Rockwall-Heath senior Sakari Houser wins $2,500 STAR Scholarship

Rising college costs are forcing Rockwall County families to stack scholarships, savings and aid one piece at a time, and Sakari Houser’s $2,500 STAR Scholarship is a clear example of how local students are making that math work.

Houser, a 2026 graduate of Rockwall-Heath High School, was selected for the P.E.O. Sisterhood scholarship through P.E.O. Chapter BR of Hamilton, Ohio. The one-time, nonrenewable award goes to high school senior women who meet a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA, hold U.S. or Canadian citizenship or legal permanent residency, and plan to enroll in an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada the following academic year.

What set Houser apart was not one single activity but the range of her commitments. She was a member of the Rockwall-Heath High School Varsity Choir and sang in the a cappella groups Infiniti and Beyond. She also earned the rank of Eagle Scout and stayed active in the youth ministry program at First United Methodist Church Rockwall. That combination of academics, service, leadership and extracurricular involvement fits the STAR Scholarship’s focus on future potential.

The award carries added weight because it comes from a highly competitive international program established in 2009. P.E.O. said more than 1,800 chapters in the United States and Canada participated in selecting candidates in the 2025-26 cycle, and 900 scholarships were awarded the prior year. For Rockwall families looking at tuition, housing, books and fees, that kind of support can make a real difference.

Houser will take the next step this fall at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she plans to study Business Sustainability and Nonprofit Management. She hopes to build a nonprofit organization that would help individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, putting her college path in line with a long-term service goal.

The scholarship also shows how local students can find support beyond Rockwall County if they build strong records at school and in the community. P.E.O. chapters exist throughout the United States and Canada, including in Rockwall, and Houser’s selection underscores the value of staying involved locally while preparing for the financial realities of college.