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Q. What is the State Farm® Texas Scholar Athlete Program?
The State Farm® Texas Scholar Athlete Program recognizes students who live throughout the state of Texas that exhibit excellence and leadership in academics and athletics as well as good citizenship. Fifty (50) student-athletes will be selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Selection is based on criteria including GPA, SAT/ACT scores, class ranking, academic and athletic achievements, and participation in extra-curricular activities in the school and community.
The State Farm® Scholar Athlete Program is the largest state-wide athletic scholarship program in Texas.
Q. What are the eligibility requirements for nomination?
Students must be a High School Senior who excels both in academics and athletics meeting the following criteria
Q. What are the UIL varsity sports?
The varsity sports currently designated by the UIL (University Interscholastic League) include the following (visit www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics for more information)
Q. Who is qualified to nominate a student?
High School Officials (Principals and Assistant Principals, Varsity Coaches, and Counselors are eligible to nominate a student for this program (accurate academic information must be supplied at the time of the nomination). All nominations must specify a Senior Counselor who has full access to the student’s academic and extracurricular record and who will be contacted, in the event the student is considered for selection, for validation and certification of all supplied information.
Coaches and teachers are encouraged to initiate nominations and should coordinate their efforts with the appropriate school counselor or administrator. In order to protect the integrity of the State Farm® Texas Scholar Athlete program and to ensure that all information is accurate and verified by senior counselor; students, their relatives or friends are not permitted to nominate students or post information to the website directly. Those interested should check with their counselor or coach to initiate the process.
Q. How many students can be nominated from each High School?
Counselors, coaches and High School officials are invited to nominate all qualified students who meet the criteria defined above. There is no limit to how many nominees a High School can have and this ensures that State Farm® can consider all student athletes who are achieving high academic standards.
Q. Is there a deadline?
The online nomination process opens at 8:00 AM (CT) on August 25th 2010 and closes at 11:59 PM (CT) on April 15th 2011
Q. When are the selections made?
Q. How will students know if they are selected?
When selected, the student’s school counselor will be notified by phone and asked to certify the nomination information that was supplied on the website. Once these credentials are confirmed by the school administration, emails will be sent to the selected student and her/his parents; and formal letters of notification will be sent via USPS first class mail.
It is very important that contact information is provided in the most detailed and complete manner possible to expedite the notification process.
Q. What kind of recognition do the selected students receive?
Q. When will these awards be given?
The $1,000 check and T-shirt will be sent to the State Farm® Texas Scholar Athletes in July 2011. All other recognitions will be granted during the course of the 2010-2011 school year.
Q. I am a High School Senior Counselor/Coach/Administrator, how do I nominate someone?
Please visit the State Farm® Texas Scholar Athlete nomination website www.texasscholarathlete.com/nominate to register yourself and your school in this year’s program and to receive your personal ID and Password. The website contains complete information on the program’s rules. If you registered for the 2009-2010 Program, your login information is unchanged and you are already registered for this year.
Once registered, you will be able to compile all information on the student, and then visit the secured State Farm® Texas Scholar Athlete nomination website to enter/update the information needed to complete the nomination. The nomination will not be considered until all required information is provided and the counselor finally submits the entry.
If you are unable to nominate on-line or have questions, please contact the TSA Program Support at TSASupport@texasscholarathlete.com or by calling the TSA Program Support Center at 512.289.7552.
Paper nominations are discouraged but must include the registration code, all required information, be typed, and submitted by fax to 610.429.1954 no later than five days prior to the closing deadline for the program.
It is of critical importance that all information be supplied as completely as possible. Incomplete nominations will not be accepted, and the selection of the winners will be based on the details supplied by the counselor during the nomination process.
Q. How do I get a registration code?
Counselors, Coaches, or Administrators can receive the registration code by visiting the State Farm® Texas Scholar Athlete website and registering their school and themselves. Questions about the registration process should be sent to TSA Program Support at TSASupport@texasscholarathlete.com or by calling the TSA Program Support Center at 512.289.7552.
Q. I am a student-athlete, how do I get nominated for a scholarship?
Talk with your counselor or coach to verify that you qualify and to get nominated for this scholarship program. Scholar Athletes will be selected based on the strength of their academic performance, and athletic achievements and contributions to their schools and communities.
Q. If I am selected, how am I recognized?
Students who are selected as State Farm® Texas Scholar Athletes will have their pictures taken with their counselors, coaches, administrators, parents, and with the State Farm® representative who delivers the award. Once the Photo Release and Authorization is signed and returned; their photos and bio will be posted on-line at the program website www.texasscholarathlete.com.
Q. If I am not selected, how am I recognized?
At the conclusion of the program all students who are not selected but who meet all eligibility requirements will be listed on the Texas Scholar Athlete website as Texas Scholar Athlete Honorable Mention Students.
Q. How can I use the Scholarship Money?
The $1,000 check from State Farm® will be made to the order of the Scholar Athlete and can be used however he/she deems necessary to further his/her education.
Q. What information is asked on the nomination form?
The following information is requested and will be important in the selection and notification processes. The Counselor is encouraged to supply as much of the requested, but optional, information as possible. Nominations will not be accepted unless all “Required ” elements are entered.
Nomination Information
Parent/Guardian Information (at least one Parent/Guardian must be given)
Academic Information
Athletic Information
Extracurricular Information
References
Q. Is all the information on the nomination form really necessary?
The information requested on the form tells us about your nominee, and what (in your opinion) qualifies him/her for consideration as a Texas Scholar Athlete.
Some items (that are flagged ) must be filled in before the nomination will be accepted for consideration.
The remainder of the information is optional. However, since the majority of nominees are of comparable high standing (in terms of GPA, Rank, and sports involvement) the differentiation between students is often made based on the supplemental information supplied in this nomination.
Nominees are also encouraged to supply up to two recommendations per nomination which can be written by administrators, counselors, faculty, or coaches.
Q. How do I get help or answers to questions?
The rules for the 2008-2009 Texas Scholar Athlete Program are listed on the website and all frequently asked questions are answered here. However, if you are unable to nominate on-line or have questions, please contact the TSA Program Support Center by sending an email to TSASupport@texasscholarathlete.com or by speaking to one of our TSA Support Representatives at 512.289.7552 (between 8 AM and 4 PM (CT) Monday through Friday).