Champion Energy is committed to supporting our community as we work to power lives and businesses. The Champion Scholars program was created to recognize those that share this commitment. Now in its eighth year, we’re proud to announce that this program has awarded $80,000 in scholarships to just over 20 deserving students looking to further their education.

This year we received applications from many impressive students across Texas. Applications were evaluated based on academic performance, awards, volunteerism and an essay response to this question: Being a champion is about more than winning or being number one. Sometimes being a champion is about giving back to the community, standing up for your beliefs or supporting a cause you believe in. What makes you a champion in your school or in your community?

We are very proud to recognize the Champion Scholars for 2022:

$5,000 Champion Scholars Award

Ebun Ajao is the recipient of the $5,000 Champion Scholars award. She currently attends Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston, Texas.

After spending weeks of studying online YouTube® videos, Ebun fulfilled her goal of establishing her school’s first-ever Financial Literacy Club to provide education to underrepresented communities. She is also the President of Carnegie Vanguard’s Black Student Union (BSU) where she is actively involved in the club’s weekly seminars to the student body. As BSU president, she worked with school administration to introduce Carnegie Vanguard’s first-ever African American Studies class.

During the upcoming summer break, Ebun looks forward to interning at Atlas Scholars, volunteering and taking trips with her family before heading off to college in Pennsylvania. She expressed gratitude for the scholarship as she believes it will allow her to spend more time connecting with her new community in Pennsylvania. She looks forward to being the first in her family to graduate from college in America.

Ebun will be studying Behavioral Economics at the University of Pennsylvania where she plans to start an organization focused on teaching financial literacy in underrepresented communities.

Quote from Ebun:

“In college, I hope to continue to champion the path to bringing financial literacy to underrepresented communities, whether through volunteering at local high schools to help build a personal finance curriculum or sharing my club’s resources with classmates. Through financial literacy, uplifting others’ voices and supporting the communities around me, I’m excited to be a champion for others to be supported and inspired to support others as well”

$3,000 Champion Scholars Award

Callie Welty is the recipient of the $3,000 Champion Scholars award. She currently attends Grandview High School in Grandview, Texas.

Born with hearing loss, Callie discovered a passion for public speaking at just three years of age after being introduced to the hobby by her mom as part of her speech therapy. Throughout high school, Callie has hosted workshops with a mission to help others overcome their fear of public speaking. Callie has also founded her own consultancy firm, Let’s Talk, where she has mentored over 300 young people in the art of presenting.

Beyond winning champion titles for both Texas FFA and Texas 4-H public-speaking competitions, in 2020 she was also elected to a state position on the Texas Junior Brahman Association, an organization of Texas Brahman breeders, as a four-year Board Member, Queen and Reporter. Callie is the Area VIII FFA First Vice President and has also served as a 4-H Texas Livestock Youth Ambassador, District 8 Vice Chairman and was recently elected Johnson County Chairman.

The Champion scholarship will allow her to continue her public speaking mentorship program while in college.

Callie looks forward to studying Agricultural Communications and Journalism at Texas A&M University.

Quote from Callie:

“To go from a severely hearing-impaired baby with an unsure future to a multi-time state public speaking champion was nothing short of a miracle. Throughout my high school years, I have hosted public-speaking workshops to inspire others to overcome their fear of presentations. My consultancy firm is Let’s Talk. To date, I have mentored over 300 young people in public speaking. There is no greater joy than to see one of my speakers be inspired by their own winning performances to deliver the perfect presentation.”

$2,000 Champion Scholars Award

Madelyn Gutacker is the recipient of the $2,000 Champion Scholars award. She currently attends Clear Falls High School in League City, Texas.

Madelyn has been proud to serve her community as a volunteer at her local fire department for the last two years. She spends at least 5 hours a week training, running calls, providing additional assistance on the ambulance and working the scene of structure fires. Her dedication to the community knows no bounds as she even spent a recent Christmas night running back-to-back car accident scenes. She was recently the recipient of a Life-Saving Award presented to her with gratitude by the city of Seabrook.

For her last summer before college, Madelyn plans to spend ample time with her friends and family, and also looks forward to continuing her service at the fire station. Some of Madelyn’s hobbies include dance, running into burning buildings and reading.

Madelyn will be studying Elementary Education at Baylor University and looks forward to one day teaching third-grade students.

Quote from Madelyn:

“Community is a big thing in my life, I have a strong love for the people I share a city with and that I get to see every day in public. I proudly get to serve these people every day through the Fire and EMS service. I am the champion who wears bunker gear and medical gloves, and at 18 has made her name in the volunteer service, and I am proud to be a champion.”