Your Children Could be Recipients of the RCAT Scholarship

 By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

RCAT hopes to award $50,000 in scholarships to students this year.

The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) provides opportunities to help their members access up-to-date continuing education.  They also support their members’ families by awarding students who are eager to further their education by providing them scholarship opportunities, such as the RCAT Scholarship, with applications due June 15, 2020. 

Children and stepchildren of your company’s employees are eligible to apply for the Annie Born/Jan P. Thomas Memorial Scholarship.  Companies must be RCAT members in good standing, and can be a manufacturer or distributor, roof consultant or law firm, architect or roofing contractor.  Those applying must be either a graduating high school senior, or enrolled full-time in college. RCAT clarifies, “Practicing professionals, students pursuing second degrees or attending extended day, night school, part-time, special weekend, or other non-traditional degree programs are not eligible.”

There are multiple requirements for the RCAT Scholarship.  Along with a transcript and completed application, students also need a letter of recommendation from a school professional or professor, community leader, or a boss who can share about the applicant's academic status, academic and personal achievements, qualities, and potential for future success. 

Additionally, applicants need to write a personal statement, sharing their academic honors, extracurricular and membership activities in school, non-school sponsored volunteer activities, career goals, work history, and financial need for the scholarship.  The scholarship committee looks at writing skills, personal qualities, strengths, achievements, and more.  

Each year, RCAT hosts a fishing tournament as a kickoff to selling raffle tickets to fund the scholarship.  May 2-4, 2019 marked the 16th annual RCAT fishing tournament.  Hosted at Woody’s Sports Center in Port Aransas, Texas, it was the first year the tournament was three days long.  With more than 75 teams, and 400 entrants, it was the biggest tournament to date!  

$35,000 was raised and awarded for the 2019-20 academic year.  Three students received $5,000 and 20 other deserving students were awarded $1,000 each!

 $5,000 award recipients

• Allison Birkhead | BBG Group | Texas State University

• Liliana Guerrero | Sechrist-Hall Co. | Texas A&M University

• Lauren Jimenez | Sustainable Edge | Northeast Lakeview College

$1,000 Award Recipients

• Travis Adams | Samuel Dean Sheet Metal | Blinn College

• Abigail Comstock | Port Enterprises | University of Texas Austin

• Sarah Foster | Bret Foster Roofing | University of Texas Austin

• Brian Gates | ABC Supply | Waubonsee Community College

• Victoria Gilbert | West End Roofing | Austin College

• Annika Johnson | Contractor Coach Pro | Texas Lutheran University

• Emily Peebles | Beldon Roofing | Texas A&M University

• Harrison Rogers | Hall Roofing | Baylor University

• Zoe Shaw | Jimco Roofing | Evergreen State College

• Marisa Stamps | Ramon Roofing | University of Oklahoma

• Madeline Young | Precision Roofing | University of Texas Austin

• Sahara Dawson | Maximum Construction | Brookhaven College

• Chloe Clymer | Armored Roofing | Midwestern State University

• Mikaela Crutcher | Outback Roofing | University of Arkansas

• Caleb Green-Stooksberry | Longhorn Roofing | University of Texas at Dallas

• Lainey Hendrix | Travis Roofing Supply | University of Alabama

• Madison Lucas | Peterson Dean | Louisiana State University

• Jeremy Marshall | Innovative Skylights and Attics | Texas A&M University

• Kylie Tidmore | The Lane Law Firm | Liberty University

• Cassie Vestal | Kangaroo Contractors | University of Tulsa

This year, RCAT is hoping to raise $50,000 to grant scholarships to even more students, helping them pay for tuition and school fees, books, and room and board.  Scholarship recipients are selected based on: academic achievement, their personal statement, financial need, and the letter of recommendation.  

Whether a student is awarded $1,000 or $5,000, all scholarship money helps ease the financial burden of higher education for students and their families.  And with the ability to reapply each year, there are multiple opportunities to receive scholarships during students’ entire undergraduate careers. The RCAT Scholarship is made possible through the sale of raffle tickets at the annual fishing tournament, and throughout the year, in addition to generous donors.

Forward and share this scholarship opportunity with high schools and colleges, and remind them of the June 15, 2020 deadline.