19 incoming freshmen awarded full-ride scholarships to LU

March 23, 2026 | by April Thompson

Lamar University has named 19 total Presidential and Southeast Texas Legends Scholars for the 2026-27 academic year, awarding each student with a significant financial contribution, and in some cases a full-ride scholarship, that recognizes academic excellence and leadership.

The Presidential Scholars program is among the university's most competitive honors, offering a prestigious, full-ride scholarship that covers tuition, fees and other expenses for recipients throughout their undergraduate studies.

Grid of Presidential Scholar Recipients Grid of Presidential Scholar Recipients

"This has been an incredible year for everyone involved in the process of interviewing and awarding our 2026-27 Presidential Scholars," Megan Begnaud, director of student aid said. "Each year, we have the privilege of meeting so many impressive students. This academic year alone, we interviewed 190 outstanding candidates, and selecting just 15 recipients was not an easy decision. It is truly inspiring to see students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic dedication given the opportunity to earn their degree without the burden of financial stress, and to know the lasting impact this opportunity will have on their futures."

The 2026-27 Presidential Scholars and their high schools are:

  • Zoee Buchanan, Bridge City High School
  • Kade Caldwell, Lumberton High School
  • Mazlin Authement, Sam Houston High School
  • Taft Hartman, Vidor High School
  • Landon Dickens, Orangefield High School
  • Leimy Rocha, West Brook Senior High School
  • Haley Nguyen, West Brook Senior High School
  • Katelyn Contreras, Liberty High School
  • Jacob Bergman, West Brook Senior High School
  • Abigail Yanez, Nederland High School
  • Myxtlee Rodriguez, Nederland High School
  • Aaden Bush, Bridge City High School
  • Lauren Wilson, Hardin-Jefferson High School
  • Kaedyn Harris, Dickinson High School
  • Cody Dague, Pearland High School
  • Gavin Lopez, Cathedral High School

In addition to the Presidential Scholars, the university also recognized four students as Southeast Texas Legends Scholars, a scholarship program that supports high-achieving students from Southeast Texas and the surrounding region. The award provides significant financial assistance and aims to encourage local talent to pursue higher education while remaining connected to the region.Grid of Presidential Scholar Recipients Grid of Presidential Scholar Recipients

The 2026-27 Southeast Texas Legends Scholars are:

  • Baylee Curbow, Port Neches-Groves High School
  • Jacob Bergman, West Brook Senior High School
  • Landon Dry, Pearland High School
  • Lucia Liu, Faith Christian Academy.

Both scholarship programs reflect Lamar’s continued investment in student success and its commitment to supporting high-achieving students from across Southeast Texas and beyond as they begin their academic careers.Grid of Presidential Scholar Recipients

To learn more about scholarships at Lamar University, visit https://www.lamar.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/.