20 Years of Excellence: Reliant and Houston Texans Grant $60,000 in Scholarships to Six Exceptional Student-Athletes

—The Scholarships for Champions program, now in its 20^th year, has awarded more than $840,000 in scholarships to nearly 150 Houston-area students—

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reliant and the Houston Texans celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Scholarships for Champions program by surprising six high school seniors with $10,000 scholarships. To honor the student-athletes’ incredible academic and athletic accomplishments, the students and their families were treated with a special Houston Texans experience following surprise check presentations.

“It’s incredible to think of all that our champions have accomplished since the inception of the Reliant and Houston Texans’ Scholarships for Champions program,” said Mark Parsons, senior vice president, Reliant. “For two decades, this program has supported the next generation of leaders. This year saw a record-breaking 300 nominations, and we continue to be blown away by the dedication, tenacity and leadership of these student-athletes. It’s an honor to empower the next step in their journey.”

Over 20 years, nearly 150 Houston-area student athletes have been awarded more than $840,000 in scholarships. Scholarships for Champions honors students who demonstrate excellence in athletics, academics, leadership and community involvement. Nominated by their teachers, coaches and mentors, these young leaders consistently exhibit exceptional dedication and resilience.

“The Houston Texans Foundation strives to leverage the power of sports to strengthen our community, support youth development and break down barriers to fundamental resources,” said Amanda Grosdidier, executive director, Houston Texans Foundation and Community. “We are proud to partner with Reliant for our Scholarships for Champions program to support those efforts.”

Meet the 2026 Class

The 2026 scholarship recipients come from Alief, Houston, Katy, Cypress-Fairbanks and Sheldon ISDs, competing in football, water polo, track, basketball, soccer, baseball, and golf, often multi-sport athletes.

• Heather Bussey, senior at Cy Fair High School, maintains a 4.0 GPA while balancing water polo, track and numerous leadership commitments, including bass drum marching band section leader, mentoring and tutoring. She is a National Merit Scholar and has earned distinctions including College Board National Academic Recognition, Academic All-State 2nd Team, multiple All-District Academic Team selections, and placement in the top 10% of her class. As the starting water polo goalkeeper and Team MVP, she led her program to its first regional championship appearance and earned several All-Region, All-District and All-State honors, as well as a Junior Olympic gold medal.
• Torreon Cherry, senior at Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology, is co-captain of the varsity basketball team, while also competing in varsity football, track, and golf and serves as Cheer Mascot Captain. He excels in the classroom and maintains a 3.9 unweighted GPA, ranking 18th in a class of 490. He serves as the Campus Culture Committee chair, Vice President of the National Honor Society, Senior Class Representative, and EMERGE Fellow, demonstrating academic excellence and leadership.
• Alexis Crawford, senior at Cypress Ranch High School, is a four-year varsity soccer goalkeeper who earned 2025 All-District 6A selection, 2024 First Team All-Region and First Team All-District honors, while also a member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society. She has demonstrated consistent high-level performance and strong work ethic, earning TASCO Academic All-District 16-6A recognition and volunteering with her church, Habitat for Humanity and Key Club.
• Bryce Lyons, senior at C.E. King High School, competes in varsity football, track and baseball. He served as a varsity football captain and helped lead his team to a state championship appearance. After suffering a season-ending injury during his senior year, Bryce remained fully engaged with his team by attending practices, encouraging teammates and mentoring other injured athletes. He is an active member of Humble’s Top Teens of America and volunteers through toy drives and the local food bank.
• Colten Rhoden, senior at The John Cooper School, competes as an All-SPC running back and varsity linebacker. He is also a four-year varsity track athlete on the 4x100 relay—the first in school history to achieve this. He maintains a rigorous academic track, while serving as a two-year President of the Football Leadership Council and school ambassador. Colten also co-founded and led a youth football camp that raised funds for local Boys Home orphanages, personally organizing, executing and scaling the initiative to create meaningful impact for underserved youth.
• Hayden Wessel, senior at Paetow High School, ranks in the top 10% of her class with a 4.6 GPA while balancing rigorous academics and multiple leadership roles. A four-year varsity football kicker, she became one of the most impactful specialists in Paetow and Katy ISD history by setting district records for female scoring and earning Honorable Mention All-District Kicker honors while also competing in varsity soccer. She serves as a PALS mentor, AP Ambassador, Student Council member and participant in Girls in STEM, promoting mentorship and academic excellence across campus.

For more information about the program, visit Reliant.com/SFC.

About Reliant, an NRG Company

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