The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awarded 70 4-H members from 54 different Texas counties with $1.4 million in scholarships during the Texas 4-H Roundup in College Station, Texas, Thursday, June 8.
Founded in 1908, Texas 4-H is the largest youth development program in the state, impacting more than 550,000 students each year through agriculture-related, hands-on learning experiences.
“Texas 4-H and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have a shared vision of youth development that involves a diverse offering of competitions and educational programs, many of which incorporate some facet of agriculture,” said Joel Cowley, Show president and CEO. “As a result, it is particularly rewarding to recognize the effort and accomplishments of these very deserving 4-H scholars.”
Each of these 2017 Texas 4-H Show scholars receives a $20,000 college scholarship, payable over four years.
Students were selected by Texas 4-H officials based on the students’ involvement with the program, academic achievements and financial need. Of the 70 recipients honored, 65 percent were female and 35 percent were male. In the fall, these students will attend 25 different Texas colleges and universities and will major in 44 different disciplines.
Since the first scholarship was awarded in 1957 in the amount of $2,000, more than 2,500 Texas 4-H’ers have received scholarships from the Show.
This is the third of four scholarship presentations this summer in which the Show will commit $14.3 million in scholarships to Texas youth. These scholarships represent a portion of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s annual commitment of more than $26 million to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, School Art participants and other educational programs. For more information on the Show’s educational support, visit rodeohouston.com/Educational-Support/Commitment.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $430 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2018 Show is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 18.