Virginia Mendez, a seventh grader at Rogers Middle School, won second place in the public school category in the Battle of Flowers Texas History Essay Contest. Encouraged by her social studies teacher Gabriel Jauregui, Mendez chose to participate in the contest last fall and selected lawyer Barbara Jordan as her topic. Last month, she learned she won second place, complete with a $500 personal prize for her and $1,000 for the school. She formally received her prize at a ceremony at the Alamo Feb. 16, which included a tour of the historic site for her and her parents. "They told me they were proud of me," Mendez said. "Hard work pays off."
Student Earns $$ with Texas History Essay
March 2, 2026