Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awards LIT $61,000 for scholarships

9/4/2020

attachment image-Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awards LIT $61,000 for scholarships

BEAUMONT – LIT received its highest award yet in its annual bid for vocational scholarship funding from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR)--for $61,000. The funding was disbursed from a total of $300,000 awarded to area community colleges and technical institutions for the 2020-2021 academic year. Recipients can use the funds towards tuition fees and/or required books, tools and supplies.

This scholarship program supports non-traditional students in their pursuit of an associate degree or certificate in an approved technical field.

Funds will be allocated to LIT students in the following programs.

  • AAS degrees: HVAC, Advanced Engine, Industrial Mechanics

  • Certificate: Air Conditioning, Diesel Equipment, Industrial Mechanics, Utility Line

  • Continuing Education: Commercial Truck Driving

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Texas residents and must have declared a major in one of the covered programs. Students must maintain continuous enrollment in their major and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in each subsequent semester of the program. All recipients must complete their degree in three years or less.

HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said, “There is a continuing demand for skilled personnel in the workforce, and the rodeo is committed to supporting these students as they pursue an education in these technical fields. We are proud to continue our partnership with these programs, creating more opportunity for students who are seeking a nontraditional postsecondary education.”

Since 1995, LIT has received $270,500 from the HLSR Vocational Scholarship Program. Since the program’s inception in 2015, HLSR said it has allocated more than $1.4 million in educational funding. The rodeo has committed more than $500 million to Texas youth and education since 1932.

For more information about the HLSR scholarship or others at LIT, students should visit https://lit.edu/foundation/scholarships.