Meet the Winners (2025)
Carolyn Purdum
Longview High School
Future Plans: The University of Texas at Austin, Communications: Radio-Television-Film
Read Essay
Joe Ray
Sabine High School
Future Plans: Louisiana Tech University, Kinesiology/Physical Therapy
Read Essay
Omika Patel
Longview High School
Future Plans: University of Texas at Austin, Public Health
Read Essay
Sydney Hines
Lindale High Schooll
Future Plans: Baylor University, Film and digital media and journalism
Read Essay
Tristan Carter
Pleasant Grove High School
Future Plans: University of Mississippi, Biology
Read Essay
Check Presentations
We hosted several check presentations to celebrate Linda Thomas Safe Driving Scholarship winners. We’re proud to help cultivate a new generation of safe drivers and connect with our local communities by supporting our talented high school students as they take the next step in their educational journey.
Congratulations, Class of 2024!
Amari Graves
Pine Tree High School
Future Plans: University of Texas in Tyler, Electrical Engineering
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MaKayla Smith
Kilgore High School
Future Plans: Tarleton State University, Animal Science
Read Essay
Natalie Sullivan
Hallsville High School
Future Plans: LeTourneau University, Biomedical Science
Read Essay
Brady Roberts
Hallsville High School
Future Plans: Texas State Technical College, Electric Line Worker and Management Technology
Read Essay
Joseph-Hoang Nguyen
Winnsboro High School
Future Plans: University of Texas in Austin, Biology
Read Essay
Check Presentations
We hosted several check presentations to celebrate Linda Thomas Safe Driving Scholarship winners. We’re proud to help cultivate a new generation of safe drivers and connect with our local communities by supporting our talented high school students as they take the next step in their educational journey.
Meet the Winners (2023)
In 2023, the NET RMA received many amazing applications from outstanding students for the Linda Thomas Safe Driving Scholarship from throughout our 14 counties in East Texas. Students researched and wrote about the dangers of driving distracted. Others wrote essays about what they would do to improve safe driving, not only for themselves, but in the entire state of Texas. There were also some who wrote heart touching stories about how distracted driving has impacted them personally.
One of last year’s winners, Barrett Martin said, “Not only does spreading information help, but spreading awareness does as well. If you constantly make the right choices while driving, then people who respect and look up to you will follow.”
The NET RMA is happy to see that these young adults are already aware of the dangers of driving distracted as they head off to their new chapter in life.
We are delighted to have awarded 10 young drivers with $1000.00 for their college education. They were selected based on their essays and academic and extracurricular achievements. Congratulations class of 2023!
Ainsley Anderson
Whitehouse High School
Future Plans: Texas A&M; Business
Barrett Martin
Edgewood High School
Future Plans: Texas A&M; Civil Engineering
Thomas M. Barker
Sabine High School
Future Plans: Arkansas Elite Welding Academy; Elite combined structural/pipe program
Ashton Haynes
Gilmer High School
Future Plans:Tyler Junior College; Kinesiology
Lane Lewis
Winnsboro High School
Future Plans: Texas A&M; Engineering
Lillian Purdum
Longview High School
Future Plans: LeTourneau University, Aviation, Professional Pilot/Aviation Management
Jaiden Darden
Maud High School
Future Plans: University of Texas in Arlington; Nursing
Janis Phu
Pine Tree High School
Future Plans: University of Texas in Dallas; Biology/Premed
Hope Wright
North Forney High School
Future Plans: Prairie View A&M University, Nursing
Rushil Sajjan
Tyler Legacy High School
Future Plans: Texas A&M; Biochemistry
Check Presentations
We hosted several check presentations to celebrate Linda Thomas Safe Driving Scholarship winners. We’re proud to help cultivate a new generation of safe drivers and connect with our local communities by supporting our talented high school students as they take the next step in their educational journey.
Meet the Winners (2022)
The 10 winners below were selected based on their essays and academic and extracurricular achievements. Learn more and click to read their individual essays.
Jorden Braley
Whitehouse High School
Charles Lu
Tyler Legacy High School
Camille Moore
Tyler Legacy High School
Lilian Sue Winningham
Tyler Legacy High School
Kennedy Wilcox
Forney High School
Carolyn Hale
Hallsville High School
Emily Hawley
Maud High School
Olivia Duffer
New Boston High School
Gavin R. Bailey
James Bowie High School
Allison Wade
James Bowie High School
Check Presentations
We hosted several check presentations to celebrate Linda Thomas Safe Driving Scholarship winners. We’re proud to help cultivate a new generation of safe drivers and connect with our local communities by supporting our talented high school students as they take the next step in their educational journey.
