UTRGV has announced the Las Huellas Association Endowed Fund which benefits students in the university’s College of Sciences.

The Las Huellas endowment – a gift in the amount of $500,000 – provides scholarships to students pursuing a wildlife habitat conservation career. Kelly Nassour, UTRGV executive vice president for Institutional Advancement, said the university greatly appreciates the gift from the Las Huellas Association.

“The fund will impact our students, community and the local habitat, preserving our resources for generations to come,” Nassour said.

Vivian Incera, dean of the UTRGV College of Sciences, said the college emphasizes hands-on experiential learning and community-engaged research. It also advances the frontiers of science and develops innovative solutions for local and global challenges.

“We are very grateful for the endowed gift from the Las Huellas Association,” she said. “UTRGV is committed to preparing our students to solve modern society’s biggest challenges. No doubt, natural resource conservation is one of those challenges.”

The UTRGV biology department offers wildlife and habitat conservation to undergraduate and graduate students. These courses focus on the controlled use and systematic protection of natural resources and sustaining biological diversity in habitats.

Making A Difference

Interest and support for wildlife conservation education programs have grown. The long-term goal of the partnership between UTRGV and the Las Huellas Association is to create a Wildlife Biology Institute at UTRGV.

“The gift from Las Huellas will support students and allow more to graduate with the expertise to make a difference in wildlife conservation efforts in the Valley,” Incera said. “We look forward to a long-term partnership with Las Huellas, so we can leave a permanent ‘huella’ (fingerprint, mark) on the Valley community and its unique flora and fauna.”

The Las Huellas Fund encourages student research on wildlife conservation and management, and the improvement of wildlife and wildlife habitats in the Valley.

Dr. Russell Adams, a member of the Las Huellas Association board, said the organization is excited about the partnership, and “to continue our support for conservation and education efforts in South Texas with this initial endowment to UTRGV.

“As with our previous efforts supporting research for Rio Grande wild turkeys and ocelots, among others, this fund will allow further research of species critical to the region,” Adams said. “Furthermore, with new programming created by UTRGV, we will be able to create much-needed wildlife biologists and other wildlife-related human capital.”