Financial Aid - Scholarships & Exemptions

Take advantage of the KC Scholarship Program.

Apply for a scholarship:

Kilgore College encourages you to apply for financial assistance through our scholarship program. A limited number of Kilgore College scholarship funds and grants are available to students who have fulfilled the scholarship criteria. Listed below are the various scholarships and the process to apply for each scholarship.


Priority Scholarship Funding Date: May 1

Scholarships

Academic and Institutional Scholarships

Presidential Scholarship:

Presidential Scholarship Application (fillable pdf)

The Presidential Scholarship is KC’s most prestigious academic scholarship and is designed to attract academically superior students to Kilgore College.

To apply: Download application here. The student may also contact his/her high school counselor for an application or call Sonya Olvera at (903) 983-8183 or send an e-mail to solvera@kilgore.edu.

Requirements for Presidential Scholarship:

  • Graduating high school seniors
  • Enhanced ACT composite score of 25 or SAT composite score of 1600 or above
  • High school grade average of 92 or higher
  • High school class rank in upper 10% of graduation class
  • Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and use of books
  • Must maintain 3.3 Cumulative GPA with a minimum of 15 hours per each long semester
  • They must exhibit personal conduct in keeping with the Code of Conduct in the KC Student Handbook
  • Recipients of this award may accept other KC institutional scholarships to cover the cost of room and board in college Housing only. They may accept scholarships from outside sources
  • KC Presidential Scholarship Application (pdf)
  • Application deadline is March 1

KC Employee - Dependent Child Scholarship:

Dependent Child Scholarship Application (pdf)

Dependent children of full time employees may be eligible to receive an institutional scholarship in an amount equivalent to the in-district tuition and general education fee costs.  Application for this scholarship and eligibility determination must occur annually

Basic requirements for scholarship eligibility include:

  • Prospective scholarship recipients must file the annual FAFSA application and receive their SAR before scholarship eligibility can be determined.
  • NOTE: Students claiming independent status when filing their FAFSA have waived their dependency rights and are not eligible for this scholarship.  Dual credit/early admission students need not file the FAFSA.
  • “Dependent children” of full-time employees who have a minimum of one year of service at Kilgore College will be considered eligible for this scholarship.

This scholarship will have the following limitations:

  • A maximum of 62 attempted semester credit hours (or equivalent continuing education certificate hours) will be covered.
  • Typically, participants will be limited to one degree or certificate.
  • Only in-district tuition and general education fees will be paid; out-of-district fees, course specific fees, books, uniforms, supplies, etc. will not be covered.
  • This will be a non-liquidated scholarship; thus, no cash will accrue to the student.
  • Students will be required to maintain a 2.5 grade point average each semester to retain the scholarship.

In order to maintain consistency between financial aid programs, dependency must be documented through one of the following means:

  • The student is claimed as a dependent on the employee’s most recent IRS tax return; or
  • The student is covered by the employee’s Kilgore College sponsored insurance plan; or
  • The employee is currently paying child support to/on behalf of the student; or
  • The student lists dependency to the employee on his/her FAFSA application.

Employees who do not meet the eligibility requirements but who have extenuating circumstances may request a review of their eligibility status by completing a review request form.


TORCH Foundation – Lindsey Horton Memorial Scholarship:

Applicant Eligibility:

  • Eligible Applicants must be current Texas residents/students living in a Texas rural county or non-metropolitan statistical (non-MSA) with fewer than 50,000 in population
  • Be currently enrolled in a technical school, college, or university in Texas
  • Seeking a degree in the medical field.

About the scholarship:

Lindsey Horton was a Registered Nurse at Permian Regional Medical Center and was a resident of Andrews, Texas. Upon Lindsey’s tragic death while at work, there was a tremendous outpouring of love and kindness from residents and businesses from Andrews County and from across Texas. In her honor and to help address the medical professional shortage, the Lindsey Horton Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to provide scholarships to students residing in the Permian Basin counties who seek degrees in the medical field. To help extend this vision statewide, the TORCH Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH), is proud to partner with the Lindsey Horton Memorial Scholarship Fund, to provide college scholarships to rural Texas residents/students beyond the Permian Basin region.

More information and scholarship application (pdf)

Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Communications Scholarships

Some performance scholarships are awarded to students involved in a fine/performing arts program at KC that include: Visual Art, KC Band, Communications, KC Choral/Vocal, Dance, Rangerettes, Theatre and KC Twirlers.


Band Scholarships:

The Band Director is Derrick Logozzo. Interested students should directly contact him at (903) 983-8276 or e-mail him at dlogozzo@kilgore.edu. Band scholarships are available to incoming students with the additional criteria

  • Any student graduating in good standing from their high school bands
  • A letter of recommendation from the high school band director is required.

Choral/Vocal Scholarships:

The contact person for the choral/vocal scholarship is Lauren Clark. Call (903) 983-8120 or e-mail lclark@kilgore.edu.

To sign up for an audition for a scholarship, APPLY HERE!


Dance Scholarships:

  • The Dance Department at Kilgore College offers an intensive program in ballet, modern dance, tap and jazz. Interested parties should call (903) 983-8633.
  • Dance students are required to take all the dance courses offered each semester
  • Students are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA with a minimum of 12 hours
  • Students must audition in mid-April
  • The scholarship is renewable for four semesters upon meeting requirements

Music Scholarships:

Kilgore College offers Band, Choral/Vocal and Guitar scholarships.

All of the music programs require the following criteria:

  • Each requires participation in at least one ensemble relating to the area offering the scholarship.
  • Scholarships are contingent upon the individual students’ musical accomplishments, (all-region/all-area/all-state or solo/ensemble).
  • An audition will be set up by the respective department staff.
  • Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA with at least 12 hours.
  • Students’ schedule must include at least two non-music academic classes.

For more information, contact Derrick Logozzo, department chair, at (903) 983-8276 or e-mail him at dlogozzo@kilgore.edu.


Rangerette Scholarships:

The Rangerette Director is Dana Blair. The Assistant Director is Shelley Wayne. You may contact them at (903) 983-8273 or e-mail them at danablair@rangerette.com or shelleywayne@rangerette.com. You can download a Rangerette tryout packet from the Rangerette website.

  • All Rangerette Hopefuls are required to complete Pre-Training prior to tryouts,
  • Tryouts are held in a closed session in July.
  • There is a fee for room and board for pre-training. This payment is non-refundable.
  • Scholarships are awarded after pre-training to those who are selected.
  • Rangerettes must maintain a 2.5 GPA with a minimum of 12 hours.

Twirler Scholarships:

The KC Twirlers perform at athletic events and special performances with the KC Ranger Band. KC Twirler applications can be downloaded from the www.kilgore.edu website. The KC Twirler instructor is Jordan Jenkins. Call her at (903) 658-2286 or jordanijenkins16@gmail.com.


Visual Arts Scholarships:

The Kilgore College Art Scholarship is designed to attract students to Kilgore College who possess outstanding talent and ability. Please submit your completed application to Coy A. Lothrop, Visual Arts Professor. Submit via email to clothrop@kilgore.edu or by mail, to Kilgore College Visual Arts, ATTN: Coy A. Lothrop, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, Texas 75662.

Eligibility:

High school seniors must meet the following criteria (NEW TALENT WINNERS EXEMPT):

  • Enhanced ACT composite score of 21 or SAT composite of 820 or higher
  • High school average of 85 or higher
  • Class rank of top 50 percent

Students currently enrolled at KC must meet the following criteria:

  • Maintain a 3.0 grade average on at least 12 hours per semester
  • Be enrolled as a Visual Arts major (Fine Art or Graphic Design)
  • Maintain a 3.0 or above grade average in Visual Arts courses

The Kilgore College Scholarship Committee will review, evaluate, select and notify recipients. Recipients must notify the committee, in writing, of their intention to accept or reject the award.  

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP (pdf)

General Scholarships

General Institutional Scholarships:

The General Scholarship is based upon academic performance, and will require that the student meet the minimum grade point average and enrollment requirements as stated in an agreement letter. To apply, please fill out the general scholarship application.

  • Available to incoming freshmen, returning students or non-traditional students
  • ACT or SAT scores a plus in determining the scholarship recipient
  • Must maintain a 2.5 GPA with a minimum of twelve (12) hours per each long semester
  • An application for admission to KC on file in the Admissions Office
  • A copy of the high school or most recent college transcript in the Registrar’s Office (or submitted with the application)
  • The current FAFSA on file in the Financial Aid Office for the appropriate academic year
  • The monetary value varies depending on the scholarship awarded
  • Priority scholarship funding date is May 1.

General Scholarships include:

  • The Superintendent’s Scholarship is given to students at high schools in the Kilgore College service area. This scholarship is awarded at the Superintendent’s discretion. ($500 yearly)
  • The Principal’s Scholarship is also given to students at high schools in the Kilgore College service area. This scholarship is awarded at the high school principal’s discretion. ($500 yearly)
Community and Agency Scholarships

Outside scholarships or “agency scholarships” are funds that are awarded to students from sources outside of Kilgore College. Examples of outside sources are the Elks Lodge, the Lions Club, School organizations and Banks, etc. Most agencies do not send the scholarship funds to the school until the student’s proof of enrollment is provided to the scholarship donor. Proof of enrollment is the fee schedule that the student receives during class registration. Agencies usually prefer to send the student’s scholarship funds directly to the school to be credited to the students account.


Computer Science Scholarships:

ComputerScience.org is part of a new initiative to grow the next generation of developers, engineers and network administrators. Obviously, an education in CS is the first step to a career. To help students like yours offset degree costs, we’ve developed a curated list of scholarships available only to computer science students.  We’ve analyzed hundreds of scholarships from around the country, and distilled them into a list of our favorites for current and prospective computer science students.


Culinary & Hospitality Scholarships

This scholarship, awarded biannually since 2015, is a one-time grant to students currently enrolled in or planning to attend a culinary arts or hospitality management program.  Apply Today!


Don't Mess with Texas Scholarship:

The Don't mess with Texas® Scholarship recognizes the achievements of Texas high school seniors who take a leadership role in preventing litter in their schools and communities. Any Texas high school senior currently attending public, private or home school and planning to attend an accredited Texas college or university next year may apply. Student essays should describe creative and/or sustainable solutions to prevent litter and build awareness of the Don't mess with Texas initiative.

To Apply Online Click Here


East Texas Communities Foundation:

East Texas Communities Foundation administers a variety of scholarships that have been established by generous individuals to assist students with their educational pursuits. Whether honoring loved ones or providing for a specific field of study, each scholarship expresses a deep belief in the power of education to help young people achieve their dreams.

Detailed eligibility requirements and links to the applications are found on the website.


Study.com Academic Scholarships:

For more information, visit their website.


Educator.com:

Our mission at Educator.com is connecting great students with great teachers.  First place will win a $1,000 scholarship, 2nd place will win a $500 scholarship, and 3rd/4th/5th place will win an annual unlimited subscription to Educator's 100+ course catalog ($300 value each).


Gregg County Bar Association Scholarship:

The Gregg County Bar Association is funding up to three scholarships to honor high school seniors for $1,000 apiece. Seniors from any Gregg County high school (public, private or charter) may apply. Only one scholarship will be given per family per year.  Click here for more info and application.


Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards:

Application available on their website.


Hispanic & Latino Student Scholarships:

College enrollment for Hispanic and Latino students is on the rise. The US Census Bureau predicts that 25 percent of college students will identify as Hispanic or Latino by 2020. Despite impressive enrollment figures, these students may still face a unique set of challenges in their pursuit of a degree including immigration status, being the first in their family to go to college, and perhaps most significantly, financial obstacles.  To address the very real issue of affordability, our college planning team at BestColleges.com created a holistic financial aid guide specifically for Hispanic and Latino students. We provide context for how students can best take advantage of available resources while offering a comprehensive listing of 40+ scholarship and grant opportunities.


Horatio Alger Career & Technical Scholarships:

Since 1984, the Horatio Alger Association has awarded over $125 million in college scholarships to deserving students.  Through nationally recognized education programs, the Association reaches out directly to our nation’s young people with a message of hope, opportunity, responsibility, and perseverance. 

The Horatio Alger Association seeks to assist students who have demonstrated integrity, perseverance in overcoming adversity, strength of character, financial need and commitment to pursue career or technical certification/degree, and a desire to contribute to society.

MORE INFO HERE!


Junior League of Longview Scholarship 2019

The Junior League of Longview Scholarship aids women needing financial aid to further their education and/or aid those seeking to return to the workforce by pursuing a higher degree.

For more information click here.


Nursing Scholarships:

Searching for nursing scholarships can be time-consuming. To help speed up the process, we've compiled a list of scholarships specifically for nursing students, as well as other financial aid resources to help make nursing school more affordable for students. The guide also offers expert advice on how to stand out from other applicants and land a scholarship. You can check it out here:

Scholarships for Nursing Students: https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/degrees/nursing-programs/scholarships/


Texas Builders Foundation Scholarship

The focus of the Texas Builders Foundation is to help ensure the future of the residential building industry in Texas. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships to students who are enrolled in construction programs in Texas’ technical and trade schools and colleges and universities.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!


Texas Farm Bureau Scholarships:

Texas Farm Bureau devotes a large amount of resources towards youth programs and scholarships. Annually we award over $200,000 in scholarships in a variety of packages designed to meet different student needs. This includes various youth leadership organizations and students participating in our Free Enterprise Speech Contest.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!


Zonta Young Women in Public Affairs Award Scholarship:

General Information: The goal of the Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award Program is to encourage young women to participate in public affairs by recognizing a commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements and a dedication to empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.  In order for more women to be represented in key decision making positions worldwide, we must encourage young women to pursue careers or seek leadership positions in public policy making, government and volunteer organizations and further their education with these aims in view.

The Awards: Zonta clubs usually provide awards for club recipients. District/region recipients receive US$1,000. Ten international recipients are selected from the district/region recipients to receive additional awards of $4,000 each. District/region and international awards are funded by the Zonta International Foundation.

MORE INFO HERE!

State of Texas Tuition Exemptions

Exemptions are a type of financial assistance allowing some Texas residents to attend a public college or university in Texas without paying tuition or, in some cases, tuition and fees. Kilgore College participates in several of these exemption programs. Exemptions are granted based on criteria established by the State of Texas and are applied to student accounts through the Financial Aid Office.

Fund

Description

Adoption Exemption

For youth who were adopted and were the subject of a financial assistance agreement providing monthly payments and Medicaid benefits. To verify eligibility, contact DFPS Regional Adoption Staff.

Blind & Deaf Exemption

Texas residents with a vision-related disability (e.g., blindness, significant visual impairment) are determined eligible by Vocational Rehabilitation Services Offices through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Students must contact their local TWC office to apply.

Combat Exemption for Children of Military Service Members

An education benefit for a child or stepchild of a member of the Armed Forces who is deployed to active duty in a combat zone outside the United States. Student must provide proof of service member’s deployment from the Department of Defense for the relevant semester or academic term.

Clinical Preceptor Exemption

To encourage nurses to serve as Clinical Nurse Preceptors by providing a partial exemption from tuition to them and/or their children. Complete the Preceptor Exemption application form and submit it to the institution.

Fire Exemption

Provides tuition assistance to eligible employed and volunteer firefighters in the state of Texas enrolled in college-level fire science courses.

Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers

Provides tuition assistance in the form of exemption of all dues, fees, and charges for any child of an eligible disabled or deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer injured in the line of duty. Apply through THECB. If the student is eligible, the THECB will email an official Eligibility Determination Letter to the student and the institution.

Foster Care Exemption

For foster youth currently or formerly under the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and those adopted from DFPS. Letter of eligibility from DFPS required.

Hazlewood Act

The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas.

Highest Ranking High School Student Exemption

Provides an award to students graduating top in their classes in high school. The document is issued by the high school. The student must provide a copy of the document received.

Peace Officers

Provide tuition assistance to eligible employed peace officers in the state of Texas enrolled in undergraduate criminal justice or law enforcement courses.

The list of fees covered by exemptions/waivers:

  • Tuition
  • General Education Fee
  • Out-of-District Fee
  • Course Fee
  • Workforce Fee

The list of fees not covered by exemptions/waivers:

  • Distance Learning
  • e-Service fee
  • Background check
  • Inclusive Access
  • Certification fees
  • Drug test
  • FISDAP fees
  • Liability Insurance fees
  • Licensing fees
  • Simulation fees
  • Software fees
  • Testing fees

For information about Scholarships:

Sonya Olvera
Assistant Director
Financial Aid Department
Phone:
(903) 983-8183
Office:
Devall Student Center (DEVAL), 236
Amber Kinsey
Scholarships Specialist
Institutional Advancement
Phone:
(903) 988-7523
Office:
Whitten Applied Tech. Center (WHITN), 110
Darlene Hatfield
Scholarship Coordinator
Financial Aid Department
Phone:
(903) 983-8299
Office:
Devall Student Center (DEVAL), 231