Texas Renaissance Festival awards four scholarships

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Texas Renaissance Festival awarded four scholarships to the winners of the annual School Days scholarship program on May 12, 2017.

School Days, the Festival’s education program, occurs every November, with more than 66,000 students and teachers attending in 2016.

Students from Navasota, Spring, and Houston-area schools have received scholarships in the categories of fine arts, education, humanities, and the participant category, awarded to a student who worked for the festival during the previous season.

The recipients of this year’s $1,500 School Days scholarship awards are Leslie Clark, Matthew Thomas Campos, Chandler Lawn, and Baylee Swarts.

Leslie Clark, a senior at Memorial High School and winner of the Fine Arts Scholarship, discovered her love for art and design at a young age.

She has followed her passion since middle school, receiving numerous regional, county, and state-wide awards for her art.

Leslie will continue her education by studying in the animation program at Savannah College of Art and Design.

Matthew Thomas Campos, a senior at Northbrook High School and winner of the Education Scholarship will use this scholarship to chase his dream of teaching higher education.

His love of mathematics has inspired him to attend Houston Baptist University, where he will pursue a bachelor of education and teaching certification.

His ultimate goal is to obtain his master’s degree in mathematics and teach at the college level.

Chandler Lawn, senior at The Woodlands High School and winner of the Humanities Scholarship, is actively involved in her school and community.

These activities include participating in the National Honor Society, serving as Vice President of the Spanish National Honor Society, and volunteering with Model for a Cause.

Chandler plans on double majoring in Business and Spanish at either Vanderbilt University or University of Southern California.

Baylee Swarts, a senior at Navasota High School and the recipient of the School Days Participant Scholarship, was employed by the Texas Renaissance Festival from 2013 – 2016.

She is active in her school’s athletic program and served as the Navasota chapter Vice President for the National Honor Society in 2016.

Baylee will be pursuing her RN and Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a focus on Radiology.

“We are very proud to reward these exceptional students,” says Kim Bryant, School Days coordinator for the Texas Renaissance Festival. “The School Days scholarship program has been part of the Texas Renaissance Festival since 2015 and we are so excited continue the tradition of supporting students in our community by helping them achieve higher education.”

Scholarship candidates were evaluated based on academic achievement, service to the community, leadership qualities and accomplishments in their field, along with two essays discussing personal goals and influences.

These students were recognized for their excellence and determination to go above and beyond.