Moreno family donates scholarships to nursing students in memory of son, brother

Uvalde, TX, August 24, 2021 - The Jesse T. Moreno Jr. Memorial Scholarship was awarded to four first-year SWTJC Registered Nursing students by Jesse T. Moreno, Sr. and his family on Aug. 20 in Uvalde.

The students include Cynthia Jessica Riza, and Veronica Soto, both of Del Rio, and Raul Valdez, Rebecca A. Ybarra, both of Uvalde.

In early 2014 Jesse and Andrea Moreno of Uvalde lost their son Jesse T. Moreno Jr. at the age of 56, after a courageous 16-year battle with Multiple Myeloma.

Moreno Jr. graduated from Uvalde High School in 1976 and attended Southwest Texas Junior College, where he graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in 1978.

After SWTJC, Moreno Jr. went to the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in San Antonio and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1981.

During the scholarship presentation, Moreno Sr. and his family met with the recipients of the scholarships. He wished them good luck and spoke briefly about his son.

“My son loved his profession. He worked for the VA hospital in Kerrville all the way down to one week before he passed away,” Moreno Sr. said. “He didn’t want to leave because he felt like he was contributing something positive to the veterans.”

Moreno, Sr. advised the recipients to be compassionate when dealing with patients and their families.

Others on hand for the presentation of the scholarship awards were sisters of Moreno Jr. Nora Gonzalez and Andrea Perez, also Dr. Hector Gonzales SWTJC President.

Scholarship recipients were awarded $500, which is to be used to provide financial assistance throughout their first year at Southwest Texas Junior College.

This scholarship is awarded to a registered nursing student in the first year of the program. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA on prerequisite courses and submit a 200-word essay on personal background, reasons for wanting to be a nurse, and obstacles encountered along the way.

The SWTJC Registered Nurse program is designed to prepare graduates to practice in a complex and ever-changing health care environment.

Individuals wanting to enroll in the nursing program can contact Rolando Lira, program director, at (830) 703-1583.