STARS scholar
Brown moves on to college stage
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy BO BROWN has been awarded two scholarships through the STARS program.

Southeast Texas Academic Credit Recovery School (STARS), operated by Jasper Independent School District, has awarded Bo Brown its first-ever scholarship. The scholarships, given by First United Methodist Church and Women of Trinity Episcopal Church, will be used to further Brown's education as a welder.

Principal Andy Golden said that Brown is the only student currently enrolled whom, in addition to completing all requirements and passing TAKS, has also been admitted to another educational facility.

"Right now, Bo is the only student who has applied and been accepted to another school," Golden said. "He will attend Tulsa Welding School in Tulsa, Oklahoma."

Eighteen year-old Brown said he enrolled in STARS in February because he was behind in credits and could not afford to give up his job to go to school fulltime.

"I had missed too many days in one class and I would be denied credit," Brown said. "I would have had to get out of my co-op class and quit working in order to go to school full time. I needed my job. Coming to school here gave me the opportunity to finish all of my credits and continue working. The STARS school has been a great benefit to me."

He chose Tulsa Welding School, he said, because it is the best; and the school guarantees students a job upon completion.

"Tulsa has the best welding school in America," he said. "I could have gone to a closer school and one that is cheaper, but I want to go to the best. It will take seven and a half months to complete the first course. Then, students go before the board and if your grades are good enough, you get your certificate as a master welder. There is also a second term that is the same length. That is a QC(Quality Control) welder inspector class."

Brown said that he has been in the welding class at Jasper High School for three years, so he knows this is what he wants to do. He learned about the Tulsa school last year when a recruiter came to the high school to talk to prospective students.

"A representative came to talk to us last year," he said. "I was one of the people who filled out forms to follow up and get information. The recruiter came back later and I was accepted."

The funds given by First United Methodist Church and Women of Trinity Episcopal School are the first scholarship donations the school has received.

"I sent letters to the 15 largest churches in the area and got responses from two," Golden said. "I thought scholarships would be a good way to involve the church community."

Twenty-five students have earned their high school diplomas since STARS opened in February of 2006.