The Fort Bend County Fair Association (FBCFA) has awarded over a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships to deserving youth at their Scholarship Reception according to a May 1 press release.

Fifty scholarships, each valued at $5,000, and three Queen Scholarships were awarded to students representing schools and districts throughout Fort Bend County. "This night is all about the kids and helping them reach their educational goals. It is a great feeling and a rewarding experience not only for the recipients and their families but also for us as an association," said Fort Bend County Fair President Alicia Casias.

Recipients, who are set to be future Longhorns, Aggies, Cougars, Bearkats, Texans, and others, are not just diverse in their college choices, but also in their ambitions. They are charting a wide range of higher educational paths, from agricultural degrees spanning from science to business, to nursing and biochemistry fields of study.

Tompkins High School student Mindy Nguyen, who has participated in the Fair's Art Auction, is University of Texas bound. She says, "With the assistance of the Fort Bend County Fair Scholarship, I will be able to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin this fall with some of the financial burden of attending alleviated. This scholarship has not only opened up new opportunities for me in college, as l will not have to focus on financing my education as much, but it reminded me of the warm support that I have received from my community up until this point. I intend to actively engage in humanitarian efforts and further my education to give back to my community as a future physician."

The Fair's scholarships are open to high school seniors or current college students who have previously received an FBCFA scholarship. This scholarship program is a testament to the Fort Bend County Fair Association's dedication to the students and community, as it reinvests the funds generated during the Fair and other fundraising events back into the community, said organizers.

The 2024 Fort Bend County Fair will run from September 27 to October 6, 2024, with the Championship BBQ Cookoff taking place on September 20 and 21. For more information on the Fair's scholarship program or schedule of events, visit fortbendcountyfair.com or call the Fair Office at 281-342-6171.