Texas A&M Student Charles Pitner Named Winner of 2025 Space to Succeed Scholarship

Posted on August 11, 2025 at 7:16 am by Robby Piper

We are thrilled to share that Texas A&M University freshman Charles Pitner, a Lubbock, Texas native now studying in College Station, Texas, has been named one of three national recipients of the 2025 Space to Succeed Scholarship. Selected from thousands of applicants nationwide, Charles was recognized for his extraordinary commitment to service through his nonprofit initiative, Charlie’s Kids-4-Kids Coat Drive.

Charles will receive a $5,000 scholarship, awarded directly to Texas A&M University, to support his studies in agribusiness. This recognition highlights both his impressive academic journey and the deep impact he has already made in his community.

You can read the official press release here: Texas A&M Student Charles Pitner Named Winner of 2025 Space to Succeed Scholarship.

Charles’ Journey: From Childhood Idea to Life-Changing Project

Charles’ story is proof that compassion and determination can begin at any age. As he explained in his scholarship essay:

“9,551! That is the number of coats I have collected and donated throughout the city of Lubbock, Texas. When I was six years old, I was listening to the radio as I was going to bed one night. They were asking for monthly donations, and if you agreed to pay $40.00 monthly, they would donate a coat to someone in need. I came out of my room and asked my mom if we could sign up for it, and she said it was not in our budget and sent me back to bed. After talking to my mom about it again, I decided to start a coat drive in order to help those in need.”

That decision led to the creation of Charlie’s Kids-4-Kids Coat Drive in 2012. In its first year, the drive partnered with his church and donated 232 coats. Each year since then, Charles has expanded the project – partnering with businesses, schools, and community organizations. This past year alone, ten local businesses helped serve as drop-off locations.

Over the past 13 years, the coat drive has provided more than 9,500 coats to families in Lubbock and surrounding communities.

Service Rooted in Community

Charles originally thought the coats would be distributed worldwide. But as he grew older, he recognized that the need was greatest right in his own community. He chose to focus on Lubbock, directly delivering coats to children and families each winter.

One of his favorite moments is the annual distribution day at a local elementary school:

“Every child, and members of their family, are invited to come pick out a coat. To see the smiles on the faces of these elementary age kids when they pick out their new or gently used coat is what makes all of my efforts worth it. They are so thankful for something that so many people just take for granted. It is a great reminder, every year, to be thankful for what we have.”

This tradition has made a lasting impact on families in the region and shaped Charles’ personal philosophy of service.

Lessons That Last a Lifetime

Beyond the thousands of coats collected, Charles’ project has taught him lessons that extend far beyond high school and into his future at Texas A&M:

“Charlie’s Kids-4-Kids Coat Drive has been a life-changing experience for me because, with the support of our amazing community, I have been able to help those in need. While I have learned not to take things for granted, I have also learned important lessons while planning and executing this project that will stay with me the rest of my life. Most importantly, I learned to help others in our community and always put others before myself. It does not matter your age, your size, or your status – you can always make a difference.”

These values of humility, gratitude, and leadership made Charles stand out among thousands of applicants for this year’s Space to Succeed Scholarship.

Agribusiness at Texas A&M

Now an agribusiness major at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Charles is continuing his journey of service through education. He sees agribusiness as a career path that will allow him to give back to families, farmers, and communities across Texas and beyond.

“I am committed to my education, to make the most out of my time at Texas A&M and soak up as much information as I can to help me later down the line in order to help others in my life. An agribusiness degree opens doors to a variety of impactful careers in the agricultural sector. Even after just one semester at Texas A&M I have taken classes that have further excited me and my passion for this work, and I cannot wait to see what the next few years have in store for me.”

For Charles, agribusiness is more than a career – it’s a calling. He hopes to honor Texas’ farming traditions while developing new programs that serve local families, reinforce community ties, and build a more sustainable future.

National Recognition

The Space to Succeed Scholarship is awarded annually to three students nationwide who demonstrate academic achievement and an unwavering dedication to service. This year, Charles joins Frank Clavelle III (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and Brittanie Reynaud (LSU Eunice) as 2025 honorees.

Together, these students represent the next generation of leaders who are using education as a tool to create meaningful change in their communities.

To learn more about the program and all three winners, visit the Space to Succeed Scholarship page.

Community and Media Recognition

Charles’ achievement has been celebrated not only by Texas A&M University but also throughout Lubbock and College Station. His story has received attention in both local and national outlets, including:

Why Stories Like Charles’ Matter

Charles Pitner is an extraordinary example of how small ideas can create lasting change. What began as a simple childhood question about giving back has transformed into more than 9,500 coats donated, thousands of families helped, and a legacy of service that he now carries with him to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

His story shows that education and service are inseparable. With the support of the Space to Succeed Scholarship and his time at Texas A&M, Charles is poised to continue making a difference not only in his hometown of Lubbock but also across Texas and beyond.

We are proud to support Charles as he creates the space to succeed — from Lubbock to College Station and wherever his journey takes him.