More than 10,000 Houston area graduating high school seniors have had the honor of being named a Jones Scholar through the Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones Scholars program. Each Jones Scholar is eligible to receive up to $16,000 in scholarship funds toward a baccalaureate degree.

Seniors attending most Harris County public schools can apply to become Jones Scholars and should see their counselors for applications. Candidates are nominated by each participating high school, and a Rotary Club of Houston committee makes the final selection based on scholastic achievement, economic need, community service and leadership.

When Houston Endowment initiated the program in 1958, four Jones Scholars were selected from each of the high school graduating classes in the Houston Independent School District. In 1959, the program was expanded to include districts contiguous to the Houston Independent School District. Later, it grew to include all school districts within Harris County. Since the program’s inception, Houston Endowment has provided more than $82 million to help 10,181 Jones Scholars attend college.