Hope Scholarship
Project Joy and Hope proudly continues its mission to provide college scholarships to senior students throughout our state who value education, believe in service to others, and have worked hard to overcome obstacles as they complete their high school careers. Since 2001, PJH has provided scholarships totaling over one million dollars to area high school seniors.
Eligibility: 2025 applicants graduating from a Texas high school located within 100 miles of Pasadena, Texas, may apply. To be eligible for a 2025 HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, the student must have experienced the death of a biological parent or a sibling. We cannot consider other extended family members, such as grandparents or stepparents. Each eligible applicant must complete the attached application.
Three independent reviewers will consider community service essays, writings reflecting personal obstacles and experiences, as well as paragraphs about applicants’ aspirations and hopes for the future. Only complete packets submitted by the March 24, 2025 deadline will be reviewed.
*An awards reception to honor the HOPE SCHOLAR Class of 2025 will be held on Tuesday evening, May 13, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Baptist Church, 6901 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, Texas. All students MUST attend the ceremony to be eligible to receive monetary awards. No exceptions.
The Hope Scholarship is awarded in loving memory of Valerie Grace Wheeler.
Valerie Grace Wheeler learned that she had cancer when she was barely a teenager, having celebrated her 13th birthday a few short months before receiving the harsh news of her diagnosis of metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma.
Words seem inadequate to describe this exceptional young woman. Friends and family called her Val, while many called her “Amazing Grace.” Astounding everyone with her determination, courage, positive attitude, and spiritual strength, Valerie touched hundreds of people throughout her experience with cancer. She died June 25, 1999, at age 15, before she could begin her sophomore year of high school.
Valerie was an honors student at Sam Rayburn High School, a talented artist, an outstanding athlete, and most of all, a person who had true compassion for others. Because of her faith in God, she believed in the hope that each new day could bring.
The Hope Scholarship seeks to recognize outstanding young people like Valerie who value education, believe in service to others, and have worked hard to overcome obstacles as they complete their high school careers.
Only Texas residents residing within 100 miles of Pasadena, TX may apply. Applicants (seniors) must have experienced the death of a sibling or parent. (We are unable to consider the death of grandparents and other extended family members, such as stepparents.) This educational scholarship must be applied to expenses related to college, technical, or trade school. Application deadline is Monday, March 24, 2025. All applications must be postmarked by Monday, March 24, 2025 to be considered. Absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS.
Please return completed scholarship applications by mail to:
Scholarship Committee
Project Joy and Hope
3207 Tulip Street
Pasadena, TX 77504
IMPORTANT AND PLEASE NOTE:
Please mail all required documents (Essays, financing plans, releases, etc.) in a flat envelope so that no documents are folded or bent. Please use paper clips, not staples. Any questions should be emailed to jan@joyandhope.org.
If selected, each scholarship recipient is required to attend an award ceremony to be held Tuesday evening, May 13, 2025, in Pasadena, Texas.
Any student who does not participate in this program for any reason forfeits monetary award. No exceptions. All scholarship recipients will be notified on or about April 29, 2025.
