Texas Tech K-12 Graduates Earn College Scholarships

By Leslie Cranford, Lead Storyteller

For nearly a dozen recent graduates of Texas Tech K-12, filling out just one more application afforded them the opportunity for college expenses to be less overwhelming.

Eleven students who chose to attend Texas Tech University have earned the competitive scholarship offered by Texas Tech K-12 to its graduates, each receiving $1,000 per semester. With move-in day just around the corner, these scholarship recipients are preparing to take the next step, arriving on campus and fully joining the Red Raider family they’ve already grown to love.

Of the new recipients, four described their Texas Tech K-12 journey, why they’re continuing as Red Raiders and how the scholarship will help them this academic year and into the future.

Sydney Koehler moved from San Antonio after her sophomore year of high school and was unsure about finding a sense of community in another school with only two years left. When considering options, her dad brought up Texas Tech K-12 because, after a previous campus visit, she was already interested in Texas Tech. The rest, as they say, is history.

Finally settling in Lubbock with her family, Sydney enjoyed hobbies and community service, everything from arts and crafts, and working out at the University Recreation Center, to volunteering at the South Plains Food Bank.

“Over time, I found more of a sense of community, sense of organization, and figuring out myself,” Sydney said.

Self-paced school also allowed her more time to narrow down her college major. She realized she really likes industrial engineering and will work toward that in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering.

“The flexibility allowed me to look toward my university life, who I want to be as an individual and what my goals are,” she said. “I really couldn’t have thought through that as clearly as before when I was busy with everything else.”

Being a Texas Tech K-12 grad, Sydney took advantage of the direct admissions process and the scholarship opportunity. Receiving the scholarship helped because she already had three siblings in college. Money for tuition helps her focus on education instead of working.

In pursuing college as a Red Raider, Sydney sees expansive opportunities such as internships, study abroad and all the various programs that the university offers.

Cade Preston was looking for something different than the high school he was attending. On a tip from a family friend, Cade investigated Texas Tech K-12. He loved its flexibility and already knew he wanted to attend Texas Tech after graduating, so choosing the online school was the classic “no-brainer.”

“Online school made me feel as if I wasn’t ‘wasting time’ just sitting in a typical classroom,” Cade shared. “I was able to work at my own pace and wasn’t tied down for eight hours a day.”

In fact, Cade had a full-time job and made time for hobbies, including sporting clay league, hunting, fishing and playing golf.

As a Texas Tech K-12 grad, Cade already felt like part of the Texas Tech family and knew it was the right choice for college. Studying Agricultural & Applied Economics in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources is where he wants to be; with friends on campus who are already Red Raiders, he knows it was meant to be.

The scholarship helps him offset the cost of school, allowing him to focus more on his future rather than worrying about the financial burden.

“I’m excited to attend Texas Tech and be able to say I am an alumnus from both Texas Tech K-12 and the university,” Cade beamed. “If you are ever uncertain of what to do or where to go, high school or college, Texas Tech can be the home for you. Wreck ‘em!”

Helene Roa says she struggled during her first two years of high school, later choosing Texas Tech K-12 for her final two years because of its strong reputation and homeschool style.

“Schooling this way allowed me to grow and self-reflect enough to truly know who I am and what I want for my future, so I’m very grateful I had that opportunity,” Helene said.

Since she plans to join ROTC, she was able to spend time working out and training. She maintained a part-time job to help save for college, and online school helped her balance her time and stay flexible. As someone who excels in schoolwork and likes to work at a faster pace, online school was the best choice for her. Remaining a Red Raider was an easy next step.

“In choosing Texas Tech University, the main word that comes to mind is ‘opportunities,’” she said. “As someone with ambitious goals, specifically to become an executive Formula 1 engineer and to travel the world, I believe Texas Tech will develop me and prepare me for my future endeavors with their many amazing programs.”

Whether it’s ROTC, study abroad, the Honors College or the TrUE Scholars program, she plans to be part of all of these during her time at the university.

Helene said the scholarship will help her financially as well as emotionally.

“It’s encouraging to know that there are people who believe in me and support my education, and it really gives me motivation and excitement to see what’s possible.”

Taylor Toliver knew she did not want to go back to in-person school, a decision she made after finishing middle school both online at the beginning of the pandemic and in- person again once it was safe to do so. While looking for online schools, her mom mentioned some universities offer K-12 programs, and they went down the list together. Having family members who went to Texas Tech, she applied to Texas Tech K-12.

“Making that decision was the best decision I have made,” Taylor said. “Online learning was the right choice for me because it allowed me to move as fast as I wanted and to be flexible with my schedule.”

When she was not doing schoolwork, Taylor was able to enjoy some of her favorite hobbies, such as reading books, listening to music and watching classic, “older-generation” TV shows like “The Golden Girls” and “The Jeffersons.”

Taylor has chosen to study at Texas Tech because of the scholarships opportunities that many people don’t have. Not only did she receive the Texas Tech K-12 scholarship, but she also earned Texas Tech’s presidential merit scholarship.

“The scholarships will help me financially because I won’t have to pay for anything,” Taylor explained. “After I get my political science degree, I want to become a lawyer and possibly later in life a politician.”

Being interested in corporate law, constitutional law and civil rights law, attending the Texas Tech School of Law is certainly on her radar, but Taylor wants to explore more options before finalizing her decision.

Other 2025-2026 recipients include Ezra Carter, Kyleigh Castloo, Cailyn Johns, Madison Metcalf, Camila Romao, Grazielle Seraphim and Corbin Shearer.

In addition to the 11 incoming first-year students, there are 10 returning students garnering scholarships this fall. With $42,000 going to students for the 2025-2026 school year and $128,000 dispersed over time, the total is now $170,000. The scholarship is renewable each year a student attends Texas Tech, but it must be applied for annually. Since 2018 a total of 55 students have been granted the financial boost.