Impact Stories

Your support impacts Roadrunner Nation in bold ways. Learn about how your generosity changes lives at UTSA.

Generosity Lands Alumna at Aerospace Company

First generation college student, Audrey Stipe ’15, found her passion in the field of manufacturing while attending The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). With the stress that can accompany working multiple jobs and internships, receiving The Ruben M. and Veronica S. Escobedo Endowed Scholarship gave Audrey Stipe ’15 the opportunity to focus on her demanding studies and laboratory work while supporting herself through college.

Audrey Stipe

Young Alumni Couple Create Endowed Scholarship for First-Generation and Transfer Students

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) transfer student Andrew Hubbard’17 and first-generation college student, Carla Juarez’17 met while attending UTSA and married soon after in 2019. Following their positive university experience, the couple decided to create a fundraising campaign in lieu of a traditional wedding registry. Their campaign supported the UTSA First Gen & Transfer Student Center. More recently, the philanthropic pair took their passion one bold step further and created the Juarez-Hubbard Endowed Scholarship.

Andrew and Carla Hubbard

USAA Awards $1 Million for Student Scholarships and Emergency Support

The University of Texas at San Antonio has received $1 million from USAA to provide 100 UTSA Bold Promise scholarships for low- to moderate-income minority students. This comes after a $100,000 contribution made earlier this year to support student emergency funds following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

students in front of college of business

UTSA Receives $1 Million Commitment to Create Draper Data Science Business Plan Competition

Venture capitalist Timothy Draper and his wife, Melissa, have committed $1 million to establish the Draper Data Science Business Plan Competition. The competition adds yet another innovative component to the new UTSA School of Data Science. The Drapers also plan to donate a hologram and programming to the university once it becomes available.

Students Studying

UTSA History Students Receive Greater Opportunities in Research Through $1 Million Commitment from The Nau Foundation

Established in 2013, the Nau Scholars Program celebrates UTSA’s diverse student body and supports deserving students focused on undergraduate or graduate research in History. Thanks to a generous $1 million commitment from The Nau Foundation the program will continue to award scholars who bridge the divide between geographic, racial, ethnic, generational, and socio-economic borders.

UTSA to Establish Preclinical Pharmacology Core and Young Investigator Award with $1.7 Million Gift from Voelcker Fund

The trustees of the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund have awarded the College of Sciences and chemistry professor Doug Frantz $883,000 to establish the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker CIDD Preclinical Pharmacology Core for Accelerated Drug Discovery. Another $900,000 will support the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Young Investigator Awards, which will help advance two rising superstar faculty members.

Dr. John Frantz

UTSA Professor Dedicates 40 Years to Creating STEM Opportunities for Hispanic Youth

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Dr. Manuel P. Berriozábal, joined the faculty of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) College of Sciences in 1976. Just three years into his tenure, Dr. Berriozábal brought a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) based program, which has earned national recognition and become known as the Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP).

UTSA Receives $3 Million Commitment for Najim Career and Innovation Center

Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Harvey E. Najim has committed $3 million to establish the Harvey E. Najim Innovation and Career Advancement Center at UTSA. The center will drive the university’s Classroom to Career initiative as part of its 10-year strategic vision and mission on student success.

UTSA’s Largest Single Private Donor Gift Continues to Change Lives

Ten years after UTSA inherited the estate of one of its most loyal donors, Mary McKinney, her $22 million bequest remains the largest single private gift the university has ever received. The gift funded the Felix and Elizabeth McKinney Memorial Scholarship, which provides full-ride scholarships to assist low-income students in pursuing a college education.

UTSA launches emergency funds to connect students to resources

To help relieve some of the stress that students might be facing due to coronavirus-related changes to their daily lives, UTSA has created key funds that support Roadrunners' most prevalent needs during this time.

students walking on main campus

Special giving campaign underway to match chancellor’s gift

UT System Chancellor James Milliken has stepped up to help UTSA students in a big way. With support from the Chancellor's Council and the Chancellor's Council Executive Committee, Milliken has generously allocated $25,000 to the Student Emergency Fund at UTSA to provide grants to students facing a hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

campus aerial

UTSA, Whataburger, S.A. Food Bank partner to address food insecurity

UTSA, Whataburger and the San Antonio Food Bank today announced a partnership to ensure that healthy food, free of charge, is made available to students in need across all of the university's campuses.

student at the food pantry

UTSA College of Engineering to receive $500,000 for new Makerspace

The UTSA College of Engineering confirmed a commitment of $500,000 from Ed Whitacre in support of the Science and Engineering Building, currently under construction and slated to open in 2020. The new building will provide 153,000 square feet of laboratory, classroom and meeting space to support students and research in engineering, brain health, biology and chemistry.

Science and Engineering Building

UTSA breaks ground on facility to elevate athletics, provide public space

The University of Texas at San Antonio today broke ground on a state-of-the-art, $41.5 million athletic training facility that will help the university draw world-class student-athletes to its Division I programs and provide recreational sports resources to San Antonio residents.

future athletics facility

UTSA’s Next Generation of Researchers

One of the most important goals for Dr. Doug Frantz is to leave a legacy for his students; they are his reason for dedicating his life to research at UTSA. Dr. Frantz was drawn to UTSA's vast potential for growth in the Department of Chemistry. He credits The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Chemistry with allowing him to train the next generation of scientists while conducting his own research.

a professor poses with three students in a research lab

UTSA receives $15 million gift and parcels of land downtown for construction of proposed School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center

UTSA today announced it has received a $15 million gift from San Antonio business leader Graham Weston to support the university's proposed School of Data Science.

Downtown Campus aerial

Women and Education: A Life-Changing Combination

Through education, students can change the circumstances of their lives – this remains a grounding principle for the women of the Pan American League who award lifechanging scholarships to students at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Scholarship recipient, Maeanna Miller-Barnard, proves how transformative their support can be.

a female student working on an assignment outdoor with a laptop

Italy Inspires Global Perspective

UTSA senior Civil Engineering major, Crista Cerda, returned to San Antonio from Urbino, Italy in the fall of 2019. She spent her days walking along Urbino's cobblestone streets with fellow classmates in search of Italy's delectable cuisine while experiencing the country's rich culture as they learned to communicate with locals. Regularly, her class traveled to major cities like Rome, Italy where she engaged with lead engineers and discussed multiple development projects in the city.

engineering students pose in front of a bulldozer

Giving Goes Full Circle

UTSA alumnus Tim Chapman '84 understands the importance of supporting hardworking students through college. As a former UTSA scholarship recipient himself, he is dedicated to paving a way for students through school. To help UTSA students on their paths toward graduation, Tim established an annual scholarship fund in 2000 and named it The Frank Edward and Beverly Hill Chapman Scholarship in honor of his parents.

picture of two donors