Greater Texas Foundation » Scholarship Programs for Higher Education

University of Houston, Clear Lake – Celebrating Our Elders Scholarship

gtf — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:25:13 +0000

For the 2009-2010 school year, University of Houston – Clear Lake was awarded one of the foundation’s $25,000 Generation Proud Scholarship Program awards. The school decided to set up the Celebrating Our Elders Scholarships with the funding. This program invites students to share how an African-American or Hispanic elder has, through their own achievements, inspired the student to pursue their dreams and realize their own potential. These essays are meant to inspire first generation college students to begin and complete a higher education credential as a means to pursuing their dreams. Additionally, these essays are publicly displayed and are meant to act as catalyzers and encourage other first generation students to also pursue higher education.

Krystin Ramos is a 2009 recipient of the award. Read an excerpt from her essay below:

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.” Those are the words of Confucius.

Without my father in my life and his positive encouragement there is no way I would have been able to make it this far in life. He has instilled the knowledge and strength that was needed to overcome numerous obstacles and provide the will that helps me realize that I can achieve anything. Being the first in my family to get this far in college has brought along many hardships, but he has been there by my side and provided any help necessary to get to the next step. Because of this and his support I would like to celebrate my father as my elder.

When I was in ninth grade I encountered the hardest year in math: Algebra. I always could pass all my subjects with A’s and B’s in junior high, but high school made me realize that the courses were a little different. Math just wasn’t my favorite subject, and because of that I would shut down and couldn’t figure out my homework. When I came home with my first exam and failing grade my dad sat me down and we had a talk. I was expecting a lecture and probably a punishment, but instead I got something else. My dad told me that together we would figure it out and I would pass Algebra. I thought he was crazy but I knew failing a class was not an option. Every night I would come home with homework and we would sit down together and try to figure it out with my notes and the text book. I’d spend hours at the kitchen table with him after dinner until every problem was answered and I understood what I was doing. Pretty soon the math homework stopped looking like a foreign language and started making sense, and when I brought home my report card I had a solid B in that class.

My dad inspired me to continue taking math and not avoid it because I was scared. Now that I’m almost a junior in college I have to admit that now math is one of my favorite subjects. Now that my little sister is reaching high school, she is having a hard time with math as well and it feels good that I can help her just like my dad did for me just a few years ago.

I hope I’m inspiring my little sisters and showing them that anything is possible, and you can achieve anything you want in life, just like my dad has taught me.

Read more about the Celebrating Our Elders Scholarship Program, here.

Community College Scholarship RFP Released

gtf — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:37:53 +0000

To help meet the unique financial aid needs of community college students and continue its commitment to remove barriers to education, Greater Texas Foundation announces the 2010 Community College Scholarship Program. The program will provide grants totaling $300,000, in need based aid to a selected set of Texas community colleges in 2010. Awards will not exceed $25,000 for each institution.

Since 2003, Greater Texas Foundation has provided $8.6 million in scholarship grants for post-secondary institutions in the state of Texas. Providing need based aid remains a significant interest of the foundation. To see the full RFP, click here.

Generation Proud and Rising to the Challenge Scholarship RFP’s Released

gtf — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:09:30 +0000

To help encourage and support both first generation students and students making the transition from a community college setting to a four-year institution of higher learning, Greater Texas Foundation announces the 2010 Generation Proud and Rising to the Challenge Scholarship Programs. Each program will provide grants totaling $200,000 in need based aid to selected public four-year post secondary institutions of higher learning. Awards will not exceed $25,000 for each institution.

Since 2003, Greater Texas Foundation has provided $8.65 million in scholarship grants for post-secondary institutions in the state of Texas. Providing need based aid remains a significant interest of the foundation. To see the full RFP’s click here.

ECHS Students Making Big Strides

gtf — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:58:01 +0000

While in their senior year of high school, students in El Paso, Texas in are taking upper division course work at the University of Texas El Paso. This group of 23 students attends Mission Early College High School and is among the first cohort to accomplish this level of completion. Because they have not completed high school, these students are not eligible for federal financial aid and therefore qualify for little funding to help pay for this course work at UTEP. A grant from the Greater Texas Foundation has helped by providing scholarship money for these 23 students as they transition to upper division study at UTEP.

To read more on this story click here

Alamo Community College District Foundation: St. Philip’s College

gtf — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:57:54 +0000

Community College Scholarship Program: to provide need based scholarships to community college students.

Year: 2009

Amount: $25,000

Greater Texas Foundation Receives Community Partnership Award

gtf — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:00:55 +0000

Greater Texas Foundation representatives recently accepted the University of Houston-Clear Lake’s 2009 Community Partnership Award. The University showed its gratitude for the continued support and partnerships by hosting a breakfast for donors, partners, and friends for their contributions toward the University’s success.

Greater Texas Foundation has supported the University of Houston-Clear Lake since 2003, by helping to establish the Removing Educational Barriers Endowment Fund, which provides financial assistance to first generation college students.

For a News Release of the event click here

MDC, Inc.

gtf — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:18:09 +0000

$1,000,000 to support Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a multi – year national initiative to improve student success at community colleges, especially for students of color and low income students. Achieving the Dream works to help students earn certificates or degrees that open the door to better jobs, further education, and greater opportunities. This grant will expand Achieving the Dream to seven additional institutions in Texas.

KIPP, Inc.

gtf — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:15:07 +0000

$450,000 to KIPP, Inc. to fund KIPP To (and Through) College, a college preparatory and support program designed to ensure access and success in college for low-income, minority students. Through academic support, counseling, and Summer of Learning Opportunities, KIPP alumni are empowered to use their KIPP-learned scholarly habits, knowledge and qualities of character in their schools and in life to further their communities.

Generation Proud Scholarship Program

gtf — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:00:11 +0000

$25,000 each to Tarleton State University; Midwestern State University; Lamar University; The University of Texas at Dallas; The University of Texas at San Antonio; University of North Texas; Angelo State University; Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi; Texas A&M University – Kingsville; Texas Women’s University; The University of Texas at Brownsville; University of Houston – Clear Lake; Sam Houston State University; The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; University of Houston; Texas A&M University; University of Houston – Victoria; Prairie View A&M University; and Texas Southern University. The Generation Proud Scholarship Program supports and encourages first generation students to complete college through scholarship programs at public four-year post-secondary higher education institutions in the state of Texas.

Rising to the Challenge Scholarship Program

gtf — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:59:18 +0000

$25,000 each to Texas Tech University; Tarleton State University; University of North Texas; The University of Texas at San Antonio; Texas Women’s University; University of Houston – Clear Lake; The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; The University of Texas at Brownsville; Texas A&M University – Texarkana; Texas A&M University – Commerce; The University of Texas at Dallas; University of Houston; Sam Houston State University; Texas A&M University; Texas A&M University – Kingsville; and Midwestern State University. The Rising to the Challenge Scholarship Program encourages and supports through scholarship program students making the transition from a community-college setting to a four-year institution in the state of Texas.