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. We are proud to announce another year of supporting Texas students through scholarships towards furthering their education, with the State Fair of Texas awarding more than $1.3 million in new college scholarships this year. We are awarding 220 scholarships to deserving students across the Lone Star State: 96 Juanita Craft Scholarships to Dallas ISD students, 115 Youth Livestock Scholarships to students throughout Texas, seven Seasonal Employee Scholarships, one Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, and one Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship.
In its 33-year history, the Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 3,700 students for a program total of more than $20.1 million. Honoring the legacy of South Dallas resident and civil rights activist Juanita Craft, 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 High School of Innovation, James Madison, Lincoln High School and Humanities/Communications Magnet, North Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson high schools. In addition, the State Fair awards scholarships to select applicants across the state 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.
“Being named a 2025 Big Tex Scholar is truly an honor that fills me with deep appreciation. This incredible opportunity will be instrumental in easing the financial aspects of my education, allowing me to dedicate myself fully to my studies and future aspirations. Beyond the financial support, the recognition as a Big Tex Scholar carries a significant weight, which I believe will open doors and enhance my professional journey. I am also very grateful for the chance to connect with the network of scholars and alumni. Thank you for this empowering investment in my future; I am committed to making the most of it and contributing meaningfully,” said Sidney Scott, 2025 Big Tex Juanita Craft recipient from Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation.
“I am honored to be a Big Tex Scholar because I have seen so many other recipients be able to achieve their higher education goals with the help of this scholarship. I am proud that I was given the opportunity to show at the biggest and best state fair in the nation! The memories I made while showing at the State Fair of Texas will now carry over and will forever be with me in my quest for my college degree. The State Fair of Texas helped me grow as an individual during my years of showing livestock, and now, the Big Tex Scholarship Program is continuing to help me grow my education and fulfill my dreams of becoming a pharmacist. Thanks, Big Tex!” said Owen Bryant, 2025 Big Tex Youth Livestock recipient.
“This scholarship means the world to me. This will ensure that I will continue my education in order to one day give back to my community and to make my mom and dad proud,” said Jaden Walker, 2025 Big Tex Seasonal Employee recipient, related to a seasonal ticketing Tex-team member.
A total of 96 graduating seniors from six Dallas ISD high schools were awarded the Big Tex Juanita Craft Scholarship, including:
Oneilla Agama
Natalie Alamilla Barrientos
Alyssa Avalos
Kendall Beavers
Esmeralda Benitez
Isaiah Benitez
Karen Briseno
Karen Cabrera
Layla Carrasco
Jesus Cervantes Cuellar
Victoria Chavez
Juan Chavez
Kaliyah Coley
Rick Collazo
Karime Contreras
Chcobie Cook
Ke’Briarra Craig
Angela Cruz
Jorge Cruz
Analy Cuellar
Johanna Davila
Za’Kiya Davis
Jalicia Dooley
Angelina Esparza
Danna Femat
Keiarra Gabriel
Marilyn Garcia
Neida Garcia
Isabel Garcia
Samantha Gaytan
Jennifer Gonzalez
Brisia Gonzalez Cedillo
Fatima Gracia
Makayla Guerra
Ya’Keya Haynes-Kinney
Hele Herrera-Barajas
Yulianna Huertas Ortiz
Quintasia Isby
Kiyah Jackson
Juan Jimenez
Brisa Jofre
Laurah Johnson
Brandon Keal
Samiya Lane
Xochitl Lazaro
Natalene Lopez
Adan Lopez
Marcos Lopez
Valeria Loza
Giselle Lugardo Rojas
Amethyst Machado
Joceline Macias
Bella Maddux-Martin
Aneth Manzano Perez
Tanya Martinez Romero
Leah Mejia
Juliana Mendoza
Kiara Miles
Kaleb Montemayor
Leah Mosley
Quinton Murphy
Alexxa Navarro Gaspar
Carol Negrete
Rachel Nguyen
Olivia Ogwuegbu
Sophia Olivas
Lauren Osorio
Leslie Palao
Samantha Pena
Ana Perea Mariscal
Diana Ramirez Reyna
Stephanie Ramirez Lopez
Lizbeth Rayo
Emoni Robinson
Natalie Roque Garcia
Jenasie Ruiz
Marlene Ruiz
Mar’shon Runnels
Maha Sall
Perla Sanchez Rincon
Julissa Sanchez
Dulce Sanchez
Sidney Scott
Grace Shoufi
Carlena Spath
Hannah Sublett
Amelia Surya
Tyrique Swindle
Natalie Torres
Valerie Torres
Guadalupe Vargas
Taniya Vaughns
Nicole Vazquez
Nicole Velasquez Hernandez
Nallely Villalobos Amaya
Jordan Zamora
Seven recipients were awarded the Big Tex Seasonal Employee Scholarship, including:
Luz Cota-Jones
Abigail Martinez
Anthony Sanchez
Vincent Taylor
Allison Truscott
Jaden Walker
Destiny Wiggins
A total of 115 Youth Livestock Scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from across the Lone Star State, including:
Hollis Albracht
Archer Albracht
Payton Alexander
Coy Alexander
Caleb Anderson
Allison Arthur
Travis Barrett
Sarah Beck
Kolt Bennett
Baylee Bennett
Bliss Bessire
Sophie Bradshaw
Justin Braune
Braxley Brezina
Reven Brummond
Owen Bryant
Ava Burch
Jeret Burks
McKinley Clem
Caroline Colten
Kaileigh Cook
Laura Cooper
Rhylan Corbin
Corinne Cota
Cole Coufal
Alison Cox
Camryn Craddock
Jayden Davis
Lily Drews
James Dugat
Madelyne Eaton
Claire Ellis
McKenzie Evans
Eileen Faz
Cora Ford
Taylar Fullen
Hannah Garcia
Keagan George
Macy Gilliland
Madelyn Glaze
Kadance Glosson
Addison Hahn
Allison Halfmann
Jenna Harmon
Grant Haynes
Huston Hesseltine
Kinley Hoelscher
Tynslee Horton
Jake Hruska
Wesley Humphreys
Makayla Janysek
Kelsey Johnson
Cone Johnson
Katie Jouett
Kashleigh Kilker
Colton Kimich
Rylie LaMar
MaKenna Land
Caroline Langley
Audrey Libal
Tyler Liere
Brook Locascio
Kyleigh Lock
Brinley Magby
Jennifer Mask
Stran Mayes
Cassy McEntee
Madelyn McFarland
Avery McInvale
Bentlee McKay
Rylee McKneely
Keelyn Meador
Alexia Mullins
Emmalee Mutina
Natalie Newton
Isabella Noe
Sawyer Ownbey
Cade Parker
Jacob Pennington
Emma Peters
Tori Peters
Tripp Phillips
Ella Prosise
Shelby Pullen
Jace Raab
Kathryn Richter
McKenzie Riley
Mason Roeder
Karen Romero
Katelynn Salazar
Sydni Schley
Lindsey Sessum
Layton Shadle
Isabella Shelby
Taylor Simpson
Jessica Skelton
Gavin Slough
Kate Smith
Cooper Smith
James Steglich
Riley Stokes
Reagan Strickland
Makenzie Taylor
Jordan Tigert
Krystal Tondre
Hannah Wages
Calob Walker
Avery Walton
Sierra Waneck
Christina Watts
Emily Wilcoxson
Tynlea Wilson
Abbey Wohleb
Rylee Wunderlich
Kason Yargo
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. 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 in 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 grand total of $12,000 to put towards higher education.
- Receiving this year’s Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, Layton Shadle 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 Nicole Velasquez Hernandez.
The Fair congratulates all of these deserving scholars on their personal and academic achievements and is excited to support them in pursuing their aspirations for higher education and the future of Texan youth. Local scholarship recipients and their families will enjoy an awards fair hosted by the State Fair of Texas, celebrating the 2025 Scholars and all their accomplishments.