BERNARDINO AGUILAR “BARNEY” MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Congratulations to our Recipients of the Bernardino Aguilar “Barney” Memorial Scholarship!

Mr. Barney was a beloved Bronco staff member at Vineyard Ranch, and his passing has left a huge hole in our hearts. He was a true selfless leader and PTA would like to honor his memory by recognizing the life lasting impact he has had in our students. Our PTA created a memorial fund in honor of Mr. Barney, and the remainder of this fund will be used this scholarship for the 2021-2022 school year. This scholarship will honor two Highs School Seniors that have embodied Barney’s legacy in their Community Service and Outreach Projects.

Miss Erin Barrera

Our first Mr. Barney scholarship recipient is a young woman who embodies the habit of “Synergy” when she works to complete various Reagan High School Thespian Troop projects as the Stage Manager. Her volunteerism extends from working at the San Antonio Food Bank, Project Polio, and she volunteers for many years at Vineyard Ranch Elementary events even rallying for her fellow thespians to join her service work. She moved to Vineyard Ranch Elementary as a very shy 4th grader; she recalls how kind Mr. Barney was to her at lunch and even worked to introduce her to new friends. Her fondest memory of Mr. Barney was being mesmerized by Barney’s DJ sound equipment! She even recalls that Mr. Barney let her go back behind the mixer to select a song. She picked “What Does the Fox Say;” moments later a crowd of eager 4th graders crowded Barney’s booth howling with joy. Miss Erin Barrera credits Barney for helping her get out of her shy shell and impacted her love for theatre productions! 

Marek Kiolbassa


Our second Mr. Barney scholarship recipient is a young man who’s service extends from volunteering to run children’s music summer camps, work at the Food Bank farm, helped with a massive Fine Arts department clean up at Reagan High School, works in the NEISD clothes closet, sets up VRE teacher treats, breakfasts, works in the VRE outdoor classroom and garden, and has helped set up Earth Day 2020-2022 for the entire VRE campus. During Spring and Summer of 2021, this young man drove around pouring water on the Mr. Barney trees and student gardens. He thinks of how Mr. Barney took a “put first things first” attitude when Barney balanced his school duties and Barney’s way of going the extra mile for students like when Barney was a beloved DJ. This student remembers how Barney “pretty much had a playlist of all 1970’s music” which actually this student says broadened his horizon for different music genres and has influenced his continued love for music.