Unveiling the Big Tex Scholarship Program: Opportunities for Texas Students
The Big Tex Scholarship Program represents a significant investment in the future of Texas, providing financial assistance to students pursuing higher education. With over $20.1 million in awards distributed to more than 3,700 students to date, the program continues to grow in its mission to support Texas education through initiatives like the Big Tex Scholarship Program. This article delves into the various scholarship opportunities available through the Big Tex Scholarship Program, outlining eligibility requirements and application details.
A Commitment to Education
Promoting education is a cornerstone of the State Fair of Texas' mission. The Big Tex Scholarship Program directly supports this mission by providing financial resources to deserving Texas students. The State Fair of Texas helps support multiple pillars of its nonprofit mission of promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement by offering three different scholarship opportunities: the Juanita Craft Scholarship, Youth Livestock Scholarship, and Seasonal Employee Scholarship.
Scholarship Categories
The Big Tex Scholarship Program offers several distinct scholarship categories, each with its own eligibility criteria:
- Juanita Craft Scholarship: This scholarship honors Juanita Craft, a South Dallas resident and civil-rights activist. It supports students from six Fair Park-area high schools.
- Youth Livestock Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students who competed in specific youth events at the State Fair and are enrolling in a Texas college or trade school.
- Seasonal Employee Scholarship: This scholarship supports seasonal staff members directly employed by the State Fair of Texas or their dependents.
Juanita Craft Scholarship: Empowering Fair Park Students
Named in honor of South Dallas resident and civil rights activist, Juanita Craft, the State Fair of Texas awards multiple $6,000 scholarships to selected applicants from the following Fair Park-area high schools: Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson High Schools. This scholarship aims to empower students from the Fair Park area, providing them with the resources to pursue their academic aspirations.
Youth Livestock Scholarship: Recognizing Agricultural Excellence
The State Fair of Texas awards $6,000 scholarships to selected applicants who have competed in specific competitive youth livestock events held at the State Fair. Scholarships are given to applicants who are graduating from a Texas high school and enrolling in a Texas college, university, or trade school. While preference is given to those enrolling in an agricultural-related or agricultural-benefiting natural science curriculum/major, it is not required.
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Eligible applicants must have competed in one or more of the following events:
- Donkey & Mule Show, Youth Class
- Horse Show: AHA, Youth Class
- Horse Show: 5D Barrel Race, Youth Class
- Horse Show: Youth RSNC Ranch Sorting
- Horse Show: 4-H 4X4 Chute
- Youth Rodeo
- Junior Llama Show
- Junior TLBT Longhorn Cattle Show
- Junior TLBT Longhorn Showmanship
- National Youth Food Challenge Contest
- Youth Food Challenge Contest
- Youth Agricultural Job Interview Contest
- Youth Agricultural Public Speaking Contest
- Youth Agricultural Science Fair
- Youth Agriculture Mechanics Premier Exhibitor Sweepstakes
- Youth Agriculture Mechanics Project Show and Tractor Restoration Contest
- Youth AgRobotics Contest
- Youth Archery Contest
- Youth Agriculture Product Identification Contest
- Youth Range and Pasture Plant Identification Contest
- Youth Wildlife Contest
- Youth Dairy Judging Contest
- Youth Livestock Judging Contest
- Youth Beef Skillathon Contest
- Youth Sheep Skillathon Contest
- Youth Swine Skillathon Contest
- Youth Breeding Beef Heifer Show
- Youth Breeding Beef Heifer Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Gilt Show
- Youth Breeding Gilt Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Goat Show
- Youth Breeding Goat Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Sheep Show
- Youth Breeding Sheep Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Rabbit Show
- Youth Dairy Cattle Show
- Youth Dairy Cattle Showmanship
- Youth Dairy Goat Show
- Youth Dairy Goat Showmanship
- Youth Market Barrow Show
- Youth Market Broiler Show
- Youth Market Goat Show
- Youth Market Lamb Show
- Youth Market Steer Show
- Youth Prospect Steer Show
- Youth Poultry Showmanship
Seasonal Employee Scholarship: Supporting the State Fair Family
First awarded in 2018, the Seasonal Employee Scholarship awards scholarships each year to seasonal staff members directly employed by the State Fair of Texas or to a dependent child, step-child, grandchild, step-grandchild, foster, or adopted child of the qualified seasonal employee. This scholarship is available for applicants who plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year Texas college, university, or trade school.
Eligible seasonal staff are those who have completed at least three years of seasonal employment as of January 1st of the year in which the scholarship is to be awarded, have worked an average of 20 hours a week during the prior Fair, and are in good standing.
General Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a Big Tex Scholarship, applicants must generally meet the following criteria:
- Be graduating from a Texas high school.
- Be enrolling in a Texas college, university, or trade school.
- Meet the specific requirements for the scholarship category they are applying for.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Alongside these opportunities, the Big Tex Scholarship Program also awards additional scholarships to exemplary program recipients, with opportunities available for both newly awarded applicants and current sophomores, who can be selected to receive an additional $6,000 to be disbursed throughout the duration of their college career.
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Additional scholarships include the Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship, Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship, Clarice Tinsley Journalism Scholarship, and Youth Livestock Contest Scholarships.
Scholarship Renewal Requirements
For students who are already Big Tex Scholars and need to renew their scholarship, certain requirements must be met:
- Attend an accredited college or university within the state of Texas.
- Enroll in, and pass, a minimum of 12 hours each semester (unless fewer hours are needed to graduate).
- Achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA your first semester and a 3.0 cumulative GPA for every semester thereafter.
- Submit the renewal application on the Scholar Portal before the deadline.
The GPA policy allows for one "free pass" if the GPA requirement is not met for one semester, but failing to meet the GPA requirement for two semesters results in probation.
Application Process
The application process for the Big Tex Scholarship Program typically involves submitting an online application, along with required documents such as transcripts and essays. The deadline for applications is usually in early February.
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