Carne guisada plates sold quickly in curbside service recently by sheriff’s deputies assisted by emergency dispatch staff as part of a fundraiser benefiting Cotulla ISD graduates pursuing higher education
A scholarship program launched in 2021 by La Salle County Sheriff Anthony Zertuche and Sgt. Investigator Esmeralda Gonzales is gaining in popularity and has taken in new batches of applications this week.
The ‘Beyond the Badge’ program awards scholarships to local graduating seniors who pursue their higher education at colleges, universities and trade schools.
A recent fundraiser saw scores of Cotulla residents lining up at Veterans Park in downtown Cotulla to purchase carne guisada plates via curb service. Sheriff’s staff were assisted in the brisk food sale by members of the county dispatch office. The sheriff said this week that proceeds from the sale would boost the scholarship program.
“We had received some applications, and we told the school that the program is available,” Zertuche said on Monday. “Since then, we have received batches of new applications. This is very encouraging.
“We gave our first scholarships in 2022 at Cotulla High School,” the sheriff said. “We have a process that requires each student to submit an application. Each application that qualifies receives an evenly divided portion of the scholarship fund. This is all made possible through the generous support of our volunteers and numerous donors.
“We want to make sure that our youths succeed in whatever career they choose to follow,” Zertuche added. “It is up to us to make sure that is accomplished.”
