Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials announced today that all of the Show’s four-year college scholarships will increase from $12,000 to $15,000 each, a 25 percent increase. The increase takes effect with the scholarships to be awarded in 2008, and brings the Show’s total yearly commitment to the youth of Texas to nearly $16 million.
“Texas students who are about to enter their senior year of high school are getting a great opportunity,” said Skip Wagner, president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarships always have been highly sought after by the state’s best students. We’re proud to be able to increase our help for the top Texas students as they and their families deal with the increasing cost of a college education.”
In 2008, the Show will award 534, $15,000, four-year scholarships to deserving high school seniors to attend a Texas college or university. With this increase, more than $8 million will be awarded to Texas youth through the Show’s scholarship program.
“This increase comes on the heels of a very successful 75th anniversary Show,” added Wagner. “We celebrated this milestone in a big way, honoring almost 19,000 Show volunteers who brought the Show to what it is today. This scholarship increase is a tribute to the time and talent that volunteers provide to the Show each and every year.”
Annually, the Show’s scholarship program awards scholarships for Houston-area high school students (Metropolitan and Opportunity), and scholarships for students across Texas (including 4-H, FFA, FCCLA, Area Go Texan and School Art).
The scholarship program is just a part of the Show’s annual commitment to the youth of Texas. In addition to the scholarship increase, the Show has committed an additional $500,000 toward Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence — a program that trains teachers with specialized reading and classroom skills for students in pre-kindergarten classes through third grade — bringing the annual commitment to $1.5 million. The Show has committed an additional $100,000 for wildlife and range management educational programs. Other youth commitments include more than $5 million awarded to livestock show participants through premiums, junior auctions, calf scramble and judging contests.
For more information on the Show, its scholarship program and other educational commitments, visit www.rodeohouston.com. Since the Show began in 1932, more than $220 million has been committed to the youth of Texas.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation.
The 2008 Show will run March 3-22.
Copyright 1996 - 2008 Rodeo Attitude, LLC., All rights reserved.