Texas A&M University-San Antonio expands pipeline of opportunity with $1.4 million in scholarships for Texas Early College High School graduates

Texas A&M University-San Antonio expands pipeline of opportunity with $1.4 million in scholarships for Texas Early College High School graduates

SAN ANTONIO (May 24, 2017)—Texas A&M University-San Antonio, through a $1.4 million grant from the Greater Texas Foundation (GTF) Scholars Program, is expanding the pipeline of opportunity for Texas Early College High School (ECHS) graduates. The grant will enable A&M-San Antonio to further advance its mission by offering 40 annual scholarships to select Texas ECHS graduates admitted to the University over the course of eight years.

The GTF Scholars Program is designed to increase the number of Texas ECHS graduates who successfully transition to and complete a bachelor’s degree. The program was founded in response to compelling data indicating that large numbers of Texas students were beginning, but not completing, post-secondary education.

The first cohort will receive A&M-San Antonio’s GTF scholarships in fall 2018. Most scholars will enroll with the equivalent of two years of college credits. The goal is for scholars to graduate with a bachelor’s degree within three years.

“The GTF scholarships are instrumental in furthering A&M-San Antonio’s academic mission across Texas,” said A&M-San Antonio’s Vice President for Student Affairs Melissa Mahan, Ph.D. “Now, we can be a more efficient pipeline by graduating students earlier with little-to-no student debt, creating less strain on our students and the economy.”

A&M-San Antonio will have more opportunities to collaborate with ECHS across the state. Currently, most of the University’s ECHS transfers come from San Antonio.

Savannah Villanueva, former Ms. A&M-San Antonio and 2016 alumna, graduated with a bachelor’s degree at the age of 18 after transferring locally from Travis Early College High School. She was thrilled to learn more about the new program at her alma mater. “Most ECHS graduates are first-generation students,” she said. “These scholarships will give them not only financial support, but networking opportunities and the resources needed to succeed.”

To date, more than 500 students have participated statewide in the GTF program. Seventy percent of these students identify as Latino or Hispanic and 67 percent identify as first-generation college students.

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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio With a nearly 700-acre Main Campus to expand into, the Military Embracing™ university welcomed its inaugural class freshmen class in August 2016 and is now a comprehensive four-year university. Currently enrolling approximately 5,500 students, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing universities in the state. To learn more, visit tamusa.edu.