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Program Highlights & News |
Meet Houston Chapter Leader Jazz Hawk
For Jazz Hawk, a life outdoors didn’t begin with Stewards of the Wild. It started long before, rooted in family traditions and time spent outside.
“I grew up in the outdoors,” she says. “I competed as an equestrian doing hunters and jumpers from a young age all through college, and I was on a sport field any chance I could get. After college, some friends and I started doing annual trips to national parks.” |
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For Jazz, time outside wasn’t something planned, it was simply how life was lived. That foundation still guides her today, whether she’s walking a field on an upland bird hunt—her favorite pursuit—or casting a line along the Texas Coast during the annual Matagorda fishing tournament with friends.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Jazz found her way to Stewards of the Wild through a friend, Allie (Biedenharn) Alcorn. What started as an introduction quickly became a deeper connection, one that has since grown into a leadership role on the Houston Chapter’s advisory committee.
Along the way, she’s gained a broader perspective on conservation and the role Texas Parks and Wildlife plays across the state.
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Meet Stewards from across Texas at April, May, and June Statewide Events |
Virtual Lunch & Learn on April 28 at 11:30-12:30 p.m. with Dr. David Hewitt, Executive Director of Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI)
Dr. Hewitt's primary research interests include wildlife nutrition, ecology, and management. Throughout his career, he has been a professor, research scientist, and editor. He co-edited the book Wildlife Science: Linking Ecological Theory and Management Applications and edited the book White-tailed Deer Biology and Management. Dr. Hewitt will focus on CKWRI's conservation work, including recent ocelot research. Learn more about CKWRI by watching Fin & Fur's short film: Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. After registration, you'll receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link. |
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Statewide Capitol Day on April 30 at 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Hosted as the Texas Capitol building, join us and learn about the inner workings of conservation-related legislation and the Texas conservation funding model from legislative experts and staff. The event will conclude with a full tour of the Capitol building. Guest Speakers include Sam Stone, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation; Will Oliver, Representative Denise Villalobos' Chief of Staff; and Lauren McCarthy, Representative Will Metcalf's Chief of Staff; and additional speakers TBA.
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South Llano River Trip & Paddle on May 29-31
Only two spots remaining! The South Llano River is a natural wonder of Texas. Its spring-fed, crystal-clear waters support some of the state’s most beloved species and provide drinking water to communities like Junction before flowing on to the Highland Lakes. It is also a part of the Texas Paddling Trails Network– though its remote nature means many have never experienced it. |
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Annual Statewide Matagorda Fishing Tournament on June 6
This tournament is open to experienced and novice anglers alike! Teams of three may register to fish with a professional inshore guide or bring their own boat. A guided boat for $750 ($250 per angler) is unbeatable! Target species are red drum and seatrout. This year, we worked with our friends at LCRA Parks to reserve a discounted block of bungalows and airstreams at the Matagorda Bay Nature Park, right on the water! Sites held for this event will be released on May 6, 2026. |
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TPWF’s Conservation Scholarship Window is Open |
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Thanks to the generous support of donors, TPWF is offering two scholarship opportunities to support deserving students as they pursue their undergraduate and graduate degrees in conservation-related fields. The application window for the following scholarships is now open, and the deadline for submissions is Monday, June 8, 2026:
The Women in Conservation Science Scholarship: Advancing conservation by encouraging and supporting female undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies related to natural resource conservation. Thanks to the generosity of its benefactors, the Women in Conservation Science Scholarship will help ensure that women are on the forefront of fields dedicated to stewarding, conserving, and protecting the natural resources that Texans rely on and enjoy.
The Brady and W.K. Boyd Conservation Scholarship: Advancing conservation through education for graduating high school students and current college students. The fund was established to honor the memories of Brady M. Boyd (1991-2014) and Walter K. Boyd IV (1979-2017), two brothers who were avid hunters and anglers. Thanks to the generosity of its benefactors, the Brady and W.K. Boyd Conservation Scholarship will help ensure that the brightest and most dedicated individuals, regardless of their financial means, can pursue a career in conservation.
Know someone who may be a perfect candidate? Help spread the word and help grow Texas’ bench of future conservation leaders, one scholar at a time! |
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