More Than $1.3 Million Awarded in Big Tex Scholarship Program Awards to More Than 220 Texas Students

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 more than 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 significantly contributes to new opportunities and the accomplishment of 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. This will allow me to fully dedicate myself to acquiring the knowledge and skills to excel in the field of nursing. The financial support allows access to educational resources, training programs, and networks in organizations to boost my overall 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 that I will be 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.

A total of 106 graduating seniors from six Dallas ISD high schools were awarded 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

Jaxsen 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 criteria for renewal. Students must attend an accredited college, university, or trade school within the state of Texas. 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 in 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 grand total of $12,000 to put 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.
• The Terry Griffin Memorial Scholarship is awarded 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 of these deserving scholars on their personal and academic achievements and 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.

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