Texan Leaders in the Making
From graduating high school seniors in our South Dallas neighborhood, to students throughout the Lone Star State with livestock and agricultural backgrounds, and State Fair of Texas seasonal employees, we are proud of our scholarship recipients and their dedication to higher education. Our Big Tex scholars are currently working towards earning degrees across 47 different Texas universities and colleges. We applaud them for their eagerness to make a difference in their community while staying diligent in their studies. We look forward to investing in each student’s journey as they continue to follow their dreams.
2018 Pete Schenkel Scholar, Cinthia Rayas
“Every time I hear state fair it reminds me of the first scholarship I have received and the first ones who opened doors to my dreams. They were the reason I continue pushing myself to be better. I love going to the fair. Being a Big Tex Scholar has been a blessing because I am able to see they had my back from the beginning. This title means so much to me, how even though doors were closed this door was open and I can tell my future kids how my dreams and hopes where able to be reached because of the state fair scholarship.”
2020 Youth Livestock Scholar, Macie McCollum
“I remember attending the State Fair of Texas when I was six years old. I was in awe of Big Tex, of the fair food, and the livestock show. At the age of nine I exhibited my very steer at the fair winning Reserve Champion Lightweight British. It was my first taste of success in the show ring and to this day it was one of the sweetest. Fast forward ten years…being a Big Tex Scholar truly shows that my involvement with the State Fair of Texas has come full circle, and I could not be prouder of my hard work to accomplish this.”
2017 Youth Livestock Scholar, Dylan Sione
“I had to take a two-year gap year because of a severe car crash. I was originally supposed to be a part of the class of 2021, but the night before classes, I was hit as a pedestrian by a car travelling 70 mph and sustained a broken tibia/fibula in both legs and a fractured occipital socket among other lacerations. It took 7 surgeries over the course of two years to get to where I am now. I am not back to where I was before, but I am able to walk around campus and try to be a normal college student (even if I am a couple years older than the rest of the people in my class). A lot of my college savings was used to help cover medical costs, so having this scholarship has been extremely helpful.”
2022 Pete Schenkel Scholarship Recipients
Abigail Galvan
Addison Leonard
Alfredo Hernandez
Alondra Riojas
Alonzo Cortez
Analee Catalan
Angela Chavez
Anyah Peters
Belia Sanchez-Booth
Benjamin Winslow
Brandon Patterson
Brenda Gochez-Menendez
Brian Higgins Jr.
Britney Mercado Benitez
Carter Vu
Chloe Serna
Cindy Gomez
Clarissa Molina
Daisy Ramirez
Daniel Perez-Martinez
Deanna Choice
Deidre Lewis
Emily Hebert
Evelyn Casillas
Evelyn Castro
Faith Frieling
Fatima Castillo
Flavia Santamaria
Frances Ray
Gloria Torres
Guadalupe Rosales
Hailey Andrade
Hennessy Meza
Isabella Tames
Isis Balderas
Ivan Barron
Jacqueline Martinez
Jamaree Riley
JaMya Maryland
Jesus Martinez
Jimena Ibarra
Joen Rodriguez
Juan Bermudez-Saenz
Juan Martinez
Julianna Serrano
Kate Alonzo
Kenya Hart
Khylen Loya
Kyler Bolden
Lauren Castillo-Rodriguez
Lesley Aguilera
Lizbeth Martinez
Lourdes Randle
Luis Lopez
Luisa Sukkar
Lydia Rangel
Macie Cisneros
Marco Barrera
Melat Assefa
Michael Rodriguez
Na’Kariea Applewhite
Natalia Ybarra
Paisley Garrett
Paris Blaylock
Romika Nguyen
Sean Trimble
Sergiauona Anthony
Shadai Harrison
Shawnthy Pen
Steven Williams
Taniya Payne
Treneaja Baxter
Vanessa Villalobos
Willam Barnett
Ximena De Leon
Yesenia Gutierrez
Yhurixi Rodriguez-Guerrero
2022 Youth Livestock Scholarship Recipients
Addison Thorin
Alexis Alaniz
Amanda Hoffmann
Anna LaRue
Annabelle Terrell
Annaleah Lombardo
Annie Fallon
Aubrey Thornton
Audrey Bishop
Avery Brooks
Baileigh Shaw
Bailey McEntee
Barrett Bradshaw
Bayli Leingang
Benjamin Johnson
Blake Beste
Brady Wilson
Brinley Allison
Brooke Elkins
Bryce Fisher
Callie Welty
Carrie Buck
Carson Esker Dugger
Casen Slayton
Cash Martin
Cash Vititow
Cassady Craddock
Cassidee Butler
Cassidy Fuchs
Colby Coker
Colter Pohlman
Colton Coburn
Colton Lortz
Coltyn Campbell
Connor Pence
Courtney Burrell
Dalton Hamilton
Dillon Prokop
Faith Geistweidt
Faran Atkins
Hannah Simpson
Harley Brockelman
Haylee Howell
Haylyn Gembler
Haze Tomascik
Heather Hough
Holly Alderson
Hunter Pemberton
Jacob Lowrie
Jake Simpson
Jessalyn Payne
Justin Richey
Justin Spenrath
Kaitlynn Hughes
Kamden Hutton
Kamryn Teeters
Karagen Dreibrodt
Karlye Williams
Katy Powers
KaytLynn Lemley
Kendall Bone
Kendall Thompson
Kenedy DeVoe
Kenna Lane
Kennedy Hobbs
Kobe Thomas
Kodi Davis
Kollier Miller
Kooper Hansard
Kyal Browne
Kylie Hartley
Lane Hillert
Laney Ferrell
Macie Goodson
Mackenzie Foster
Macy Pool
Madelynn Ford
Madison Waters
Madlyn Nichols
Maggie Smitherman
Maggie Spikes
Marisa Frazier
McKenzie Bancroft
Morgan Dreyer
Mya Alford
Natalie Putnam
Olivia Dykes
Peyton Smith
Remington Castellese
Rylah Morgan
Savannah Rabe
Savannah Whitt
Shelbi Loving
Sidney Hunter
Stephen Fuhrmann
Steven Moran
Summer Conway
Sunny Cowley
Taije Schroeder
Tanna Thiel
Tanner Owen
Taylor Moore
Tess Homeyer
Tirey Bow
Trayle Schroeder
Trevor Gibbs
Trey Hagen
Trey Hoffmann
Tristyn Reed
Ty Pressley
Tyler Martin
Waylon Hinze
Wesley Wages
Weston Hinze
William Anderson
Wyatt Drews
Zachary Gray
Zoe Maurer
Zoey Serapin
2022 State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship Recipients
Abigail Sanchez
Allison Stec