The Johnson-Bates Respect and Inclusion Endowed Presidential Scholarship was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on March 6, 2012 to benefit the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.

The scholarship is awarded annually to students who are taking a leadership role within the LGBT communities and displaying academic excellence within the Jackson School of Geosciences. This first-of-its-kind scholarship is awarded annually during the Gender and Sexuality Center and Queer Student Alliance Lavender Graduation.

Gift funds for the Johnson-Bates Respect and Inclusion Endowed Presidential Scholarship were provided by Ms. Kim Marie Johnson Bates. Ms. Johnson Bates graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in geology and geological sciences in 1983.