sure students after them will have the same opportunity.
One of the most impressive aspects of Davis, Dominguez and Johnson was the selflessness they have shown throughout this experience.
The focus is on the whole program in the present and future.
Davis relishes the opportunity he knows not every student gets.
“To be speaking on behalf of over 1,000 TEG recipients was a very exhilarating experience,” Davis said.
