The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and education have become synonymous. On Sept. 24, 1998, the Executive Committee approved the largest increase in the Show's scholarship history. An unprecedented $2.25 million increase in the organization's annual commitment to Texas youth and education brings the Show's 1999 contribution to a phenomenal $7,725,000. The enlargement of the scholarship program adds 180 four-year, $10,000 scholarships and establishes a $1 million program to assist students with extreme financial need in the Houston area. According to a report from the Texas Education Agency, Texas' average public school student is becoming increasingly minority and increasingly poor. The report stated that the number of minority students is growing at a rate eight times faster than that of Anglo students. But this growth rate was outpaced by that of economically disadvantaged students, whose number grew by a staggering 65 percent. The newly created Opportunity Scholarship Program addresses these concerns. It will give a chance at a higher education to students who might have never thought of going to college because of financial limitations or because they have not received other scholarships due to their class ranking. "It's a great way of targeting minority and financially needy students, especially, without basing the selection on any particular ethnicity. Because these scholarships are determined primarily on need more than any of our other educational opportunities, we're going to bring in some youngsters we've never reached with our educational awards. Maybe we should have called them 'the dream-come-true' scholarships," said Tom Quarles, assistant general manager in charge of the Show's educational programs. The Opportunity Scholarships, which incorporate the Show's highly successful Go Tejano program, will award $1 million to 100 students in the Houston metropolitan area (Harris and seven surrounding counties). These scholarships will be based 50 percent on financial need, 35 percent on academics and 15 percent on leadership/community involvement. Students may pursue any major at a Texas college or university. "We must emphasize that although these scholarships are targeted to low-income neighborhoods, where many minority students live, there will be no scholarships awarded based on ethnicity alone," said Quarles. The Metropolitan Scholarship Program also is increasing significantly,
from 125, $10,000, four-year scholarships in 1998 to 175 awards in 1999. Public high schools in the Houston metropolitan area receive scholarships through this program. In an effort to reflect population differences in the counties that make up this area, one additional four-year, $10,000 scholarship will be awarded "at-large" for every two high schools in the school districts. "That's an increase of 14 scholarships just in HISD and 36 more scholarships throughout the Houston area," said Quarles. "This is an exceptional way for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to recognize the support from Houston and the surrounding counties for our event." The Show's 4-H and FFA program is being increased by 20 scholarships - 10, four-year, $10,000 scholarships added to each group, for a total of 70 to each organization, or $1.4 million total per year. Another new program is the Show's commitment to the Texas FHA, for five, four-year, $10,000 scholarships. The Show's school art four-year program also has been increased to 10 scholarships worth $100,000. These increases will bring the Show's annual new scholarship commitment in 1999 to 438 four-year, $10,000 awards and 52 one- and two-year scholarships, valued at $2,500 and $5,000, respectively. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will fund an additional $3,122,500 in grants, endowments, research projects and other educational programs in Houston and throughout Texas, including $1.1 million committed to the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence. "We can talk about stadiums and buildings and all the attendance records we've set, but our priorities are unchanging," said Dan Gattis, Show general manager. "There is no better investment in the world than educating young Texans." |
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