09/17/2026
How can one donation and one grant change a life?
Jakobe Garrett was in middle school when he was first introduced to the world of robotics and engineering. He was one of the youngest students to apply for and receive a grant from the Excellence Foundation. It was for less than $1,000 and it was to attend a STEM Leadership conference. Jacob's passion for robotics flourished. He took his love of robotics into high school where he split his time on the Terrell Tiger football team and the Robotics Team - where he eventually competed at the State level. When the COVID pandemic shut down in-person learning, Jakobe gathered supplies from the robotics lab and created a courtyard classroom at his apartment complex and taught his neighborhood elementary students the basics of engineering and rocket building. His lesson culminated with an epic rocket launch. Now in college at Prairie View A&M University pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Architecture, Jakobe still finds time to come back to Terrell to volunteer with the THS Robotics program. This summer, Jakobe was invited into an internship program at Accura Systems and looks forward to a career in engineering following college graduation.
One donation, one grant, and one very impactful ripple effect. This is truly the heart behind the Terrell ISD Excellence Foundation - providing kids, just like Jakobe, with opportunities they may not otherwise have had and opening their eyes to a future they may never have imagined for themselves.
Help us unlock more opportunities for students and teachers by donating today at www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Terrell-Isd-Excellence-Foundation
