State Fair awards seniors scholarships

By Karissa Condoianis

We are proud to announce another year of supporting Texas students through college scholarships, with the State Fair of Texas awarding more than $1.24 million in new college scholarships this year. This year 208 scholarships were awarded – 82 Pete Schenkel Scholarships, 120 Youth Livestock Scholarships, two Seasonal Employee Scholarships, one Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, one Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship, and two Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarships. 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.

The Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 2,700 students for a program total of more than $13.7 million. To honor its past Chairman Pete Schenkel, 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, 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. 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.

A total of 82 graduating seniors from six DISD high schools were awarded the State Fair of Texas Pete Schenkel Scholarship, including: Abigail Martinez, Alexis Canelo, Ana Graciano, Angelo Banda, Ashly Delgado, Ashton Williams, Beau Becker, Brooklyn Brown, Caroline Chauza, Charles Ortega, Charlize Randle, Char’Mondria Jones, Christina Thomas, Christopher Arce, Crystal Henry, Dagim Assefa, Danyelle Hampton, Darinae Dallas,+++ Drazell Washington, Dulce Tovar, Elizabeth Whiteside, Emely Romo, Estefania Ramirez, Esther Castillo, Evelyn Reyna, Femiah Henderson, Freddy Huitron, Gabriela Hernandez, Giuliana Alcaraz, Gloria Farris, Guadalupe Roman, Hannah Wilson, Isabela Alameda, Jackie Vega, Jacksary Castanon, Jackson Cunniff, Jacquelyn Neri, Jade Young, Jaila Acevedo, Jakiyah Beasley, Jasmine Garcia, Jasmine Gonzalez, Jayla Ward, Jaylin Thibodeaux, Jennette Robertson, Jessica Glover, Jesus Moreno, John Winslow, Jose Juarez Trejo, Joselin Barbosa, Joseph Wehrmann, Juana Najera, Julia Burnett, Katherine Brown, Kiara Reece-Simpson, Kimi Brown, Kirby McDonald, LaNaria Miles, Lauren Chaparro, Madysen Walker, Marco Garcia Wong, Maria Martinez, Maria Lopez, Mariana Rios, Mia Garrett, Nayeli Rico, Nohemi Torres, Nykera Braziel, Quinn Rainey, Ricardo Ramirez, Semaja Smith, Sofia Furrh, Tina Nguyen, Vanessa Aquino, Veronica Castaneda, Victor Alvarez, Victoria Puente, Viridiana Rico, Yarely Cruz Castillo, Yomara Gutierrez, Za’Naya Robinson, and Zyjae Ridley.

Two recipients were awarded the State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship, including: Madison Mathers and Vickie Glasco.

A total of  120 Youth Livestock Scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from across the Lone Star State, including: Abigail Hooper of Joaquin, Alexis Ruthart of Mabank, Anna Pickering of Redwater, Anna Schieberle of Rockwall, Anna Abbe of Corsicana, Annah Morris of Bronson, Ashlyn Real of Conroe, Bailey Lamb of Huntsville, Baylee Glaze of Tioga, Bayleigh Becker of Farmersville, Blake Dunkel of Archer City, Blake Mills of Center Point, Bonnie McKinzie of Stephenville, Brantly Hoover of Midland, 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, Cambree Schwartz of San Angelo, 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, Colby Allensworth of Bryan, 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, Emerald Salinas of Mission, 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, 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, Justin Crumpton of Midlothian, 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, Kaylee McInvale of Lockney, 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, 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, Mikaela Loerwald of Florence, 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, Rachel Bradford of Temple, 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, Savannah Keel of Waco, 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.

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. 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 outstanding 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 towards higher education.

• Receiving this year’s Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, Bryce Hamlin 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 Kimi Brown.
• The Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship is awarded to two outstanding sophomores in the Big Tex Scholarship Program with the highest GPAs. This year’s Pete Schenkel recipient is Jotovia Lewis and the Youth Livestock recipient is Tatum Whitewood.

The Fair congratulates all of these deserving students on their accomplishments and is happy to support them in pursuing their aspirations for higher education. 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 2020 State Fair of Texas starting September 25 through October 18, with the theme “Celebrating Texas Icons.”

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