Robert G. Childress Endowed Scholarship
The Robert G. Childress Endowed Scholarship was established to support undergraduate students, with preference given to students who are or have been employed by Recreational Sports. Bob’s affinity for students who work for RecSports stems from his own experiences on the Forty Acres which have made an indelible mark on his personal and professional life.
Bob came to the Forty Acres as a freshman in 1969 and he has remained associated with the University ever since. As an undergraduate in 1970 he worked in the Jester Residence Hall cafeteria then as a Resident Advisor in 1971–73, where he also managed the resident hall’s intramural teams. This experience led him to become directly involved in RecSports’ Intramural Sports Program as an official in 1972 and later as a graduate assistant.
Although Bob originally planned a future in medicine, this proud Texas Ex, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 1973 and a Master’s in Education-Kinesiology in 1976, enthusiastically accepted a position with RecSports upon graduation. He took on many duties, including working in the gym store and in the fitness/wellness area and, soon enough, in the Intramural Sports Program. Bob spent decades developing and managing the intramural program which inspired him to propose the creation of an alumni program to re-engage with former intramural participants to return as supporters. The Friends of RecSports initiative became a reality and expanded its outreach to former student staff members, sport club members and other RecSports participants. One of its greatest achievements is undoubtedly the establishment of the student scholarship endowments that are benefiting today’s students and the generations that will follow.
Special thanks to the friends listed below for their generous gifts.
- John Bricker, Jr.
- Ann V. Brodnax
- Robert Childress
- William Childs
- Thomas Clark
- Christine Cole
- Rene Garza
- Jon Gibson
- Bennett Glazer
- Lynn Halamicek
- T. Weir Labatt, III
- Stephen Lappin
- John Nolan
- Fred Pfeiffer
- Robert Randolph
- F. Kyle Read
- Max Smith
- M. Stephen Underwood
- Lynn Utter
- Leslie Whitmer
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Brooklyn-Jade Torres |
| 2023 | Ethan Joergensen |
| 2022 | Joel Redmond |
| 2021 | Ilene Gresham |
| 2020 | Erica Barnett |
| 2019 | Brittyn Rushing |