Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship

Recognizing Outstanding Doctoral Students

TASA established the Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship in 2013-14 to honor and provide financial assistance to outstanding doctoral students pursuing careers in educational leadership, with particular emphasis on the superintendency.

The scholarship recognizes the leadership of the late TASA Executive Director Emeritus Johnny L. Veselka, who retired as TASA executive director in 2018 after serving the association for nearly 44 years. Veselka passed away in 2025.

2026 Scholarship Recipients

Kayren Gray and Brandy Stanford were selected as recipients of the 2026 Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship and will be honored at the 2026 TASA Midwinter Conference. Gray, Chief of Access and Opportunity for Round Rock ISD, is pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at Lamar University. Stanford, Temple ISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Finance, is pursuing her doctorate in education from Baylor University.

Kayren Gray

Round Rock ISD

Brandy Stanford

Temple ISD

Criteria & Guidelines

TASA annually awards scholarships to TASA members in the amount of $2,500 each as the number and quality of applicants allows. Scholarship winners are honored at the TASA Midwinter Conference each January.

Eligibility Criteria

TASA membership, in the Active or Student category, as appropriate, is required of applicants.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited university doctoral program at the time of the award. Proof of enrollment must be provided.
Doctoral students in the field of education may apply, including those who are currently employed as superintendents.
Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply for the scholarship again; however, other applicants may reapply in subsequent years.

Guidelines

Applicants must complete and electronically sign the online application by the September 8, 2026, deadline.
Upload a recent official university transcript. (If this is the applicant’s first semester as a doctoral student, please provide a transcript of the applicant’s master’s work.)
Upload one high-resolution digital photograph (headshot) for publicity purposes.
Respond to the three Professional Biography statements/questions. The essays are limited to 400 words each.
Upload one letter of recommendation on official letterhead from a professor, department head, or dean of the school of education where you are currently enrolled. (This will serve as confirmation of enrollment for applicants in their first semester of doctoral work.)
Upload one letter of recommendation on official letterhead from a supervisor in the school system in which you are currently employed or if not currently employed, a letter of recommendation from a former supervisor who is familiar with your work. If you are already employed as a superintendent, provide a letter of recommendation from a current board member.