Northeast Texas Community College student Stephany Fuentes has been named a recipient of the prestigious $1,500 Walter B. Cooper Scholarship. The honor was announced at the conclusion of the Phi Theta Kappa Texas Leadership Conference, hosted on the Texas A&M University–RELLIS campus.
The Walter B. Cooper Scholarship recognizes well-rounded student leaders who actively embody the four hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa: scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.
A biology major from Mount Pleasant, Fuentes is an active presence across campus and the community. She serves as Chapter Vice President for NTCC’s PTK chapter and holds the vice president seat in the STEM Club. An accomplished scholar, she is a member of Honors Northeast, a Work4College participant, and an inductee into the Texas PTK Region District III Hall of Honor.
Fuentes previously earned the Eagle Excellence Award in Biology and dedicates substantial time to helping her peers succeed as an in-demand tutor for Anatomy & Physiology classes.
Her commitment to service extends well beyond the classroom. Fuentes has served as a Region 8 Science Fair judge and regularly gives her time as a volunteer with Heart-to-Heart Hospice. With big plans to become a physician assistant, Fuentes pairs high academic ambition with a deep dedication to serving others.
When learning of her win, Fuentes commented "I am incredibly grateful to have received the Walter B. Cooper scholarship. I could not have done it without the support and encouragement of my peers and advisors. Being a part of PTK has allowed me to become a better scholar, gain confidence, and make new friends. The organization continues to have a positive impact on my academics, and I am grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities PTK offers.”
Fuentes marks NTCC’s 15th Walter B. Cooper Scholarship recipient, continuing a remarkable tradition of student leadership. She joins past honorees Sarah Hamlin and Araceli Landaverde (2025); Noah Pettey, Lochlan Scott, and Monserrat Rivero-Sanchez (2024); Maxime Risner and Brian Ramirez (2021); Carolina Alcocer-Salas (2020); Tonya Hammonds (2019); Jazmin Garcia (2018); Alicia Cantrell (2017); Tanika Santos-MacSwain (2016); Mary Smith (2015); and Kayleah Cumpian (2014).