A Legacy Carved in Stone

For more than three decades, from 1968 to 1999, Geosciences Professor Emeritus Robert Freed, Ph.D., shaped the way Trinity University students understood the Earth beneath their feet. In his classrooms, curiosity was nonnegotiable, precision was expected, and excellence was earned.

Among alumni, Freed is remembered with equal parts admiration and awe. His mineralogy course was legendary, and the famously rare "A" became a badge of honor for those who earned it. Yet, behind the rigor was a professor deeply invested in his students-one who believed that mastering the smallest details of earth materials could open the door to bigger discoveries.

Today, that same spirit of challenge and care lives on for current and future students through the Robert Lowell Freed Scholarship-a scholarship born out of gratitude.

Following the geosciences department's 50th anniversary celebration in 2015, a group of alumni and faculty came together to ensure that Freed's impact would continue to shape future generations. Led by Geosciences Professor Emerita Diane Smith, Ph.D., alongside alumni Byrd Larberg '74 and Scott Tinker '82, P'14, P'20, Ph.D., the effort sought to honor a beloved professor and his lasting influence on the culture of geosciences at Trinity.

"This scholarship was created out of deep respect and gratitude for Bob. Not just for the remarkable teacher he was, but for the countless students whose lives he changed. Alumni chose to honor him in a way that felt true to who he was, and investing in the students who embody the excellence he championed was the perfect expression of that," Smith says.

The response from alumni was immediate and heartfelt.

With a goal of $100,000, supporters rallied around the idea that Freed's legacy deserved to endure, and they reached that goal in less than a year. Additional alumni, including Vee Atnipp Cross '86, David Shiels '83, P'12, JD Godchaux '00, Lela Prashad '00, and Annell Bay '77, P'13, played key roles in coordinating the effort.

Today, those efforts have translated into one of Trinity's most unique scholarship opportunities. Each year, the Robert Lowell Freed Scholarship is awarded to the student who earns the highest grade in Trinity's "Earth Materials" course, one of the most demanding core courses in the geosciences curriculum. The scholarship is stacked on top of other Trinity financial aid, making it both a prestigious academic distinction and a meaningful source of support.

Since its establishment, the scholarship has provided more than $57,000 to over a dozen students and now supports two students annually.

For recipients, the impact goes far beyond recognition.

Several students who have received the scholarship were working as many as 20 hours a week off campus to help cover living expenses. The additional support allowed them to reduce those hours, freeing up precious time and energy to fully engage in the Trinity experience.

"Receiving the Freed Scholarship as a sophomore propelled my geosciences career forward ... I am grateful to the generous alumni who made this scholarship possible," says recipient Anna Heikes '26.

In a field as demanding as geosciences, where lab work, field studies, and detailed analysis are essential, a gift of time can be transformative. It allows students to immerse themselves in learning rather than dividing their focus between coursework and financial stress.

Beyond its financial impact, the scholarship serves as a powerful motivator within the department. Because it is tied directly to performance in one of the program's most challenging courses, earning the award signals a deep mastery of earth materials. It is, in many ways, the modern-day equivalent of earning one of Freed's hard-won "A's."

"While Professor Freed is no longer teaching at Trinity, his presence is still felt. He believed deeply in doing things the right way, and he held his students to that same standard because he knew they were capable of it," says Ben Surpless, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Geosciences.

The Robert Lowell Freed Scholarship is empowering the next generation of Trinity geoscientists, removing barriers, opening doors, and ensuring that the passion for discovery Freed instilled continues to shape lives for years to come.