CITGO DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS PROGRAM

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Welcome to the 2023 CITGO Distinguished Scholars Program

CITGO Petroleum Corporation announces the 2023 Distinguished Scholars Program to assist students who plan to continue their education in a two or four-year university. Up to forty (40) scholarships in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to select graduates of the class of 2024 from the following Independent School Districts (ISD):

Agua Dulce ISD Alice ISD Aransas County ISD Aransas Pass ISD Austwell-Tivoli ISD Banquete ISD Beeville ISD Ben Bolt ISD

Bishop ISD Calallen ISD Corpus Christi ISD Flour Bluff ISD Gregory-Portland ISD Ingleside ISD Kingsville ISD London ISD Mathis  ISD

Odem-Edroy ISD Orange Grove ISD Pettus ISD Port Aransas ISD Premont ISD Refugio ISD Riviera ISD Robstown ISD

Santa Gertrudis ISD Sinton ISD Skidmore-Tynan ISD Taft ISD Tuloso-Midway ISD West Oso ISD Woodsboro ISD

 

Eligibility Information and Requirements

Students:

  • MUST BE RECOMMENDED BY THE SCHOOL PRIOR TO APPLYING.
  • Must be classified as a junior at a high school located in the above listed ISD’s in the 2022-2023 school year.
  • Should plan to enroll in a 2 or 4-year accredited university.
  • Should have a high school grade point average of 2.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • Provide an official transcript with GPA & Rank; as well as a copy of PSAT/SAT or ACT scores if available (exam scores can be sent as a printout from a student’s CollegeBoard or ACT account.)
  • Must sign a photo release and be willing to participate in filming a student profile that may be shown publicly.
  • May not be dependent children of employees or retired employees of CITGO Petroleum Corporation or its subsidiaries.
  • Submit application and all supporting information by March 6, 2023.

Categories: Scholarships will be awarded in the following categories: Beating the Odds, Career and Technical Education, Communications, Performing and Fine Arts, STEM, Service and/or Leadership, Spirit, and Student Athletics. Students will select one category to be considered for.

Beating the Odds This category is for a student who has achieved his or her personal best while overcoming obstacles and challenges. The student has shown grit and perseverance in reaching a personal, career, or academic goal.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) This category is for a student who has a clear education and career pathway in place and successfully completed CTE courses. Students in this category may have already earned certifications in his/her field.

Communications This category is for a student who excels in any area of the communications field, including journalism, speech and debate, social media, multi-media, yearbook, photography, and photojournalism.

Performing and Fine Arts This category is for a student who shines in any of the visual or performing arts such as band, color guard, choir, theater, orchestra, dance, drawing, painting, mixed media, Comedy Sportz, 3D animation, and graphic design.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) This category is for a student who is a high achiever in STEM classes and/or clubs and teams such as robotics and engineering design challenges.

Service and/or Leadership This category is for a student who is a leader at school and an example to others with their participation in service in the community and on campus. Students set positive examples for others and have the personal fortitude and integrity to do what is right even when in the minority.

Spirit This category is for a student who is a positive influence on others and keeps school spirit alive and well, in and out of school. Students in this category build a cohesive community and a culture of belonging.

Student-Athlete This category is for a student who is an example to others with their equal dedication to work in the classroom and their dedication and work in athletics. Students in this category are leaders in good sportsmanship and bring their teammates together on and off the field.

Deadlines and Awards

CITGO will award up to forty (40) scholarships in the amount of $1,000. Scholarship monies will be managed through the CBCF. Scholarship funds will only be paid if the scholarship recipient is enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university for the 2024 Fall semester.

February 6 – March 6                  Application open 

March 6 – March 26                    Applicant review

May 2023                                      Recipients notified

Summer 2024                              Scholarship Payments

 

Application

Recommended students must complete the application along with a current, complete transcript (official) of grades with GPA and Rank and a copy of PSAT/SAT/ACT scores if applicable (exam scores can be sent as a print out from a student’s CollegeBoard or ACT account). Applicants are responsible for gathering and submitting all necessary information. Applicants will receive an acknowledgment of receipt of their application. If an acknowledgment is not received, applicants may contact Garner Burford at gburford@cbcfoundation.org. Applications are evaluated on the information supplied; therefore, answer all questions as completely as possible. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated. All applicants will need to fill out, sign, and upload into their application the CITGO Photo Release form. Please fill out the appropriate one:

Photo Release Form MINOR                              Photo Release Form ADULT

 

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the criteria in each category by an independent panel of community members. Decisions will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, and the selection panel will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, or other protected class. Decisions of the panel are final.

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If you are experiencing trouble accessing the application below, please click below to access:

2023 CITGO Distinguished Scholars Scholarship Application

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Application Management System provided by WizeHive

MISSION AND VISION

The Mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the Coastal Bend by building community endowment and addressing social, educational, environmental, and cultural needs through the awarding of grants and scholarships.

The Foundation’s Vision is to provide the Coastal Bend with:

  • Efficient gift options to meet donors’ charitable wishes
  • Effective grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students
  • Ethical leadership to promote and enhance area philanthropy

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Scholarships

 

What scholarships are offered?

Scholarships are available for high school graduates attending 2 and 4 year colleges and universities as well as accredited vocational schools. Certain scholarships are available for students already attending college. Scholarships are organized into 2 groups according to those that accept the online “CBCF Application” and those that have and Individual “Outside Scholarship” application processes. The Coastal Bend Community Foundation Scholarship Committee selects the recipients for the Online CBCF scholarships. Outside Scholarships have paper applications with varying deadline dates and qualifying criteria and are administered by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation after an Outside Scholarship Selection Committee chooses these recipients.

Is there an application fee for CBCF scholarships?

It’s free! There is no charge to apply for CBCF scholarships.

What is the deadline for applying?

The deadline for CBCF Scholarships is March 1.

Scholarships in the “Outside Scholarship” section have varying deadlines; please check the requirements for each scholarship. If the application is to be mailed to the CBCF office, it must be postmarked on or before the deadline date. Faxes and emails are not accepted.

How are eligibility requirements determined?
Donors establish eligibility criteria for their scholarships. For example, scholarships may focus on achievement, community service or financial need. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee award selection.
What if I am not a “straight A” student?
CBCF offers scholarships for a variety of students; while academic performance is important, it is not the only criteria. Recipients are selected based on the availability of funds and the competitiveness of the applicant pool for each scholarship.
What if I am not sure where I will be going to school?
If you are unsure, you should indicate your first and second choice. Once you have made your final decision, please notify CBCF.
May I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes. The CBCF Scholarships have a single online application form. The program will place you into any of the 50+ scholarships for which you meet the criteria. You may also apply for any of the Outside Scholarships. Each of these scholarships have varying deadline dates and qualifying criteria. You may download the paper applications directly from our website or as directed.
How much will I receive if I am selected as a recipient?
Awards for each scholarship vary. Scholarships range from $100 to up to $16,000, with the average award being $1,000. Please see specific scholarship information for award amount.

Permanent endowed scholarship funds may award more or less than stated based upon growth of the fund’s assets and consistent with the Foundation’s Spending policy.

May I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes. The CBCF Scholarships have a single online application form. The program will place you into any of the 50+ scholarships for which you meet the criteria. You may also apply for any of the Outside Scholarships. Each of these scholarships have varying deadline dates and qualifying criteria. You may download the paper applications directly from our website or as directed.
If I receive a scholarship, what do I need to do?
  • Promptly sign and return the Scholarship Acceptance Form included in your award letter to CBCF Program Director to confirm the college you will attend as well as providing us your student ID number. All scholarship recipients are required to write a thank you letter to their donor. Funds will not be dispersed until a thank you letter is submitted to CBCF.
  • For scholarships longer than one semester:
    • Notify the Foundation if you have changed schools or major
    • Notify the Foundation if you have a change of address, phone number or email address
    • Comply with any other requirements (forwarding transcripts, etc.) for renewal.
Do I receive a check if I am awarded a scholarship?

All scholarship checks are made payable to your school and are sent to the financial aid or scholarship office. There is no exception to this rule. Checks are sent in mid-July (for Fall semester) and in mid- December (for Spring semester) upon receipt of necessary documentation provided by you or the school.

Will a scholarship from CBCF impact my financial aid at my college or university?

If you know that your Financial Aid package will be affected and/or reduced, you will need to contact the Financial Aid Office at your school. They will provide the best options available to you and your situation to maximize the funds you are receiving from all sources.

Are scholarships taxable?

For degree-seeking students who use the scholarship for tuition, fees, books and required supplies, the scholarship is not taxable. Please consult a tax expert or your school’s Financial Aid Office for advice if you and/or your parents have any questions.

If I receive a scholarship one year, will I automatically receive it the following year?

While a few scholarships are renewable, most are one-time only. Each scholarship varies; please check scholarship specifics. You may submit a new application each year as many of the scholarships are for current college students, as well as graduating high school seniors.

Does the Coastal Bend Community Foundation make the decisions about the awards?

A Scholarship Committee comprised of CBCF Board members reviews and recommends applicants for scholarships using the Online Application. The Committee’s recommendations must be approved by the full Board of Directors. Outside scholarship recipients are chosen by outside committees, subject to approval by the CBCF Board.

Will my personal information be shared?

Your application information will not be shared with anyone except CBCF staff, the Scholarship Committee and the Board of Directors.

When will I be notified?

All online CBCF applicants are notified in writing of the status of their application by the end of May. Outside scholarship recipients are notified by letter after the varying deadline dates.