SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE SERVICE MEMBERS
It is important that we recognize the service of our men and women in the armed services. Their commitment to our country and this state is truly admirable. One of the things that the Texas Legislature does to help honor those who feel the calling to serve their country was to establish the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program. This program establishes a mechanism for those looking to serve as well as the resources to help assist them in obtaining their college degree.
The purpose of the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program is to encourage high school seniors and freshmen college students to participate in a civilian college Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program while in college. A student must meet specific eligibility criteria in order to receive an initial scholarship award. In addition to the eligibility criteria, a student must enter into an agreement requiring a four-year commitment as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, member of the Texas Air Force National Guard, or a commissioned officer in any branch of the armed services of the United States.
Annually, the governor and the lieutenant governor may each appoint two students, and each state senator and each state representative may appoint one student to receive a conditional Texas Armed Services Scholarship. A maximum of 185 students may be appointed statewide. A student may receive up to $10,000 dependent on funding availability. Students may receive continued scholarship awards.
My office is accepting scholarship applications from students who reside in House District 32. Each state representative has been asked to nominate one student to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is responsible for overseeing the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.
Eligibility for Nomination
In order to be considered for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship, a student must meet two of the following four academic criteria at the time of the application:
• Graduate or have graduated high school with the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) or the International Baccalaureate Program (IB);
• Have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
• Achieve a college readiness score on the SAT (1590) or ACT (23);
• Ranked in the top third of their graduating class.
Once a student receives the nomination, then a number of criteria must be met for the nominated student to be eligible for receipt of an initial scholarship. The student must enroll in an ROTC program. A selected student must also enter into a written agreement with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board agreeing to complete four years of ROTC training and graduate no later than six years after the date the student first registers at an institution of higher education.
No later than six months after graduation from college, the selected student must provide the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with verification of a four-year commitment to be a member of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Merchant Marines; or a contract to serve as a commissioned officer in any branch of the United States Armed Forces. A selected student must meet all pre-screening requirements of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Merchant Marines, or the appropriate branch of the armed services. The student must repay the scholarship if the student fails to meet the requirements for receiving the scholarship.
This is an exciting opportunity for any student seeking to enter the armed forces by way of a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at a civilian college. If you are a student who would like to be nominated for this scholarship program, please submit a cover letter along with proof that you have met the required academic criteria to either my Capitol office in Austin or my District office in Corpus Christi.
If you would like any additional information on the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol or District office (512-463-0672; 361-949-4603). The scholarship is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Questions can also be directed to the board’s Office of External Relations which can be reached at 512-427-6111.
As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
