This summer the Rainwater Charitable Foundation and the Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation hosted the fourth annual Dream Big Determined Scholars Conference. This annual event brought together 41 Dream Big scholars—from the newest cohort of Tarrant County students entering their senior year of high school, to recent college graduates from all over the state and nation.

The Dream Big Determined Scholars Award recognizes Tarrant County high school students who wish to pursue higher education and who demonstrate exceptional determination, resilience, and academic excellence. This award supports scholars throughout their educational journey. Beginning the summer after their junior year of high school, scholars receive resources and opportunities to help them achieve their goals through four years of undergraduate studies. The program not only assists students financially, but offers coaching and professional development, ensuring they are well-equipped to succeed in college and beyond. The Dream Big Scholar Program partners include Panther City Partners, Jewish Family Services of Greater Dallas, More Than a Teacher, and media sponsor Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

This year’s summer conference was filled with diverse presentations, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. Here are some highlights from the event:

Projecting Confidence Even When You Aren’t Feeling It

Led by Dream Big alumnus Jacob Wells, who has made strides in his professional career after graduating from the Dream Big program, this session included personal anecdotes and practical tips on how to navigate challenging situations with poise and self-assurance. The room was full of vulnerability and a lot of laughs! Students facing the uncertainties of transitioning from high school to college or from college to the workforce found it very impactful and were even able to use what they learned right away throughout the conference.

Empowering Mental Health in College Students

Mental health professional, Zamanda Martinez, LPC, delivered an engaging talk on “Empowering Mental Health in College Students.” Martinez was able to share her professional expertise, as well as personal experience of being a first-gen Mexican-American student born and raised in Fort Worth. This session highlighted the resilience, adaptability, and resourcefulness that first-gen students often possess. She emphasized how to ask for help, why culture impacts the students’ unique stories, and how taking care of mental health can be leveraged for academic and professional success.

Building and Maintaining Mentoring Relationships

Mentorship plays a vital role in personal and professional development. Dr. Richard J. Reddick, Senior Vice Provost for Curriculum and Enrollment and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, led an interactive session on “Building and Maintaining Mentoring Relationships.” He provided valuable insights into how students can seek out mentors, foster meaningful connections, and sustain these relationships over time. This session empowered students with the tools and creative strategies needed to build a supportive network that can guide them through their academic and career journeys.

Financial Management: Hustle and Cash Flow

Understanding key financial management strategies is a critical skill for students as they navigate their first steps of adulthood while balancing their educational and career paths. Amanda Arizola, MBA, MHS, shared essential knowledge on managing finances, budgeting, and planning for the future with her presentation entitled, “Hustle and Cash Flow”. The interactive session enabled students to be honest in asking practical questions when it comes to managing financing in the context of families, college, and entering the workforce.

Enhancing the Conference Experience

Alongside the enriching sessions, the conference agenda featured a range of activities aimed at enhancing students’ overall experience. Younger scholars were able to ask questions to a peer-led panel of undergraduate students further along in their academic journey. This interaction allowed the newer scholars to benefit from the panelists’ experiences, while showcasing the older scholars’ leadership skills. Throughout the day, students also had the opportunity to learn how to register to vote, have professionally photographed headshots that can be used for their resumes or LinkedIn, interact one-on-one with the presenters, and time to connect with other students across the different cohorts.

Looking Ahead: 2025 Applications Open in November

With the success of our 2024 summer conference, we are excited to announce that applications for the 2025 Dream Big Determined Scholars program will open in November 2024. We encourage all Tarrant County high school juniors to apply who are determined to pursue higher education, face financial challenges, and have demonstrated a commitment to learning, problem-solving, and dreaming big. This unique opportunity provides scholars with access to resources, a cohort of like-minded scholars, and up to $24,000 to support their academic journey.

For more information and to stay updated on the application process, please sign up for our newsletter or visit dreambigfortworth.org.