Scholarships allow Sam Houston State University to attract and retain talented and deserving students. For many of these students, scholarships make possible an educational opportunity that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Named scholarships are a meaningful way of honoring or memorializing a loved one, friend, colleague, professor, or to commemorate a special occasion. The Office of University Advancement works with the donor to develop an agreement that will administer the account. This document outlines the donor’s intent and how these wishes are carried out. For example, when selecting the criteria used for awarding the scholarship it may be based on grade point average, discipline of study, or financial need.

Setting up a scholarship fund at Sam Houston State University is easy. The first step is to contact us. We’ll discuss with you the opportunities and draft the agreement. After an agreement is executed and your gift is received, we will work with the appropriate university department to initiate the selection

Annual Scholarships

Sam Houston State University students derive significant benefit from annual scholarships, which are expended from one-time or recurring gifts from alumni and other supporters.

Donors can direct their annual gifts to the university’s general scholarship fund or to other existing scholarship funds. Donors may want to consider establishing named scholarships, which can be created with a suggested gift of $1,000 or more. In such cases, the University Advancement Office will assist donors in developing the criteria for the award and will work closely with appropriate university departments to initiate the selection process.

Please contact Darlene Andrews for additional information about existing annual scholarships or to discuss the possibility of creating a new, named fund.

Endowed Scholarships

An endowment is a permanent fund that provides the foundation for the university’s future. Accordingly, it is vital for Sam Houston State University to substantially strengthen its endowment, especially for merit and need-based scholarships.

With an endowment scholarship fund, the university invests the gift. Only a portion of the fund’s earnings can be used for the scholarship, and the remainder of the earnings becomes part of the principal.
Donors can earmark their gifts for an existing scholarship endowment fund, or they may prefer to consider creating a new, named fund. The suggested amount for establishing a new endowment fund is $25,000 or more. A commitment of this magnitude can be pledged and paid over a five year period, with the first award being made upon the minimum gift level being achieved.

Please contact Darlene Andrews to discuss a contribution to an existing scholarship endowment or to establish a new one in your name or in honor of or in memory of a loved one, classmate, friend, or professor.

Darlene K. Andrews
Director of Donor Relations
Office of University Advancement
(936) 294-3625
dandrews@shsu.edu