24
February
2020
|
11:39 AM
America/Chicago

Rodeo Scholar Brya Curtis Following in Family’s Footsteps at UHD

Summary

By Mike Emery

The saying usually goes … “Like mother, like daughter.”

In the case of University of Houston-Downtown student Brya Curtis, the phrase could be amended to … “like mother, like sister … and like sister.”

She is clearly following in her family’s footsteps as her mother and two older sisters also attended UHD. The one difference in their academic trajectory, however, is that Brya is receiving support through a Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Scholarship (HLSR).

Curtis, an interdisciplinary studies major in the College of Public Service, learned of the HLSR scholarship opportunities from her counselor at Kashmere High School. She completed the application process (which included an essay) and ultimately learned that she was among the elite group of students in Texas to receive college support from HLSR.

“When I learned I received this scholarship, it was a huge relief,” she said. “It felt good to know that my mother wasn’t going to be burdened financially and that I would not be worried about debt following graduation.”

Initially, Curtis selected another institution to begin her college career. By her sophomore year, she looked to her family’s alma mater as the institution that will prepare her for a career as a teacher.

“The faculty are very helpful,” she said. “They care about your success. Students are regularly asked if they’re doing okay and how professors can help them. That means a lot to us.”

Having teachers who care is particularly meaningful for an aspiring educator like Curtis. And, she knows a thing or two about teachers. Her mother Alynthia Pugh is an assistant principal and sisters Bryanna and Bryshanna Curtis are both teachers. All three work at Atherton Elementary School, where Curtis attended.

Her family is particularly close, and Curtis credits her mother for instilling independence and self-discipline in her and her sisters.

“She was a single mother after my father passed away, so she had to insist that we do our best in and out of school,” Curtis said. “We weren’t coddled at all, and she still holds us to high standards. That’s helped all of us become more self-reliant.”

Curtis' mother wasn’t on Atherton’s faculty when she was enrolled there. Still, she found additional inspiration from her teachers and counselors. Their patience and respect for students, Curtis said, helped motivate her.

The scholarship also has opened other doors for Curtis. She is currently president of the University’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The experience has provided many lessons in leadership and provides community engagement opportunities.

“Serving as AKA president has helped many in many ways,” she said. “It keeps me motivated to set an example for other sorority members both academically and professionally.”

Curtis advises any high school student to look into HLSR scholarships. She said that the application process is indeed intensive, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

“I’m very grateful. The generosity of HLSR helped me and is helping so many other students,” she said. “I work at H-E-B and recently saw a man wearing a hat with a HLSR Scholarship Committee pin. I told him ‘thank you.’ These scholarships make a difference, and I am thankful for the support of both HLSR and UHD as I earn my degree.”

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.