Junior Achievers 2019 - they're back!

“A part of me always thought that by being Hispanic and from a low income family, I wouldn’t be able to go out of state for college or even just travel. But this scholarship really made me realize that there is so much our world has to offer and that I want to experience it.

When I came back from our trip many of my neighbors said “I bet now she wants to go to Greece and France and many more” as a joke, but the truth is, I really do and now I can see myself traveling in the future.

In addition, before this trip colleges in London weren’t even on my list, but now I’m looking into other colleges out of state and even out of the country.”

— Edna Gutierrez, Junior Achiever 2019

Our Junior Achievers are back from their British Studies Summer Program and fired up with the possibility of spreading their wings for college.

Yet again, this first overseas experience shows young people just what is out there for them and what they can experience just by stepping outside their comfort zone. Already aiming for college, our Junior Achievers are smart, gifted and driven…. But with no blueprint for college, as mostly first generation Americans and all first generation college students, their ambitions are often misaligned with their potential. They are often Ivy League material, capable of study and achievement at the highest levels. Our Junior Achiever program shows them that by aiming higher, they will achieve more.

We could not be more proud of these future leaders as they set their sights higher and embark on incredible adventures. We’ll keep you posted on their achievements.

Back to School!

The British American Foundation of Texas spends a great deal of time fundraising. This is our oxygen, for without it, we cannot function. Without donations or event attendance, there is no scholarship program.

However, once we receive donations from our generous and loyal benefactors, we have a duty to ensure that those funds are distributed according to our mission and in such a way that they have maximum impact. Our benefactors, both personal and corporate, expect their donation to be redistributed to those who need it the most and who can benefit from it the most.

This is where our program kicks in. We need to make students in Texas aware of our scholarships, to inspire, excite and encourage them. Amid of sea of deadlines, assessments, family commitments, extra curriculars, coursework, community service, friendships, part time jobs, social media and a slew of other time-consuming teenage factors, we need to stand out. And this means getting in front of students. We visit high schools to talk about the transformative aspect of our UK program and middle schools to introduce the concept of college nest egg scholarships. We stand with microphones or loud voices in auditoriums, we flyer lunchrooms and corridors, we present slides in college counsellor offices and classrooms, we hold booths at college nights and present to advisors during ISD training days. Our teen-audience elevator pitches are perfected, speaking fast to fill attention spans, walking alongside those late for class.

Questions arise, disbelief that we 100% fund our UK program, that it’s aimed at the underserved, that this opportunity is available to them. Intrigue about a packed educational program that will expose to them British culture, history, politics and art in such a way that cannot be taught in school. Excitement about the prospect of returning with a Downton Abbey accent. Trepidation about a first airplane flight. Trusting in their own abilities and hoping that some untapped source of inner confidence will carry them through. Strategizing about how to convince parents that they should go.

And yet, many students figure this out and make the leap, hit the submit button on the application form and cross their fingers.

This year we received an unprecedented 98 applications for the BAFTX Junior Achiever Award, a 2 week fully-funded summer program in the UK for high school juniors from very low income families.

We are excited because, although our chosen 6 may not be aware, they have just stepped on a springboard that can change their lives. To travel, to experience, to step outside of their comfort zone, to build awareness of what else is available to them …. this is something that our gifted scholars cannot be taught. But they learn so fast that the sky is the limit. They return with supersized ambitions, start applying to Ivy Leagues (and attend them!) and build an incredible future for themselves.

We are so proud to raise funds for our programs, we are honored to work with the most wonderful benefactors, and we are privileged to deliver our program to the #globalleadersoftomorrow.

Junior Achievers 2018 - they're back!

Our 6 intrepid Junior Achievers spent two weeks in the UK this July and had the most incredible time.  They visited Portsmouth, Windsor, Oxford, Brighton and Stonehenge .... as well as Althorp Estate, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Tate Modern, the Globe Theater (to see Hamlet), Eton College, Imperial War Museum, Southbank Center, the London Eye and finally the British American Business Council for a talk on Brexit.  Not bad for 12 days....

Our student attend a British Studies Summer program hosted by ACS International Schools.  This program is in its 20th year and welcomes 20 students a year from across the USA. BAFTX is the only Texas-based organization that participates in this program.

Thanks to our donors, we are able to ensure that no student has any financial outlay for this scholarship.  BAFTX funds travel, transfers, accommodation, entry fees, passport fees etc.  Our scholars come from very low income households and it's important that this program is accessible to those who deserve it the most.

For anyone with the slightest doubt as to the incredible value of this program, read what our Junior Achievers say here.  

Ngoc, one of this year's Junior Achievers told us "the biggest takeaway was certainly that I can excel at being independent. This trip has been life-changing not only that I was seeing pretty sights around me but it was more confidence in myself and my abilities to rise above my insecurities and self-consciousness. My future feels brighter and I feel brighter."

BAFTX Awards 2018

On April 24 the British American Foundation of Texas held its annual Awards Ceremony at the Federal Reserve in Houston.

Benefactors flew in from as far afield as Baltimore and the UK to present awards to our 2018 scholars.

Her Majesty's Consul General, Karen Bell, welcomed guests and gave a brief outline of the work carried out by BAFTX and why it is so vital for the future of our communities.  Lizi Xiong, BAFTX Award Winner 2016 spoke about her experience of the Junior Achiever program and how it completely changed her perspectives and ambitions.  Jesús Terrones, Product and Service Delivery Manager at Cameron, military veteran, West Point graduate and Harvard MBA graduate gave a very personal and inspiring speech that made a great impact on both scholars and benefactors alike.

Benefactors from British Airways, British American Business Council, Bracewell LLP, ConocoPhillips, Crestwood Equity Partners, Direct Energy, Enterprise Products Partners, ExxonMobil, Hakluyt, King and Spalding, Phillips 66, TD Securities, Vepica, and Wood Mackenzie presented awards to students from Texas A&M, University of Houston, University of Texas, Houston Community College, Houton Baptist University, Texas Women's University, South Plains College, KIPP Generations Collegiate, Eastwood Academy, Westside High School, De Bakey High School, Bellaire High School and Renaissance Academy

As one recipient of a college scholarship noted: "The generosity of the benefactors of this amazing opportunity has granted me with the possibility to grow and share what I have learned with my community. I amsure that this experience will prepare me to become a useful asset to society and in the future to be abelt to return the generosity bestowed on me to future generations."

More photos of the evening may be viewed here.

BAFTX Awards 2017

On April 24 the British American Foundation of Texas held its annual Awards Ceremony at the Federal Reserve in Houston.

26 awards were presented, bringing together benefactors from as far afield as New York and Baltimore with the brightest academic stars of Texas. 

Her Majesty's Consul General, Karen Bell, welcomed guests and gave a brief outline of the work carried out by BAFTX and why it is so vital for the future of our communities.  Ziba Colah, BAFTX Award Winner 2016 and student of Biochemistry and Biophysics at University of Houston spoke about how the award has changed her life and her future plans for a medical career.  De Matthew Ware, originally from Swansea but currently researching nanotechnology and its medical applications at Baylor, was the keynote speaker.  

Benefactors from ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Hess Corporation, Williams Companies, British Airways, Enbridge Inc, Enterprise Products Partners, ACS International Schools Wood Mackenzie, TD Securities, British American Business Council, King and Spalding, FWB Park Brown and Faithful+Gould presented awards to students from Texas A&M, University of Houston, University of Texas, Houston Community College, Houton Baptist University, KIPP Generations Collegiate, Northside High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Carnegie Vanguard High School and Wharton Dual Language K-8 Academy.

It was also the occasion to present the inaugural Susan Howard Community Service Award for future philanthropists and those who put the needs of their community first.

As one recipient of a college scholarship noted: “This scholarship will serve as a motivator for me moving forward to continue working hard and to always push forward”

More photos of the evening may be viewed here.

BAFTX Awards 2015

The 9th Annual BAFTX Scholarship Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday May 12th 2015.

Over 130 guests - including students, their families and friends, sponsors and the BAFTX Board of Directors, attended the ceremony.

34 awards were given this year, 26 Undergraduate Awards, 6 Junior Achiever Awards, 1 Early Starter Award and 1 Kids With Courage Award.

Junior Achievers 2015

Four HISD students will travel free to Great Britain this summer, thanks to the British Foundation of Texas's (BAFTX) Junior Achievers award. The students will travel for nearly two weeks learning about British culture.

Juniors Ziwei Guo (Bellaire HS), Yazmin Hurtado (Davis HS), David Jasso (Reagan HS), and Donald Peacock (Reagan HS) wrote compelling essays, obtained strong teacher recommendations, and demonstrated the academic excellence to stand out among the more than 100 applicants.

HISD juniors comprise four of the six winners from Texas and will be honored at an awards banquet in Houston on May 12, 2015. The students will visit sites of historic and artistic importance, such as the Tower of London, as well as attending a play in London's West End.

Junior Achievers 2014

The selection for the Jr Achiever Scholarship 2014 was a tough one as always! The review panel finally made the choice. 6 students are outward bound to England on 22nd June, 2014. 

Swansea student awarded first "Texas-funded" scholarship

A Swansea University student will be swapping his beach shoes for cowboy boots when he kicks off his second year of study in Texas.

Medical Engineering student David Rochelle has been awarded the first British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) funded scholarship to study at Texas A&M University (TAMU).

David, whose home town is Cannock in Staffordshire, will be starting his studies in Texas in October spending his first semester at TAMU before continuing his studies back at Swansea.