Thanks!

That's the simple message I've been asked to pass on to all of the volunteers, members and other supporters of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It's the collective heartfelt feeling from more than 400 young men and women getting ready to start school as college freshmen this fall. Each of these talented Texans are proud recipients of a new scholarship awarded by the Show.

You'll get to read a couple of incredible stories about our scholarship recipients in this issue, but each of the 414 winners has a special story to tell.

We began the presentation of scholarships this year in February by awarding more than $300,000 to 61 outstanding students representing the different counties participating in Go Texan events.

In May, we presented 129 four-year, $10,000 scholarships at the Million Dollar Scholarship Banquet. These awards were given to deserving Houston-area students who will be attending a Texas college or university this fall. We followed that up with 100 two-year, $3,000 scholarships given to Hispanic students as part of our Go Tejano efforts.

Sixty 4-H members were awarded four-year, $10,000 scholarships at the annual 4-H Roundup in College Station, Texas, in June, and that total was matched in July at the annual FFA Convention in Fort Worth, Texas. In all, more than $5 million has been committed by the Show to scholarships and other educational programs for the 1998-99 school year.

I walked away from each one of these presentations with an unbelievable feeling of pride -- these kids were phenomenal! Many never thought they would have an opportunity to attend college. Some overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their lives and still thought a college education was just a dream.

Your efforts and commitment to our Show helped turn those dreams into reality for many of our recipients. Some may think it's a cliché, but hard work and persistence really do pay off.

There is no doubt that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is helping to build the future of our fine city and this great state. Whether it's by awarding scholarships, participating in the planning of a potential new stadium or creating new educational programs to benefit our youth, we are constantly striving to improve the Show and the programs we provide.

We "broke ground" on our RITE program last year, a three-year, multimillion dollar pilot program designed to help at-risk students with their reading skills. We're teaching teachers to be better at reading instruction, which allows students to understand every subject better. You'd be amazed at the first-, second- and third-graders that have developed a love for reading, a new confidence in themselves and a drive to be their best because of this program. These children are reading with enthusiasm and joy, and the teachers seem energized as well.

Ten years from now, with our help, maybe these youngsters will be the leaders who walk across the stage with pride to accept a scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

As we all get ready for another school year, be proud of your accomplishments as a volunteer, or your support of the Show as a member. You're making a difference at the most basic level of our society -- you're helping to educate our young people.

Good luck to all of the new committee chairmen, directors and officers. As I begin my final year as president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, I challenge you to make this year our finest yet!

Jim Bloodworth
President