Where Innovation Meets Opportunity:
The Texas Education Freedom Award
In Spring 2025, following the passage of Texas’s groundbreaking Education Savings Account Program, members of the Yass Prize community signaled their interest in expanding award-winning school models across the state—ensuring families could access a wide variety of life-changing education opportunities.
To support this vision, the Texas Education Freedom Award was created in alignment with the Yass Prize mission to find, reward, celebrate, and expand education providers who STOP for students. After a rigorous review process, and at a special event held in partnership with the University of Austin (UATX), select Yass Prize alumni were awarded funding to position them to launch or expand innovative school models in 2026—meeting the needs of even more Texas students.
Where Innovation Meets Opportunity:
The Texas Education Freedom Award
In Spring 2025, following the passage of Texas’s groundbreaking Education Savings Account Program, members of the Yass Prize community signaled their interest in expanding award-winning school models across the state, ensuring families could access a wide variety of life-changing educational opportunities.
To support this vision, the Texas Education Freedom Award was created in alignment with the Yass Prize mission to find, reward, celebrate, and expand education providers who STOP for students. After a rigorous review process, and at a special event held in partnership with the University of Austin (UATX), select Yass Prize alumni were awarded funding to position them to launch or expand innovative school models in 2026—meeting the needs of even more Texas students.
Zimria is a proud graduate of RISE Hybrid Class of 2022 and now Virginia Tech, where she completed her degree in just three years. This incredible achievement reflects her dedication and drive. She is now pursuing the next step in her journey as she applies to veterinary school.
Maya graduated with honors this May 2025 with a BS Degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Physiological Biology from Christopher Newport University. She is currently applying to physical therapy schools as she continues her path toward helping others through health and rehabilitation.
Maya graduated with honors this May 2025 with a BS Degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Physiological Biology from Christopher Newport University. She is currently applying to physical therapy schools as she continues her path toward helping others through health and rehabilitation.
Our First Graduates Graduate College!!
Kristopher graduated with honors this May 2025 with a degree in Biology from the University of Virginia and is in the process of applying to Dental Schools.
University of Maryland-bound
Congratulations to Haylee!
We’re so proud to share that Haylee has been accepted to the University of Maryland, College Park, where she will be pursuing a degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Business Administration.
Thanks to her hard work and dedication, Haylee entered with 30 college credits already completed, giving her a strong head start toward her future career in health and wellness.
Her achievement reflects the academic excellence and college readiness that Rise Hybrid Private Academy fosters in every student.
🏈 Congratulations to Nahshon!
We are so proud that Rise Hybrid Private Academy was part of your journey toward achieving your dream of playing college football at an HBCU.
Your remarkable academic success and athletic talent earned you a full scholarship to Virginia State University, where you’ll continue your football career while pursuing your degree.
We can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish in this exciting new chapter — we’re cheering you on, Nahshon! 🎓💪
