Congratulations to our 2025 Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients

The Native Plant Society of Texas offers the following academic scholarships to undergraduate students at Texas universities who are pursuing studies and are engaged in the furtherance of the NPSOT mission “to promote conservation, research and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach, and example.”

• The Kate Hillhouse Undergraduate Scholarship established in 2008 to honor a former president of the Society who was also an educator. Proceeds from our Fall Symposium Silent Auction and additional donations from chapters and members fund this $2,500 tuition award supporting undergraduates who plan to pursue a career related to Texas native plants and/or to the conservation and restoration of native plant habitats in Texas.
• The Dr. Alfred Richardson Undergraduate Scholarship is a tuition scholarship funded by an endowment created by Harry and Marilyn Kirk in 2023. The award is $5,000-$10,000 per year for up to two years and is awarded to students who plan to pursue an academic or research career focusing on the study, conservation or utilization of Texas native plants.

The Grants & Scholarships Committee is excited to announce the 2025 scholarship recipients: 

• Hillary Xu – UT Austin, Biology / Environmental Science – DAR Recipient – $5000 – “ I grew up in the Texas Hill Country. If you had told me a couple of years ago that I would spend my time in college studying the tart persimmons and peeling junipers of my childhood landscape, I wouldn’t have believed it was even a possibility. The chance to build a career researching native plants, attend graduate school, and spend a lifetime studying grand old cypresses and tiny bluets—it’s a dream come true. And that dream is made possible not only by the legacy of botanists like Dr. Richardson, but by people like you who choose to support budding botanists.”
• Arnan Pawawongsak – UT Austin, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior – DAR Recipient – $5000 – “ I am a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying Biology with a concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, and a research associate of the herbarium in the Tower. My research interests are in the evolution and biogeography of disjunct and relict plant populations. Currently, I am determining the identity of some unidentified rainlilies growing on Enchanted Rock, which may be a new record for the state. Thank you again for your generous support, for me and for all the scholarship recipients this year.”
• Charles Pouland – Texas Tech Univ, Natural Resource Management – KHS Recipient – $2500 – “I am a current senior at Texas Tech University, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2025. My current career path, after graduation, will be combating invasive grasses on the South Texas Coastal Prairies. I look forward to this new challenge and maintaining the diversity of plants we have in our state, while also continuing to show the holistic balance between wild places and modern agricultural practices. Additionally, I will continue to advocate and use native species within my family’s own ranching operation to better support our Texas species. Thank you again, for supporting my academic journey and to the Native Plant Society of Texas for the continued support of students like me.”
• Gracey Kettler – Austin College, Environmental Studies/Biology – KHS Recipient – $2500 – “ I grew up in a family that loved to be outside and bond over what kind of plants we discovered, so this is a topic that is very close to my heart. This scholarship will be helpful as I continue my studies in Environmental Science and Biology. I am inspired by the work of NPSOT and look forward to one day adding my own contributions to the field in meaningful ways, both academically and through hands-on conservation efforts. Thank you for your generous support and for encouraging the next generation of environmental stewards.”