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TWRI Mills Endowment Program

The 2026-2027 Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) Mills Endowment Program request for pre-proposals is now open. Complete and submit the required pre-proposal online form by 11:59 p.m. CST, February 1, 2026, to be considered for funding. Pre-proposals will be reviewed and ranked, and only the most competitive submissions will move forward to the full proposal stage.

The TWRI Mills Endowment Program is open to graduate students at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M at Galveston and Texas A&M at Qatar. This program is funded through the W.G. Mills Memorial Endowment.

TWRI anticipates funding 4-6 graduate research projects of up to $15,000 each in the area of water resources to help Texas address current and future water issues. All awards are dependent on funding availability; TWRI can choose not to award any applications if the funding is not available.

Key requirements of the Mills Scholarship are:

  • Awards are $15,000 max for one-year.
  • Allowable costs:
    • Scholarship (tuition and fees).
    • Other categorical costs are also allowed – salary, fringe, travel, supplies and other direct costs.
  • Equipment (>$5,000) and indirect costs are prohibited.
  • Students selected who request scholarship/tuition funds will be eligible to waive out-of-state tuition, if needed.
  • Matching funds are not required.
  • Pre-proposal submission is required by 11:59 pm CST February 1, 2026.
  • Only those who submit a pre-proposal and receive a subsequent notification from TWRI will be invited to submit a full proposal.
    • Students who are invited for the full proposal opportunity will be contacted for additional information and materials.

Mills Endowment Program History

In 1967, Mills Cox of Gay Hill, Texas, who was chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, established this permanently endowed fund at Texas A&M University. Cox designated this fund as The W.G. Mills Memorial Endowment Fund in memory of his great-grandfather. Mills was from Millican and helped prepare the site for Gathright Hall, the original student dormitory and dining hall on the Texas A&M campus, constructed in 1875-1876.

Since 2001, we have awarded more than $588,800 in Mills scholarships to support 227 students involved in water-related studies.

For updates on this and other TWRI research and opportunities, please subscribe to TWRI News.

Contact Danielle Kalisek with any questions about this program.