Don't Mess with Texas Announces 2006 Scholarship Opportunity for High School Seniors
- 02.24.06
Litter-Fighting High School Seniors Have Opportunity to Receive Third Annual Don't Mess with Texas Scholarship Scholarship Program Celebrates Late Physician's Advocacy of Litter Prevention Campaign
(AUSTIN, Texas)—High school seniors have the opportunity to win the 2006 Don't Mess with Texas scholarship, which this year honors the legacy of a Temple physician who worked to keep his community litter-free.
The family of David D. Barton, M.D. is funding the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) scholarship program, which will award one $3,000 and two $1,500 scholarships to graduating Texas high school students who have implemented a creative and sustainable solution to a litter problem in their school or community.
The late Dr. Barton was an advocate of both higher education and litter prevention, having been a member of Keep Brazos Beautiful when he resided in College Station. His family recalls his ongoing commitment to education, and this scholarship donation honors Dr. Barton, who encouraged young people to pursue their college degrees.
“Every year we meet students who work hard to combat littering on the local level, and it is especially heartening that this year's scholarship is funded by a family of litter prevention advocates,” said TxDOT Travel Division Director Doris Howdeshell. “We are always encouraged when students strive to improve their communities, and we look forward to awarding our scholarship to three dedicated high school seniors who are equally passionate about the environment as their education.”
All Texas high school seniors are invited to apply no later than April 7, 2006. Students may obtain an application and information at www.DontMessWithTexas.org or through their guidance counselor. Students must meet these guidelines:
–Any high school senior graduating in spring 2006 and who currently resides and attends school in Texas is eligible to enter, regardless of GPA or extracurricular activities.
–Students must plan to further their education at an accredited two- or four-year college or public or private university in Texas.
–Students must write an essay of 300 to 350 words identifying a litter problem in the student's school or community and the action he or she took to address the problem.
–Students must include two sealed letters of recommendation - one from a school-related source and the other from a non-school-related source.
–Students must complete a Don't Mess with Texas scholarship application and submit it online or by mail.
–All materials must be postmarked by April 7, 2006.
Over the past two years, TxDOT has awarded $10,000 in Don't Mess with Texas scholarships, helping six students fund admission to universities including Texas Tech, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Texas, Kilgore College and Texas Christian University. Since its inception, the program has received 700 applications from high school seniors who have made litter prevention a priority in their communities.
As Don't Mess with Texas celebrates its 20th anniversary as one of the nation's most recognizable and successful litter-prevention campaigns, specific efforts have focused on involving youth with the program, since research indicates Texans younger than 25 are most likely to litter.
Other support for the campaign includes the new “Real Texans Don't Litter” television public service announcements (PSA), which premiered in January. The PSAs feature some of Texas' most recognized celebrities including Lance Armstrong, Erykah Badu, Ray Benson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Julius Jones, Los Lonely Boys, Matthew McConaughey, Chuck Norris, Janine Turner, Owen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack.
Southwest Airlines, McDonald's and the AT&T Cotton Bowl are proud sponsors of the Don't Mess with Texas 20th anniversary.
