The Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation

The Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation received a record number of 225 scholarship applications for the 2011-2012 scholarship program prior to the December 15, 2011 deadline. This figure represents a 19 percent increase over last year’s submission of 183 applications.

“We are extremely proud that interest in our program has increased so dramatically,” said BBYF board president, Michael Peck. “As the costs of higher education continue to rise the need for financial assistance grows as well. By focusing attention on the availability of aid for merit at the middle school level we hope to inspire students to plan for higher education, dedicate themselves to work hard to reach that goal, and push them to seek out additional aid at an earlier stage in their lives.”

Eighth grade students in 137 public schools representing 22 school districts across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are given the opportunity to complete an application for a $2,500 college scholarship each year. Applications include information about the student’s academic, extra-curricular, and—when applicable—athletic achievements, and also require students to submit an essay on their favorite role model. Students receive their scholarship once they have graduated high school and enrolled in college.

Click "Read more" to see a list of the students who have been named 2011-2012 scholarship finalists