Scholarships

FAFSA INFORMATION

All Texas high school seniors are required to fill out the FAFSA or sign an opt-out waiver. This is a graduation requirement.

FAFSA Student Aid Website

Step 1 - Create an FSA ID account- allow 3-4 days to process before starting the FAFSA

Step 2 - Gather your tax information, and necessary documents

Step 3 - Start the 24-25 FAFSA

Seniors, Check out these non-McDade related scholarships. You might be eligible to apply for one or more of these. There are some for trade and technical schools also.

Click this link for a .pdf document that lists these scholarships and how to apply.

Rotary Club of Bastrop County

Deadline: April 26 to the Counselor's Office

Award Amount: $500

Fill out the linked form. You will need a letter of character reference, your transcript, and a 1 page essay which address each of these points:

  • Career plans following completion of your secondary education studies.

  • The reason(s) behind your career choice.

  • Role models that you admire in your chosen field.

  • Your long-term career objectives.

Click here for the application.

McDade Historical Society Scholarship

Deadline: Friday, May 3; mailed to address on application of delivered in person to a MHS Meeting at the McDade Historical Society Museum of the Historic Barroom

Eligibility: reside in McDade or graduating from McDade ISD; ontime receipt of application; eligible to enroll at an accredited university, college, junior/community college, and/or vocational or trade school.

Application can be downloaded here or obtained from the High School Administration Office.

McDade Watermelon Festival Association Scholarship

Deadline: Weds., May 1, mailed to the address on the application

Eligibility: Must live in McDade, see the application for specific areas

Application can be downloaded here or obtained from the High School Administration Office

American Society of Civil Engineers -

Deadline: Friday 4/12/2024

Award amount is unknown

Open to high school seniors interested in pursuing Civil Engineering, STEM, or a related field.

The Scholarship application can be found here: Scholarship Application

Entries are judged based on Demonstration of Academic Achievement, Demonstration of Financial Need (FAFSA), Demonstration of Leadership and Community Outreach (work history, school activities, special recognition, volunteer work, and non-school related activities), Response to the required essay, and a Letter of Recommendation from a STEM teacher.

An FAQ form can be found here: FAQ Form

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Scholarships of Excellence

Deadline: Friday March 8 at 5pm

Award Amount: $2,500

Eligibility: Reside in the home of a parent or legal guardian who is a current Bluebonnet member with an active account and whose primary residence is within the boundaries of Bluebonnet's service area.

Bluebonnet is offering several scholarships in 2 categories: Academic for those pursuing a non-vocational bachelor's degree, and Trade and Technical for those students pursuing a trade or technical certificate or
Associate's degree in a vocational field.

Applications for both scholarships are completed online, and each applicant needs to upload their current transcript as part of the application. Please ask Mrs. Smith-Mott to send you a digital copy of your transcript before you begin the online application.

Access both applications on Bluebonnet Electric's webpage.

Elgin Arts Association Pearls of Youth Scholarship

Deadline Friday, March 29

Award Amounts: $2,500 and 2,000

This scholarship is for graduating seniors from Elgin ISD, McDade ISD, and Elgin area homeschool students, and any graduating child who is a family member of the Elgin Arts Association. Recitpients must be seniors who plan to continue studies in any of the fine arts, including visual, music, theater, dance, creative writing, etc.

Click here to download the application.

Bastrop County A &M Club Scholarship

Deadline April 1, 2024

This scholarship is for students entering Texas A & M University in the fall of 2024, College Station Campus only.

Access the application here.

Women in Public Finance, Texas Chapter Scholarship

Deadline Friday, April 19

2 scholarships available each for $1,000

Questions: scholarships@txwpf.com

Application: www.txwpf.com then click on Programs

Read about the WPF Scholarship here.

Masonic Lodge Scholarship

Deadline March 1 by 3pm; students turn them in at the Masonic Lodge in Elgin or mail them to the address on the applicaiton.

Download the application for the Masonic Lodge Scholarship here.

Women's Transportation Seminar, Heart of Texas Chapter, Scholarship

Deadline March 1, 2024

Award Amount $2,500

Eligibility: Female High School Seniors interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) related fields. Judged on academic achievement and demonstrated financial need.

Click here for the application for the Friends of WTS Scholarship

McDade Extension Education Club Scholarship
Deadline April 1.

Eligibility: Must be a graduating senior in the McDade ISD boundaries, a 4-H and/or FFA member in good standing or a child or grandchild of a MEEC member attending a trade school or college of higher education.

See Mrs. Smith-Mott for the application.

Bastrop Pride Scholarship

Deadline to Apply March 31, 2024; submit application via the email on the application.

Bastrop Pride in honor of all LGBTQIA+ people of rural and developing areas, has created and invites applications for the Bastrop Pride Scholarship, awarded to up to one student per ISD in Bastrop County who:

  • Are planning to attend an associates, trades or bachelor’s program of college or university, or some form of postsecondary education development

  • Can articulate a goal to make an impact in their chosen community in line with the belief of service held by Bastrop Pride

Applicants will be considered equally regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin or handicap status.

Click here for the application.

Bastrop County SWCD 2024 Scholarship for Agriculture and
Conservation Studies 

The Bastrop County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will award one or more $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors residing within the Bastrop County SWCD boundary who will be studying an agricultural or conservation-related discipline in a Texas college or university. Students may be graduating public or private school or be a homeschool student. Only completed Bastrop County SWCD applications will be considered.

For more information and to download the application click here.

Applications are due February 17, 2024, and must be submitted by email, mail, or in-person to the SWCD office:

BastropCounty@SWCD.Texas.gov

Mailing address:

Bastrop County SWCD

507 Old Austin Hwy

Bastrop, TX 78602


Office address:

Bastrop County SWCD

507 Old Austin Hwy

Bastrop, TX 78602

Office open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Gerloff Company RESTORE Scholarship

The Gerloff Company will be awarding several $1,000 scholarships to deserving high school seniors who are going to continue their education at a college, university, or trade school. Deadline is April 15, 2024

Click here for the application.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship

Open to all Senior Students. Due February 7, 2024.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholasrship click here to apply

Local GO TEXAN Scholarship

Open to all senior students within Bastrop County. To apply, send an email to cenexteacher03@gmail.com and request an application packet. The due date is February 23, 2024