It has been a year since Amarillo College’s FirstBank Southwest Center opened its doors to offer a range wellness, exercise and recreational opportunities to everyone in the community, and the “new” has not yet come close to wearing off.

In fact, quite the opposite is actually the case.

“When we get new members in here even now, they love the fact that it’s so fresh and clean and new, that it’s not crowded, and that we have such great workout equipment, gymnasiums and locker rooms,” said Craig Clifton, AC’s executive director of enrichment and wellness.

Last fall, FirstBank Southwest made the largest gift in its history when President and CEO Andy Marshall announced a $3 million commitment to Amarillo College, establishing the Bank as “Founding Sponsor” of AC’s resurgent intercollegiate athletics program.

In recognition of that generosity in 2022, AC named its freshly renovated athletics facility FirstBank Southwest Center; but to further honor the bank and the man at its helm, the AC Foundation in 2023 has named FirstBank Southwest as the recipient of its yearly Chairman’s Award.