Odessa Student Wins HESC Computer
By Phillip Wambsganss, Higher Education Servicing Corporation

It was a dilemma for numerous seniors across the state who graduated this past spring. As they prepared to leave home for college, they did so without the benefit of their own personal computer. So what were these freshmen to do? Some relied on the generosity of their parents while others worked and saved to purchase one.

In the case of Dustin Rhodes, a senior at Odessa High School, the solution to his predicament came in the form of a telephone call in April. On the other end of the line was Michael Ward, Outreach Coordinator at Higher Education Servicing Corporation (HESC) in Arlington with some good news – Dustin was the winner of a drawing for a complete computer system.

"Dustin was skeptical at first," said Ward. "But once he understood he really was this year’s winner he was faced with a tough choice to make. Do I want a desktop or a laptop?"

Like countless students in Texas researching information about financial assistance for college, Dustin attended the Texas Guaranteed (TG) video teleconference, Applying for Financial Aid: The FAFSA Process, at Odessa College. For the past ten years, the annual teleconference has effectively instructed college-bound students and their parents on filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in a timely and accurate manner. Seniors who attended the teleconference at any one of the statewide host sites had a chance to win one of six $500 scholarships provided by TG employees or a state-of-art computer system donated by HESC.

"We are grateful for the generosity of HESC and all of our business partners for helping promote the FAFSA teleconference," said Richard Sapp, TG’s Director for Pre College Success.

Dustin, a first-generation student matriculated to Odessa College for the fall semester, with the aspiration of later transferring to Texas Tech to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

In case you are wondering, he chose a laptop.