The superintendent of the Edgewood Independent School District plans to fund a scholarship for the top students at each of the district’s three high schools using his own money to ease the financial burden for first-generation college students.
The “Dr. Eduardo Hernández Complete the Dream Scholarship” was announced at a recent board meeting and comes a month after trustees approved a contract extension for the leader and gave him a raise.
Lauren Blevins, a district spokeswoman, declined to provide the compensation he is currently receiving, telling the San Antonio Report that a final version of the updated contract had not yet been shared with her as of Friday.
Hernández is launching the scholarship to help graduating seniors cover the “incidentals” of college life, like dorm supplies, books and even attire for campus events. These costs are rarely included in financial aid packages and can derail students before they even begin.
“For a lot of these kids, they walk into college thinking everything is covered, but there’s always something that slips through the cracks,” Hernández said. “I didn’t know I needed a wastebasket, sheets or even toiletries when I started at [Texas Christian University]. These small things matter, and they can make a world of difference for students from our neighborhoods.”
The scholarship will debut for the class of 2025 and is designed to support valedictorians and salutatorians from Edgewood’s high schools: Edgewood Fine Arts Academy, John F. Kennedy High School and Memorial High School.
Students will have to show proof of enrollment before receiving the funds, Hernández said.
Paying it forward
Hernández, who has been at the helm of the district for seven years, told the San Antonio Report that he was inspired to create the scholarship based on his own experience as a first-generation college student.
“I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” he said, recalling the unexpected expenses that arose during his academic journey. “I struggled with things like not having a coat for a formal dinner. I didn’t know who to turn to. That stuck with me.”
But help from strangers and friends helped him through that time, he said, and now he is looking to pay it forward.
Hernández, who plans to disburse the funds in July of 2025, said the scholarship isn’t aimed at covering tuition, especially with a growing number of programs guaranteeing free college for local students. The details of the scholarship, including the exact amount each student will receive, are not yet finalized. But awarding money is also not the only aim of the initiative.
“This is my gentle reminder that home is still here, and we’re still thinking about them,” he said. “Even after they leave us, I want these kids to know there’s someone who understands what they’re going through and is here to help.”
A changing trajectory
The unique scholarship stands to help students on the West Side of San Antonio who have historically attended college at lower rates than other parts of the city.
The trajectory, on the West Side and San Antonio as a whole, is changing, however, with the addition of programs like Alamo Promise, which allows any senior graduating from a Bexar County high school, charter school, private school or home school to attend one of the Alamo Colleges without paying tuition or fees.
However, persistence — students staying in college once they start — remains a challenge.
“Getting into college is one thing, but staying in and thriving is another,” Hernández said. “You leave behind one culture and enter a completely different one. It’s intimidating, and students don’t always know how to navigate that world.”
The leader will also make himself available if students have questions or need guidance once they get to college, he said. Past graduates have already sought advice from him, he said, including through social media.
The district has made strides to prepare students for this transition through career planning, academic counseling and social-emotional support. But Hernández sees this scholarship as one more lifeline for students as they enter an unfamiliar environment.
For Hernández, the scholarship also sends a message to the district’s students: don’t forget where you came from and don’t be afraid to look back.
“I tell the kids, ‘When you get to your next goal, don’t forget your neighborhoods. Don’t be ashamed to look back and pull someone else up,’” he said.
Once approved by the board, which will learn more about the scholarship next month, Hernández said he intends to make the scholarship an ongoing part of Edgewood ISD’s future, ensuring that each graduating class has a little less to worry about when they leave for college.
Board members, including his staunchest critics, thanked Hernández when he announced the initiative at a recent board meeting.
As the district rolls out more information to students and their families in the coming months, Hernández hopes the initiative will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Edgewood’s students.
“This is more than just about the money,” he said. “It’s about telling these kids that someone is still thinking about them, even after they’ve left us.”
