The Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship

Application Process


The BPSF Academic Scholarship is named in honor of Victor F. Saldivar because he contributed a unique melding of LGBTQIA+ advocacy and education to BPSF, TXST, and the San Marcos community. As a first generation student and QPOC himself, Victor was invested in seeing queer students succeed during their pursuit of further education.

The Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship will award two LGBTQIA+ students in the 2025 Spring Semester, up to $1,000, to assist in the recipient's pursuit of Educational Programs in Hays County.

Please review the checklist below to understand your qualifications and the details of this process.

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply for the Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship, the three initial criteria for receiving it are...

  • Applicant resides in San Marcos or Hays County,
  • Applicant is in the LQBTQIA+ community, and...
  • Applicant is seeking post-secondary, associate, or vocational education.

What do I need to know about the Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship?

  • How much tuition the scholarship may cover can vary, based upon the post-secondary educational program you are attending. Each scholarship amount can vary up to $1,000 per cycle.

  • All educational programs that are held within San Marcos and Hays County are eligible. Some examples are: barber school, beauty school, EMT, CNA, phlebotomist, four-year undergraduate, or two-year associate programs.

I've already applied, what’s next?

  • All applicants will be notified approximately three weeks after the submission deadline, whether or not they have been awarded a scholarship.
  • Scholarship recipients will be notified via e-mail and given the opportunity to attend an upcoming BPSF in-person event where recipients will be recognized.
  • If you are not selected, BPSF will not tell you why. BPSF does not discuss the results of reviews with applicants. All applicants will be notified approximately three weeks after the submission deadline, whether or not they have been awarded a scholarship.
  • If you are not selected, there is no limit to how many times an individual may apply to the BPSF Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship. However, once an individual has received a scholarship, they may not apply again.
 

How will my application be graded?

On average, BPSF hosts six to ten (6-10) judges who will review applications. BPSF provides a scoring rubric for reviewers to use for each application. For content, reviewers will verify that the applicant answered the essay prompt question(s) and then rate responses based on thoroughness and thoughtfulness. Finally, reviewers may provide notes about their review, but are not required to do so. After the essays are scored, the scores will be assessed and two (2) recipients will be selected each scholarship cycle.

What are my chances of gaining a scholarship from BPSF?

The BPSF Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarships are highly competitive. Your chances of success are determined by the quality of your application and the number of applications submitted each cycle. Two (2) recipients are chosen each cycle.

How do I know if I am eligible to apply?

The BPSF Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship is available to individuals who have minority sexual and gender identities (LGBTQIA+), residing in San Marcos or Hays County, and who will be attending any post-secondary, associate, or vocational program located in San Marcos or Hays County. Proof of residency and location of program must be provided. 

If I am selected for the BPSF Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship, can I still apply for Emergency Stabilization funds?

Yes, if you are selected for the Academic Scholarship you can still apply for the Emergency Stabilization funds.