2025-2026 Francis Rich Scholarships

Ms. E. Reagan Haik is a public administration professional pursuing her Master of Public Administration degree in the Department of Political Science at Texas State University, where she also serves as a Graduate Instructional Assistant. She earned a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Sociology with a criminology concentration from Louisiana State University. She wrote an undergraduate honors thesis exploring in-group experiences on social media, achieving the highest College Honors and summa cum laude distinctions.

Reagan served as Youth Education Coordinator for the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation, which fostered her interest in nonprofit work, educational outreach, and justice. Her restorative justice work in the Teen Court program earned the 2024 LexisNexis Community and Educational Outreach Award from the National Association for Bar Professionals. Her research interests include educational, environmental, and juvenile justice policy. She hopes to pursue these interests on a deeper level at Texas State University.

Savanna is a public administration professional and Master of Public Administration student at Texas State University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Baylor University and a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Texas at Tyler. Her professional experience includes serving as a grant administrator for a program that funded road improvements in rural Texas. She currently works full time at a non-profit in the water sector whose mission is to empower small, rural, and Tribal water systems to make long-term investments in the health of their communities.

Her research and professional interests include sustainability policy and governance, educational and community education, and equitable community development. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cycling, and hiking.

Neela is a dedicated and highly motivated Masters of Public Administration (MPA) student with a strong academic foundation in public policy, performance management, and social welfare. With a 4.0 GPA and ongoing experience as a Graduate Assistant at Texas State University, she has developed practical skills in student support, academic coordination, and communication. In addition, she brings hands-on experience in customer service, early childhood education, and community engagement. Her background includes statistical data analysis using SPSS and policy evaluation.

Julia Hester is a public service professional and a Master of Public Administration student at Texas State University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Texas State University and has applied her education through her work at the Texas Legislature and in her current role serving in the office of a U.S. Congressman. In this position, she works as a Congressional Caseworker, assisting constituents in navigating federal agencies and accessing the services they need. She also works closely with Veterans, building strong community connections and ensuring Veterans receive the support they deserve.

During her time at Texas State University as an undergraduate student, she was Captain of the Texas State Equestrian Team and co-authored two publications with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles on vehicle titling and registration processes. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, riding horses, hunting and hiking.