What it means to be a Brown Scholar

The Craig & Galen Brown Foundation (“Craig & Galen Brown Foundation” or “Foundation”) awards scholarships to high achieving high school students recognized as National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. Brown Foundation Scholars (“Brown Scholars” or “Scholars”) are expected to maintain a high standard of excellence at Texas A&M. Scholarship decisions are made by the Foundation after personal interviews; parent attendance is encouraged.

There are 382 Brown Scholar graduates and 212 Brown Scholars attending A&M in the 2023-2024 academic year. The average Brown Scholar GPA is 3.87 and 140 students posted a 4.0 GPA for the 2022-2023 academic year, 106 students posted a cumulative GPA of 4.0 for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Andy Sanchez

Class of 2013

Received his B.S. In Chemical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude, and minors in chemistry and creative writing. He received his M.A. In Fine Arts from New York University in 2016 and will obtain his PHD in Chemical and Biomolecular engineering from Cornell University in 2021.

A sampling of Andy’s honors and awards include: Alfred P. Sloan Fellow-Cornell University, AAAS Catalyzing advocacy in Science & Engineering workshop,
Shortlist for Redivider’s “blurred gene” creative writing contest, Rhodes scholar finalist, Goldwater fellow, outstanding senior engineering award – Texas A&M University, Department of Chemical Engineering outstanding graduating senior – Texas A&M University.

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Brown scholar candidates and students receiving scholarships must achieve

Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.75 GPA for pre-EnMed candidates
Good people and communication skills
National Merit finalist or semifinalist status
Leadership positions
Participation in organizations and activities, including community service

Past Brown Scholars have received the following awards or held the below offices:

A&M Application and Brown Scholar Requirements

Brown Foundation Scholar Requirements
The Craig and Galen Brown Foundation (Brown Foundation) extends undergraduate scholarships to high achieving, well rounded high school students. Each year about 50+ students accept Brown Foundation scholarship offers and agree to attend Texas A&M University. To be considered for a Brown Foundation scholarship, the following requirements apply:
  • Achieve National Merit semi-finalist status
  • Apply and be admitted to Texas A&M University
  • Receive President’s Endowed Scholarship
  • Have demonstrated leadership and community service
  • Interview with a Brown Foundation team member
  • Attend a curated red – carpet tour of A&M University for Brown Foundation candidates
  • Pursue an engineering or other STEM major including business

Eligibility

To be considered, you must:
  • Be a US Citizen, permanent resident, or graduate of an accredited US high school
  • Be a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist
  • Be admitted to Texas A&M
  • Receive a Texas A&M President’s Endowed Scholarship
  • Achieve a minimum 1450 combined SAT score or a 34 composite ACT score
  • Intend on enrolling at Texas A&M the fall semester after your high school graduation
  • Be a STEM or Business major at one of the following Colleges: Engineering, Science, Ag & Life Sciences, Biomedical Science & Veterinarian Medicine, Public Health or Mays Business School
  • Provide two reference letters

EnMed Eligibility

Brown Scholars who wish to study and receive conditional admission to EnMed as part of their acceptance agreement to attend Texas A&M University must meet the following requirements to achieve full EnMed matriculation:
  • Maintain an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.75 or higher;
  • Complete Texas A&M Medical School undergraduate course prerequisites;
  • Achieve a 90% or higher MCAT score;
  • Maintain good academic standing in the College of Engineering Honors program for at least one year;
  • Perform at least 80 hours of service or volunteer work through appropriate Texas A&M student organization, department, college or university activities and/or community, religious, or other service oriented organizations over the course of undergraduate education.
  • Achieve and terminate in good standing at least one leadership position* within Texas A&M University over the course of undergraduate education.
  • Conduct research*, preferably medically related (including the Houston Methodist Research Institute 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Internship program for E2EnMed, S2M or E2M Brown Scholars) and/or medically related engineering research, for at least two semesters over the course of undergraduate education.

Admission to the E2EnMed early assurance program requires adherence to the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) requirements including, but not limited to, an evaluation of the student’s completed application and an interview with the College of Medicine Admissions Committee.

*Acceptable activities provided by Brown Foundation; activities not pre-approved subject to approval by Brown Foundation.

Unique Opportunities and Benefits

  • Scholars interview for A&M sponsored Champe Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar for 36 incoming National Merit Scholar freshmen.
  • Brown Scholars who are applicants to Texas A&M College of Medicine interview, depending on major, with either the College of Science, College of Engineering, or College of Ag & Life Sciences (10 positions per respective College) for automatic conditional acceptance to A&M College of Medicine (30 total positions). Scholars retain A&M College of Medicine option but can also apply to other medical schools. 
  • Brown Scholar engineering graduates pursuing medical school interview for prestigious EnMed Program.  
  • STEM Scholars offered unique research opportunities with professors beginning spring of freshman year.  
  • Member of Brown Scholar Mentorship Program where each freshman is assigned an upperclassman Brown Scholar as their mentor . 
  • Automatic eligibility for Mays Business Honors Program, Brown Foundation Engineering Honors Program, University Honors Program.
  • Automatic housing for freshmen in Engineering Dorm (for Engineering majors), Corps dorm (for Corps of Cadets participants), Business Dorm (for Mays Business Honors majors), and Lechner Hall (for University Scholars). 
  • Annual Craig & Galen Brown Foundation dinner for all Brown Scholars, attended by A&M Chancellor, President, Board of Regents, Provosts, College Deans, select faculty, administrators and parents of graduating seniors.
  • Annual Spring Lunch at Brown Top Ranch for graduating Scholars.
  • Personal meetings with Craig Brown and Sue Smith throughout the school years and support as needed from the Craig & Galen Brown Foundation staff and former Brown Scholars.  
  • Continued support and guidance from the Craig & Galen Brown Foundation after graduation. Our Scholars are a lifetime commitment.  
  • Fifteen Brown Scholars pursuing engineering majors who are conditionally admitted to the EnMed Program utilizing the E2EnMed Early Assurance Program pathway or will apply to the EnMed program, have achieved 30 credit hours at A&M and a minimum 3.5 GPA, are automatically eligible to participate in the 10-week Houston Methodist Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (“HM SURI”). The HM SURI is a nationally competitive program that affords students the opportunity to conduct research in their area of interest. The HM SURI does not pay interns; however, the Brown Foundation pays an additional $3,500 scholarship to participating Brown Scholars. HM SURI priority is given to students pursuing the EnMed Program; however, if there are available slots, students admitted to A&M’s College of Medicine through the E2M, A2M or S2M Early Admissions Program are eligible for participation.