Big Tex Scholarship Program Awards More Than $1.2M

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 Staff Report 0 Comments GIVINGPEOPLE, PHN

The State Fair of Texas awarded $1.2 million in scholarships this year, including to students from six Dallas ISD schools – Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson high schools.

Across the state, the State Fair is awarding 202 scholarships, including 77 Juanita Craft Scholarships, 119 Youth Livestock Scholarships, two Seasonal Employee Scholarships, one Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, one Clarice Tinsley Journalism Scholarship, one Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship, and one Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship.

With the help of The Big Tex Scholarship Program, I am a step closer to pursuing my life goals and furthering my education to bigger and better places,” said 2022 Juanita Craft Scholarship recipient, A’Nyah Peters of Woodrow Wilson High School. “I plan on attending a four-year university, something that many of my family members did not accomplish. I will be majoring in nursing, in hopes to become a NICU nurse in the future. You can guarantee that your committee will be investing in a diligent student attempting to make a way out into the world. Thank you all for providing another opportunity to help fund my college expenses.”

“The Big Tex Scholarship will help me with my future goals of becoming an immigration lawyer debt-free.” said 2022 Juanita Craft Scholarship recipient and first-generation college student, Macie Cisneros of North Dallas High School. “This scholarship is allowing me to pursue my career at no cost and helping me achieve the goals I have always dreamed of.”

“I was given the opportunity to work with the State Fair of Texas’s Media Team during my junior year in high school,” said 2022 Youth Livestock Scholarship recipient Callie Welty. “This experience was tremendously valuable in helping me not only find my major for college but also my passion and purpose. I plan to find new and innovative ways to advocate for agriculture worldwide. I owe a huge thank you to the State Fair for this scholarship and for helping me find my future career!”

In its 31-year history, the Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 3,000 students for a program total of more than $16.1 million.

A total of 77 graduating seniors from six DISD high schools were awarded the State Fair of Texas Juanita Craft Scholarship, including:

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

Two recipients were awarded the State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship, including:

Abigail Sanchez
Allison Stec

A total of 119 Youth Livestock Scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from across the Lone Star State, including:

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

Recipients receive a $6,000 grant, renewable each semester if the student meets the criteria for renewal. Students must attend an accredited college or university within the state. 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 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 toward higher education.

Receiving this year’s Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, Brady Wilson embodies the qualities of a strong leader in agriculture education.
The Clarice Tinsley Journalism Scholarship is awarded to one outstanding student – a sophomore Big Tex Scholarship recipient who is pursuing a degree in journalism. This year’s recipient is Kyla Moseley.
Awarded to a graduating senior from Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, this year’s recipient of the Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship is Lizbeth Martinez.
The Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore in the Big Tex Scholarship Program with the highest GPA. This year’s recipient is Youth Livestock Scholar, Zane Wanjura.