HOUSTON, TEXAS—October 8, 2025—Centre Technologies selected San Antonio-based student, Diego Perez, as their Kathy Pace Scholarship awardee. The Kathy Pace Technology scholarship is an opportunity commemorating the late Kathy Pace who believed in supporting the community and continuing education. This technology-based scholarship is meant to help students change the future of technology’s impact.
Centre Technologies announced their Kathy Pace Scholarship award selections this past week. From over 150 applications, Diego Perez was chosen by the Centre selection committee. The Kathy Pace Technology Scholarship was established in memory of Kathy Pace and her deep-seated commitment to uplifting the community through education. Recognizing the evolving role of technology, this scholarship seeks to empower future technology leaders who demonstrate both technical ability and a dedication to creating positive change. Each year, Centre Technologies awards $5,000 to an incoming first-year, undergraduate, or graduate student pursuing advanced studies in a technology-related field. Recipients may apply the scholarship toward tuition or other qualified educational expenses. This year, due to unanimous interest in the applicant's motivation and growth path, Diego was the sole awardee, receiving $10,000.
Additionally, the committee believes applicants like Diego should embody the spirit of encouraging and supporting others, and demonstrate care for both the people around them, and for their community. They should then produce 2 letters of recommendations, appropriate transcripts, and an essay which describes (1) what technology means to applicants and (2) how they plan to work with technology in the future.
This year's recipient is a first-year student at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Perez, who is pursuing a degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Operations, was selected for his passion for technology, commitment to public service, and vision for a more secure digital future.
Inspired by his father’s 25-year career in law enforcement, Perez views cybersecurity as a modern extension of protecting and serving the community. “I want to be on the frontline of the country’s cyber defense,” said Perez. “Helping to protect people and mitigate the effects of cyberattacks is how I plan to make a difference.”
Centre understands the ripple effect of investing in their surround communities and the impact this scholarship offers. This scholarship has created opportunities for winners to garner unique and extraordinary outcomes including Lizette Flores who went on post-graduation to work for Centre Technologies and Katelyn Trout who worked for Amazon on Alexa software before joining The Walt Disney Company's Product Engineer team. This award has additional impacts on the current awardee.
When asked how he plans to contribute to the next generation of technology professionals, Perez emphasized the importance of digital trust. “I want to give people the comfort of knowing their online experiences are secure,” he said. “And if something does happen, I want to be the person who helps them recover and feel safe again.”
Centre Technologies is honored to support students like Diego who embody the spirit of dedication, community, and service. “My mother was a firecracker who firmly believed in the next generation" Centre CEO and son of the late Kathy Pace, Chris Pace, intimated. "Diego embodies the same spirit she had for resilience and paying it forward to all our local communities. His story is a powerful reminder of why we do this. I'm excited to see where he goes and I'm certain it includes a lot of completed goals and impactful actions for the world around him.”
This is a yearly scholarship opportunity that Centre will continue in 2026.