Applications Closed for 2026-2027

Rooted Here.
Ready for Anywhere.

The Bishop Robert and Esther Schnase Scholarship awards up to $10,000 per year to first-generation college students from the Rio Grande Valley — students who are proud of where they’re from and eager to make their mark on the world.

About the Scholarship

The First Chapter Starts With You.

If no one in your immediate family has earned a college degree, you already know something most students don’t: how much it takes to get here. This scholarship was created for you — the first-generation student from the Valley who is ready to pursue a two- or four-year degree wherever your goals take you.

Any College, Anywhere

Attend any accredited two-year or four-year college or university of your choice.

Up to $10,000/year

Renewable for up to four years, or until graduation, whichever comes first.

Service-minded students

We seek students with a desire to give back during their studies and after graduation.

2026 Timeline

Key Dates for Applicants

Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year have closed.

Candidate selection & interview notification

Finalists are selected from the applicant pool and notified of their interview invitation.

Scholarship interviews

Candidates meet with the scholarship committee for a personal interview.

Award announcements

Scholarship recipients are notified and given until July 8 to formally accept their award.

Scholarship award dinner

Recipients and their families are invited to a celebratory dinner honoring the new class of Schnase Scholars.

Award Amount

Up to $10,000

Per year, for up to four years. Intended to cover tuition and fees. Students who begin at a two-year institution may transfer the scholarship to a four-year university.

Who Should Apply

High school seniors from the four-county RGV region whose immediate family members have not completed a degree program.

In Their Honor

From the Valley, For the World.

Bishop Robert Schnase and his wife Esther served the Rio Grande Valley for 21 years as pastor and educator. Their love for this community and their deep belief in the power of education and faith inspired this scholarship. Through it, they hope to invest in a new generation of Valley leaders, wherever their journey takes them.

Their legacy. Your future.