DALLAS — We are proud to announce another year of supporting Texas students through new college scholarships, with the State Fair of Texas awarding more than $1 million in new college scholarships this year. Despite the cancellation of the 2020 State Fair of Texas – our largest fundraiser of the year – we are awarding 170 scholarships to deserving students across the Lone Star State: 67 Pete Schenkel Scholarships, 97 Youth Livestock Scholarships, two Seasonal Employee Scholarships, one Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, one Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship, and two Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarships. Since its establishment in 1992, the Big Tex® Scholarship Program has continued to uphold the State Fair’s nonprofit mission of supporting agriculture, education, and community involvement.
In its 30-year history, the Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 2,800 students for a program total of more than $14.9 million. To honor its past Chairman Pete Schenkel, each year the State Fair awards college scholarships to selected applicants from six Dallas ISD high schools surrounding the Fair Park area – Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson high schools. In addition, the State Fair awards scholarships to selected applicants who have participated in youth livestock competitions at the State Fair of Texas. The Seasonal Employee Scholarship serves as a thank you to the Fair’s seasonal employees for their hard work and dedication to the State Fair of Texas – both qualified seasonal employees and their dependents are eligible for this opportunity.
A total of 67 graduating seniors from six DISD high schools were awarded the State Fair of Texas Pete Schenkel Scholarship, including: Alexandra Saucedo, Alexis Smith, Angelina Cruz, Arianna Banda, Carolyn Rivera, Chason Britt, Christian Henry, Christopher Gomez, Daisy Garcia Donato, Daysean Means, Eddie Cherry-Simmons, Eleanor Adams, Eliana Olivas, Emma Lloyd, Erin Smith, Gabriella Williams, Gabrielle Meekins, Grace Pulis, Gustavo Macedo, Hannah Shreiner, Hugo Lopez, Humberto Romo, Iliana Morfin, Irayana Wilson, Jackeline Ramirez, Jackson Miller, Janejira Chapoomee, Jayden Ramirez, Jennifer Lainez, Jennifer Lopez, Jerry Salas, Karizma Smith, Kennedy Blackman, Kriste Tran, Laura Ibanez, Lauren Garcia, Lisa Rattanakone, Lizbeth Arellano, Lizbeth Sanchez, Llasmin Arce, Mackenzie Amaya, Marleny Ulloa, McKenzie Rentie, McKynzie Johnson, Meia Cole, Melanie Vazquez Reyna, Melany Matute, Mya Morrison, Naemy Asmorom, Nancy Galarza, Natalie Bustamante, Natalie Rosas Rosas, Princess Igwe-Icho, Rayven Griffin, Ricardo Ramirez, Rosa Olivo, Ruth Briones, Shaja Vaughn, Skylar Linker, Tayla Slone, Tayvion Godbolt, TeAna Henderson, Tremarrion Wheeler, Ugenia Silva, Vanessa Ortiz, Ysamar Tineo, and Yvette Acevedo.
Two recipients were awarded the State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship, including: Leanne Yancey and Marilyn Johnson.
A total of 97 Youth Livestock Scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from across the Lone Star State, including: Abby Burkham of Bryan, Abby Law of Stratford, Abigail Mayer of Cameron, Addison Schneider of Waco, Alexandria Harris of Salado, Alysa Brown of Van Vleck, Anna Hiser of Crandall, Anna Wyle of Boerne, Annie Horton of Sulphur Springs, Annika Stevens of Oakwood, Ashlyn Summers of Waxahachie, Augusta Reding of Sanger, Avery Flanagan of Ballinger, Benjamin Glass of Floydada, Brandi Connally of Coolidge, Breann Connally of Coolidge, Brendel O’Brien of Lamesa, Brittley Bowers of Fredericksburg, Brittyn LeCompte of Perryton, Caden Carver of Abernathy, Caitlyn Hobbs of Mount Pleasant, Carson Reed of Corsicana, Channing Pieniazek of Denton, Chloe Krause of Stephenville, Colter Darilek of Shiner, Cooper Ford of Weslaco, Cooper Silco of New Braunfels, Courtney Thurman of Bryan, Cynthia Parker of Lometa, Dalton Outlaw of Alvord, Dane Sullivan of Groveton, Daniel Raab of Fredericksburg, Danielle Marcantel of Wylie, Donald Ivey III of Brownwood, Emily Ecord of Pennington, Emma Hurst of Madisonville, Ethan Spearman of Rockwall, Giselle Ashton of Brady, Hallie Thomas of Weatherford, Harris Albracht of Bushland, Hunter Gregory of Magnolia, Jace Owen of Canyon, Jacob Norwood of Valley View, Janae Braune of Seguin, Jaxson Zimmerman of Franklin, Kace Murphy of Kilgore, Kalli Kimble of Kingsbury, Kari Schulte of Nazareth, Karlie Lowe of Lindale, Katelyn Burns of Medina, Kayce Lopez of Fort Worth, Kayden Perry of Kilgore, Keene Kreusler of New Braunfels, Kendyll Williams of Huntsville, Kloe Walker of Celeste, Kolby Sims of Murchison, Kollen Furr Thompson of Aledo, Kooper Martin of Sunset, Kurt Bordovsky of Riviera, Kyla Kirk of Bremond, Kyla Moseley of Bells, Kyle Vahlenkamp of Miles, Kynlee Stephens of Anderson, Landon Stem of Navasota, Landri Hicks of Bells, Lannie Farris of Paris, Luke Read of Temple, Maddie O’Leary of Brock, Madison Colvin of Bryan, Madylin Moczygemba of Hobson, Marla Iselt of Lexington, Megan Bindseil of San Antonio, Michael Penner of Alvarado, Morgan Howe of Weatherford, Morgan Ray of Mingus, Payton Berry of Stratford, Payton Ownbey of Whitney, Rachel Barrett of Como, Raegan Sumrow of Greenville, Ramzey Zimmerman of Franklin, Randen Reep of Ropesville, Reed Thorn of Arp, Rudy Beck of Corsicana, Ryan Hess of Stephenville, Rylee McKinney of Brady, Sarah Beth Brittain of Mt. Enterprise, Savannah Allen of Sulphur Springs, Savannah Johnston of Troy, Shaiden Justice of Eastland, Taylor Barrett of Madisonville, Taylor Delong of Fredericksburg, Taylor Jade Spencer of Canton, Thomas Powers of Lorena, Trey Corn of Franklin, Weston McElroy of Bryan, Wyatt Henske of Kingsville, and Zoey Pruitt of Bremond.
Recipients receive a $6,000 grant, renewable each semester if the student meets the criteria for renewal. Students must attend an accredited college, university, or trade school within the state of Texas. In order to qualify for scholarship renewal, recipients must enroll in, and pass, a minimum of 12 hours each semester. In addition, recipients must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA their first semester and a 3.0 cumulative GPA for every semester thereafter.
The State Fair also awards several ancillary scholarships where outstanding students are awarded an additional $6,000 over four years to combine with the initial awarded $6,000 scholarship, for a total of $12,000 to put towards higher education.
- Receiving this year’s Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, Kolby Sims embodies the qualities of a strong leader in agriculture education.
- Awarded to a strong leader and graduating senior from Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, this year’s recipient of the Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship is Laura Ibanez.
- The Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship is awarded to two outstanding sophomores in the Big Tex Scholarship Program with the highest GPAs. This year’s Pete Schenkel recipient is Tayla Smith and the Youth Livestock recipient is Zane Allen.
The Fair congratulates all of these deserving students on their accomplishments and is happy to support them in pursuing their aspirations for higher education. The State Fair of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not receive any government funding or support. Its nonprofit purpose is funded through the proceeds from the annual State Fair of Texas event. The net proceeds from the Fair are reinvested in Fair Park, in the form of capital improvements; given as scholarships to deserving students throughout the state of Texas; used to support Fair Park museum facilities and community outreach programs; and used to improve the State Fair’s operation. Help support the Fair’s mission of celebrating all things Texan by promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment at this year’s exposition. We look forward to welcoming you back to the 2021 State Fair of Texas with a great, big, “Howdy, Folks!,” starting September 24 and running through October 17.
–State Fair of Texas
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