The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) is proud to award seven scholarships this year to outstanding Dallas ISD seniors whose passions range from the courtroom to the construction site. Funded by philanthropic partners and community leaders, the awards celebrate the unique talents and aspirations of our students while helping them chart bold paths forward.
Honoring Intrepid Young Women Pursuing Law
Three graduating seniors have each received the Liza Farrow-Gillespie Intrepid Young Woman Scholarship, a $10,000 award designed to support young women pursuing a career in law. This scholarship honors the legacy of Liza Farrow-Gillespie, an accomplished attorney, professional musician, and adventurer, who broke barriers as co-founder of one of North Texas’s first woman-owned law firms. A true trailblazer, Liza circumnavigated the globe with her husband aboard a 54-foot sailboat, exemplifying the courage, intellect, and resilience that this scholarship seeks to uplift.
Fritzi Ortega — Skyline High School
Abygail Vargas — Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet
Jordan Wesley — Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet
Supporting the Study of the Humanities
Through a partnership with Lightbulb Tutoring, DEF awarded the Jordan Kauffman Impact in the Humanities Scholarship, a $5,000 award granted to a Dallas ISD senior pursuing a degree in the Humanities. This scholarship recognizes the critical importance of fields such as history, literature, philosophy, the arts, and cultural studies in shaping thoughtful, empathetic leaders of tomorrow. Established by his students, the scholarship honors Jordan Kauffman, a beloved International Baccalaureate Spanish teacher who has inspired learners for over 16 years at Allen ISD. Mr. Kauffman exemplifies the passion and impact that a dedicated educator can have in the Humanities and beyond.
Anaya Martinez — Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet
Building Futures in Construction
With generous support from the Alliance Geotechnical Group, three students, one from each Dallas ISD Career Institute, received the Alliance Geotechnical Group’s Construction Pathways scholarship, a $2,450 award to jumpstart their careers in the construction industry. These scholarships highlight the importance of skilled trades and the value of hands-on learning in building a strong workforce and a brighter future.
Dennis Xavier Dubon Avalos — Hillcrest High School, Career Institute North
Nestor Gutierrez — Kimball High School, Career Institute South
Humberto Medrano — H. Grady Spruce High School, Career Institute East
Each scholarship represents more than financial support; it’s a vote of confidence in the incredible potential of Dallas ISD students. The Dallas Education Foundation remains committed to advancing educational equity, shaping students’ futures, and investing in the next generation of leaders, creators, and changemakers.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
