A&M Consolidated High School seniors Cierra Thomas and Kyle “Josh” Stewart were recently named semifinalists of the Dell Scholarship Program.

An initiative of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Dell Scholarships recognize students who have overcome significant obstacles to pursue their education. In turn, these scholars serve as positive role models and change the trajectories for their siblings, friends and their communities.

Dell Scholars receive $20,000 each to complete their higher education over the course of six years.

Scholarship winners will be announced in April.

Thomas and Stewart are both members of the CSISD Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.

AVID is a college preparatory program which focuses on students who are not likely to continue to their education after high school. The program requires these students to take advanced classes and helps them develop the habits and behaviors needed to succeed in rigorous curriculum.

In CSISD, AVID was implemented in the 2007-2008 school year in the ninth and 10th grades. Since then, it has expanded to grades six through 12.