Former Lion Football Student-Athlete Endows Scholarship

Texas A&M University-Commerce and Lion Athletics are proud to announce the establishment of a new endowed scholarship supporting Lion student-athletes.

The scholarship was endowed with a leadership gift to the A&M-Commerce Foundation. This endowed scholarship will benefit student-athletes in good academic standing with preference towards those in a declared major in the College of Science and Engineering. The scholarship will also help Lion student-athletes who have completed NCAA eligibility to complete their degrees.

The donor is a former Lion who played football for Ernest Hawkins, the legendary and all-time winningest football coach in Lion history. The donor expressed that he would not have attended East Texas State University without the scholarship afforded to him by Coach Hawkins, and his time in Commerce as a Lion led to a successful career in computer science. He hopes this scholarship will offer opportunities to future Lions to achieve their personal and professional goals.

“It was both humbling and gratifying to sign this Student-Athlete Scholarship Endowment,” said Director of Athletics Tim McMurray. “It is a special day whenever former Lion student-athletes believe in our Best in Class mission that ensures an excellent student-athlete experience and choose to invest towards making a difference in the lives of our current and future Lions.”

Taylor Phelps, senior associate athletics director for Championship Resources, added, “We have a long tradition of success in Lion Athletics and philanthropic giving is imperative to our long-term achievement and sustainability as an institution and department. On behalf of our student-athletes, faculty and staff, we are all so thankful for former Lion student-athletes who choose to give back to areas which have had an impact on their lives.”

Those who would like to make a gift in support of Lion Athletics may visit www.etamu.edu/lion-champions-fund or call Taylor Phelps at 903.886.5554. The A&M-Commerce Foundation provides support for students and sustainability for the institution by accepting one-time gifts, endowments, matching gifts, pledged gifts, planned gifts and more.