By Amy Martin
Influencing future generations to care for the Earth was a big focus of Ned’s. The Ned Fritz Scholarship was created in 2012 by Genie Fritz after his passing to continue his work. Both were longtime members of First Unitarian Church of Dallas.
The principles of the Unitarian Universalist faith include the 7th Principle: Respect for the Interdependent Web of All Existence of Which We Are a Part.
Graduating seniors from Unitarian congregations in North Texas are invited to apply from March 1st to May 1st each year. More info here.
Let’s catch up!
Two young scholars applied for the 2024-‘25 session, and applied again in 2025-’26, the maximum allowed by the scholarship.
Jillian Stanton, from First Unitarian Church of Dallas, continues to attend Wellesley College in Massachusetts, renowned for training future female leaders. Genie would be so proud! Though schooling in New England, she continues her Texas ties: “I recently had an opportunity to learn about and visit Spring Lake in San Marcos, one of the clearest natural springs in Texas with endemic species living in it.” She enjoys the environmental and social benefits of her college campus being a walkable community.
Joseph Oliphant, from Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church, is attending University of North Texas, whose re-energized environmental science program is receiving accolades. Joseph is already making his mark on North Texas nature. Ned would be thrilled.
The 2026-’27 scholarship was awarded to Ronan Hadden of Community Unitarian Universalist Church in Plano. He’s studying videography and computer science at Southern Methodist University, with plans to take the environmental message to a wide audience. This summer between spring and fall semesters, Ronan is helping out at a Cub Scout summer camp in their nature center.
Congratulations to Ronan and to all the young Unitarians in North Texas who are working to preserve our planet.
