Waco, TX– The Dr Pepper Museum is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Free Enterprise Institute (FEI) Scholarship, Grace Spencer and Madeline Gamez. Each recipient will receive a total of $5,000 to support their higher education.
“Each year, the FEI scholarship committee and I are just blown away with the scholarship applicants, and this year is no different!” said Joy Summar-Smith, Associate Director of the Dr Pepper Museum. “Both Grace and Madeline are not only outstanding students and leaders within their organizations, but outstanding community members who pour time and dedication into local organizations that help strengthen and uplift their communities.”
Grace Spencer is the recipient of the Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute Entrepreneur Scholarship. A recent graduate from Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas, Spencer excelled both as a student and leader. She served as captain State Championship-winning Girls’ Basketball Team and Senior Class Council President. In addition, she was heavily involved in several other organizations, such as Youth Who Love Christ, National Honor Society, the Lincoln Site Based Decision Making Team and Encounters Youth Group. Grace demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit through her retwisting business, Twisted Gracefully, where she developed strong professionalism and the ability to build customer trust. Grace plans to attend University of Texas at Austin to pursue a degree in Business.
Madeline Gamez is the recipient of the Dr Pepper Museum Leadership scholarship. A recent graduate from Midway High School in Waco, Texas, Gamez demonstrated exceptional academic and extracurricular achievements. Throughout high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society while serving as Captain of the Varsity Girls Gold Team. As an avid member of the community, she dedicated her time to helping at the Ridgecrest Retirement Home, Caritas Food Pantry, and the National Charity League. She plans to attend Mississippi State University to pursue a degree in Business and Marketing.
This year, the Dr Pepper Museum’s Free Enterprise Institute awarded two $5,000 scholarships: the Dr Pepper Musem & Free Enterprise Institute Entrepreneurship Scholarship, open to high school students in McLennan and Dallas Counties; and the Dr Pepper Museum Leadership scholarship, exclusively for McLennan County students. These scholarships are available to high school students who plan to pursue further education in business, entrepreneurship, marketing, or a related field at an accredited college.
Both scholarships were established through anonymous donations. The scholarship was first launched in honor of Wilton Lanning, Jr., co-founder and first President of the Dr Pepper Museum, who played a key role in its founding and success. They were later expanded through a donation by Janet McCarty in honor of Virginia and W.W. “Foots” Clements, who both had enduring careers at the Dr Pepper company. Foots served as CEO and Chairman, while Virginia was a dedicated member of the Museum’s board.
Their combined legacies helped shape the Museum into what it is today, offering impactful programs focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and free enterprise to thousands of children each year. The FEI scholarships are a extension of that mission, as the Dr Pepper Museum has awarded $40,000 in scholarships over the last five years.
