Waste Management presents BISD scholarships during Council meeting

May 29, 2025

By David Stone

The Belton Journal

Waste Management Inc. presented scholarships to four Belton graduating seniors during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Paul Romer, Belton’s director of communications, outlined the process for scholarship selection, and Paul Daugereau of Waste Management presented scholarship money to this year’s honorees.

Those receiving scholarships were Steven Arantes, $1,500; Abriella Joyner, $1,000; Asa Jackson, $750; and Jaidan Mauk, $750. This was Waste Management’s 13th year to present the scholarships. Over the years, the company has presented 27 scholarships totalling $33,000.

According to Romer, six applicants applied for scholarships, and judges narrowed the field to four. Belton ISD had kind remarks to say about the four students.

Arantes is a National Merit Program semifinalist at Belton High. He was an officer in the BHS National Honor Society and the Debate Team. He played piano for the school jazz ensemble and taught English as a Second Language classes in Portuguese, French and Spanish at First Baptist Church.

“Whether organizing volunteer events through his officer position (in NHS) or giving time to his community, Steven has never run out of ways to pour back into our town,” said Sierra Beckstrom, English teacher at Belton High School. Holly Mayes, a counselor at Belton High, agreed with Beckstrom’s assessment.

“Steven is one of the most highly accomplished young men I have ever known, and yet, he is also one of the most humble,”  Mayes said. “What blows me away the most is his heart for service.”

Arantes plans to attend Cornell University and major in Applied Economics & Management. Abriella Joyner is the valedictorian at Providence Preparatory School. She played tennis, was an actor and technical director in theater, was president of the Garden Club and a volunteer and harpist at Grace Church Salado.

“Abriella is forward thinking, with innovative ideas that inspire her classmates to have both joy and success in the classroom and around campus,” said Carla Hahn Clardy, English and Art professor at Providence. Joyner plans to attend the University of Houston and major in Environmental Design.

Asa Jackson was captain of the basketball and soccer teams at Providence, a theater stage manager, and an Impact program captain at Temple Bible Church.

“Asa has shown that he finds delight in the challenges of pursuing an academic challenge,” said Lauren Green, an English teacher at the school. “ 

He knew what he needed to do to achieve both his short and long-term goals, and hae made the necessary sacrifices to work toward them – with a very positive attitude,” Green said. “Since Asa possesses the trait of grit, I am confident that he will be immensely successful in college and beyond.”

Jackson plans on attending Baylor University and studying Business with a focus in Accounting.

Jaidan Mauk was a member of the theater cast and crew at Belton High, and he also was a member of the Texas Thespian Society. Jaidan was an Astra Club member, a Sparta Musical volunteer and a seasonal employee at Harris Community Center.

“Jaidan is a dedicated student that gives her all despite any adversity she faces,” said Mari Phillips, theater instructor at Belton High School.

Mauk will attend Stephen F Austin University in the fall and major in Art Education.