Navigating the Frisco Education Foundation Scholarship Program

The Frisco Education Foundation (FEF) Scholarship Program provides a valuable opportunity for Frisco Independent School District (Frisco ISD) graduating high school seniors to pursue higher education. The Foundation serves as a catalyst, connecting outside donors with deserving students through scholarships awarded in the name of corporations, organizations, schools, youth groups, or in memory/honor of an individual. These scholarships vary in value and are directly submitted to the college, university, or trade school of the student's choice.

Understanding the FEF Scholarship

The FEF Scholarship Program is designed to support Frisco ISD graduating seniors in their pursuit of higher education. Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, financial need, community involvement, and volunteer efforts. Donors may also designate specific criteria for their scholarships.

The Frisco Education Foundation exists solely to support the students and staff of Frisco ISD. Through fundraising efforts and community partnerships, the Foundation generates funds for college scholarships and innovative programs that enhance the learning environment within the district.

Eligibility and Application Process

To be considered for FEF scholarships, Frisco ISD graduating seniors must submit an application. The application typically includes a mandatory essay, as well as optional essays, allowing students to showcase their achievements, aspirations, and personal circumstances.

In addition to the essays, applicants are generally required to obtain three recommendations. Two recommendations should come from teachers, while the third should be from an individual outside the student's high school community. It's important to note that the submission of recommendations is required before the application can be submitted.

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The application window for the FEF scholarship typically opens in the fall and closes in December. For example, the application window for the Class of 2026 opened last week and closes in December. The FEF Scholarship application is closed for the Class of 2026. If you are awarded a scholarship, FEF will contact you by early May 2026.

To access the FEF scholarship application and additional outside scholarship opportunities, Frisco ISD students can visit the district portal and select the "Xello" tile. Once logged into Xello, students can click on "College Planning" under Goals and Plans to explore available scholarships and resources.

Key Criteria for Scholarship Awards

The Frisco Education Foundation awards scholarships based on a variety of factors, including:

Academic Achievement: Strong academic performance is a significant factor in the selection process.
Financial Need: The Foundation considers the financial circumstances of applicants to ensure that scholarships support students who may not otherwise have the means to pursue higher education.
Community Involvement: Active participation in community service and extracurricular activities demonstrates a commitment to making a positive impact.
Volunteer Efforts: Volunteering showcases a student's willingness to contribute their time and talents to support meaningful causes.
Other Criteria Designated by Donors: Individual donors may specify additional criteria for their scholarships, such as specific fields of study or involvement in particular organizations.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to the FEF scholarships, Frisco ISD students have access to a wide range of outside scholarship opportunities. The district portal and Xello platform provide a comprehensive listing of scholarships from various organizations and institutions.

The Small World Scholarship

The Small World Scholarship is a full scholarship for two years covering tuition, books, and other related fees up to a total of $4,500 ($1,125 per semester) for students attending Collin College or Collin College Technical School. Please see application for additional criteria and qualifications.

Frisco High School PTSA Scholarship

One of the primary reasons for forming the Frisco High School PTSA is to offer scholarships to graduating seniors. The PTSA typically awards at least one $500 scholarship each year through the Frisco Educational Foundation (FEF).

To be eligible for consideration for the scholarship, a senior must be a member of the Frisco High School PTSA all years that s/he has attended FHS or each year the PTSA has been in existence (if less than the student’s FHS tenure). To be considered, seniors must have submitted a completed FEF scholarship application by the December deadline of the current school year. No additional FHS PTSA application is necessary. Names of eligible seniors will be submitted by Frisco HS PTSA directly to the FEF. FEF will evaluate candidates and select (a) recipient(s) based on specific selection criteria set forth by the FHS PTSA board for the scholarship. For the 2025-26 school year, a senior must be a current member of Frisco High School PTSA to apply for the scholarship. The membership deadline is January 31, 2026.

Texas PTA Scholarships

For more than a century, Texas PTA’s primary goal has been to support Texas students and faculty members in reaching their full potential through continuing education. Each year, Texas PTA awards $1000 to eligible high school seniors and up to $500 scholarships to eligible faculty members at any school level that has a PTA/PTSA on their campus.

Supporting the Frisco Education Foundation

The Frisco Education Foundation relies on the support of the community to continue providing scholarships and innovative programs for Frisco ISD students and staff. Individuals and organizations can contribute to the Foundation through financial donations, volunteer efforts, and sharing their expertise.

Whether making a financial donation to maximize the impact we have on our youth in Frisco ISD, volunteering for an FEF event or sharing your expertise by participating in our programs you can make a difference for our students in Frisco ISD. We would love to hear from you! Better yet, we would love to know you!

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Recent FEF Initiatives and Achievements

The Frisco Education Foundation is actively involved in supporting Frisco ISD students and educators through various initiatives and programs. Some recent highlights include:

FEF Awards Its Highest Number of Senior Scholarships: The Frisco Education Foundation is proud to support the Class of 2025 with the most scholarships and total.
Frisco Education Foundation Awards $92K in Educator Grants: The Grants for Great Ideas program has awarded over $1.33 million to innovative educators since 1999.
Frisco Education Foundation Pays Down Student Meal Balances: Negative balances that accrued during the government shutdown have been reduced thanks to the generosity of FEF donors.
Frisco Education Foundation Awards Classroom Gifts: In its 25th year, the foundation is awarding even more educators with Grants for Great Ideas.

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