RIO HONDO — Lois Bates’ dedication to helping educate the students of Rio Hondo lives on.
At the Rio Hondo High School’s recent awards banquet, two students received $300 Bates scholarships to help pay for college in the fall.
Senior graduates Jessica Hernandez and Angel Reyes are this year’s recipients of the scholarship award.
More than 20 students were recognized at the district’s Awards Night banquet for receiving college scholarships to attend the college of their choice.
In total, $1.4 million was earned by the students to further their education.
Hernandez and Reyes are registered to attend Texas State Technical College.
Hernandez said her focus is to purse her education in nursing and Reyes’ focus will be in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
“Every year we try to award as much as we can,” said Diana Bates, a member of the Bates family.
She said the scholarship has been awarded to more than 20 graduating seniors over the past 10 years, since Lois Bates passed away in 2007.
Lois was the special education teacher at Rio Hondo High School for many years.
“She had a love for her students,” Diana said.
The Bates scholarship is funded through the sale of the Bates Family Cookbook comprised of recipes created by Lois, family and friends. It was written by Lois’ son Dennis, also a Rio Hondo graduate and a lifelong resident.
The name of the cookbook is “Bates Cooking: A Lifetime of Recipes.”
Diana recalls Lois enjoying taking some of her favorite recipes for students to enjoy during classroom parties and events.
She said some of the favorite dishes her students enjoyed were the John Wayne beans and jalapeño cornbread, listed in the cookbook containing more than 100 recipes of appetizers, deserts and meals.
Diana said currently the cook book is sold out, but a second edition is in the works and possibly a digital copy will be available to help continue the fundraising for the Bates scholarship.
