News Articles

Six 2025 high school graduates were awarded $2,000 scholarships from Friends of the River (FOR) San Bernard. Many applications were received this year from the high schools in our watershed. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,000 for the first semester and $1,000 for the second semester to help cover actual college tuition and book expense during their freshman year. The academic, extracurricular, volunteer and environmental stewardship credentials presented by the students were truly outstanding and made for a very competitive selection process.

 

Chairman of the FOR Scholarship Committee is John Muskopf. Members are Barbara Fratila, Tom Ronayne, Dana Wissink Hillis, Mike Goodson and Jo Ann Brown.

 

Beau Johnson is a graduate of Columbia High School where she was a 3-sport athlete, proud NHS, Student Council, Class President, and FFA member. Beau will attend Texas State University in the Fall of 2025 to pursue her degree in Kinesiology and plans a career in physical therapy after earning her doctorate in Physical Therapy.

 

Emma Zapalac, a graduate of East Bernard High School, will attend Blinn College in Brenham beginning the Fall 2025 semester.   After completing a number of required classes, Emma plans to transfer to Texas A&M University and earn a bachelor’s degree in their Society, Ethics, and Law undergraduate program. After that Emma will attend law school with the ultimate goal to be a successful lawyer who stands for those who cannot stand alone.

 

After graduating from Sealy High School, Zachary Hiatt will attend Texas A&M University where he intends to study Aerospace Engineering with a focus on learning how to design and improve either aircraft or spacecraft. Zachary hopes to build a career in the aerospace industry, working on innovative technologies and sciences related to the field of flight and space exploration.

 

Natalia Acosta Saldana received both her high school diploma from Brazosport High School and an Associate of Science Degree from Brazosport Junior College after earning 50h of college credit while in high school. In the Fall she will transfer to the UTMB School of Nursing and begin work on her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Natalia aspires to become a Labor and Delivery Nurse, a role that will allow her to work closely with mothers and newborns, providing care and support before, during, and after childbirth.

 

Lydia Huebner will be attending Texas A&M University pursuing a degree in Bioenvironmental Science with a minor in Horticulture. After receiving this degree, Lydia aspires to establish a career in plant pathology and agricultural research and use her higher education to prevent pathogens from destroying crops and to impact human health at the foundational level.