Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center, (left) receives a check from Joe LaMantia, Jr., STARS founder and chairman, for scholarships for the Health Science Center's South Texas students.
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio received a $100,000 check from the South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS) program to provide scholarships to South Texas students.

Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center, recently accepted the $100,000, which the Health Science Center will match, on behalf of the university at a ceremony at the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen.

“I am so grateful to the STARS founder and chairman, Joe LaMantia, Jr., and to the STARS Board for their generous support that has now been extended to the Health Science Center. We are looking forward to being partners with STARS in providing more opportunities for health professionals who are from the South Texas area," Dr. Cigarroa said. “As the only academic health center in this region, we feel a great responsibility to the entire South Texas area and are pleased that the STARS Foundation is emphasizing the importance of health education for this region.”

The STARS program offers South Texas students the opportunity for advancement in higher education by providing them with scholarships to attend the college of their choice. This is the first year that the STARS program has partnered with the Health Science Center to provide scholarship funds for Health Science Center students.

“The STARS Scholarship Foundation is proud to be a partner with the Health Science Center in order to help South Texas students achieve their goal of a higher education,” LaMantia said. “Education is the single most important issue to address in our community.”

The STARS program raised funds through three major fund-raisers in 2003, featuring performances by comedian Paul Rodriguez, singer LeAnn Rimes and “The Tonight Show” host Jay Leno.

Photo by Jason Hoekema