The Rainwater Charitable Foundation and Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation are excited to announce its largest cohort of high school juniors to date. This past May, we selected 11 public high school juniors from across Tarrant County to join the Dream Big Determined Scholar Program. The program features SAT/ACT prep and personalized college prep coaching to help students find the best possible fit for their college journey. Once completed, students are eligible to receive up to $24,000 in flexible college financial support over four years of school. Throughout their four years in school, students continue to receive one-on-one counseling and participate in a cohort model that has been demonstrated to help in college completion.¹

A Day of Learning and Connection at Broadway Baptist Church

An important part of the program is the annual Dream Big conference for current scholars and alumnae to learn together about relevant topics like financial planning, mental health, networking and career guidance. This year’s conference was held at the Broadway Baptist Church on Saturday, June 14th and had over 50 attendees including high school juniors, college students and program alumnae.

The 2025 summer conference was filled with diverse presentations, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities designed to empower students with practical skills for their academic and professional journeys. Here are some highlights from the event:

Unlocking Opportunities: Your Guide to Securing and Succeeding in Internships

The day began with an engaging panel led by Eileen Buecher from the University of North Texas, Spencer Maxwell from Freese & Nichols, and Brittany McHenry from Bell Helicopter who is also a Dream Big alumna. This session provided invaluable insights into researching, applying for, and excelling in internship opportunities that can shape students’ career paths and provide real-world experience during their college years.

Mastering Your Money: Key Insights from Financial Experts

Franklin Zhu shares practical advice with students on building financial habits for long-term success.

Understanding finances is crucial for students navigating college and early career decisions. Megan Hyman from the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, Sam Mohkamkar from 2M Collective, and Franklin Zhu from the Rainwater Charitable Foundation shared essential knowledge on budgeting and planning for long-term financial stability. The interactive session enabled students to ask practical questions about managing finances in the context of families, college expenses, and entering the workforce.

Networking for Success: Building Connections That Matter

In a keynote presentation, Jeremy Smith from the Rainwater Charitable Foundation delivered an engaging talk on networking strategies. Moderated by Dream Big scholar, Fernanda Espinoza, the session offered a rich exchange of ideas, with Fernanda contributing insightful tips and thoughtful prompts that enhanced the discussion. This session highlighted how students can build meaningful professional relationships, seek out mentors, and leverage connections to support their academic and career goals. Students learned creative strategies for maintaining relationships and building supportive networks that can guide them through their educational journey.

Pause, Breathe, Thrive: Practical Tips for Mental Health

Mental health professional Federico Mendez, MS, LMFT, delivered a valuable session on maintaining mental wellness during the transition from high school to college and throughout the undergraduate experience. This presentation provided students with practical tools for managing stress, seeking help when needed, and prioritizing their mental health as a foundation for academic and professional success.

Peer to Peer Mentoring: The Best Advice We Can Offer

Makayla Johnson connects fellow scholars through shared stories and lived experiences.

One of the most impactful sessions was the peer-to-peer mentoring panel moderated by Dream Big scholar Makayla Johnson. This session allowed newer scholars to benefit from the experiences of undergraduate students further along in their academic journey, while showcasing the leadership skills of the older scholars. The vulnerability and authentic sharing created a supportive environment where students could learn from each other’s challenges and successes.

Enhancing the Conference Experience

Beyond the enriching sessions, the conference agenda featured activities aimed at enhancing students’ overall experience and practical skills. Participants had the opportunity to learn about voter registration and civic engagement through presentations by Tulsi Lohani, Board Member of March to the Polls, and Jana Canard, a Tarrant County Voter Deputy Registrar. The conference also featured dedicated time for peer networking, allowing students to connect with others across different cohorts and build lasting relationships within the Dream Big community.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Applications Open in November

With the success of our 2025 summer conference and the inspiring achievements of our graduating seniors, we are excited to announce that applications for the 2026 Dream Big Determined Scholars program will open in November 2025. We encourage all Tarrant County high school juniors to apply who are determined to pursue higher education, face financial challenges, have demonstrated a commitment to learning, problem-solving, and dreaming big. This award of up to $24,000 represents a unique opportunity to be part of a cohort of like-minded scholars and gain access to resources that will support your academic journey.

The Dream Big program continues to grow and evolve, but our core mission remains the same: recognizing and supporting outstanding students who demonstrate exceptional determination, resilience, and academic excellence in their pursuit of higher education. Our scholars don’t just receive financial support – they become part of a community that believes in their potential to create positive change in the world.

For more information and to stay updated on the application process, please visit dreambigfortworth.org.