Matthew J. Miranda M.Ed. County Extension Agent: 4-H and Youth Development Guadalupe County

 First scholarship was given in 1959 by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for $1,000. Today, the largest scholarships are the HLSR and SALE $16,000 scholarships  In 2012, the scholarship program will 53 years old  The Texas 4-H Scholarship Program is the largest 4-H scholarship program in the United States

 The program is overseen by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation  $2.2 Million dollars in scholarships will be distributed at the scholarship assembly in at State Roundup; that’s about 225 scholarships  They range from $1,000 to $16,000

 HLSR now accepts home and private school applicants as scholars  All applicants that are invited to participate in interviews are NOT guaranteed a scholarship  Applicants will NOT be excused from either the interview OR the scholarship assembly in Lubbock ◦ Applicants and their families should plan accordingly and attend the June 11 assembly

 These scholarships are Academic Scholarships: That is, they are awarded based on your academic record in school, 4-H experience and financial need ◦ Financial Need requirement are for certain ones only  Approximately 225 scholarships will be awarded  Amount of scholarships will be from $1,000 to $16,000

 Baccalaureate ◦ For students who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree  Technical Certification ◦ For students who wish to pursue technical certification  Collegiate ◦ Designed for former Texas 4-H members who have completed at least 30 hours of college credit and maintained a 2.7 GPA  Courageous Heart ◦ Awarded to Texas 4-H members that have overcome extreme obstacles related to medical, family and/or education, and remained an active member of both 4-H and school

 Be an active member of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program  Be a United States Citizen and Texas resident  Be scheduled to graduate from a Texas High School (public, private, or home) during the school year  Have made formal application to enroll in a Texas college/university/techni cal school  Meet the entrance requirements for the college/ university for which formal application has been made  Not apply for both 4-H & FFA scholarships, One or the other!  Submit a current Texas 4-H Scholarship application ◦ All pages must be included, it must be typed, no extra pages will be allowed and your transcript, FAFSA and college papers must be included

 Score at least 1350 on your SAT or 19 on the ACT ◦ Scores must be from the same test date ◦ No Updated test scores will be accepted after the application date…so take your SAT/ACT NOW!  Be in the upper half of your class based on scholastic rank for the first 3.5 years ◦ Houston and Wallrath scholarships will require applicants to be in the upper quarter of their class

 You must not have plans to continue your formal education at a Texas College or University after the completion of a Technical Program

 Complete the additional pages in the scholarship application  You do not need to have the minimum SAT/ACT scores  Courageous Heart applicants cannot be considered for other Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarships  Have documentation of obstacles  Scholarship value is $5,000

 United States citizenship and a Texas Resident  Been an active member of 4-H  Attending a Texas College/University  Graduated from HS no later than May 2011  Have completed 30 hours of undergraduate work  2.7 cumulative GPA  MUST BE PRESENT at the 2012 Scholarship Assembly in Lubbock

 Available in MS Word  Samples are on the website, will show you how to format your application ◦  Submit the most current application ◦ scholarships/  Homeschool youth must provide: ◦ An Official Transcript (contact Matt Miranda if you need help with this) ◦ Proof of completing all required standardize tests to graduate and enroll in a Texas College/ University, OR proof of the standardized test exemption  You may not submit a TEXAS FFA or FCCLA Scholarship application ◦ National FFA Scholarship applications are allowed

 4-H Record Book  2012 Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship Application Guidelines and Examples  Official high school transcripts with either school seal or original signature of counselor/principal  SAT/ACT Scores  FAFSA Application Report  College Catalog pages from your desired major

 It is on a 100 point scale  When applying for scholarships for financial need, your need will be taken into account, whereas with out need, it will not be considered at all

 Must be FULLY complete to receive consideration  Application must be: ◦ Computer generated and prepared  Not hand written ◦ Typed using a typewriter ◦ Must include all required attachments ◦ Official transcript ◦ SAT/ACT Scores ◦ Copy of FAFSA- SAR Report ◦ College Catalog pages with your major of study

 Section1: Personal Information  Section 2: College/University Information  Section 3: Livestock Show Participation  Section 4: SALE- School Tours Information  Section 5: Individual Scholastic Record  Section 6: Financial Information  Section 7: Project Experience  Section 8: Leadership Experience  Section 9: Citizenship/ Community Service Experience and Honors  Section 10: Outside 4-H Experience  Section 11: Personal Narrative  Section12: Career Narrative  Section 13: Courageous Heart Narrative  Section 14: Acknowledgement of Integrity, participation and certification  Section 15: County Extension Agent Certification  Required Attachments{ ACT/SAT Scores. Transcript, FAFSA, College pages}

 Sections 1-4 are on the first page  Section1: Personal Information ◦ Identify the submission of the Application (Baccalaureate, Technical, Courageous) ◦ All information must be completed  Section 2: College University Information ◦ Complete all information related to high school planning on graduating from ◦ List in priority order up to three schools which the applicant has received any acceptance notice from them ◦ List the major, department and career the applicants plans on pursuing

 Section 3: Livestock Show Participation ◦ Some shows require that an applicant has been an exhibitor at their show to be eligible for consideration ◦ Make sure to indicate the actual year the applicant participated at the show, NOT THE NUMBER OF YEARS PARTICIPATED  2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, NOT 4 years participating  Section 4: San Antonio Livestock Show- School Tours ◦ Indicate if you are planning on serving as a school tour guide for the 2012 SALE Stock Show ◦ SALE Tour Guide Scholarships are only available to those youth that have served their graduating year and meet the college/university majors for SALE

 Section 5: ◦ Must be completed by the Applicant’s high school principal, counselor, or person serving in that official role for the applicants ◦ The completed record and related materials must be returned to the applicant to become part of and attached to the application ◦ Must have a true class ranking (evening if the applicant is in Home Schooled, they must be ranked “1 of 1” ◦ Must have the quartile ranking of the applicant (home school are automatically top ¼) ◦ GPA can be on any scale, however, both the GPA and the total value of the scale must be provided (2.8 on a scale of 3.0) ◦ Failure to provide class and quartile ranking can and will result in disqualification

 Section 6: Financial Information ◦ Collected and evaluated in two forms:  FAFSA  Financial Need Narrative ◦ It Provides an Expected Financial Contribution (EFC) amount as to what can be planned on from parents ◦ FAFSA takes approximately 3-4 weeks for processing ◦ FAFSA helps you find and obtain other financial aid as well ◦ Submit the FAFSA Student Activity Report with the Application ◦ FAFSA.ed.gov

 Section 6: Financial Information ◦ Indicate if applying for other scholarships, loans, and/or other financial aid  HINT!!! Judges and donors like to see that you are actively searching out and applying for other financial aid!!! ◦ If applicant has applied for other financial support, it must be listed on the form ◦ Provide the name of the support and the type (scholarship, grant, etc) ◦ Include amount per year; if no amount is listed, estimate by looking at past year’s awards

 Section 6: Financial Information ◦ Is the Scholarship Renewable. If it is dependant on grades, then we expect the applicant to maintain those grades- so yes it is! ◦ What is the Total Value of the financial support (amount per year times the number of years it is renewable…5000 per year X 4 years = $20,000) ◦ List the status of the financial aid  Confirmed-Means the applicant has received verification of receiving it  Declined- Applicant was turned down  Pending- Applicants has not heard anything ◦ If an applicant is selected for an interview, they will be required to provide proof and documentation of all financial assistance and aid packages to be received

 Section 6: Financial Information ◦ When writing the narrative, let the judges know WHY you need financial aid  DO NOT Start with, “I deserve this because” ◦ Information pertaining to the cost of college can be received from the University’s financial aid department, University catalog, or Texas Higher Education board website at  If you are a recipient of ANY Houston Livestock show scholarship, you may not receive more than $75,000 in total financial aid (scholarship or otherwise). If you pass this threshold, you will no longer be eligible to obtain the scholarship, SO be sure to list ALL aid you obtain!