Scholarship Application Information
**For students residing in Texas only**
Applications are due no later than 5:00PM CST on Friday, April 11, 2025.
2025 award recipients will be notified no later than Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Scholarship History
The Jess Claiborne Junior Golf Foundation was formed in January 2021 in honor of the late Jess Claiborne, who gave his time, energy and resources to promote junior golf in Texas for many years. He was a longtime board member and official of the Texas Golf Association as well as an avid player throughout his life, and was an integral part of the Texas golf landscape for more than 50 years.
A Texas native, Claiborne developed a passion for the game of golf at an early age. Over the years, he blossomed into one of the state’s best amateur players and was a fixture atop the leaderboards in the ultra-competitive West Texas BBQ circuit tournaments. He attended Texas Christian University from 1965-69 and was a stalwart on the Men’s Golf Team all four years and won the Southwest Conference individual title in 1968.
His contributions to the game of golf have benefitted countless juniors and adults and his dedication, character and lifelong connection to golf both honored and encouraged the next generation of young golfers.
Financial Details
Jess Claiborne Junior Golf Foundation Scholarship awards one male and one female golfer a one-time 3,000.00 each towards their education at an accredited college or university. Scholarship funds will only be disbursed to a college or university or previously approved third party and will not be paid directly to the scholarship recipient.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen
- Applicants must demonstrate participation in an organized junior golf program.
- Applicants must have completed (or plan to complete) high school prior to the award year and must be enrolled (or planning to enroll) as a full-time student at an accredited college or university located within the United States. A full-time student is defined as one who is taking 12 or more hours in a course of study leading to a traditional associate (2 year) or baccalaureate (4 year) degree or considered a full-time student by his/her respective institution.
- Applicants’ cumulative grade point average must be at least 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale.
- Applicants must submit a 250-650 word essay based on their life story and how they chose golf along with their accomplishments in junior golf, further passion for golf, further education through golf, and goals for their future in and outside of golf. The Foundation is also interested in their participation in extra-curricular activities other than golf and any philanthropy activities that they participate in, as well as why they feel they should receive this scholarship.
- The application must be completed in its entirety and signed and dated by both the applicant and the applicants’ parent(s) or guardian.
- Applicants must provide a letter of recommendation from school staff, and an appropriate representative from the junior golf program in which they have participated.
- Applicants must provide two personal references which may be contacted during the selection process. At least one of the references should be a personal acquaintance.
Application Procedures:
The Jess Claiborne Junior Golf Foundation Scholarship will be awarded based on a review of four primary criteria as demonstrated in the following application and attachments.
1. Academic proficiency
2. Desire for higher education
3. Essay / Honors / Extracurricular activities
4. Participation in organized junior golf program
A cover letter, the completed application and all required attachments must be submitted electronically to info@jessclaibornefoundation.com no later than April 11th of the year being applied for by 5:00 PM CST. The Jess Claiborne Junior Golf Foundation Committee will review all submitted applications and recommend a recipient for approval by the Foundation Board of Directors. The successful candidate will be notified no later than May 31st.
Application Responsibilities:
The successful applicant must:
1. Enroll full-time enrollment at an accredited college or university located within the United States.
2. Maintain a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale.
3. Allow use of their photo and information from their application for promotional activities for the Jess Claiborne Junior Golf Foundation.