Smith-Hutson Scholarship

At Lamar Institute of Technology, our mission through the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Program is to provide financial support and guidance to students throughout their educational journey, helping them become confident leaders in their future careers.

The Smith-Hutson Scholarship is designed for LIT students who demonstrate strong academic potential, financial need, and a commitment to earning a certificate or degree at LIT.
Based on the student’s financial resources, the scholarship offers support to cover tuition, books, fees, and necessary on-campus living expenses.

Students interested in applying can submit their application by logging into their myLIT student account. To begin, applicants must complete the LIT General Scholarship Application first.

Please note: You must be admitted to Lamar Institute of Technology to access the application.

The Smith-Hutson Scholarship, along with other financial aid and scholarship awards, will cover approximately 90% of your tuition, fees, room and board, for up to 2 years, 4 semesters, or until the obtainment of your Associate’s degree, whichever comes first. Special circumstances apply to students accepted into an LIT Healthcare Program. Recipients must maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, 2.0 semester GPA and must be enrolled full-time each semester. It is also expected for the scholars to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) every year along with all other Lamar University Financial Aid requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:
▪️Must be accepted to, or continuing at, Lamar Institute of Technology and intend to enroll full time
▪️Must submit a FAFSA and list Lamar Institute of Technology as your school
▪️Texas Resident
▪️Submit your most recent transcript, high school or college, if a first-time student at LIT
▪️Complete an interview with the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Foundation and LIT Staff if selected

The final application deadline is March 1, 2027 and eligible students will be contacted for an interview.

If chosen for this scholarship, it would begin in the Fall 2027 semester.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. Put “0” or “N/A” for any questions that do not pertain to you.

If you have any questions or concerns while completing the application, please contact the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Coordinator at the contact information listed below.

LIT Scholarship Coordinator
scholarships@lit.edu
409-839-2956

Donor
Ryan Hutson
Award
Varies
Deadline
03/01/2027
Supplemental Questions
  1. First Name
  2. Preferred Name
  3. Middle Name
  4. Last Name
  5. Gender
  6. Date of Birth
  7. Place of Birth (City, State)
  8. Current Address
  9. City
  10. State
  11. Zip Code
  12. Are you a US citizen?
  13. LIT Student ID (T#)
  14. Student Cell Phone Number
  15. LIT Student Email
  16. Personal Email
  17. Major
  18. What other colleges/universities have you applied to?
  19. High School Academic Information (Current high school seniors only)
    • Class rank on file
    • Class Size
    • High School GPA
    • High School Name
    • Overall ACT Score
    • Overall SAT Score
    • What date are you expected to graduate high school?
  20. College Academic Information
    • College GPA
    • College Name
    • How many college credits do you have?
    • What semester are you expected to graduate college?
  21. If selected, would you be available for an in-person interview?
  22. If awarded a scholarship, do you plan to live in the Lamar University dorms?
  23. Who/where did you learn about this scholarship?
  24. Please list all scholarships that you have APPLIED for, to date. Please list the scholarship name, dollar amount, and the college/university.
  25. Please list all scholarship awards that you have RECEIVED, to date. Please list the scholarship name, dollar amount, and the organization/college.
  26. Have you applied for a Smith-Hutson Scholarship at another college/university?
  27. If you have applied elsewhere, which college/university would be your first choice to attend?
  28. Please list any siblings or family members that you know have received the Smith-Hutson Scholarship. (Provide: Name, College/University)
  29. What is the total number of people in your household, including you, that will be attending a college/university during the 2027-2028 academic year.
  30. Please list information for family members in college that are not Smith-Hutson recipients. (Name, years in college, college attending, and how they are funding their college.)
  31. Have you completed, or do you plan to complete, the 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
  32. Who do you live with?
  33. Dependent Students: What is your parents' marital status?
  34. Dependent Students: What is your household adjusted gross income for 2024?
  35. Dependent Students: What is your household adjusted gross income for 2025?
  36. Dependent Students: What is your father's name?
  37. Dependent Students: What is your father's total annual income?
  38. Dependent Students: What is your father's occupation?
  39. Dependent Students: Who is your father's employer?
  40. Dependent Students: What is your mother's name?
  41. Dependent Students: What is your mother's total annual income?
  42. Dependent Students: What is your mother's occupation?
  43. Dependent Students: Who is your mother's employer?
  44. Dependent Students: If either parent is self-employed, please provide the name and address of business and brief description.
  45. Dependent Students: If you are living with a step parent, please indicate their name, occupation, place of employment, and total annual income.
  46. Dependent Students: Did either or both of your parents attend college? If so, please specify which one or both.
  47. Independent Students: What is your marital status?
  48. Independent Students: What is your household adjusted gross income for 2024?
  49. Independent Students: What is your household adjusted gross income for 2025?
  50. Independent Students: What is your total annual income?
  51. Independent Students: What is your occupation?
  52. Independent Students: Who is your employer?
  53. Independent Students: What is your spouse's name?
  54. Independent Students: What is your spouse's total annual income?
  55. Independent Students: What is your spouse's occupation?
  56. Independent Students: Who is your spouse's employer?
  57. Independent Students: If either you or your spouse are self-employed, please provide the name and address of the business and a brief description.
  58. Please provide the following information for all individuals, aged 25 and younger, in your immediate family, living with you (do not include yourself). (Name, age, relationship, school/college, years in college, self-supporting/non self-supporting)
  59. Have you or your family received financial assistance from any local, state, or federal government entity in the last five years? (Such as Social Security, Disability, Unemployment, etc.)
  60. (High School Seniors) Do you qualify for free or reduced lunch at your high school?
  61. Have either of your parents served in the United States military?
  62. Are you eligible for any dependent military benefits? If so, please list which benefits and the amount.
  63. Are you eligible for any tuition assistance options? If so, please list which and the amount.
  64. Do you have a college savings plan? If so, please list which and the amount.
  65. Please list the amount you and/or your family have set aside for your college education.
  66. Is anyone in your family able to pay for your college education?
  67. Please list any additional assistance or income that you will receive to assist you during your collegiate career.
  68. Please explain your financial need: This is any circumstance that affects you and your family's ability to help pay for your college education. We ask that you be very specific here. If you have difficult circumstances that you have overcome, health problems, parents/guardians with hardships, etc. please indicate that in this section.
  69. Please describe an academic or personal struggle/obstacle that you have overcome or are working to overcome.
  70. Reume

    If you do not have a resume, please create one.

    This should include the following:

    ▪️A brief list of paid employments and/or internships with dates, with most recent listed first.

    ▪️A brief list of community service.

    ▪️A list of high school and/or college extracurricular activities.

    • Please upload your resume. Your resume may include job experience, activities/clubs, volunteer work, and accomplishments.

  71. Essay Prompt: Explain why you have selected your particular major and what you hope to do with that degree once you graduate.

    Your essay MUST be written by YOU! If you utilize any form of AI software to assist in writing your essay, you will be automatically disqualified.

    • Important Note: Your essay must be double-spaced and no longer than two pages.

  72. Transcript/GED

    Upload your most recent transcript (high school and/or college, or GED).

    We do not require an official transcript.

    • If you are unable to upload the transcript, please email scholarships@lit.edu.

  73. Letters of Recommendation

    The letters of recommendation from your General Scholarship Application will be used for this scholarship application.

    It is your responsibility to reach out to your references and ask that they send the letter to scholarships@lit.edu if they are unable to upload it themselves.

    • Important Note: You must have two letters of recommendation. If both recommendations are not received, your application will not be considered for the scholarship. It is your responsibility as the student to follow up with these recommenders to ensure they submit their recommendation for you. Recommenders may not be family members.
  74. Please explain any information that is missing or incomplete within this application.

  75. I have read and understand all of the requirements for this scholarship

    Smith-Hutson Scholarships are intended for:

    ▪️ Each applicant must have an established financial need and demonstrate academic potential suitable for the undergraduate degree the student desires.

    ▪️ Taking into consideration all other scholarships and grants the student may receive, and the family's financial resources, the Smith-Hutson Scholarship typically provides sufficient assistance to cover tuition, books, fees and reasonable living expenses on campus averaging 90% to 95% of total costs. You must submit a FAFSA application each year as a requirement of the Smith-Hutson Scholarship.

    • I have read and understand all of the requirements for this scholarship.

  76. By submitting this application, I certify that all of the information that I have provided on or with this application is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. All of the information can be verified with supplemental documentation provided upon request.

    ▪️I authorize Lamar University to verify all of the information that I have provided.

    ▪️ I authorize Lamar University to release all student information to the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Foundation.

    ▪️ I hereby grant Lamar University and Smith-Hutson Scholarships, its directors, officers, employees, agents, and any designee, non-revocable permission to capture my image and likeness in photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, recordings, or any other media (collectively “Images”).

    ▪️ Scholarship selection will be at the sole discretion of the Smith-Hutson Scholarship Committee. The Smith-Hutson Scholarship Committee does not discriminate or select based on gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs, and/or socio-economic class.

    I acknowledge that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance, for the purpose of this application, is limited to resume production, spelling, and grammar check. I further acknowledge the written portion of this application, and any supporting written essay(s), are all my personal intellectual property and are not produced or enhanced by AI. I understand this application and any supporting essay(s) may be subject to AI detection software. If deemed AI enhanced this application will be immediately withdrawn from consideration.

    • By submitting this application, I certify that all of the information that I have provided on or with this application is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge.
    • Date
    • Name
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