ACU Legacy Summer 2021

L E G A C Y Abilene Christian University • Summer 2021

Scholarships Make Graduates THE LEGACY OF YOUR GIFT CROSSES THE STAGE AND HEADS OUT TO CHANGE THE WORLD

A MESSAGE FROM JIM ORR Abilene Christian University is coming off a year like no other. From shepherding more than 5,000 students through a global pandemic to dealing with a historic winter storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow on our campus and caused electricity and water outages across Texas – the 2020-21 academic year brought some incredibly unique challenges.

Throughout those hurdles, I am so proud that ACU still found a way to live out our mission to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world every single day. In May, we were blessed to see the culmination of that mission in the lives of 1,206 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students who received their degrees at Commencement.

Each of these students has been uniquely created by our Lord to go out and do great things for the Kingdom.

Our job at ACU is to prepare them, to educate them and then to commission them to take on a world that desperately needs leaders and servants just like them.

On Commencement days I like to remind our staff, “You know what we are doing today, everyone? What we were designed to do – we are conferring degrees!”

I still remember crossing the stage in 1986 and receiving my ACU degree, or watching my kids get their diplomas in 2016 and 2019. It is an incredibly important memory and mile-marker not only for these graduates and their families, but also for this university. We have been entrusted to do our best to pour into these students, and now as graduates, they are about to go out and make the world a better place.

We could not have made it through this year or awarded these diplomas without you. Your prayers and your financial support have blessed ACU in immeasurable ways. This issue of Legacy is designed to celebrate the Class of 2021 and how your gifts of scholarships impacted real graduates. They are representative of their classmates, and now ready to fulfill our mission, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.

I hope their stories bless you, and I also hope you will consider further supporting our scholarship funds.

Every dollar makes a real difference in real students.

Gratefully,

James M. Orr, J.D. Vice President for Advancement

Physically distanced ACU graduates attend one of three Commencement ceremonies on Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium in May 2021.

Legacy is published twice a year by The ACU Foundation at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.

For address changes: ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132, 325-674-2620

Graphic Designer: Holly Harrell Contributing Writers: Brad Benham, J.D. (’05) Contributing Photographers: Scott Delony (’06), Jeremy Enlow, Paul White (’68)

SERGIO CARRANZA

Engineering major graduate from El Salvador • Hope for the Future Scholarships

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sk Sergio Carranza to name the greatest place in the world and he will without hesitation shout the name of his native El Salvador. So, what would lead a smart kid from that Central American republic to travel 2,000 miles north to Abilene, Texas?

“Opportunity. I wanted the chance to learn and to grow as a person. I knew ACU could do that,” he said. “And now, as I graduate, I realize that I was right. I have gained so much from my four years here.”

As a high school member of Rotary International, Sergio had been exposed to many different cultures, speakers and perspectives.

So when it came time to choose a college, he wanted to pick a place that would continue to push him socially, spiritually and academically.

“I was convinced ACU would help me pursue my dream of being an engineer,” he said. “What I didn’t know is that because I came here, I would have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking nuclear research alongside my professors. I am confident my friends at other universities did not get this same opportunity.”

As an engineering major and student researcher, Sergio and his classmates have been an integral part of ACU’s NEXT Lab project.

The Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Laboratory is experimenting using molten salts, rather than water, as a coolant with the goal of designing and building the first university-based molten salt research reactor. The results could address needs in the areas of medicine, clean water and renewable energy.

Students such as Sergio are gaining real-world experience as they work with ACU faculty to help solve some of the world’s biggest and most complex problems.

“International students do not always qualify for the same financial aid as American students, so I was very thankful for the university scholarships that I received,” he said. “I am excited to stay on with NEXT as a graduate researcher.”

Scholarships become graduates. And ACU graduates are commissioned for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Sergio Carranza is ready.

Psychology major graduate with a minor in child and family services from El Paso, Texas

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oaches and mentors have poured into me, and I want to find a way to do that for the next generation,” said one of ACU’s newest graduates.

Alan Torres believes the calling on his life is clear. From his time in high school color guard to his four-year participation with the Big Purple marching band, he has experienced firsthand the impact mentors and an intentional community can make in a young person’s life.

“They gave me people to connect with, a common purpose,” he said. “And it put leaders in place who were looking out for me and invested in my success.”

Scholarships were instrumental in getting Alan to ACU, and they helped assist him with the financial security needed to be an active student. From the Big Purple and color guard, to Lynay and Frater Sodalis fraternity – he found ways to connect and give back to the Abilene community while completing his undergraduate education.

His heart for others was given an additional

opportunity to serve this past year during the pandemic. To help pay for school, Alan worked as a pharmacy assistant at Walgreens and became certified as a vaccine administrator.

Over the past six months, he helped administer more than 200 COVID-19 vaccinations to Abilene residents and at nearby assisted-living facilities.

Now as a graduate, Alan is looking for a way to pay it forward, helping other students find the same community and purpose that he found while here at ACU. “Whether it is as a school counselor or working toward my teaching certificate, I want to find a way to work in public schools,” he said.

“I want to be like the teachers, counselors and coaches who helped make me into the person I am today.”

Scholarships become graduates. And ACU graduates are commissioned for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Alan Torres is ready.

ALLEN TORRES

• Laura Sowell Endowed Scholarship

ABILENE CHRISTIA

Octobe

We’ve been dreaming ... ... about this moment for a while now, and it’s finally here! We’re calling all Wildcats to gather together again and celebrate Homecoming!

Visit acu.edu/homecoming for more information and a full event schedule.

AN UNIVERSITY

er 15-17

FRIDAY, OCT. 15

SATURDAY, OCT. 16

Carnival

Parade

Lawn in front of the Hardin Administration Building steps, 5-8 p.m.

Candlelight Devo

Ad Building steps, 8:15-8:45 p.m.

Beginning at East North 16th Street, 10 a.m.

Homecoming Chapel

Ad Building steps, 11:15 a.m.

Reunion lunches

For class years ending in 0, 1, 5 and 6, various locations, noon

Tailgating

South end of Wildcat Stadium, 1 p.m.

Wildcat football game kickoff

ACU vs. Lamar, Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, 3 p.m.

Concert

Backroads, featuring lead singer Stephen Bailey (’92). Enjoy s’mores and desserts while listening to great music. Siggie Pavilion Park, 8-10 p.m.

JUSTINE GARCIA

Sculpture major graduate from Colleyville, Texas • Margaret L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship for Art

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any paths lead students to ACU, but one common thread distinguishes their journies – the need for scholarships. For Justine Garcia, scholarships weren’t just an added blessing at ACU, they are what got her to campus in the first place.

“Coming into college, I didn’t really know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to major in – which can make choosing the right school pretty hard,” she said. “And honestly, I chose ACU because they gave me so many great scholarships. It was really incredible how generous this school was. ACU’s scholarships got me here, and I am so happy they did.”

Once Justine made her way to campus, it was time to start looking for a degree plan, and hopefully, discover her calling.

“As a freshman, I took my core classes and tried to find the right major for me,” Justine remembers. “Business didn’t feel right, environmental science wasn’t really a fit, and then I randomly took a three-dimensional design class and it was like a light bulb went off.

I loved it so much and was so passionate about it, I barely wanted to go to my other classes.”

Garcia threw herself into art and design courses, and eventually settled on a major in sculpture. “It was hard, because I love painting too, but I did not want to do a double major,” she said.

She applied to and was admitted to the prestigious Marchutz School of Fine Arts in Aix-en-Provence, France, and moved there this summer to begin graduate school. “It feels like a movie,” she said. “I am so excited!”

Justine is filled with gratitude. “Thank you to everyone who helped support my scholarships.

Thank you to my professors who inspired and taught me,” she said. “And thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of me during my time in Abilene.”

Scholarships become graduates. And ACU graduates are commissioned for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Justine Garcia is ready.

Master in Athletic Training graduate from Chantilly, Virginia

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erran Strydom never set out to be a t trailblazer. But as one of ACU’s first graduates with a Master of Athletic Training (M.A.T.) degree, he is set to be just that.

In the beginning of his collegiate journey, all Derran knew was that he wanted to attend a Christian university and explore life outside Virginia for a few years. He began looking around and visiting universities: ‘This one was too small … this one was a little too close to home … I can’t imagine living here for four years,” he thought.

And then he came to ACU. He had heard of Abilene Christian, but never visited before.

And even to this day, he is not sure what it was – but he just knew that he was home.

“And now here I am, four years later and halfway through my M.A.T. degree,” he said.

“I know God had a hand in guiding me here.”

But knowing he was in the right place did not make the finances magically work. “That is where the Packer family came in,” he said.

“They had set up a new scholarship and made a commitment to a group of freshmen. ‘You come

here, you work hard and graduate, and we will help with a scholarship.’ And that is exactly what I did, and what the Packer family did for my family.”

Derran again found his home as one of ACU’s first M.A.T. students. This new, cutting-edge “3+2 accelerated” program allows students to complete the bulk of their undergraduate work in just three years and then immediately transition into graduate-level work for their final two years.

His degree plan has allowed him to gain hands-on experience as a student trainer with the Wildcat football and the Hardin-Simmons University women’s soccer teams.

“I now know how I can help people and impact their lives for the better,” he said. “I have been fortunate enough to meet Mrs. Packer over the years to thank her in person. I couldn’t have done this without their help.”

Scholarships become graduates. And ACU graduates are commissioned for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Derran Strydom is ready.

DERRAN STRYDOM

• Barbara Packer Scholarship

ALAINA JENNINGS

Graduate student in speech pathology from Sweetwater, Texas • Dorothy and Lindsey Pruett Gerontology Scholarship Endowment

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laina (Andrews) Jennings was born with a heart for service. From an early age, she was a special combination of tough, gritty, caring and kind. As a fifth grader at Sweetwater (Texas) Intermediate School, she noticed classmates packing leftover food in their pockets to take home.

“I remember wondering how this was possible. So many people I knew had refrigerators and pantries overflowing with food, and then here were some of my friends who didn’t know where their meals were going to come from on weekends,” she said. “I told my parents we had to do something.”

With the help of her parents and other friends, she launched a nonprofit she called Backpack Buddies. For the next seven school years, the backpacks of more than 100 students each week were filled with extra food and other basic necessities. Today the effort continues, five years after her graduation from high school, thanks to the teamwork of five local churches.

When Alaina left Sweetwater for Abilene, she knew she wanted to continue to serve.

“ACU was the perfect place to further my education. It pushed me academically, but it also made me want to be a better person and find ways to impact my community,” she said.

“I was led to the field of speech pathology.

From the elderly to little kids, you get to work with them and build a personal connection, and I love that.”

She has had a lot to celebrate the past two years. She married her college sweetheart, Zach Jennings (’19), earned her bachelor’s degree, began clinical rotations and finished her master’s degree in speech pathology.

“I could not have done this without my family, my husband and those wonderful people who helped support my education through scholarships,” she said. “I am so excited to start my career and make an impact on the people of my community.”

Scholarships become graduates. And ACU graduates are commissioned for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Alaina Jennings is ready.

Spanish major graduate with minors in Bible and environmental science from Del Rio, Texas • Reuel and Imogene Lemmons Missions Scholarship • Ivan B. and Kathryn (Hough) Smart Scholarship Endowment • Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Endowed Scholarship

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larrissa Flores was not certain that college was in her future. In fact, she was initially against the idea altogether.

As the oldest of four kids in a tight-knit family, she felt an obligation to stay home and help raise her brothers. But her parents would not hear it – they insisted she create a new legacy for their family by being the first to attend and graduate from college. And she did that in May 2021 when she earned her diploma with honors.

“My parents value education so much,” Clarrissa said. “My dad used to joke, ‘If anyone is going to be dumb in this family, it is going to be me – the rest of you have to get an education.’

He worked hard and pushed for my mom to get her high school diploma, and they both insisted that my brothers and I take that next step for our family.”

But her parents’ hopes and encouragement were not enough; she needed financial help to make college a reality. Clarrissa went to work, applying for every scholarship she could find

and earning several from ACU. She also worked part time while a student, putting away money to cover tuition and other expenses.

“I couldn’t have made it here without my scholarships and the opportuinty to work for ACU,” Clarrissa added. “My four years here have been such an incredible experience, and I am so thankful to the donors and to my supervisors for making these opportunities possible for me.”

From the International Students’ Association to the Ethnos Culture show, to being one of the Wildcats’ biggest fans – Clarrissa has been one of the most active and engaged students on campus. And she will take that energy and apply it to another educational experience as she pursues her master’s degree in Spanish at Florida State University this fall, when she will again work on campus as a graduate assistant.

Scholarships become graduates. And ACU graduates are commissioned for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Clarrissa Flores is ready.

CLARRISSA FLORES

• H.L. Schug and J.W. Treat Language Endowed Scholarship

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Abilene Christian University

ACU Box 29200 Abilene, Texas 79699-9200

Building a scholarship that lasts

BONUS: Make a gift of any size through your estate plan

Endowed scholarships at ACU are designed to provide students the financial resources needed to attend college, stay in college and graduate. Setting up an endowed scholarship is easy, and it is a gift that will make an impact on generations of students. To find out more about scholarships, please contact our team at The ACU Foundation at 800-979-1906 or theacufoundation@acu.edu. Your gift will help create graduates who make a real difference in the world.

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2 Make a gift to establish a scholarship

3 Gift is invested for growth

Annual distribution goes to scholarship students

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