Texas Woman's University

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Taking in the beauty of TWU!

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Incoming TWU nursing student Yesenia Avila has been named the first recipient of the $15,000 Merrilee Alexander Kick Scholarship, awarded to alumni of the Momentous Institute. Avila is a graduate of Dallas ISD's Trinity Garza Early College High School, and earned an associate degree through Dallas College while in high school and will begin her nursing studies at TWU this fall.

Avila's interest in nursing was inspired by helping care for her mother during significant health challenges, motivating her to pursue a career focused on compassionate patient care. In high school, she founded and captained the Garza Rebels Dance Team, participated in the Media Club and volunteered at the Bi-National Health Fair.

“We are grateful for Merrilee’s continuing support of the university and its students ― and I am particularly thrilled to welcome Yesenia as this scholarship’s first recipient,” said TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten. “Merrilee shares Texas Woman’s commitment to delivering an exceptional experience to students and ensuring their success.”

The Momentous Institute, is a nationally acclaimed elementary laboratory school for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The scholarship was funded by Kick, a Texas Woman’s alumna and beverage entrepreneur. It is awarded to qualifying alumni of Momentous Institute who later go on to enroll at Texas Woman’s.

For the first time in program history, Texas Woman's was represented on the NCAA Division II Rawlings Gold Glove Award list as sophomore catcher Trinity Perry received the honor for the Pioneers as one of the nation's top defensive specialists behind the plate.

Perry, a sophomore from Pearland, Texas, started all 56 games behind the plate and earned Lone Star Conference Golden Glove Team honors after ranking among the conference leaders in fielding percentage (.997), putouts (295) and runners caught stealing (15). Perry also recorded 24 assists while committing just one error all season.

Earlier this week, Perry was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team after posting a perfect 4.0 GPA, marking the first CSC Academic All-District honor of her career.

Perry also earned selection to the Lone Star Conference All-Defensive Team and became the first Pioneer since 2017 to receive the conference's Gold Glove Award.

TWU Alumna Michelle Martin Diltz has spent more than 20 years helping support one of college softball’s top programs at the University of Alabama. During her time working with the Crimson Tide, the team has won a national championship, six SEC titles and made nine Women’s College World Series appearances.

The Texas Woman's kinesiology graduate entered the strength and conditioning field at a time when few women held positions in the industry and has helped pave the way for others who followed. She now serves as senior associate director of performance for Olympic sports at Alabama, helping athletes improve strength, speed and overall performance.

Diltz credits both her mentors at Alabama and her experience at TWU for helping build the confidence that shaped her career.

“I went from a high school kid that didn't like to talk – I was scared of everything,” Diltz said. “And then I graduated [from] TWU very confident and very ready to take on the world.” (photo by Kent Gidley)