More Than $1.3 Million Awarded In Big Tex Scholarship

DALLAS – May 9, 2024 – 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. We are proud to announce another year of supporting Texas students through scholarships towards furthering their education, with the State Fair of Texas awarding more than $1.3 million in new college scholarships this year. We are awarding 224 scholarships to deserving students across the Lone Star State: 106 Juanita Craft Scholarships to Dallas ISD students, 106 Youth Livestock Scholarships to students throughout Texas, nine Seasonal Employee Scholarships, one Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, one Peggy Sloan Memorial Scholarship, and one Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship.

In its 32-year history, the Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to over 3,500 students for a program total of more than $18.8 million. Honoring the legacy of South Dallas resident and civil rights activist Juanita Craft, 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 select applicants across the state 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 – both qualified seasonal employees and their dependents are eligible for this opportunity.

“To be selected as a 2024 Big Tex Scholar is beyond amazing. It gives me a sense of comfort and safety to be part of such a wonderful state. Receiving this scholarship will contribute to new opportunities and help me accomplish my educational goals. The financial support given by this scholarship not only eases the weight of tuition and college costs but also allows me to continue my education and stay involved throughout the university,” said Michele Trevino, 2024 Big Tex Juanita Craft recipient from Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School. “With the help of this scholarship, I will have the opportunity to settle and lay the foundation for myself. It will allow me to fully dedicate myself to acquiring the knowledge and skills to excel in nursing. The financial support provides access to educational resources, training programs, and organization networks to boost my learning experience.

In conclusion, this scholarship represents more than just financial support; it shows a commitment to a journey filled with educational excellence and student development. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, as it opens many doors for my family and myself.” Michele plans to attend the University of Texas at Arlington in the fall and major in nursing.

“Seeing that the people who received my application saw that I had genuine potential for success in the electrical engineering field has made me proud; proud that all of the work, studying, failure, and success I have experienced for this part of the STEM field has all meant something,” said  Henry Davis, 2024 Big Tex Seasonal Employee recipient, son to a seasonal finance Tex-team member. “When struggling with either hard coursework or teaching methods that I’m not familiar with, I know that having this scholarship would give me relief in knowing that I have support; support that while I’m paying thousands of dollars in college tuition, that my family doesn’t have, I am receiving financial aid from an organization that cares for students like me.” Henry plans to attend the University of Texas at Dallas and pursue a degree in electrical engineering.

“The State Fair of Texas has been a large part of my journey in the livestock industry, and I am extremely grateful for the support given,” said 2024 Big Tex Youth Livestock Scholar Jackson Bragg of Salado, Texas.  “This scholarship will help me get through school more independently and give me more opportunities to one day give back to the organizations that made me who I am today.” Jackson plans to attend Texas Tech University and pursue a degree in animal science.

They awarded a total of 106 graduating seniors from six Dallas ISD high schools the State Fair of Texas Juanita Craft Scholarship, including:

Laura Aguilar Cordazja Alexander Eva Anderson Myriam Aramburo Walter Arguijo Analise Barrios Castillo Yasmonae Barrs Alyssa Brown Daijah Brown Jaylen Brown Chosen Burkhalter Ja’Mia Canales Ashley Castaneda Andy Castillo Gabriela Cespedes Vergara Francisco Charcas Violeta Chico Alejandro Cisneros Estrella Cortes-Pedroza Charlotte Crethers Aaron Crispin Anniston Dalton Kaleigh Daniels Keandra Diaz Danijela Djakovic Juan Fierros Kaitey Garcia Samarion George Samuel Gilmore Alexander Gomez Diego Gonzalez Marcos Gonzalez Melina Gonzalez Stephanie Gonzalez Aaliyah Gutierrez Jaden Gutierrez Lesley Gutierrez Zoe Haeffner Carolina Hernandez Catalina Hernandez Jorgen Hernandez Uriel Hernandez Servelius Izigire Yvonne Jackson Keuna Jessie Oscar Jimenez Mekhi Johnson ShaLyric Johnson Kierstyn Jones Andrea Kelly Ha Le Ka’Nise Lewis Moon-asia Liles Janeth Llamas Cisneros Madalaine Lopez Nashaly Lopez Oscar Lopez Renata Lopez Briana Lozano Geraldy Luna Valdez Anthoney Macias Casey Macias Sandra Manuel Stephania Martinez Victoria Mata Stephanie Mendoza Jocelyn Meza Katelynn Moore Kyli Murray Esmeralda Nunez McKenzie Paige Arlet Paiz Ariana Perez   Enrique Perez Rios Karely Perez Leslie Perez Victoria Perez Dian’sha Perkins Gustavo Puerta Vasquez Rosa Puerta-Vazquez Edmundo Reyes Julia Rico Lara Kevin Rodriguez Stephanie Romo Brandon Sanchez Jacqueline Sanchez Guevara Jaden Santamaria Michelle Sarabia Abigail Segura Marc Segura Daija Showers Kamen Smith Genesis Soto Beimnet Tewolde Cole Thompson Sergio Torres Michele Trevino Oluwakemi Tytler Lizannia Valadez Dulce Valdez Paola Vargas Guadalupe Vazquez Glenda Vega Jaziah Williamson Kaleb Yeager Lailah Zeno-Bell

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

Angelica Arreola Reece Bell Henry Davis Rosa Escalante Taylor Murrell Da’Naiya Terrell JJaxsen Vann Hattie Watson Whitney Watson

A total of 106 Youth Livestock Scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors from across the Lone Star State, including:

Ava Allensworth Luke Anderson Jayden Arledge Carlton Bauer Brigette Bettice Aubree Blissard Lauren Boettcher Jackson Bragg Koby Brown Brooklyn Byars Lauren Callaway Rylie Carroll Jackson Chapman Brodie Childs Braygon Conrad Cale Cornelius Laken Dawson Madisyn Douglas Grayson Downs Zane Drews Sophia Dykes Austin Eilers Aubrey Ellis Zoe Ely Mallory Emery Charleigh Feuerbacher Trapper Feuerbacher Brenna Francis Jaci Gammons Kaitlyn Garner Isabel Garza Pasch Gibbs Jaiden Grimes Eli Grose Samantha Guzzetta Emily Haden Mason Halfmann Trey Harbour Hayes Hart Halle Hawkins Joely Haws Cole Hinds Carlee Hoffmann Henslie Hohertz Aven Horn Barrett Howe Ryan Hudel Jaycee Hueske Hayden Hurst Stockton James Lillie Johnson Kase Kelso Kaylan Kiser Brylee Lacy Kade Lawrence Jenna Lindig Myla Mahalitc Alyssa Mathews Madyson McAshlan Gracee McBee Madison Moran Emilee Munchrath Karleigh Murphy Madison Mutina Cydney Newsom Landri Ottmers Bailey Patch Brylee Peoples Ariana Perkins William Philipello Garrison Pieniazek Blake Privett Avery Pullen Payton Ralston Zachariah Reis Elaina Reiter Tracer Rice Juan Rocha Brylie Roeder Braden Roehling Emma Salazar-Canales Daphnee Schlittler Leah Schmitt Karlie Schneider Emily Schooler Tracey Shackelford Kelsey Sims Kambell Stewart Dylan Strain Hadley Stultz Garrett Stutts Kate Swan Kathryn Taylor Jalynn Urbanosky Hunter Vallis Jack Walters Brooke Wanjura william Watkins Kason Wehba Kyler Wendt Ryleigh Whitaker Brooklyn Wiley Madelyn Williams Peyton Wirebaugh Madison Woolery Dylan Wunderlich

Recipients receive a $6,000 grant, renewable each semester if the student meets the renewal criteria. Students must attend an accredited Texas college, university, or trade school. To qualify for scholarship renewal, recipients must enroll and pass at least 12 hours each semester. In addition, recipients must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA in their first semester and a 3.0 cumulative GPA every semester after that. The State Fair also awards several ancillary scholarships, where outstanding students are awarded an additional $6,000 over four years, combined with the initial $6,000 scholarship, for a total of $12,000 towards higher education. Receiving this year’s Benny Clark Memorial Scholarship, Hayes Hart 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 Eva Anderson. They awarded the Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship to an outstanding sophomore in the Big Tex Scholarship Program with the highest GPA. This year’s recipient is Youth Livestock Scholar Connor Pence. The Fair congratulates all deserving scholars on their personal and academic achievements. It is excited to support them in pursuing their aspirations for higher education and the future of Texan youth. Local scholarship recipients and their families will enjoy an awards fair hosted by the State Fair of Texas, celebrating the 2024 Scholars and all their accomplishments.