Austin Community College announces largest scholarship donation in its history

Megan Menchaca, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read

Austin Community College announced Wednesday that it had received a $5 million gift from University Federal Credit Union — the largest scholarship donation in its history.

UFCU will provide $1 million per year over the next five years to ACC scholarships, including $900,000 per year for a new UFCU Endowed Scholarship at the college, according to an ACC media release.

It also will be giving $100,000 per year for ACC’s Career Scholars Program, which covers the full cost of tuition and fees — providing up to $5,000 for certain students focused on starting a career immediately after graduation. The gift will partly fund 40 new scholarships through the program.

ACC Chancellor Richard Rhodes said the donation would allow the college to provide more students access to the education that they need to get a well-paying job and job mobility in Central Texas.

“This donation is truly life-changing for our students and community,” Rhodes said in the media release. “We believe college is for everyone, and we strive to eliminate the barriers that get in the way. Every dollar matters, and this incredible gift will do more than we ever thought possible. I am so grateful for our partners at UFCU who share in ACC’s vision and mission.”

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UFCU President Michael Crowl said in a statement that he couldn’t wait to see the impact that the donation would have on the community

“We have long partnered with ACC and are excited to take our alliance to the next level. This scholarship program will provide all-inclusive support to hardworking students so they can focus on achieving their career aspirations through ACC,” Crowl said.

The college celebrated the gift with a new tradition of lighting up the Highland Campus purple on Wednesday evening for Riverbat Day, which is an annual day of celebration to recognize and honor the college’s mascot. The college will also begin to “Light Up Purple” in celebration of future major college achievements, awards and academic excellence.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin Community College receives largest-ever scholarship donation