For immediate release - Aug. 23, 2006
(DALLAS) - Tony L. Coats II, a resident of Rowlett, was named the first recipient of the Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr. BKM Scholarship during a higher education technology conference held in Dallas on Aug. 17. The scholarship, administered by the Dallas County Community College District Foundation, was established recently and announced during the conference by BKM Total Office of Texas - a Dallas-based office furnishings company - to honor DCCCD's new chancellor; Lassiter previously served as president of El Centro College, located in downtown Dallas.
Coats, 2006-2007 recipient of the $2,200 scholarship, is a graduate of Rowlett High School; he will attend El Centro College beginning this fall, where he plans to earn an associate degree and then transfer to the University of Texas at Dallas to earn a bachelor's degree in technology.
In addition to the scholarship, BKM made arrangements with Frank Vitale, a digital artist based in Phoenix, Ariz., to serve as a mentor for Coats as he advances through college and earns his degrees from ECC and UTD.
“I am honored to accept this scholarship gift on behalf of DCCCD and all of our students, especially Tony Coats, our first recipient,” Lassiter told conference attendees. “Our partnerships with area businesses like BKM provide students with critical resources they need to pursue a career and to lead productive lives.”
“We are pleased to honor Dr. Lassiter with this scholarship gift, which enables us to help DCCCD students like Tony Coats and also to recognize the chancellor’s integrity and leadership in higher education,” said Carol Roehrig, BKM’s president.