Waco, Texas –The Dr Pepper Museum is excited to announce the opening of applications for two $5,000 Free Enterprise Institute (FEI) scholarships available to high school seniors pursuing education in business, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and related fields. Applications open today, February 24, and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on April 18, 2025.
The Dr Pepper Museum offers two distinct scholarships to support the next generation of business leaders:
Dr Pepper Museum Leadership Scholarship
- Open to graduating high school students who are residents of McLennan County.
- This scholarship is need-based and awarded to students who demonstrate financial need.
- Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Innovative Technology, Management, or Marketing.
Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute Entrepreneur Scholarship
- Open to graduating high school students who are residents of Dallas County or McLennan County.
- This scholarship is not need-based and is open to all eligible students regardless of financial background.
- Applicants must plan to pursue a course of study in Entrepreneurship and/or Innovative Technology.
- Applicants must demonstrate entrepreneurial accomplishments, experience, and future goals.
High school seniors must be graduating between May and August 2025. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year university or college (including TSTC and MCC). Students who have started their own business are encouraged to apply. Students will be required to submit a copy of their acceptance letter to the college/university they will be attending before payment is made directly to the institution.
To apply, students must submit their application along with all required supporting documents before the deadline of 5 p.m. on April 18, 2025. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.
Please click here for additional information or to apply.
This scholarship was founded through an anonymous donation 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. It was later expanded through a donation by Janet McCarty in honor of Virginia and W.W. “Foots” Clements, both of whom had long careers at the Dr Pepper company. Foots served as CEO and Chairman, and Virginia was on the Museum’s board. Their contributions, along with Lanning’s, helped the Museum thrive, offering impactful programs on entrepreneurship, innovation and free enterprise to thousands of children annually. These scholarships serve as an extension of that work.
The Dr Pepper Museum is a non-profit organization that opened to the public in May of 1991. Since opening, the Museum has attracted over 3 million visitors. The Dr Pepper Museum educates, inspires, and entertains by sharing the stories of Dr Pepper and the soft drink industry.
