Texas Leadership Scholars at The University of Texas at San Antonio

This application serves as additional questions for high school seniors applying for the Texas Leadership Scholars Program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. This application should only be completed if you:
1. have been nominated by a high school staff member and
2. have completed the application with THECB.
3. are a Texas high school senior during the current application cycle


For more information: www.texasleadershipscholars.org


The Texas Leadership Scholars (TLS) Program is a statewide initiative supported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The program’s mission is to guide high-achieving high school graduates in Texas to develop leadership skills as they pursue higher education. The University of Texas at San Antonio proudly welcomed its inaugural class of scholars in Fall 2024.

The UT San Antonio Texas Leadership Scholars program is founded upon the following guiding pillars that define its purpose and direction:

  • Leadership Development: Cultivating the next generation of Texas leaders through immersive development experiences.
  • Mentoring & Networking: Fostering meaningful connections through mentorship and professional networks that support scholars’ academic growth, career exploration, and lifelong leadership development.
  • Experiential Learning: Promoting hands-on learning experiences that enrich student’s lives academically and beyond.
  • Service & Community: Inspiring a lifelong commitment to service and community engagement by empowering scholars to lead with purpose, give back meaningfully, and create positive change in their local and global communities.
  • As part of the UT San Antonio Honors College, TLS scholars are fully immersed in an experiential learning process designed to produce well-rounded, skilled leaders.


Benefits

Texas Leadership Scholars receive a last dollar scholarship for up to four-years (eight regular semesters) that includes funding for tuition, fees, and on-campus housing. They also receive support for internships, research experiences, study abroad and study away experiences. However, being a Texas Leadership Scholars at UT San Antonio is more than just a scholarship. It is a comprehensive leadership development program.


Initial Eligibility

Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Texas Leadership Scholars program:

  • Demonstrate financial need as evidenced by FAFSA or TAFSA submission, and be TEXAS Grant eligible to receive the full scope of program benefits.
  • Be a graduating High School Senior during the current application cycle from an accredited Texas high school.
  • Be in the top 10% of their graduating class, OR submit a recommendation letter from the student’s high school principal or counselor.
  • Possess evidence of leadership and service within their high school and community.
  • Be accepted to a TLS-participating 4-year public institution.
  • Complete and submit the TLS program application including recommendation by the specified deadline.
  • Complete and submit the UT San Antonio TLS secondary application in the Scholarship Hub by specified deadline.


Continued Eligibility

Scholars are eligible to receive continued funding for up to four consecutive years or eight long semesters, provided all program criteria and requirements are met. Compliance with these standards is assessed regularly.

  • Financial Aid Compliance: Scholars must annually submit a FAFSA/TAFSA and maintain TEXAS Grant eligibility, including Course Program of Study (CPOS) compliance.
  • Academic Progress: Scholars must remain in good standing with UT San Antonio’s Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines.
  • Enrollment: Scholars must enroll in a minimum of 15 semester credit hours (SCH) per long semester. Scholars are limited to no more than 6 online credit hours per semester.
  • Residential Requirement: Scholars are required to live on campus in the Honors Residential Community for the first two years of their undergraduate study. The two-year on-campus residential requirement is in place regardless of the number of credit hours a student brings to college.
  • Honors College Eligibility: Eligibility for the Honors College must be maintained, including GPA, curricular, experiential, and events requirements.
  • Annual Orientation/Retreat: Scholars are required to attend an incoming scholar retreat prior to their first semester at The University of Texas at San Antonio as well an annual retreat with other members of Honors College Special Programs before each fall semester.
  • Paid Employment: To enable full engagement in educational, extracurricular, and cultural activities, scholars are prohibited from full or part-time paid employment while receiving TLS funding.
  • Service: Scholars are expected to engage in community service through their four years on campus, including at least one cohort service project per year.
  • Mentoring: Scholars must actively engage in the UT San Antonio TLS Mentoring Initiative, including identification and recommendations of a faculty or professional mentor.


Deadline

Deadline to complete the application provided by your high school counselor is February 17, 2026. This application is submitted directly to the TLS headquarters.
Deadline to complete this secondary application specific to UT San Antonio is March 15, 2026.

Award
Varies
Deadline
03/15/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Have you been nominated for AND completed the initial application for Texas Leadership Scholars program supported by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)?
  2. First Name:
  3. Last Name:
  4. Preferred Name:
  5. Personal email address: (please do not enter a school email)
  6. City you live in:
  7. High School Name:
  8. Intended Major(s):
  9. Career Interest(s):
  10. What motivates you to pursue a university education, and how do you see it shaping your future goals and personal growth?
  11. How might being part of a scholar program and community, as opposed to receiving only scholarship funds, contribute to your collegiate experience and career goals?
  12. Why do you want to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio?
  13. The Way You See the World
    Discuss a way that your family background, or life experiences, have shaped the way you see the world.
  14. Type your first and last name to indicate you have read and understand the following procedure.
    Disclosure of Academic Honesty, Expected Behavior and Disciplinary Procedures.

    The Texas Leadership Scholars program at The University of Texas at San Antonio expects its Scholars to abide by the highest standards of conduct. Applicants are required to disclose all student academic honesty, conduct and disciplinary outcomes, actions imposed against them or pending at any educational institution, all prior or pending student conduct investigations regarding their conduct by any educational institution, and all prior or pending criminal convictions. This information must be provided at the time of program selection and must be updated prior to the start of the program. Submission of incomplete, false or inaccurate information is grounds for rejection of your application, withdrawal of any offer of acceptance and/or disciplinary action. The Texas Leadership Scholars program at The University of Texas at San Antonio reserves the right to withdraw any invitation if we become aware of any academic or non-academic improprieties. If you have matters to report that you have not already reported, please disclose them no later than March 15, 2026 by email to Kristi Meyer (Kristi.Meyer@utsa.edu).
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