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Jackson Nelson -
Victor Patiño
The San Saba Garden Club (SSGC) is pleased to announce awards of $1,000 scholarships each to San Saba High School 2020 graduates: Jackson Nelson and Victor Patiño. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Club member, Becky Moore, visited the young men’s homes to inform them of their selection and to convey the Club’s congratulations for their exceptional academic performance, participation in extracurricular activities and community service, and impressive character traits as young San Sabans.
Recipient Jackson Nelson is heading to Tarleton State University this fall, majoring in manufacturing engineering technology and minoring in business. His goal is to become a manufacturing technician at Apple.
In addition to his employment at Nelson Autoworks, Jackson was a member of the tennis team throughout high school, playing two years on junior varsity and two on the varsity team. A band member for five years, Jackson served as section leader for four years and band president for one year. He was also a member of the student council for three years and was elected vice president his senior year.
In addition to the SSGC scholarship, Jackson has received recognition from San Saba County Rotary Club and has earned the President’s Academic Award for three consecutive years. His community service ranges from participation in the “Get Involved” community improvement program to the Angel Tree Project, Salvation Army fundraising, and VBS at the First Baptist Church. Congratulations, Jackson, on being an exceptional citizen of your town.
Scholarship recipient, Victor Patiño, graduated fourth in the SSHS class of 2020 with a GPA of 4.09 and plans to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at either Texas A&M University or Tarleton State. His long-term goal is to help his father expand their family business.
During high school, Victor’s athletic activities included four years of varsity tennis, with trips to the State Team Tennis Tournament each of those years. He received the Tennis MVP Award two years. Victor was also a four-year member of the Llano Soccer Association, during which time his team repeatedly placed in competition and won the championship in 2019.
Victor was a member of the Marching Band for four years and took part in multiple competitions, including Regional Band, Solo and Ensemble (1st division rating two years), 2015 and 2016 State Marching Competition, Fredericksburg Marching Competition (Outstanding 2A Band), and 2017 and 2018 UIL Concert and Sight Reading (state runner-up). A member of the National Honor Society for two years, he was also a member of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) for four years and vice president of the same organization his senior year. Victor has distinguished himself by winning numerous awards, a few of which include the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, AVID’s Leadership Award, UIL Academic Team, Physics Merit certificate, Outstanding Algebra Student, and the Fighting Heart Award for tennis.
Victor’s community service includes participation in the city’s “Get Involved” project, Mission San Saba project, Salvation Army fundraising, AVID fundraising, and St. Mary’s VBS. Congratulations to you, Victor, for maximizing your potential and contributing significantly to the pride of your community.
Members of the San Saba Garden Club congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients and wish them all the best as they enter college and move toward their laudable goals.
Funds for SSHS graduating seniors’ scholarships come largely from Club fundraisers such as the annual Fall Pumpkin Sale and the semiannual Garage Sale. The Club extends a sincere thank you to individual members whose generous donations this year made two scholarships possible.