2026 Scholarship Winners!
✳︎
Congratulations
✳︎ Congratulations
Mayra Blanco
Da’Andra Williams
Jessica Cantu
Mayra Blanco
Sports: Cross Country, Flag Football, Tennis, Track, Soccer (Captain), Volleyball
Leadership: Class of 2026 Historian; Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy
Mayra Blanco knows precisely where she wants to go in the next season of her journey.
“My goal is to pursue a career in the healthcare field as a dental hygienist,” Mayra declared in her essay. “I want to help others improve their oral health and confidence while making a positive impact in my community. After graduation, I plan to continue my education and complete the training needed to succeed in this career.”
In completing her Sharpstown chapter, the 17th-ranked senior class member and six-sport athlete points to the benefits of interscholastic competition.
“Being involved in so many activities has taught me the importance of discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and time management,” Mayra noted. “Balancing practices, games, and schoolwork has not always been easy, but it has helped me become more organized and focused. Athletics has also helped me build confidence and push myself to improve both mentally and physically.”
As an Apollo, documenting important moments and supporting events that bring students and the community together have been passions of Mayra. She helped organize a fall festival last year and worked as a Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy volunteer at the school’s blood drive.
Like our two other Bobby Plummer Scholarship recipients, Jessica Cantu and Da’Andra Williams, Mayra squeezed all she could from her days in the Green and Gold.
“My involvement in athletics and school leadership has helped shape me into a hardworking, dedicated, and motivated individual,” she concluded. “I am proud of the experiences I have gained at Sharpstown High School and look forward to continuing to grow, serve my community, and achieve my goals for the future.”
Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football (Captain), Track
Leadership: Three-Year Starting Quarterback
Da’Andra, who earned first-team All-District 10-5A football honors as a senior in 2025, was also named the Sharpstown team MVP by his coaching staff. He’s ranked 38th in a class of 303.
After beginning his high school football career at defensive end, Da’Andra was moved to quarterback by former coach Matt Torres. In 2024, he passed for 1,115 yards and nine touchdowns and added 469 ground yards and six scores. Last fall, Da’Andra passed and rushed for over 1,000 yards (1,743/1,035) and was responsible for 36 TDs (18/18).
An academic all-district selection in multiple sports who plans to play football at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Da’Andra credits his Sharpstown athletics experience with providing a good foundation for the next level.
“Being a multi-sport athlete has allowed me to stay active throughout the year and taught me how to balance my time between school, practices, and games,” he wrote in his essay.
“Football has been the biggest influence in my life. I’ve learned the importance of staying disciplined, overcoming obstacles, and being part of a team. Basketball has taught me the importance of communication and quick thinking, track the importance of relying on myself and staying strong mentally. Each sport has contributed to the development of my mindset and made me a better athlete overall.”
Young Life’s Christian teen ministry has also played an instrumental role in Da’Andra’s SHS years.
“Young Life has been a great influence on my life,” he noted. “Being part of Young Life has given me a strong support system and enabled me to stay focused on making good choices and becoming a better person. It has also helped me grow in my faith and closer to God.”
Da’Andra Williams
Jessica Cantu
Sports: Softball (Captain), Tennis, Volleyball (Captain)
Leadership: Senior Class of 2026 President; Captain, Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy; Guardian Yearbook Lead Photo Reviewer
Ranked sixth in her class, Jessica has effectively balanced sports, leadership, community service, and rigorous academics at Sharpstown to position herself for a promising future in the social sciences.
“My dream is to study social sciences, especially psychology and/or criminology,” she stated in her essay. “I’ve always been fascinated by the human mind, what shapes people’s decisions, how behavior develops, and how we can prevent harm before it happens. True crime stories and audiobooks sparked that curiosity. I want to make a real difference in the world, helping people understand their mental states, supporting those who struggle, and working to prevent criminal behavior before it begins.”
Jessica’s love for and appreciation of SHS was fueled by watching three older siblings who are also Apollos.
“Ten years ago, my oldest sister went to Sharpstown High School for the first time. Then my middle sister followed, then my brother, and finally me,” she explained. “Growing up surrounded by the Sharpstown community, I was introduced to its energy, spirit, and culture at a young age, and it quickly became more than just a school to me. It felt like a place where I belonged and where I hoped to make a meaningful contribution.”
As a member of the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, Jessica organized and executed blood drives, food drives, and toy drives for local hospitals, schools, and families. Last October, she helped host Sharpstown’s first STEAM Spooky Night for the entire school community. Jessica also serves as lead photo reviewer of the Guardian Yearbook.
Ask the academic all-state honoree where she sees herself a decade from now, and the answer is clear: “Just as I made a difference at Sharpstown, I know I can make a difference in the world in my area of study. Ten years from now, I see myself exactly where I’ve always wanted to be, helping people, studying the mind, and creating change everywhere I go.”