Local women receive Texas Tech scholarships

Two young women from Cooke County have a little more money for their college education thanks to the Cooke County chapter of the Texas Tech Alumni Association. 

Marlowe Sappington, a graduate of Valley View High School, and Claire Schneider, a Muenster High School graduate, were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Texas Tech University during an alumni luncheon at the First State Bank Conference Center in Gainesville on Thursday. 

The two women said they applied online for the scholarship earlier this year and answered "three to five" essay questions.

"I'm honored to represent Cooke County at Tech," Schneider, who plans to major in petroleum engineering, said Thursday. 

Schneider said she has family in the Lubbock area and her older sister just graduated from Texas Tech.

Sappington said she will be the first in her family to attend Tech. 

"I hope to start some kind of tradition," said Sappington, who plans to pursue a degree in journalism.

Darin Allred, president of the Cooke County alumni chapter, said their organization gives out two scholarships a year to Cooke County students.

In years past, the alumni chapter has raised money for scholarships through car washes and golf tournaments, Allred said. 

Scholarship Committee Chairman Brian Hess estimated "a dozen" applications were received for this year's scholarships. 

A committee of five reviewed each application and chose Sappington and Schneider as this year's 35th and 36th scholarship recipients, he said. 

Hess said over the years, the alumni association has awarded scholarships to students representing each high school throughout the county. 

Sappington said she was the first recipient from Valley View and is "honored."

New Texas Tech President Dr. Lawrence Schovanec was a guest speaker at Thursday's luncheon.

He said alumni associations play a vital role within the Red Raider community.

Schovanec said Texas Tech awards $90 million each year in student support and estimates $25-$30 million stems from  various organizations — including alumni associations. 

He said about $30 million is federal — such as a Pell Grant— and the other third comes directly from the institution. 

The Cooke County chapter of the Texas Tech Alumni Association was established in 1991 and this is their 18th year providing scholarships to area students.

Source: Local women receive Texas Tech scholarships