AC Launches Badger Bound Scholarship to Expand College Access 

Last week, the Amarillo College (AC) Board of Regents approved the Badger Bound Scholarship, a new program designed to make higher education more accessible, affordable, and achievable for area students beginning next fall.

The scholarship provides up to 45 hours of free college credit for students who complete at least 15 dual credit hours at AC during high school—enough to total 60 hours and earn an associate degree. To participate, school districts will establish partnership agreements with AC on behalf of their students.

“This new program is rooted in AC’s commitment to student success,” said Dr. Jamelle Conner, president of Amarillo College. “It is more than a financial award—it is a comprehensive strategy for college access, student engagement, and degree or certificate completion. We are excited to work with area partners and school districts to open this pathway for more students across AC’s service area.”

Dual credit courses, offered in partnership with area school districts, allow high school students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously. Amarillo College pioneered dual credit in the region in 1990, and statewide data shows its impact: students who complete 15 or more hours of dual credit are 33% more likely to graduate with a college degree within three years.

“This program makes college a reality for more families across our entire service area,” said Dr. Frank Sobey, AC vice president of Academic Affairs. “We are also expanding dual credit opportunities, including technical courses. With Badger Bound, students will have a clear, affordable pathway to a degree or certificate.”

Students who complete at least 15 hours of dual credit through AC can continue their studies after high school graduation and earn up to 45 additional college credits—including tuition, fees, and books—at no cost, provided they finish within a three-year period. 

AC’s Badger Bound was created to help fill the gap left when Thrive—a partnership between multiple entities—ends in 2030. 

“AC was proactive in creating an alternative to provide more access to a free college education for all ISDs in the Amarillo College service area,” said Bob Austin, AC vice president for Enrollment Management. “At the same time, it builds on strong research showing that dual credit is a proven pathway to college success, especially for students who historically were less likely to participate.”

Benefits of Dual Credit and Badger Bound

• Time Savings: Earn college credits early and shorten the path to earn a degree or a certificate. 
• College Readiness: Build the confidence and skills needed to succeed in higher education.
• Transferability: Dual credit courses are accepted by public colleges and universities across Texas.
• Cost Savings: Through the state’s FAST (Financial Aid for Swift Transfer) program, students who qualify for free and reduced lunch can take dual credit at no cost. For those who don’t qualify, dual credit courses are offered at a significant discount compared to standard college classes. 

Due to recent Texas legislation creating a statewide performance-based funding model, community colleges and high schools now receive funding for students who earn credit hours through dual credit. School districts in AC’s service area—Potter, Randall, Moore, Carson, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Parmer, Castro, and Swisher counties—are eligible to partner with AC, giving their students access to the Badger Bound Scholarship.