Robert Macario Ybarra Scholarship Grant

The Robert Macario Ybarra Scholarship honors a passionate athlete and Hawley High School graduate who inspired many. Established by the Community Foundation of Abilene, this scholarship aims to support students from a 19-county area who have participated in varsity sports during their junior and senior years. By alleviating financial burdens, it enables recipients to pursue their educational aspirations, ensuring that no talented athlete has to forego opportunities due to financial constraints.

Note: Payments will not be processed until your acceptance form is completed and submitted.
The Community Foundation of Abilene is home to more than 150 scholarship funds. Through the generosity of our donors, the Foundation is privileged to offer scholarships to graduating high school seniors, currently enrolled undergraduates, graduate students, non-traditional students, and those pursuing trade certifications.
The Foundation’s scholarship process provides students access to scholarships with awards ranging from $500 to more than $5,000.
This scholarship is given in loving memory of Robert Macario Ybarra. Robert was a 2020 graduate of Hawley High School. He was full of passion with a fire inside that made him amazing to watch, especially when playing baseball. Starting from the age of 2 he picked up a ball and never put it down. Robert was a natural athlete and his fire carried over into everything he played. Along the way he was blessed with many coaches/teachers that pushed him to his limits and challenged him to be great on and off the field. He was offered a spot on the baseball team at Wayland Baptist University, but chose not to attend due to financial constraints. It is our hope that through this scholarship another athlete won’t have to make that choice. Robert’s passion continued past high school and he began playing for a summer league that drew attention from more college level coaches. Without a doubt he would have made it to that next level if God had not called him home. Robert was bigger than life and could not settle to be just one thing. He had so many layers and a side that couldn’t be tamed. He started riding bulls and did it fearlessly. The greatest people on this earth are never any one thing. They are a mixture of passion and fearlessness that allows them to learn from trial and error without hesitation. May this scholarship help someone find their path and live their purpose as he did.
Scholarship award payments are sent directly to the educational institutions in August (fall semester) and, if applicable, in January (spring semester).

Eligibility

Students from a 19-county area – Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels and Scurry Participated in Varsity Sports junior and senior years