UFCU commits $5 million to fund student scholarships & name a new park pavilion at ACC

Austin Community College District (ACC) and University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) are expanding their partnership to fund new student scholarships and help create a highly-anticipated new community park and event pavilion at ACC Highland. UFCU presented a ceremonial $5 million check to the ACC Board of Trustees during its regular board meeting on Monday, June 20.

The donation is the single largest financial gift to the college to date and will be disbursed over five years to an endowed scholarship fund for ACC students. 

In return for its contribution, UFCU gains naming rights to a new event pavilion at the St. John Encampment Commons park located at ACC Highland. UFCU also will create a branded presence with branches and/or ATMs on select ACC campuses.

“ACC and UFCU share a vision to serve our community and support students in their pursuit of higher education. Thanks to UFCU’s support and generosity, we can alleviate financial burdens and help more students achieve their academic dreams,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “What’s happening through this powerful partnership will have lasting, positive effects in our community.”  

“We have long partnered with ACC and are excited to take our alliance to the next level,” says Michael Crowl, UFCU president. “This scholarship program will provide all-inclusive support to hardworking students so they can focus on achieving their career aspirations through ACC. We can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have on the communities we serve.”

The college presented its plan for The UFCU Pavilion at St. John Encampment Commons at ACC Highland — a new community park currently under construction at the heart of ACC Highland. Named for St. John’s Orphan Home, an African American school located on the site in the early 1900s, the park is transforming a section of the former mall parking lot into a central gathering and event space. 

The park acts as part classroom, part living room, part gallery, and part performance space and features a state-of-the-art pavilion designed to accommodate small, medium, and large-scale special events. 

Renderings and more details will be shared in the coming weeks. The park is expected to open in fall 2022. 

The expanded partnership builds upon ACC and UCFU’s already robust partnership which provides scholarships for ACC’s Adult Education Division, emergency grants for students, and financial health education for faculty, staff, and students. 

For more information about the partnership or to request an interview, contact Sydney Pruitt at sydney.pruitt@austincc.edu.