The spring 2025 recipients of the UHV College of Business Friends’ Residential Scholarship pose for a picture with UHV administrators after a meeting telling them they received the award. Pictured from left are Amber Countis, UHV vice president for advancement and external relations; Wutthichai “Lucky” Boonsrirat; Maria Carrillo Ortiz; and Xavier Garza-Gomez, interim dean of the UHV College of Business. The scholarship covers the costs of room and board in the UHV residence halls.

Two University of Houston-Victoria business students were chosen to receive a scholarship this semester that will cover the costs of living on campus.

Wutthichai “Lucky” Boonsrirat and Maria Carrillo Ortiz, both students of the UHV College of Business, were selected to be the spring 2025 recipients of the UHV College of Business Friends’ Residential Scholarship. The scholarship was created in 2024 and covers the costs of room and board for selected junior and senior business students staying in the residence halls.

“I am pleased to see two of our excellent students receive this scholarship,” said Xavier Garza-Gomez, interim dean of the business college. “The scholarship started with a generous donation from Kenny French, and now it is receiving support from donors across the university and the Victoria business community. I look forward to being able to support many more students on campus as the support for this fund increases.”

Eligible students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; be enrolled in the UHV College of Business, preferably accounting majors; must have at least 45 credit hours completed; maintain a 3.0 GPA or greater; and reside in one of the UHV residence halls during the semester of the award.

The scholarship was created with the intention of supporting business students while encouraging them to attend UHV in Victoria and spend time as part of the local community. That will give students an opportunity to find ways to be part of the local economy and possibly begin a career in Victoria or the region after graduation, Garza-Gomez said. Because the scholarship is not an endowed fund, it relies on donations to continue to offer awards to students.

For Carrillo Ortiz of George West, the scholarship is a welcome opportunity to focus on her studies without worrying about covering her living expenses. She is working on getting a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business with an emphasis in management.

“I was surprised to receive this scholarship, and it means so much to me to get this extra support,” Carrillo Ortiz said. “I’ve been out of school for three years, and it took me a while to get back in the rhythm, but it’s good to know that my hard work last year to get good grades has paid off.”

Carrillo Ortiz first graduated from UHV in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in prelaw and political science. She originally planned to pursue law, but a family crisis made her change her plans. Instead, she stayed home to help her family and ended up spending some time working for Tractor Supply. That experience ended up giving her a totally new direction in life, she said.

“I found business to be interesting, and I enjoyed learning about what was happening in the business world from one day to the next,” she said. “I especially liked learning about supply issues and saw firsthand how it played out for retail companies like Tractor Supply.”

With that in mind, she decided to come back to UHV and pursue a business degree. She started in fall 2024 and moved into Smith Hall, where she became a resident assistant.

“When I was thinking of going back to school, I didn’t even look around at other universities,” she said. “Starting a new degree at UHV was like coming back home. I always felt welcome and comfortable on campus, so I chose to come back to my alma mater.”

Once she gets her degree, Carrillo Ortiz hopes to work in the international relations side of business. Her dream job would be to one day work with a music label.

Boonsrirat of New Braunfels came to UHV as a transfer student after attending and playing golf for a college in Arkansas. However, it became clear that the location wasn’t a good fit for him.

“I was struggling academically, and the golf team wasn’t a good fit for me,” he said. “I knew I needed a change, so I started looking at other options. The UHV golf assistant coach was one of the first people who responded to my email, and they recruited me to join the Jaguars as a walk-on player.”

Now that he’s at UHV, Boonsrirat has experienced a complete turnaround in his college experience. His grades have improved, and he is enjoying playing as a member of the men’s golf team. In addition, he has been working with a counselor on campus to continue his personal progress.

Receiving the scholarship was a welcome surprise for Boonsrirat, who was excited to tell his parents as soon as he got the news. He is working toward earning a BBA in entrepreneurship.

“Getting any financial assistance is always exciting,” he said. “This scholarship is a big help in covering the costs of my education. I’m grateful to receive it, and I’m thankful to the people who made this scholarship possible.”

When thinking about his future, Boonsrirat hopes to build a professional golf career. However, he also knows that business is a good degree to have for wherever life might take him.

“I’ve been surrounded by people who are experienced in business and entrepreneurs for most of my life,” he said. “Business is something universal that can benefit a career in many different areas. With a business degree, I think I can be ready for whatever comes my way.”

To support the UHV College of Business Friends’ Residential Scholarship, donations can be made online at https://www.uhvconnect.org/page/Donate or contact UHV University Advancement at (361) 570-4306.