Jason Ludeke, Equity Portfolio Manager, Saracen Energy Advisors

Imagine taking courses for a Masters in Business Administration at the same time you are trying to wrap up your final year in an undergraduate degree program? And imagine that undergraduate degree is in Engineering Science?

Cypress Falls High School graduate Jason Ludeke did just that. He graduated from Tulane University with a B.S. in Engineering Science (Math minor) in 2000, and then with an MBA from Tulane in 2001. It was a solid double-play by the former Cy-Falls baseball player who was salutatorian of the class of 1996.

Ludeke said the four-year scholarship he received through the Cypress-Fairbanks Educational Foundation allowed him to achieve his post-high school educational goals.

"The scholarship gave me flexibility," Ludeke said. "I only had to work during the summers. During the school year I was able to concentrate on my studies and networking."

"It allowed me to get the most out of my college experience," he said.

Ludeke said without the CFEF scholarship he would have had to work while carrying a full load of classes, and that may have delayed his plans for taking master's level courses during his undergraduate senior year.

He has been busy climbing the ladder to success ever since.

After graduating with his MBA, Ludeke returned to his hometown to work for El Paso Corp. In 2002 he left town to work for Cardinal Investment Company in Dallas as an associate.

Saracen Energy Advisors lured him back to Houston a year-and-a-half ago. He manages a portfolio of energy-related stocks.

Thing are going well at Saracen, he said. The company has almost doubled in size since he came on board.

With the cost of undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs climbing every year, Ludeke stresses the importance of leaving no stone unturned in the quest for scholarships and educational financial assistance.

"I advise high school students who need financial assistance to sit down with their school counselors and see what's out there," Ludeke said. "Eleven years ago, our counselor had a thick book of niche scholarships that not many people knew about."

"Our family was ecstatic when I received my scholarship!" he said.