Alcon Aggies Announce
2007 Scholarship Recipients

The “Alcon Aggies” announced their 2007 Scholarship Recipients and honored the recipients at a Scholarship Recognition Dinner on August 15^th, 2007 marks the 13^th anniversary of the Dr. Richard DeMoye Poe (2^nd from right in the photo) Academic Scholarship. The scholarship was established in December 1994 by the Alcon Aggies to honor Dr. Richard Poe (A&M class of ’64) at his retirement from Alcon after 35 years of service.

Since its inception in 1994, the Alcon Aggie scholarship program has awarded $34,300 to 23 students attending Texas A&M.  These scholarship monies are derived solely from contributions by the Alcon Aggies and a donation from teh Alcon Foundation.  The Alcon Aggies are comprised of 150+ Alcon employees/retirees who are either Aggies, Aggie parents, Aggie spouses, as well as friends of Texas A&M.

In 2007, the Alcon Aggies awarded three $1,200.00 scholarships. The 2007 recipients (from left to right in the above photo) are:

Laura Ann Richards is the daughter of Diane Richards (Diane works in Documentation at Alcon’s Houston facility). Laura will enter her sophomore year at Texas A&M in a few weeks where she is majoring in Biology. Laura graduated from Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, TX, in May 2006 with a 5.0895 cumulative GPA and scored a 2080 on her SAT (again, the maximum score is now 2400). During her senior year in high school, Laura was a National Merit Finalist, received the President’s Education Award, and was a Texas Scholar. Laura also was awarded the UIL Scholar Award, the Rotary Club Student of the Month, The Bell All Around Senior Girl, the “Most Spirited and Dedicated Cheerleader” award. Laura was also a 4 year member of the National Honor Roll and was named “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Laura was very involved in Cheerleading, the Marching Band Drumline, as well as in Broadcast Journalism. Laura also volunteered in many community service endeavors including; Salvation Army, the Bridge, March of Dimes, Katrina Hurricane Relief, Race for the Cure, Shattered Dreams and as a Summer Camp Counselor.

As a Freshman at A&M, Laura achieved a 3.5 GPA for her freshman year, as well as becoming involved in the Student Government Association as a “guide”. Laura was also a participant in A&M’s “Student Research Week” as well as “the Big Event” (a community service project in B/CS). Laura has also managed to work 20-25 hours at week at Outback Steakhouse, as well as an extra summer job at Vector Marketing. Laura said she initially chose A&M because…”…it has a very good reputation for education, especially in the science dept. I went to visit A&M and knew it was the right school for me. The atmosphere is so friendly and the people are so involved…”. …but Laura said she will be staying at A&M for many more reasons than that…”Attending A&M has been an amazing experience for me” Laura said in her scholarship essay. Laura plans to pursue a career in medicine, and fulfill her dream of becoming a surgeon.

Christina Sattler is the daughter of Dave Sattler (Dave works in Consumer Products Marketing). Christina will enter her freshman year at Texas A&M in just a couple of weeks and plans to major in Business. Christina graduated from Grapevine High School in May 2007.  While in High School, Christina had a cumulative GPA of 5.104 and scored a 1900 on her SAT. Christina  was a member of the National Honor Society and was “Who’s Who Among American High School Students”. She also was selected as “Simply the Best Junior”, as well as an AP Scholarhp.  She was also selected Homecoming Queen in 2006 and was very involved in competitive cheerleading (placing 1^st at the NCA Nationals).  In addition to these activities, Christina was a member of the Peer Assistance and Leadership Skills (PALS), Students Standing Strong, and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SAAD), as well as a Fish Camp Mentor and a member of the GHS Varsity Track Team (and lettered). Christina is a tremendous volunteer…she has served as on several church mission trips, and has worked with Special Olympics since 2004. She’s also worked with the Grapevine Heritage Foundation, the Women’s Haven, and the Colleyville Elementary School (assisting a 4^th grade teach with class, homework and tests).  Christina currently is working at Southlake Tavern as a hostess and has held various seasonal (Christmas and summer) jobs during her high school tenure. Christina said she fell in love with A&M the first time she visited her Aggie sister. The “traditions of the school, integrity of the student and dedication of the teachers made Texas A&M stand out from all the other universities”.  She was accepted into tu’s “McCombs School of Business” but made the right decision with A&M! Christina has been accepted into the Business Honors Program at A&M and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree or complete the 5-year accounting program.

Kimberly Roberts is the daughter of Tom and Charlotte Roberts (Tom works in Global IT). Kimberly will enter her Freshman year at Texas A&M in the Fall of 2007 and is  plans to major in International Studies with an emphasis in Politics and Diplomacy. Kimberly graduated from Colleyville Heritgage High School in May 2007 with a 5.130 cumulative GPA and scored a 2020 on her SAT. In high school, Kimberly was a member of the National Honor Society and an AP Scholar with Honor. Kimberly was also a member of the Spirit Sisters, Panther Presidents, and a member of the Varsity Marching Band and Concert Band in 2003-2007. Kimberly served as the Co-President of the Students Standing Strong, and the Vice President of YARN. Kimberly has worked as a volunteer with Mission Arlington during 2005-2007 and has worked with Buckner Orphan Care International, as well as a staff member for several years at Student Life Camp, as well as working as a volunteer in Vacation Bible School and other church activities. Kimberly has works as a childcare worker in her church, and as been a private tutor and a Colleyville Soccer referee. Kimberly said she applied to A&M for no particular reason…but upon a her first visit to the campus as she walked through the Bonfire Memorial, she realized she had found the “thing” that made A&M stand apart from other universities…she said she “realized she was not making a decision about attending a school, but rather, being a member of a family. The honor given to the students whose lives were lost in the bonfire showed me the richness of the bond shared by Aggies. In the classroom, one’s not surrounded by peers, but by family that loves and values each individual. I desired to be part of that family, and chose to attend Texas A&M”.

Kimberly plans to study abroad for one semester and is enrolled in the honors program at A&M.  Kimberly would like to liver overseas upon graduation and work for a non-profit organization to meet the needs of less fortunate people.

Christina, Laura and Kimberly each received a $1,200 scholarship for use toward their academic endeavors at Texas A&M. These scholarship monies were derived solely from contributions by the Alcon Aggies and a donation from the Alcon Foundation. The Alcon Aggies have identified over 150 former students (and Aggie Moms and Dads) working within Alcon to date.