Forty Acres Scholars Program

Forty Acres Scholars Program The Texas Exes is the premier scholarship administrator on UT Austin. During 2020-2021 academic year, Texas Exes awarded $3.9 million to 700 students.

Forty Acres Scholars Program
Comprehensive full-ride scholarships covering four years of undergraduate study, with funding provided for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, service learning experience, study abroad and internships. Selection is made by Foundation's scholarship committee in the spring of each year. The inaugural class of Forty Acres Scholars was chosen in the sprin

g of 2011. Named Scholarships
Donors have created these scholarships in honor or memory of individuals and organizations. Criteria for selection is based on the donor and can include, high school attended, geography, type of major, ethnicity, and other factors important to the donor. Selection is made by the Foundation's scholarship committee in the spring of each year and can be awarded to incoming freshmen as well as upperclassmen. Chapter Scholarships
Funds are raised by local chapters of the Texas Exes primarily for incoming freshmen from high schools in the chapter's geographic area. Selection of recipients is done by the local chapter's scholarship committee in the spring of each year. Texas Exes Awards for Scholarship and Leadership
Scholarships for high-achieving high school seniors that provide up to $10,000 for four years of undergraduate study.Throughout the program's history, 213 Texas Exes Scholars have been selected for this prestigious scholarship. The last class of Texas Exes Scholars was chosen in 2009.

Back in April, our Stamps Scholars traded the classroom for the curling rink as we spent the afternoon seeing who might ...
05/21/2026

Back in April, our Stamps Scholars traded the classroom for the curling rink as we spent the afternoon seeing who might have a future in the 2030 Winter Olympics 🥌 A fun day full of teamwork and great memories!

Lucienne Moran from the Class of 2026 just graduated with her degree in Canfield Business Honors and a minor in Computat...
05/20/2026

Lucienne Moran from the Class of 2026 just graduated with her degree in Canfield Business Honors and a minor in Computational Engineering but will be staying on campus this year to finish a degree in Physics!

"When I first started college, I was focused on finding the right answer. To my future, that is. I saw it as something to be solved. It was a matter of picking the correct career, one with a formulaic path. It took me years to realize that none of the answers felt right because I didn’t know what the question was. My biggest takeaway from college is that when you feel uninspired or lost, you shouldn’t force yourself toward an answer. It will come if you focus on asking the right questions. For me, the right questions came from being curious, staying open-minded, wrestling with ideas, and paying attention to what genuinely interested me. That’s how I ended up adding a physics major to my business major junior year, which became the best decision I made at UT."

Lucienne is from The Woodlands, Texas. Some of her favorite enrichment memories traveling to a town in rural Georgia (the country) with an Australian, Argentinian, Belorussian and Ukrainian, and taking part in an ancient Georgian festival called Lelo Burti, interning at a venture capital firm while studying abroad in Madrid, and accidentally flying to the Canary Islands instead of Mallorca, and spending the day with locals there. Her memories abroad inspired her to cook recipes from different countries in her free time.

"The Forty Acres Scholars Program made UT feel like home even before I stepped foot on campus. It provided me with a close-knit community and support system at a large university, and a deep sense of belonging. It opened doors to experiences I couldn’t have ever imagined. It’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone and constantly encouraged me to grow. It’s brought incredible people into my life: lifelong mentors and friends who have challenged and inspired me. My fellow cohort members jokingly refer to each other as “cousins”, because we truly feel like family. I’m especially grateful for my amazing donor, Marilyn White. Her support has meant the world to me. I'll forever be grateful to FASP!"

She is the recipient of the Charline and Red McCombs Family Forty Acres Scholarship and the Marilyn Marshall White Enrichment Award.

Back in March The Forty Acres Scholars Program dressed up and headed to Bass Concert Hall for one of our favorite annual...
05/13/2026

Back in March The Forty Acres Scholars Program dressed up and headed to Bass Concert Hall for one of our favorite annual traditions—a night of dinner and Broadway! We had the best time seeing Mama Mia, signing along and making unforgettable memories.

Congratulations to our Class of 2026 graduates!
05/12/2026

Congratulations to our Class of 2026 graduates!

Ashleigh Trujillo is from San Antonio, Texas, and will be receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education and minor in Ed...
05/12/2026

Ashleigh Trujillo is from San Antonio, Texas, and will be receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education and minor in Educational Psychology. She credits a defining academic moment to her first evening class with Dr. James Paton, Individual Differences, which introduced her to concepts of accessibility, inclusion, and disability. “The course completely shifted my perspective and opened my eyes to the importance of creating spaces that are inclusive and equitable for all individuals. It challenged the way I thought about education, support, and what it truly means to understand and value differences.” She describes the class as more than a degree requirement. It solidified her career path and inspired her passion for working with diverse populations and advocating for accessibility and inclusion. She is excited to share that she will be going full time with Spark Learning preschool and ABA center here in Austin! She will be staying in Austin for a few months before relocating out of state with her significant other!

“Coming into college, I did not fully realize how much having a strong support system would shape my experience, but the Forty Acres Scholars Program gave me exactly that. The program surrounded me with staff and fellow scholars who genuinely cared, making my college challenges feel achievable even when I felt defeated. The program provided me with the knowledge and foundation to network and build meaningful connections with UT professors through opportunities like the annual faculty dinners, which pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally. More than anything, this program gave me a sense of belonging. Through the scholarship, I built and maintained friendships that have impacted my college experience more deeply than I can put into words. These are the people who celebrated my wins, supported me through challenges, and truly became a second family. The Forty Acres Scholars Program did not just support my education, it shaped who I am today and gave me a community that I will carry with me long after graduation.”

She is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Gregory Nance Moore in memory of Kathleen Cavanagh Moore. You can read more about her here: https://www.texasexes.org/scholarships/forty-acres-scholars-program/meet-scholars/2026/ashleigh-trujillo

Our final graduate is Yahir Olivares!Yahir is from Houston, Texas and will graduate with a BBA in Supply Chain Managemen...
05/12/2026

Our final graduate is Yahir Olivares!

Yahir is from Houston, Texas and will graduate with a BBA in Supply Chain Management and a Minor in Entrepreneurship. He describes his time at UT as a collection of meaningful moments, especially during his freshman year, from Camp Texas to meeting professors to late-night food runs with fellow Forty Acres Scholars. “UT hasn't only offered a world-class education along with exciting events all over, but it has also brought me long-lasting friendships that I will forever cherish. The Forty Acres is truly a special place where one can both pursue knowledge and collaborate to change the world.”
During his enrichment experience, he studied abroad in Barcelona through a course on Social and Cultural Entrepreneurship, learning about initiatives that empower communities, while also traveling to Italy and Germany with his significant other, a fellow scholar. Outside of academics, he discovered a love for cooking, transforming his apartment kitchen into “a laboratory full of spices and ingredients,” using food as a way to bring people together.
Reflecting on his time in college, his greatest takeaway is that success is not linear. “Life, passions, and careers don't follow a straight roadmap, and rather than fearing change, I now view it as a key component for growth.”
After graduation, he plans to work as an Operation Management Trainee for Central Transport.

“The impact of the Forty Acres Scholars Program has been truly transformative. It offered me more than just an education, it offered me an unwavering support system and a network of scholars who've inspired me daily. I am deeply grateful for the doors this program has opened and the lifelong friendships it has brought, I couldn't imagine my college experience without the Forty Acres Scholars Program.”

He is the recipient of the Sylvie and Gary Crum Forty Acres Scholarship.

Wesland Ung is from Allen, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, a minor in Business...
05/09/2026

Wesland Ung is from Allen, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, a minor in Business, and a Certificate in Pre-Health Professions. Outside of the program, Wesland was very involved with Texas Taekwondo. “My favorite memory was travelling to Boulder, Colorado, for my first National Collegiate Taekwondo tournament, where I had the chance to represent Texas Taekwondo against other universities' taekwondo teams. The trip was full of warm memories and connections with athletes that shaped a supportive community.” During his enrichment experience, he participated in a service research project with UNICEF in Geneva, Switzerland, where he had the opportunity to provide UNICEF with companies to partner with to increase funds for service in the Middle East and South Asia. His biggest college takeaway is to engage with people from all walks of life. “Through the Forty Acres Scholars Program, I was surrounded by individuals pursuing vastly different passions, ranging from business and public policy to engineering and the arts. Being part of that community pushed me to step outside of my own perspective, build meaningful connections, and appreciate how diverse experiences shape the way people think and navigate the world. These interactions helped me grow not only as a student, but as an individual who listens more intentionally and seeks to understand before acting. I hope to carry this mindset into medicine, where connecting with patients from diverse backgrounds is essential to providing compassionate and effective care.” After graduation, he will be working at an orthopedic clinic as a scribe, working as a Patient Care Technician at a public hospital, and teaching Taekwondo during his gap year before medical school.

“The Forty Acres Scholars Program has shaped my college experience by surrounding me with a community of driven, diverse individuals who constantly challenged me to think beyond my own prospects. Being in an environment where peers were pursuing such a wide range of goals exposed me to new perspectives and ways of approaching problems.”

He is the recipient of the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about him here: https://www.texasexes.org/scholarships/forty-acres-scholars-program/meet-scholars/2026/wesland-ung

Another one of our seniors graduating this weekend is Sophia Maynard!Sophia is from Houston, Texas, and will be graduati...
05/08/2026

Another one of our seniors graduating this weekend is Sophia Maynard!

Sophia is from Houston, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Business. Her favorite FASP event is Scholar Thanksgiving! “It is so much fun to get together with all the cohorts before we leave for break and get to play games and enjoy time with one another!” Some of her favorite UT memories include football games over the years, specifically beating A&M and OU. “There’s nothing like being in the stands surrounded by my best friends, classmates, and alumni all sharing the same energy, pride, and excitement. Those moments captured everything I love about UT: community, tradition, and the unmatched spirit of being a Longhorn.” Sophia also wanted to share that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. “I came into college thinking I needed a perfect plan, but I’ve learned that growth happens through trial, change, and even failure. Trusting the process has allowed me to discover new interests, build meaningful relationships, and become more confident in who I am.” After graduation her plan is to attend law school and continue to grow her company, Sophi’s Celebrations, while pursuing her J.D.!

“The Forty Acres Scholars Program has shaped my college experience by connecting me to the Texas Exes network and a community that is deeply invested in my growth. Through these relationships, I’ve gained mentorship, guidance, and opportunities that have helped me better define my goals. It’s shown me the power of a strong network and the lasting impact of meaningful connections.”

She is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, in memory of Ben Thomas Featherston. You can read more about her here: https://www.texasexes.org/scholarships/forty-acres-scholars-program/meet-scholars/2026/sophia-maynard

Next for today's Senior Spotlights is Isabella Soares!Isabella is from Pearland, Texas and will be graduating with a Bac...
05/07/2026

Next for today's Senior Spotlights is Isabella Soares!

Isabella is from Pearland, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, and Engineering Honors with a minor in Materials Science in Engineering. When asked what her biggest takeaway from college is, she said "Approach everything with kindness and curiosity (including yourself)." Her favorite enrichment experience was visiting the fjords in Norway! "I not only got to check off one of my life bucket list items but also made a lot of memories and friends on that trip." After graduation she will be pursuing her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The Forty Acres Scholars Program played a monumental role in my college experience. Through FASP, I was able to travel to Europe for the first time, network with sustainability entrepreneurs around the country, and pursue research projects I loved without having to worry about financial constraints. Through this program, I have learned so much about not only the world, but about myself. The diverse interests within FASP have opened my eyes to so many interesting avenues of life and helped me develop into the well-rounded, confident, and curious person I am today. But most importantly, I met some of my closest friends through this program. Des, Angie, Ash, Aksh*ta, and all of the amazing people in this program have been constant sources of joy and support during my time in college. I’ve laughed, cried, and grown with these amazing people, and I’m grateful to have them in life during and after my college career. Their presence, as well as the amazing opportunities I’ve received through FASP, will continue to inspire and guide me for years to come.”

She is the recipient of the Erin and Thomas A. Bunkley Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here: https://www.texasexes.org/scholarships/forty-acres-scholars-program/meet-scholars/2026/isabella-soares

Today's Senior Spotlight is Angeline Aloysius!Angeline is from San Diego, California and will be graduating with a Bache...
05/07/2026

Today's Senior Spotlight is Angeline Aloysius!

Angeline is from San Diego, California and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Informatics and a Design Strategies Certificate. The University has provided her with connections that have helped her grow the last four years. “The network of relationships I got to build at UT, from my roommates, to professors, to team members turned friends, has allowed me to grow personally and professionally and has helped shape the kind of impact I want to have on people’s lives. I am so grateful to Dr. Booth, who I got to bring to the Faculty Dinner twice, for being an incredible mentor and cheerleader over the last few years. She has fundamentally shaped my research interests and motivations to challenge and change systems,” says Angeline. “I’ve loved seeing how college has shaped my friends’ lives and futures, and I’m really lucky I got to be there alongside them as they grew.”

After graduation she plans to work as a UX Designer and Researcher on the Patient Experience team at Athenahealth before applying to graduate school. She’ll also be continuing her research study with Dr. Booth to be presented at the 2027 iConference in New Zealand.

“The Forty Acres Scholars Program is a large reason why I decided to come to UT. Being from California and having most of my friends commit to colleges on the west and east coast, UT hadn’t really been on my radar during college application season. Having moved around a lot growing up, I went to nine different schools between K-12, so being surrounded by a constant community was something I was really hoping to have during my college experience. The tight-knit community I saw within the scholars present at my Finalist Weekend showed me that FASP could be exactly that for me. This program has also allowed me to have the most interesting conversations with so many inspiring and accomplished Longhorns, such as Jeannie Leavitt, Longhorns who I don’t know how I would have otherwise had a chance to interact with.”

Angeline is the recipient of the Martin Dies, Jr. Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here: https://www.texasexes.org/scholarships/forty-acres-scholars-program/meet-scholars/2026/angeline-aloysius

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