Since its establishment in 1992, the State Fair of Texas® Scholarship Program has continued to uphold the Fair’s nonprofit mission of supporting agriculture, education, and community involvement. Looking forward to another year of supporting Texas students through college scholarships, the State Fair honored its Dallas-area scholarship recipients at the annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon today. New recipients and their families gathered at the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center in Fair Park for the event, hailing from five Dallas Independent School District (DISD) high schools in the Fair Park area. Awarding a total of nearly $1.4 million in new college scholarships in 2018, the Fair recognized 105 Pete Schenkel Scholarship recipients from DISD and four Seasonal Employee Scholarship recipients, in addition to 120 Youth Livestock Scholarship recipients from around the state who could not be in attendance.
Guests got the chance to hear from FOX4 News Anchor Clarice Tinsley, who has served as a longtime Fair supporter and presenter of the awards at the event for many years. Students loved listening to this year’s keynote speaker, Executive Assistant Chief of Police for the Dallas Police Department, David Pughes. In addition, guests heard from a current recipient of the Scholarship Program, Aaron Williford, who is a James Madison High School Alumnus attending Texas A&M University – Commerce.
The State Fair of Texas Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 2,200 students for a total of more than $11.3 million. To honor its past Chairman Pete Schenkel, each year the State Fair awards multiple college scholarships to selected applicants from five DISD high schools surrounding the Fair Park area – Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, 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 and are enrolling in an agricultural-related or agricultural-benefiting curriculum. Awarding its first set of students this year, the Seasonal Employee Scholarship serves a thank you to the Fair’s seasonal employees for their hard work and dedication to the State Fair of Texas.
A total of 105 graduating seniors were awarded the State Fair of Texas Pete Schenkel Scholarship today at the annual celebration, including: Chastity Chavez, Karen Devora Cigarroa, Dulce Ipina Valencia, Jocelyn Jasso, Fatima Mendoza, Cinthya Meza, Fabiola Murillo, Melany Ochoa, Lucero Perez, Rosa Perez, Amy Phan, Fernanda Roman, Jennifer Romero Vasquez, Daniela Saldana, Aolany Sanchez, Melissa Serrano, Jael Tesfaye, Elizabeth Torres, Jennifer Ulloa, Katherine Villa, and Jennifer Villalobos of Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School; Katelyn Bell, Erica Boulden, Aneja Cardell, Ruby Cardenas, David Caro, Jaqueline Cepeda, J’keisha Collins, Tatyana Dunn, Alejandra Hernandez, J’otvia Lewis, Malayshia Roberson, Qua’Dajea Rogers, Kevin Salomon, Alyssa Simpson, Thomas Tolliver, Travion Williams, and Havanna Williams of James Madison High School; Jose Aranda, Dayjus Hill, Laderrika Holland, Kia Hooker-Russell, Kiara Hooker-Russell, Tonarion Jenkins, Kiaya Johnson, Kiara Kabbara, Broderinique Knox, Kymarra Lewis, Naila Lopez, Kiana Moore, Sandra Moreno, Montarius Reed, Randa Slone, Kennedy Taylor, Akieryni West, and Tatyana Wright of Lincoln High School; Antonia Cabanas, Jennifer Calderon, Leonel Campos, Claudia Canales, Brenda Cruz, Jasmine Diaz, Dragana Djakovic, Helen Garcia, Trong Hoang, Alma Macias, Esperanza Manqueros, Kelly Montes De Oca, Alejandro Murillo, Tommy Nguyen, Kathy Nguyen, Jesus Orta, Cristy Ottenwarden, Monica Ozuna De Luna, Cinthia Rayas, Aliyah Reeves, Jerah Marie Sanchez, Jason Solorzano-Delacruz, Stephany Soto, Yaumiri Subiza, and Antonio Zaragoza of North Dallas High School; Victoria Arenas, Liyat Assefa, Adam Becker, Audrey Blumenstock, Charlotte Devine, Aaron Furman, Annabelle Furrh, Angelica Islas, Michael Kavas, Paul Kraus, Henry Lloyd, Zachary Longhway, Chloe Mabry, Madeline Mcculloch, Elizabeth Mcpherson, Daniel Ramos, Emily Rosas, Ethan Rose, Marino Sanchez, Julia Van Witzenburg, William Warncke, Travis West, Carly Williams, and Alexa Zotos of Woodrow Wilson High School.
A total of four recipients were awarded the State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship today at the annual celebration, including: Jack Hyland, Camisha Nelson, Kailyn Newsom, and Lakiaya Stephens.
A total of 120 Youth Livestock Scholarships have been awarded to graduating seniors from across the Lone Star State, including: Aaricka Thomas of Eden, Abbey Ivey of Brownwood, Afton Compton of Georgetown, Alexandra Ely of Boerne, Allison Morgan of Sherman, Ashley Simpson of Eastland, Audrey Acord of Madisonville, Bailee McKay of Dumas, Bailey Thorin of Cypress, Bailey Teter of Riesel, Baylee Hogan of Franklin, Blaine Gibson of Paradise, Breanna Bowen of Como, Breckyn LeCompte of Perryton, Brianna Coleman of San Antonio, Brynden Andrews of Como, Caitlin Williams of Denver City, Caleb Kott of Junction, Caroline Wolf of Windthorst, Carson Millican of Seminole, Carson Read of Rhome, Cassidey Weems of Liberty Hill, Cate Harris of Barry, Chase Coursey of Farmersville, Cierra Dickerson of Bryan, Claire Plemons of Blooming Grove, Clayton Ramsey of Navasota, Cody Harris of Navasota, Cole Crownover of Sunray, Conner Metcalfe of Corsicana, Darci Gann of Meridian, David Hemphill of Hondo, Eliza Lazenby of North Zulch, Emily Hoelscher of Talpa, Emily Brite of Granbury, Emily Terry of Aubrey, Erin Steglich of Holland, Graceann Mullins of Golden, Haley Pollard of Chico, Haley Houston of Livingston, Hannah Hull of Early, Hunter Grant of pittsburg, Jaimie Jones of Krum, Jalee Luna of Troy, James Cochran of Christoval, James Rogers of Hamilton, Jayla Lair of Cooper, Jayli Teeters of Spearman, Jessica Spenrath of Comfort, Jessica Dykes of Spring, Jodi Toler of Forestburg, John Womack of Troup, John Lowry of Wylie, John Branch of Omaha, John Morgan of Manvel, John Woodard of Paris, Jordan Hess of Stephenville, Justin Wells of Caddo Mills, Kaleigh Meador of Amarillo, Kameron Riddle of Lamesa, Kamlynn Thomas of Jacksboro, Kassi Koy of New Waverly, Katelyn Cozart of Zephyr, Katelyn Caldwell of Midlothian, Katie Perkins of Irene, Kayla Seale of Crawford, Kennedy Caldwell of Slaton, Kindall Manning of Dublin, Kullen Sorrels of Dalhart, Kyla Seale of Crawford, Kylie burns of maypearl, Kylie Harlan of Sherman, Kymber Fleitman of Lindsay, Kyndal Sligh of Moody, Latimer Burnett of Sweetwater, Lauren Prescher of Clifton, Lauren Hillert of Wellborn, Lauren Lee of Hamilton, Lauryn Luttrull of Decatur, Leslie King of Cypress, Lexus Yow of Franklin, Luke Dotson of Dawson, Macey Thurman of Happy, Maci Loving of New Caney, Makenzie Newton of New Boston, Marcus Rogers of Greenville, Matthew Wallace of Sunset, McKenzie Brightwell of Henderson, McKenzie Castro of Gilmer, Megan Burgess of Marion, Micah Trull of Brady, Morgan Hollingsworth of Del Rio, Nicole Jones of Bullard, Paige Perryman of Seminole, Paityn Glaze of Collinsville, Payton Evans of Henderson, Randy Denton of Grand Saline, Regan Watson of Royse City, Regan Merryfield of Conroe, Riley Reep of Ropesville, Ryli Ruffin of Mason, Sadie Bow of Happy, Samantha Corn of Franklin, Shae Rimpel of Athens, Shane Flanagan of Ballinger, Sterling Friedrich of Abilene, Sterling Pieniazek of Denton, Tanner Stokes of Andrews, Tanner Miller of Gilmer, Tara Glasscock of Early, Tatum Whitewood of Sanger, Taylor Loeffler of Lampasas, Taylor Yates of DeKalb, Taylor Boone of Greenville, Teegan Mackey of Giddings, Tyler Griffeth of Justin, Victoria Ramsey of Idalou, Victoria Parkey of Archer City, Wesley Fehrle of Burton, and Whitney Johnson of Waxahachie.
Scholastic performance is important, with preference given to students ranking in the top 25% of their class. 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. Recipients must enroll in a minimum of 12 hours for the fall 2018 term. 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 Fair congratulates these deserving students on their accomplishments and is happy to support them in pursuing their dreams. 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. The gates will be open for the 2018 State Fair of Texas starting September 28 through October 21, with the theme “Celebrating Texas Innovation.”