Department Spotlight | AC Foundation
Serving Our AC Family
The original purpose of the AC Foundation was to obtain gifts and grants to further the development of Amarillo College through loans for students, enrichment of the educational program, and necessary expansion of the campus. The Scott Lumber Company Fund was the first loan fund set up at the Foundation and although we no longer give loans to students, we now use the Scott Lumber Fund to give emergency loans to employees. The AC Foundation now raises funds for scholarships for our students and support funds for programs at AC along with funding to support the No Excuses program. We also solicit funding through grants for institutional programs at AC. We currently have a $63 million-dollar endowment which is one of the largest endowments in the state of Texas for a community college.
Scholarship Management
The Foundation manages 740 separate Scholarship and Support Funds. During the 2021-2022 academic year we gave over $1.5 million in scholarships to approximately 1286 students to attend Amarillo College. Many students receive more than one scholarship. The average scholarship is $1,500.00 We give scholarships for all majors at the college. The scholarships are comprised mainly of donations from private individuals and companies. The applications are available online at www.actx.edu/foundaiton.
The Foundation administers recruiting scholarships to area high school students. The purpose is to attract the best and the brightest from each graduating class in the AC service area. This past year we gave out over $100,000.00 annually in recruiting scholarships to 288 graduating seniors to attend AC.
We administer the Sybil B. Harrington Merit Scholarship awards each year. Sixty-Six students were presented with scholarship awards for the 2021-2022 academic year. $30,000 was awarded to fifteen students to attend AC and $229,500.52.00 was awarded to 51 students to attend the accredited 4-year University of their choice in the state of Texas. The awards are $4500.00 annually to attend a 4-year school and $$2,000 annually for two years to AC.
AC Foundation Board
The Foundation board voted three years ago to give up to $100,000.00 in grants to AC faculty and staff to enhance programs at Amarillo College. To date, we have awarded 45 grants totaling $326,323.24 to 29 different programs. The grants range from new equipment, travel for students to participate in research programs and competitions, furniture, textbooks for the library, and Mental Health training.
The Foundation oversees the Art Force Board which is a separate fundraising group that raises funds through Cooking School events to give both scholarships and grants to support the Fine Arts Programs at AC. The Art Force gave over $42,517.00 in grants for the 2021-22 academic year and $30,000 in fine arts scholarships. They also support the AC Creative Minds Series each year with funding.
The AC Foundation has made a commitment to raise $45 million in five years with the Badger Bold Comprehensive Campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to raise dollars for three main initiatives; Student Experience (Access & Completion), Faculty & Staff Enrichment, and Capital Enhancements.
We are located on the second floor of the College Union Building and are available to answer any questions anyone might have. Please call our office at 806-371-5107 or email us at acfoundation@actx.edu.
Blog written by Tracy Dougherty, Director Chief Operating Officer of AC Foundation
