Freshman Engineering Summit and Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Valero Freshman Engineering Summit and Scholarship program?

  The Summit, which includes a $1,500 education scholarship, is intended for college freshmen aspiring to be engineers. Participants experience the front lines of energy during a four-day Summit event at Valero Headquarters in San Antonio, TX, where they dive into life as an engineer at a refinery. Valero’s expert teams and instructors spend one-on-one time with Summit participants, offering career and professional skills training as they tour a Valero refinery, network with Valero leadership and volunteer for the community. Summit students gain exceptional knowledge to take back to the classroom and build their potential for future scholarships and internships.

• What are the eligibility* requirements and preferences for Valero’s Freshman Engineering Summit and Scholarship program?

  • Must be currently enrolled as a Freshman at accredited university (Required)
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Required)
  • Majors: Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (Required)
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Required)
  • Attendance at 4-Day Summit in San Antonio, Texas on May 12-15, 2026 (Required if Selected)
  • Demonstration of Financial Need (Preferred)
  • First-Generation College Student (Preferred)

  _{* Children of Valero executives (Director and Above) are not eligible to participate in this program.}

• Are participants responsible for any costs during the Summit?

  Spending money is optional. All primary program costs will be covered by Valero, including: meals, transportation to/from/during event, lodging and activities. During the Summit, an expense form will be provided to attendees to request reimbursement for meal costs incurred while traveling to the Summit. Valero reserves the right to deny unreasonable expenses.

• What is the Scholarship amount and when/how do I receive it?

  The scholarship amount is $1500, paid directly to the student by check at completion of the Summit.

• Where will the Summit take place?

  The four-day Summit experience will take place at Valero Headquarters in San Antonio, TX, as well as a refinery site within driving distance of Valero HQ. An event agenda and full schedule of events will be provided to all students accepted into the program.

• Where will program participants stay while in San Antonio?

  All participants will be placed in a preferred hotel near Valero Headquarters. Daily transportation to/from the hotel will be provided.

• What is the GPA requirement for acceptance into the program?

  The GPA requirement is a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants will be required to send a copy of their freshman year transcript (as of May 2026) for verification.

• I am considering Engineering as a major but I have not yet declared. Am I still able to apply?

  Students considering Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical engineering as a major are eligible to apply. If your school has only a pre-engineering option, the preference upon declaring is that you are interested in one of these three majors.

• Will there be an interview as part of the selection process?

  Yes. Video interviews will be scheduled with all finalists in February 2026.

• How do I get additional information after I am selected?

  Virtual calls will be set up with each selected participant to review important information prior to the Summit event.

• PRINT FAQ DOCUMENT

  Download and print a PDF version of the FAQ document. For additional questions, email: studentengagement@valero.com

  Note: Participation in the Valero Freshman Engineering Summit and Scholarship program implies consent to be photographed (video and still images) for promotional purposes.

  Freshman Summit 2025 FAQ