A $160,000 endowment will provide scholarships for Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences majors at Sul Ross State University.

Peggy Landis Matli, Fredericksburg, and her nephew, Heath Landis, New Braunfels, and Sul Ross President R. Vic Morgan recently signed documents establishing the Gilbert A. and Laura P. Schmidt Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Endowment and Scholarship Fund.

The Schmidts were long-time ranchers in Blanco, Kimble and Gillespie counties. Peggy Matli, a niece, and Landis, a great-nephew, are both Sul Ross graduates.

Scholarship applicants must be Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences majors, with preference given to graduates of Blanco, Kimble or Gillespie County high schools. Continuing students must be full-time students in good disciplinary standing. Beginning freshmen must be fully admitted to Sul Ross. Returning students must be making normal progress toward a degree with a per semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher.

Scholarship selections will be recommended to the University Scholarship Committee by the Department of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Scholarship Committee.

"My aunt Laura did not choose to go to college, but always said this was the place she would choose to go to school," Matli said.

"Going to Sul Ross was a given in our family, and this (scholarship endowment) is the right place to honor Laura and Gilbert."

Matli's brother, Jack Landis, also attended Sul Ross. Peggy Landis Matli later worked as an administrative assistant for Bob Posey, vice president of Student Affairs, then was a teacher and counselor at Alpine High School for 19 years. She later moved to Fredericksburg, working as an assistant principal in the Fredericksburg Independent School District, retiring in 2008 after a 35-year education career.

Heath Landis graduated from Sul Ross in 1998 and has been a pharmaceutical representative in animal health for the past 10 years.

"I enrolled in the veterinary tech program," he said. "I was going to spend two years here and then go elsewhere. After two years, you couldn't drag me away from Sul Ross."

"Heath's career has been exactly what he went to Sul Ross to study," his aunt said. "You can go to Sul Ross and get a great education, but more importantly, you can walk out the door, get a really good job and do well."

"Sul Ross gives you people skills and confidence," Matli said. "For us, it was a good foundation for getting out and dealing with people.:"

Morgan said, "Sul Ross has long been recognized for providing solid career preparation for its students. We are grateful to the Schmidt and Landis families for their acknowledgment of our mission and their generosity in providing opportunities for present and future students."

Sul Ross endowments now approach $13 million with 214 separate endowments.

For more information on endowments, contact Leo Dominguez, (432) 837-8033 or leodo@sulross.edu