Earlier this month, the Alpha Phi Omega international service organization at Austin College received the 2016 Friend of CASA Award from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Grayson County for “going above and beyond in support of the CASA program.” That commitment is just one example of the long tradition of mutual contribution and involvement between Austin College and surrounding communities.
Earlier this month, College staff announced the 2016 Regional Campaign for Austin College. “As a private institution of higher learning, we rely on the generosity of donors to sustain the capacity to serve our neighbors,” said Dr. Marjorie Hass, president of the College. “Gifts to Austin College certainly represent an investment in students, but equally as important, those gifts impact people and institutions throughout Texoma. This is our ‘international headquarters’ and our success surely is tied to that of this region.”
Austin College moved to Sherman nearly 140 years ago, and the impact of that move upon the local community is evident in the many alumni of Austin College who remain in surrounding communities as doctors, teachers, lawyers, dentists, ministers, and business and nonprofit leaders. In addition, the College offers numerous lectures, concerts, recitals, and performances to the cultural life of the area—through campus events and the College’s support of Community Series.
“Of course, the College creates significant financial resources in this community through the many people who visit the College and call our campus home,” said Dr. Hass. “But we believe an even greater resource comes through the involvement of our faculty and staff through their local involvement. That involvement is multiplied by our students as volunteers, as interns, and as employees in this community. Each year, our students volunteers some 15,000 hours—many of those with our neighbors in Sherman, Denison, Pottsboro, Bonham, and beyond.”
Cary Wacker, associate vice president for Institutional Advancement and director of the College’s Center for Community & Regional Development, said this local effort focuses on five areas that particularly benefit the communities of the region. “These programs will serve Texoma, build our community, support K-12 education, and foster innovation,” Wacker said. “The people of this region have always been great supporters of Austin College and we look toward success in this 2016 campaign as well.”
Campaign-Specific Program Needs:
Austin College Service Station
The majority of volunteer service provided by Austin College students is coordinated by the College’s Service Station. From free tutoring for area students to serving at the Boys and Girls Club to Special Olympics, and much more, students have been working through the Service Station for 24 years. The annual program costs of $30,000 allows the group to expand its service mission in the community.
Grantwriting Collaboration/SEPA Internships
Over the past few years, Austin College students have been integral in local nonprofits being awarded nearly $415,000 in grants. That has come about through the College’s Social Entrepreneurship for Poverty Alleviation program, which pairs student interns with local nonprofit organizations for eight weeks in the summer. Since 2012, student interns have worked with more than 40 organizations to expand grant writing capabilities and resources with significant results. Going forward, 20 interns will be placed each summer. Annual program costs are $57,000. A gift designated for SEPA Internships supports the $2,000 stipend for each student.
January Term CityLab
Starting in January 2017, Austin College students will participate in a month-long experiential learning class, January Term CityLab, to help address community issues in a Texoma city. Students will work in one or two local cities on a defined project, helping strengthen communities through planning, applied research, and tasks that enhance the quality of place for residents. The annual program cost is set at $18,000.
K-12 in Texoma
More than 100 Austin College graduates of the Austin Teacher Program work in Texoma schools. Austin College’s new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Community Scholarship Program will address the needs of local small and rural school districts to attract talented, qualified students. Recipients of the $10,000 MAT Community Scholarship Program will commit to work in the Texoma region for two years or more. The MAT degree is earned in a five-year program (with a 4 ½-year option) so that students earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree. The campaign goal is establishment of five MAT Community Scholarships.
Entrepreneurship Programs
In 2010, Austin College launched an academic program for students to develop entrepreneurial thinking through classroom and real-world scenarios. Students have worked with businesses and organizations in the area to address needs and concerns for growth and development. In the next two years, the College will grow this program to help entrepreneurs in the local community with resources such as a mentor network, talent incubator, and course offerings to help both existing and start-up businesses succeed in the community. “Support of these programs will help keep talented students in our region, recognize and nurture innovative businesses operating locally, and create the jobs of the future,” Wacker said. The annual program cost in $100,000.
All five of these programs have a part in creating the jobs of the future for Texoma, Wacker said.
The Regional Campaign will continue through June 30, 2016. To make a gift toward any of these programs, contact Cary Wacker at 903.813.2041.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.