About Richard A. Howlett
Richard Anthony Howlett, AKA Tony, was born in 1933 in Tramore, Ireland, where he took up golf at an early age and found his lifelong passion. In 1967, he emigrated to the United States seeking economic opportunity unavailable to him in his native Ireland at the time. Arriving in California with his wife Olivia, he found work at Baker Oil Tools and attended community college, then tuition-free in California. In 1975, he moved the family—by then it included three children—to Houston, Texas, following his company to the new oil capital. He settled in Spring, Texas, where a fourth child was born. He raised all four to believe a college degree was the ticket to a good life, even though he himself could not continue his education while supporting a family of six. Through it all, he never lost his passion for golf and earned a reputation as an excellent golfer. His children all went on to graduate from Texas public universities—two from the University of Houston and two from A&M—at a time when paying your way through college was still possible without a college fund. Tony passed away in 2018, leaving behind his beloved wife Olivia and four college graduates.
$2,000 Scholarship
The Richard A. Howlett American Dream Memorial Scholarship
The Richard A. Howlett American Dream Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of an immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1967 in pursuit of economic opportunities. His story is one shared by millions of people who crossed oceans and borders to build new lives, and whose determination, labor, and hopes have shaped this country for generations. This scholarship celebrates that legacy by supporting students from immigrant backgrounds as they pursue their own education and dreams, regardless of citizenship status.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Richard A Howlett American Dream Memorial Scholarship, applicants must meet all the following criteria:
Applicants must be a non-U.S. citizen
Be a high school graduate (or have earned a GED); currently enrolled high school students are not eligible.
Have completed a minimum of 30 college credit hours and hold sophomore-level standing or above.
Be a student currently attending or transferring from a Texas Community College. If transferring, you must be enroll in a degree program at Texas public university in the fall and spring semester the award is made ($1,000 will be awarded in Fall and $1,000 will be awarded in Spring for students attending a community college or a four year institution)
Have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average
Must be able to show financial need if no TASFA was completed
All majors and fields of study are welcome to apply.
Application for Fall 2026 now open!
Deadline for submission: June 1, 2026 at 11:59PM
FAQs-
How to apply?
Submit your application form online through our Apply Now portal before the deadline.
Who is eligible?
What documents are needed?
When is the deadline?
Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2026
Is there an application fee?
No, applying is completely free of charge for all students.
How will I know if I’m awarded a scholarship?
When you apply, you will need to upload
your latest unofficial transcript
one letter of recommendation
resume or curriculum vitae
FASFA/TASFA if completed
To be eligible for the Richard A Howlett American Dream Memorial Scholarship, applicants must meet all the following criteria:
Applicants must be a non-U.S. citizen
Be a high school graduate (or have earned a GED); currently enrolled high school students are not eligible.
Have completed a minimum of 30 college credit hours and hold sophomore-level standing or above.
Be a student currently attending or transferring from a Texas Community College. If transferring, you must be enroll in a degree program at Texas public university in the fall and spring semester the award is made ($1,000 will be awarded in Fall and $1,000 will be awarded in Spring for both community college students and students attending a four year institution)
Have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average
Must be able to show financial need if no TASFA was completed
All majors and fields of study are welcome to apply.
What should I include on my resume or CV?
Applications are scored holistically, and while we prioritize financial need, we want to know about what you are doing outside the classroom that demonstrates a passion for your chosen major and a commitment to community involvement (demonstrated by things like volunteerism or leadership activities, among others).
How do you determine financial need?
ODEI's mission is to reduce barriers to higher education for motivated students. While applications are competitively scored in a holistic rubric, financial need is a major barrier we seek to reduce for awardees. The application will ask you about your financial circumstances, and if awarded you may be asked to verify the information you provide. However, we understand financial need might not be completely reflected your household income or student aid report. We encourage applicants to tell us about any circumstances that might impact their financial need in the application.
Award emails will be sent 4-6 weeks after the application deadline. Only students awarded will be notified, but applicants can reach out to ODEI at info@opendoorsei.org with any questions about their application. Students awarded a scholarship may be required to submit additional information or documents before final awards are made in order to verify information submitted, including final transcripts where grades for in-progress courses are needed to verify eligibility. Failure to adhere to requests or deadlines in award emails will result in awardee forfeiting the scholarship. Scholarship funds awarded will be paid directly to the recipient's institution of higher education and applied toward qualified educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, required course materials, and living expenses. Scholarship recipients are solely responsible for any federal, state, or local tax obligations that may arise from receipt of this award. The Open Doors Texas Scholars Scholarship does not provide tax advice; applicants are encouraged to consult a qualified tax professional with any questions.
