All Saints student named national Hispanic merit scholar

All Saints Episcopal School senior Mia Garza was recently named a merit scholar in the National Hispanic Recognition Program for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Garza was awarded for her excellence in academic achievement on the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test taken in October 2020, according to a news release from the school.

Garza was named along with 5,000 academically gifted Hispanic/Latino high school juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT® their junior year. In order to be eligible, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic.

“We are so very proud of Mia being honored as a National Merit Hispanic Scholar. Mia is truly an outstanding young lady who represents herself and her family so well,” said all Saints Head of School Robert Brashear in the release. “She is a shining light at All Saints, and a true portrait of the type of person and student that we are surrounded by at All Saints.”

As part of the 21-member class of 2022, Garza is a member of the elite club of All Saints students to earn scholar status by the College Board in the school’s short 10-year history. All Saints seniors have earned National Merit Scholar recognition each year since 2018. Garza is the third All Saints graduate to earn National Merit Hispanic Scholar Recognition.

Garza began her tenure at All Saints as a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten student and has excelled in academics, athletics, and fine arts. She began playing the cello as a 9-year-old student and has continued in the high school orchestra as the principal cello and novice double bass player. Garza has played in the Texas Music Educators Association All Region Orchestra and Texas Private School Music Educators Association All Region Orchestra and has earned Superior Ratings in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools State Solo and Ensemble contests.

Garza was named as the TAPPS 2A State Champion in Digital Art last May (2021) and was a state qualifier the year before (2020). She is also a member of the varsity basketball team.

Garza is a member of the Sherry Fewin Chapter of the National Honor Society. She also serves on the school’s Honor Council.

Garza was named as an AP Scholar last May after scoring a 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

In her spare time, she enjoys Rocking Paw Canine Agility and Rocking Paw Canine Disc sports with her German Shepherd dog, Robin Jean Mustang. She also enjoys baking, anime, cosplay, playing DND with her friends, playing video games, playing the cello and piano, sketching and drawing, and playing basketball. Her hobby is collecting swords. Garza is a member of Trinity Fellowship Church.

She is the daughter of Ricardo and Lily Garza.