Chapter and Network Scholarship Program
Texas Exes Scholarships benefit entering freshman, transfer students, and/or students continuing their education at UT. These students are selected by Texas Exes members who volunteer with their local chartered chapter/network. The Texas Exes Chapter and Network volunteer leaders also work year-round to raise the funding for their awards.
Chapters/networks may raise funds to award one-time annual scholarships through a scholarship exchange account or raise funds to endow a scholarship at the minimum levels outlined below. All chapters/networks are encouraged to establish one general endowment that can continue to grow and provide awards to students far into the future.
The Association is deeply grateful to The Texas Exes throughout the world who have contributed their time, talent, and funds to help select and recognize these outstanding students.
General Scholarship Endowments
Texas Exes encourages each chapter/network to work toward the establishment of a general endowment account. A scholarship endowment is an investment account created with a monetary gift for the specific purpose of awarding scholarships in perpetuity. Generally, the intent is for the endowed asset to be invested with a long-term view and kept intact, and only the income generated by it is distributed annually for scholarship awards. The distribution available from endowments each year is a percentage of the endowment’s twelve quarter market value average, as approved by the Board of Directors.
General Endowment Criteria
General Texas Exes Chapter/Network endowments have the following features and criteria:
- $15,000 minimum contribution
- To be eligible for award, the principal contribution goal must have been met by March 31st of the prior year.
- Chapters/networks may fundraise to meet the minimum contributions threshold over a period of up to 5 years.
- Recognition in Hall of Honor once minimum threshold met.
- Standard name only (i.e., Texas Exes Dallas Chapter Scholarship Fund)
- One general endowment account per chapter.
- Chapter/network will determine number of awards available, award amounts, and any special recognitions. Chapters/networks may supplement the distribution from their endowment by remitting funds to a scholarship exchange account.
- Chapter/network can specify if an award can be renewed, and for how many years.
Named Scholarship Endowments
Often, individuals or groups wish to create special endowments in memoriam of others, or to create awards for specific types of students. These endowments are considered Named Chapter/Network Endowments.
Named Endowment Criteria
These endowments are considered Named Chapter/Network Endowments and have the following features and criteria:
- $50,000 minimum contribution
- To be eligible for award, the principal contribution goal must have been met by March 31st of the prior year.
- Chapters/networks may fundraise to meet the minimum contribution threshold over a period of up to 5 years.
- Recognition in Hall of Honor and photo displayed prominently once minimum threshold met.
- Specialized names allowed (i.e., Texas Exes Dallas Chapter Name of Honored Individual Memorial Scholarship Fund)
- Restrictions allowed include:
- Student classification - entering freshmen, undergraduate or graduate only, etc.
- Preference for financial need – The Texas Exes will determine an individual’s financial need based on information provided on their application.
- Required residency – If endowing a chapter scholarship, residency restriction will automatically be specified as the area of that chapter.
- Renewability – Can this scholarship be renewed? If so, for how many years and should a minimum grade point average be maintained?
- Major/Area of Study preferences – A donor may select a recipient who is specializing in a particular area of study.
Other factors – Other restrictions, such as affinity affiliation, will be determined in final agreement.
Scholarship Contributions
Chapters may send funds to add to endowments at any time. Chapters may also send in funds to supplement a scholarship endowment distribution to increase the size of the award for a particular year. If a Chapter or Network sends in a check and the student declines the scholarship and there are no other candidates, the Texas Exes Scholarship Department will notify the Chapter or Network. Funds will remain in the chapter/network account for the following year.
If no eligible recipient can be found for a current year distribution, the funds will be retained in the scholarship endowment. The chapter will not lose the funds, the funds simply remain in the endowment and a new distribution amount will be calculated the following year.
Donation checks should be made out to Texas Exes and mailed to the following address:
Texas Exes [Chapter/Network] P.O. Box 142309 Austin, TX 78714
A remittance form must be included when mailing donation checks to ensure they are applied to the intended account
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any financial support for chapters/networks raising funds for scholarships for the first time?
Yes, in an effort to help kick-start fundraising, the Texas Exes provides up to $500 in a matching gift to each chartered Texas Exes chapter/network that awards a scholarship to a new UT student. To be eligible for the $500 matching funds, chapters/networks must be contributing at least $500 to the scholarship and must be in their first five years of awarding scholarships. Chapter Presidents and Scholarship Chairs will be notified in the first quarter of each calendar year as to whether their chapter will be eligible for matching funds.
How can I make a scholarship contribution?
Donations from individuals for chapter scholarships via secure credit card processing are available online; each chapter's site hosted by the Texas Exes includes a feature that allows for online donations. Donation checks should be made out to Texas Exes and mailed to the following address:
Texas Exes [Chapter/Network] P.O. Box 142309 Austin, TX 78714
What is a scholarship exchange account?
Chapters/networks may establish a scholarship exchange account with the Texas Exes to hold funds which will be awarded directly to students without being invested. Funds submitted to these accounts may only be used for scholarships. The minimum one-time scholarship award is $500.
How are scholarship selections made?
Texas Exes uses a standardized application review process for scholarship administration and will issue final approval for all awards. Training information and support for the review and selection process will be made available upon request.
If a chapter/network does not participate in selection for any given year and eligible candidates exist, the Texas Exes will select recipient(s) according to the eligibility listed in the endowment agreement with approval from the chapter.
Due to the sensitive nature of applicant information, any individual or entity representative authorized to review scholarship applications must formally acknowledge an understanding of the Texas Exes Scholarships Confidentiality, Document Security and Conflict of Interest Policy.
Chapter and Network Department Staff
These staff members are your primary contacts within the Texas Exes as a Chapter and Network volunteer leader. Contact them at chaptersandnetworks@texasexes.org.
Catherine Flores, M.Ed
Program Manager
Emily Evans, MBA
Program Coordinator
Judson Hayden, M.Ed
Program Coordinator
Scholarship Questions?
Contact our scholarships department at scholarships@texasexes.org or (512) 840-6495
For a complete staff directory, please check the website.