Local 4-H Members Win Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship

Six local students were honored in June to receive scholarships to further their education from the Texas 4-H Foundation. Over 225 scholarships totaling over $2 million were awarded by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation during the 2013 Opportunity Awards Ceremony June 10 in Reed Arena on the campus of Texas A&M University.

The Foundation’s scholarship program has 50 donors including the Houston Livestock Show and  Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show, Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, and the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show along with the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation, individuals, corporations, foundations, producer associations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service professional associations, individual honorary funds and individual bequests.

These students, due to their outstanding grades and involvement in the 4-H program, were eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000.00 to $20,000.00 from various donors. Wise County youth brought home a total of $52,000.00 in scholarships.

Alicia Erwin of Bridgeport has won the $1,500.00 Dot Schertz Memorial Scholarship for collegiate students. Erwin, a former member of Wise County 4-H, is currently a student at Texas A&M University at College Station.

Kara Demmitt of Bridgeport has won the $1,000.00 Floyd Lynch Memorial and the $1,000.00 Texas Extension Education Association. Demmitt, a member of Chico 4-H, plans to attend Tarleton State University.

Wesley Meadows of Paradise has won the $2,500.00 Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo. Meadows, a member of Paradise 4-H, plans to attend Texas A&M University.

Kendall Vawter of Paradise has won the $10,000.00 Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation. Vawter, a member of Bridgeport  4-H, plans to attend Tarleton State University.

Alexandra Martinets of Bridgeport has won the $18,000.00 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Martinets, a member of Bridgeport 4-H, plans to attend West Texas A&M University.

Bailey Morris of Chico has won the $18,000.00 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Morris, a member of  Chico 4-H, plans to attend Texas A&M at Corpus Christi.

For these students, the hard work and dedication during their involvement in the 4-H program has truly paid off. With that being said, we would also like to congratulate the parents, siblings, grandparents and all individuals supporting these youth because 4-H does not only involve the child, it is about the family.

More than 65,000 Texas youth are members of 4-H community clubs in the state. The program, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, prepares youth to meet the challenges of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, through educational experiences in leadership, citizenship and life skills.

The Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose members promote and support youth development in leadership, vocational skills, social skills and citizenship.  The Foundation’s Board is a diverse group of 41 Trustees who share a common passion for improving the lives of Texas youth.  Trustees work to secure private funding to support scholarships and programs for Texas 4-H youth.