Lifestyle

State Fair of Texas Awards Scholarships to Ag students and Others

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Tony Maples Photography

 

The State Fair of Texas awarded over $1.24 million in college scholarships to deserving high school students in 2020. This year featured 208 scholarships, including 82 Pete Schenkel Scholarships and 120 Youth Livestock Scholarships. Two Seasonal Employee Scholarships, one Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, one Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship, and two Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarships were awarded.

Since its inception in 1992, The Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to over 2,700 students, for a total of more than $13.7 million. Selected applicants who participated in youth livestock competitions at the State Fair of Texas receive scholarships each year.

Youth Livestock Scholarships

State Fair of Texas Awards Scholarships to Ag students and Others

Photo: State Fair of Texas

120 Youth Livestock Scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from across the state. Scholarships were awarded to Abigail Hooper of Joaquin, Alexis Ruthart of Mabank, Anna Pickering of Redwater, and Anna Schieberle of Rockwall. Also Anna Abbe of Corsicana, Annah Morris of Bronson, Ashlyn Real of Conroe, Bailey Lamb of Huntsville, Baylee Glaze of Tioga, and Bayleigh Becker of Farmersville.

Additional recipients are Blake Dunkel of Archer City, Blake Mills of Center Point, Bonnie McKinzie of Stephenville, Brantly Hoover of Midland, and Brittney Brown of Splendora. Brooke Blackshear of Cypress, Bryanne Cude of Goree, Bryce Hamlin of Big Spring, Cade Hellman of Gainesville, Caitlyn Muckensturm of Krum, and Cambree Schwartz of San Angelo also received scholarships. Also Casey Smith of Wylie, Cassady Craddock of Howe, Cassidi DeArmond of Three Rivers, Charlotte Smalley of Petersburg, Cheyenne Neal of Saltillo, Clint Demmitt of Bridgeport, and Colby Allensworth of Bryan.

More Scholarship Students

State Fair of Texas Awards Scholarships to Ag students and Others

Photo: State Fair of Texas

Colton Smith of Arp, Colton Meurer of Aquilla, Cutter Pohlman of Hereford, Dacey Dietiker of Clifton, Dave Mitchell of Bremond, Daylin Watkins of Kaufman, Dylan Outlaw of Bryan, and Emerald Salinas of Mission also received scholarships. Also Emilee Sanderson of Blackwell, Emma Nowotny of New Braunfels, Eric Smith of Ennis, Erica Adams of Chireno, Evan Price of Pilot Point, Faith Snapp of Slaton, Gracen Proctor of Lamesa, Graci Phillips of Valley Spring, Gracie Oates of Paradise, and Hailey Crumley of Lorena.

Hailey Moore of Roby, Hailey Byrd of Dangerfield, Hallie Hall of Mount Pleasant, Jagger Horn of Anson, Jaleigh Ivy of Midland, Jayce Morgan of Manvel, Jesse Outlaw of Alvord, John Reaves of Spring, Juna Glasscock of Valley Spring, and Justin Crumpton of Midlothian received scholarships.

Youth Livestock Scholarships Continued

State Fair of Texas Awards Scholarships to Ag students and Others

Photo: State Fair of Texas

Kadee Petty of Sonora, Kaden Cornelius of Crosbyton, Kailey Thomas of Perryton, Kalah Pressley of Sandia, Kallie Childress of Dalhart, Kamryn Bevel of Bedias, Kandra Fullen of Eastland, Karson Kelso of Seguin, Katelyn Klawinsky of Willis, Kayla Wunderlich of Spring Branch, and Kaylee McInvale of Lockney received scholarships. Also Kellie Tondre of La Coste, Kelton Poe of Needville, Kelton Marek of Harper, Kennedy Marshall of Nacogdoches, Kevin Jendrusch of Falls City, Kyle Coward of Gatesville, Maci Wisdom of Weatherford, and Macie McCollum of Bellevue.

Mackenzee Burton of Valley Mills, MacKenzi Miller of Panhandle, Madilynn Isaacs of Fairfield, Madison Peterson of Blooming Grove, Madyson Schulze of Seguin, Maggie Jedlicka of Bryan, Mary Gilliland of Guthrie, Mason Meier of Stonewall, McKinley Lee of Wichita Falls, Meghan Coursey of Farmersville, and Mikaela Loerwald of Florence received scholarships. Also Mikaela Terry of Bryan, Miles Huffhines of Canyon, Nathan Friesenhahn of Marion, Nathan Feuquay of Lindale, Nicholas Withaeger of Weatherford, Orrin Parker of Lindale, Payton Schertz of Denton, Payton Fletcher of Van Alstyne, Presley Wirebaugh of New Braunfels, Rachel White of Burleson, and Rachel Bradford of Temple.

State Fair of Texas Awards Scholarships to Ag students and Others

Photo: State Fair of Texas

Rachel Crane of Omaha, Raylee Pack of Stephenville, Reagan McCawley of Baytown, Reagan Powers of Mansfield, Reed Seidenberger of Garden City, Rette Peters of Stephenville, Riley Cook of Tahoka, Rowdy Pearson of Bastrop, Ryan Stephens of Comanche, Samantha Raney of Big Spring, and Savannah Keel of Waco received scholarships. Also Shannon Anderson of Seguin, Shelby Berckenhoff of Hallettsville, Sierra Sebesta of Snook, Skylor Schertz of Denton, Sydney Orsborn of Wills Point, Tatum Christie of Tolar, Taylor Williams of Avery, Taylor O’Brien of Sinton, Trista Lawson of Bowie, Wrye Akers of Abernathy, Zane Wanjura of Weimar, and Zoie Stevens of Oakwood.

College scholarships to applicants from six Dallas ISD high schools in the Fair Park area are given in honor of past Chairman Pete Schenkel. The schools are Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson high schools. The Seasonal Employee Scholarship thanks those employees for their hard work and dedication to the State Fair of Texas.

A total of 82 graduating seniors from six DISD high schools were awarded the State Fair of Texas Pete Schenkel Scholarship. Two recipients, Madison Mathers and Vickie Glasco, received the State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship.

Scholarship Grants of $6,000

State Fair of Texas Awards Scholarships to Ag students and Others

Photo: State Fair of Texas

Scholarship recipients receive a $6,000 grant, which is renewable each semester the student meets the criteria for renewal. Students must attend an accredited college, university, or trade school in Texas. To qualify for scholarship renewal, recipients must pass a minimum of 12 hours each semester. They must also achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA their first semester, with a 3.0 cumulative GPA for every following semester.

The State Fair also awards several ancillary scholarships for outstanding students. They receive an additional $6,000 over four years, for a total of $12,000 to put towards higher education.

The Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship was presented to Bryce Hamlin of Big Spring, who “embodies the qualities of a strong leader in agriculture education.” The Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Kimi Brown, a graduating senior from Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School. The Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship was awarded to outstanding sophomores in the Big Tex Scholarship Program with the highest GPAs. The 2020 Pete Schenkel recipient is Jotovia Lewis, and the Youth Livestock recipient is Tatum Whitewood of Lubbock.

The State Fair of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and does not receive any government funding or support. The net proceeds from the Fair are reinvested in Fair Park for capital improvements; and given as scholarships to deserving students throughout the state of Texas. The 2020 State Fair of Texas is September 25 through October 18, with the theme “Celebrating Texas Icons.”