The Seedling College Scholarship, established by Kalí and Dan Rourke in 2007, continues to encourage students in the Seedling Mentor Program to pursue their educational goals beyond high school. This year, Seedling awarded six new $8,000 scholarships to outstanding 8th-grade mentees from schools across the Austin area. In addition, four graduating scholarship recipients from the Class of 2022 cohort were recognized as they prepare to continue their education at colleges and universities throughout Texas. Seedling also awarded one graduating senior the prestigious $10,000 Treece-Callahan Family Scholarship. Through the generosity of donors and community supporters, the Seedling Scholarship Program has awarded more than $465,000 in scholarships to mentored youth since its inception.

The 6 awardees  of the 2026 Seedling Scholarship shared some thoughts in their essays: 

• Having a mentor means she has someone to talk to and that her mentor makes her feel happy. (Burnet MS)
• Her dream is to study nursing in college. Her goal is to be a good example for her niece and nephews and help take care of them. (Bastrop MS)
• He dreams of someday studying engineering, tech design or architecture.  He shares that his mentor is a very close friend who has been his friend since first grade. (Murchison MS) 
• Participating in mentoring taught him that relying on others is a strength, not a weakness. (Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy)
• Her mentor always encouraged her to achieve goals she thought were out of reach. (Chapa MS) 
• Her mentor has had a big impact on her – that her mentor always knows what to say to remind her who she is and of all her potential. (Austin Achieve MS) 

Updates and notable accomplishments by past Seedling Scholarship Awardees: 

• Class of 2018 Seedling Scholar found his passion and enrolled at Paul Mitchell The School -Tusla, OK to study cosmetology and is graduating fall 2026. 
• Class of 2019 Seedling Scholar is working full time while attending Texas State University, and was awarded a scholarship for their “Bats to Cats” initiative. 
• Class of 2021 Seedling Scholar has one more year at UTSA, double majoring in engineering and computer science while also working part time.  
• Class of 2022 Seedling Scholar graduated  May 2026 from Beloit College with a physics degree.
• Class of 2023 Seedling Scholar “I got all A’s on my ACC exams and I’m about to get promoted to being a technician at Howdy Honda in Austin.”
• Class of 2024 Seedling Scholar and Treece-Callahan Family Scholarship awardee is attending ACC, and learning to balance working and going to school despite hardships.
• Class of 2025 Seedling Scholar is a first year freshman at Stephen F. Austin University.  She says “Classes are going good so far!! Adjusting to college life being away from home is kind of difficult but I call home everyday so that helps!! I joined a yoga group!! Thank you!!!”