(a) To receive an initial award through the Program, a student must:(1) Submit an application for scholarship consideration through the Coordinating Board or Administrator;(2) Have Texas resident status, as determined by chapter 21, subchapter B of this title (relating to Determination of Resident Status);(3) Graduate from a Texas public high school, including an open-enrollment charter school;(4) Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program at a participating institution the fall semester immediately following high school graduation;(5) Have applied for any available financial aid assistance;(6) Be TEXAS Grant eligible, as determined by subchapter L, §22.228 of this chapter (relating to Eligible Students) and meet one of the following criteria under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph:(A) Graduate with a distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school program, and:(i) Graduate in the top 10% of the student's high school graduating class; or(ii) Submit with the application a nomination letter from the student's high school principal or counselor; or(B) Be eligible to graduate with a Texas First Diploma as set out in chapter 21, subchapter D of this title (relating to Texas First Early High School Completion Program).(b) To receive a continuation award through the Program, a scholar must:(1) Have previously received an initial year award through this Program;(2) Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program where the scholar received initial award or at another participating eligible institution to which the student has transferred during the period of eligibility;(3) Make satisfactory academic progress toward the baccalaureate degree at the eligible institution, as defined in §22.289 of this subchapter (relating to Satisfactory Academic Progress) unless the scholar is granted a hardship extension in accordance with §22.295 of this subchapter (relating to Hardship Provision);(4) Have completed or is on target to complete programmatic requirements set forth in §22.291 and §22.292 of this subchapter (relating to Scholarship Selection Criteria and Academic Achievement Support, respectively) as reported by participating institution; and(5) Apply for any available financial aid assistance during each year of eligibility.(c) A student who does not meet the financial need criteria under subsection (a)(6) remains eligible for a continuation award and all benefits of the Program, but the participating institution in which the student is enrolled is not subject to §22.287(a)(4) of this subchapter (relating to Eligible Institutions). Each institution shall make every effort to meet the requirements of §22.287(a)(4) for each continuing student participating in the Program.