What an incredible year! 🎉 The Tex-Mex Legacy Foundation is thrilled to award 20 scholarships to our amazing team members for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester! These hardworking, passionate individuals bring their best to our company every single day, and we couldn’t be prouder. It’s such a joy and an honor to support them in this exciting next chapter of their journey!
One of our Core Values is ‘Reinvesting in our Team Members and Local Communities’—and this scholarship program is that value in action! We’re honored to give back to our incredible team in one of the most meaningful ways we know, showing our deep appreciation for the people who make our organization shine every single day.
Join us in celebrating each of our scholarship recipients—outstanding individuals who inspire us with their dedication and drive. We know they’ll go on to accomplish amazing things in their academic journeys. So let’s cheer them on and take a closer look at the incredible people behind this year’s scholarships!
Jacob Young – Gringo’s The Woodlands – Texas State University, Business Administration
Abby Goree – Jimmy Changas Pasadena – San Jacinto College, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Raelynn McClaine – Jimmy Changas Pasadena – Stephen F. Austin, Nursing
Ashabi Olaniyan – Gringo’s Sugar Land – University of Houston, Management Information Systems
Jonathan McDuffie – Gringo’s “The Original” – University of Houston, Business & Sports Management
Andrew Chandler – Gringo’s Conroe – Liberty University, Nursing
Noah Ingram – Gringo’s Champions – Lone Star College, Marketing
Taylor Hampton – Gringo’s Stafford – Houston Community College, Education
Christopher Rodriguez – Gringo’s Fuqua – Texas Tech University, Music Education & Conducting
Johnson Pham – Jimmy Changas Pearland – University of Texas at Austin, Biochemistry/Pre-Med
Brittany Williams – Gringo’s “The Original” – Alvin Community College, Nursing
Emily Garcia – Bullritos – University of Houston, Music Education & Performance
Shannon Retchless – Gringo’s Stafford – University of St. Thomas, Psychology
Sophia Bahil Tiglao – Gringo’s Conroe – Lone Star College, Nursing
Mikayla Jackson – Gringo’s Champions – Howard University, Biology
Vanden Johnson – Gringo’s Conroe – Texas A&M University, Biology
Jo Ann Orellana – Gringo’s Cypress – University of Houston, Hospitality & Tourism
Keissy Chavez – Gringo’s La Porte – Galen College of Nursing, Nursing
Katelyn Sherrod – Gringo’s New Caney – Grand Canyon University, Elementary Education
Laysha Rubio – Gringo’s Conroe – Sam Houston State University, Criminal Justice
The Tex-Mex Legacy Foundation was founded by Russell and Monica Ybarra. Russell’s parents, Eugene Ybarra and Alice Ybarra instilled upon him and the entire family the importance of giving back to the community and supporting the community in which you operate. Continuing the legacy of giving back to the community, the Tex-Mex Legacy Foundation was formally created in a quest to take Russell Ybarra’s philanthropic work to the next level. Armed with three principles in mind, the foundation was created to help our veterans and first responders, to provide scholarships to the community, and to provide assistance to families that we serve in times of crisis and emergencies.
