(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts student Leslie Lee recently received a $500 scholarship to put toward tuition to help her realize her dream of a college education.
TSTC Provost Dr. Stella Garcia presented Lee with the scholarship during the college’s annual Noche de Gala–a surprise for Lee, who was working with her class that evening cooking up 
dinner for Gala guests.
“You’ve been seeing this young lady running around and working hard to give you the best dinner experience,” said Garcia. “Tonight and throughout the semester she has shown just how deserving she is to receive this scholarship.”
For Lee, culinary has been in her life since the beginning. Her grandmother owned a surf and turf restaurant for 45 years. Her parents, both skilled cooks, worked and met at that restaurant and later owned a bar and grill of their own.
“They were my seed of encouragement to do this program and my inspiration,” said Lee.
However, Lee said her driving force was her son. She wanted to provide a better life for him.
“I don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck anymore. I no longer want to be expendable,” she said. “Most importantly, I want to show my son that even if you don’t start out making the right choices in life there is always time to change your path. Nothing is set in stone, and I’m living proof.”
Lee said that through the Culinary Arts program she has found her weaknesses and strengths, as well acknowledge she did not know she had.
“Because of TSTC I now have higher goals for myself,” said Lee. “This program has given me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone. The sky’s the limit.”
The scholarship recipient hopes to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees and work toward becoming a health inspector. She expects to graduate in Spring 2017.
“Here at TSTC we have been given the solid foundation from which to begin, and our instructors have fostered good habits, creative thinking and the confidence to go forth and know exactly what our worth is. They are setting us up for success.”