Record Amount of Scholarships Awarded to BRI Students

2025-2026 Borderlands Research Institute Scholarship recipients. Pictured, from left: Front row — Asia Cornelius, Cesar Garza, Hayley Shultz, Eliana Goodwin. Second row — Audrey Taulli, Maggie Rector, Kendall Christensen, Luke Christensen, Halli Lovell, Emilie Brochon, Christian Lewis, Bryce Mann, Will Quarles. Back row — Chris Mott, Emily Blumentritt, Shelby duPerier, SJ Gilbert, Ty Goodwin, Hailey Barton, Kennedy Bailey, Andrew Dotray, Jesse Ellgren. Not pictured are Caitlin Camp-Pappas, Matt Hewitt, and Madison Vastine.

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2025

Media Contact:
Dr. Louis Harveson
432.837.8225
harveson@sulross.edu

ALPINE, Texas – More than two dozen students at Sul Ross State University have been selected to receive more than $250,000 in scholarships from a variety of sources through the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI). It is the largest amount of scholarship funds ever distributed to BRI-affiliated students.

The Borderlands Research Foundation supports BRI and, through efforts such as the West Texas Conservationist of the Year Award, significantly expanded student scholarships this year. 

“As another semester gets rolling, our students are already hard at work with their classwork and research projects, and this is welcome news for them,” said Dr. Louis A. Harveson, the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Endowed Director of BRI. “Many take out loans as they finish their studies, and they are deeply appreciative of this kind of support. Thanks to fundraising efforts of the Borderlands Research Foundation (BRF), along with the generosity of many fine organizations and donors, we are seeing an unprecedented investment in our students—and ultimately in the future of conservation.”

Graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in BRI research programs experience unique opportunities to work side by side with wildlife professionals and conservation partners. These students receive hands-on experience with habitat restoration projects and working with wildlife, including grassland birds, pronghorn, mule deer and more. 

Those who complete the graduate program receive a master’s in Range and Wildlife Management from Sul Ross State University. These graduates gain employment with state and federal resource agencies, as well as with private consultants and ranches and as educators. Currently, BRI graduates influence wildlife management decisions on over 31 million acres in Texas, some 20% of the state’s acreage. 

BRF Scholarship

  • Jesse Ellgren
  • Ty Goodwin
  • Halli Lovell
  • Hayley Shultz
  • Madison Vastine
  • Kendall Christensen
  • Luke Christensen
  • SJ Gilbert
  • Kennedy Bailey
  • Maggie Rector
  • Christian Lewis
  • Bryce Mann
  • Will Quarles

BRI Scholarship

  • Caitlin Camp-Pappas
  • Asia Cornelius
  • Matt Hewitt

Franklin and Virginia Law Scholarship

  • Audrey Taulli

San Antonio Livestock Exposition Scholarship

  • Bryce Mann
  • Will Quarles
  • Maggie Rector
  • Kennedy Bailey

Virginia Matthews Law Endowed Scholarship

  • Emily Blumentritt

Wayne and JoAnn Moore Endowed Scholarship

  • Emilie Brochon
  • Shelby duPerier
  • Eliana Goodwin

West Texas Safari Club International Endowed Scholarship

  • Hailey Barton
  • Andrew Dotray

Linda and Curtis Neeley Scholarship
(Permian Basin Area Foundation)

  • Cesar Garza
  • Chris Mott

Since 2007, the Borderlands Research Institute has encouraged effective land stewardship of the Chihuahuan Desert. Housed at Sul Ross State University, the Borderlands Research Institute builds on a long-lasting partnership with private landowners, the university’s natural resource program, cooperating state, federal, and non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Through research, education and outreach, the Borderlands Research Institute is helping to conserve the last frontier of Texas and the Southwest.

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