Press Release

The Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo awarded $134,000 in scholarships to 40 Central Texas students for the 2016-17 academic year. This continues the Fair & Rodeo’s tradition and mission of giving back through youth scholarships.

Last night, students and their families attended the organization’s Scholar Recognition Banquet, underwritten by Bailey Insurance & Risk Management, Inc., where they heard inspirational words from former Pro Football Player and U. S. Bobsled Olympian Johnny Quinn. Students receiving scholarships represented the following schools: Axtell, Ballinger, Belton, Bruceville-Eddy, Cameron, Chilton, China Spring, Clifton, Copperas Cove, Eagle Christian Homeschool Academy, Evant, Fairfield, Gatesville, Groesbeck, Hubbard, LaVega, Mart, McGregor, Meridian, Midway, Moody, Reicher, Robinson, Salado, Texas Christian Academy, Troy, University, Waco, West and Whitney.

The Top Scholar of the evening was Lindsey Anderson from China Spring High School who received the largest scholarship given-to-date in the amount of $15,000. The Reserve Top Scholar was Hannah Lella from Clifton High School and she received a $10,000 scholarship.

These scholarships are part of the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo’s annual commitment of providing scholarships to Central Texas students which is made possible thanks to our sponsors and volunteers. Each year our volunteer committees spend countless hours raising money through various fundraisers to contribute to this fund. Since its beginning, the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo has committed more than $2.5 million to the youth of Central Texas.

“We are pleased to award these scholarships to Central Texas students.Providing scholarships is a core part of our mission,” stated Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo President/CEO Wes Allison. “The Scholarship Match Program we implemented last year played a significant role in the increased dollar amount this year. We look forward to continued growth through that program.”

Scholarship Sponsors and Underwriters include: Associated Concrete Contractors; Bentwood Realty, Kim Galvan; Central National Bank; Central Texas Iron Works; Enterprise Holdings; Estes, Carroll; Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Board of Directors; Incommons Bank; Knapek Endowment; Legacy; Level 1; Linkage Credit Union; Mark Terry Publishing, LLC; Neuhaus, Brent & Kim; Pakis, Giotes, Page & Burleson, PC; Red Men Tonkawa Tribe 14; Shelley Burkett Memorial Scholarship; State Farm, Joseph Morphis; StayInnWoodway.org; and, Texas State Technical College.

The Scholarship Match Program invites individuals and businesses alike to make a donation to the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Scholarship Fund and the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo will double the contribution and give a scholarship to a student in either the individual or business name.

The Extraco Events Center, home of the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo, is the center of entertainment in Central Texas.Its mission is to produce events for education, entertainment and agricultural experiences while giving back through youth scholarships. The premier facilities host over 225 events with an attendance of 420,000 and a $47 million economic impact annually. The 2017 Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo will be held October 5–14.For more information about the Extraco Events Center, visit ExtracoEventsCenter.com. For more information about the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo, visit hotfair.com.

Here is the list of 2017 scholarship recipients: