Murphy Chamber of Commerce scholarship winners were presented to City Council. From left, Steve Dault, vice-chair, Chamber Scholarship Foundation; Sevy Wang, a graduate of Wylie High School; Syan Tecuatl, a Plano East grad; Suri Wang, a Wylie High grad; Roheemat Olaiya Mohammed, a graduate of Plano East; Maha Rizvi, a graduate of Plano East; Maci Hatzenbuehler, a graduate of Wylie High; Luke Trahan, co-chair of Chamber Scholarship Foundation. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor

The Murphy Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Foundation has awarded scholarships to six local students, bringing to $174,000 the amount given since the program began 20 years ago.

“We reviewed the candidates based on scholastics, work history, community involvement, need and an essay component as well,” said Luke Trahan, co-chair of the Foundation. “It is a very competitive process.”

He and co-chair Steve Dault presented the winners to the Tuesday, June 2, meeting of the Murphy City Council.

Maci Hatzenbuehler has lived in Murphy entire life, attended Wylie High School and will be going to Southeast Missouri State University, where she will be playing soccer while majoring in nursing. 

“Her favorite memory in Murphy is playing sports at the PSA or attending Murphy Maize Days with her family and her friends,” Trahan said.

Maha Rizvi, another lifelong Murphy resident, attended Plano East High School and will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas with a major in healthcare studies on a pre-med track. 

“Maha’s favorite memory in Murphy is rolling down the hill at Murphy Central Park with friends at Sounds of Sundown with the Emerald City Band,” Dault said.

Sevy Wang is a resident of Murphy for the last 11 years, a graduate of Wylie High School and will study engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

“His favorite Murphy memory is participating as a young entrepreneur twice at Murphy Maize Days to raise money for endangered animals,” Trahan said.

Suri Wang has also lived in Murphy for 11 years, graduated from Wylie High and will attend Texas A&M University to pursue a major in mechanical engineering. 

“Her favorite memories of participating as a young entrepreneur in Murphy Maize Days and volunteering at local summer camps with her friends,” Dault said.

Dyan Tecuatl has lived in Murphy for nine years and attended Plano East High School. She will attend Purdue University and hopes to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. 

“Her favorite memory of Murphy is going on morning runs with her cross-country team through Murphy Central Park and the preserve at Maxwell Creek,” Trahan said.

Roheemat Olaiya Mohammed has lived in Murphy for seven years, attended Plano East and will attend Texas A&M University to major in biology on the pre-med track. 

“Her favorite memory in Murphy is performing with the Plano East Marching Band for football games and competitions in Tom Kimbrough Stadium,” Dault said.

“Thank y’all so much for your support,” he told councilmembers. “Without it, we definitely would not have been so successful at handing out these scholarships.”

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