Ranger AMARILLO COLLEGE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1930
VOLUME 89 | SPECIAL EDITION
August 9, 2018
Greenhouse cultivates success
New facilities to house more programs and majors By SALVADOR GUTIERREZ Staff Reporter
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omething new has taken root at Amarillo College. This fall, the Washington Street Campus will open the doors of the new greenhouse, also known as the STEM Research Center. This facility will host classes for students enrolled in degree programs and certificates in horticulture, biochemistry, environmental science and sustainable resource management. “From a grant proposal to an actual structure standing and ready to serve generations of students, I could not be more
thrilled to be a part of the entire process,” Dr. Claudie Biggers, biology department chair, said. “The STEM Research Center will house multiple programs that will embrace a new research-infused approach to learning.” The seeds for the greenhouse were planted in 2017 with a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. An advisory board made up of local industry experts contributed to the design of the new certificates and degrees, Biggers said. AC is joining forces with Texas Tech University to make it possible for
horticulture majors to transfer to Tech to complete online baccalaureate degrees in plant and soil science. “The greenhouse will be a tremendous asset that offers cutting-edge, hands-on research to greatly enhance our students’ classroom experiences,” Gerek Burford, greenhouse director, said. The horticulture certificate can be completed in two semesters and will prepare students to meet industry needs in areas such as pestcontrol, landscape architecture and plant breeding. For more information call (806) 371-5000.
A new way to ‘Thrive’ at AC
Scholarship program offers full ride to AISD students help of the scholarship. “The Thrive scholarship is a community-based scholarship that was put together through a partnership of local entities, which include the Amarillo Area Foundation, Amarillo College, Amarillo Economic Development Corporation and AISD,” said Austin. “Basically, what we’re trying to do here as a community is increase the college-going rate of our residents.”
covers whatever is left over. It is not too late to apply Editor-in-Chief for federal financial aid, or marillo area high scholarships through the school students now AC Foundation, said Kelly have a new way to Steelman, the director of pay for college: the Thrive financial aid. scholarship program. Students For students who need at all Amarillo Independent help navigating the world School District high schools of financial aid, the financial are eligible to receive the aid office on the second Thrive scholarship, as long floor of the student services as they maintain an overall center on the Washington average of 80 or better with no Street Campus has extended serious behavior issues. hours through the here are literally hundreds of local “There are statewide month of August. programs, but this is They will be open students who are going to be unique to Amarillo, and M o n d a y -T h u r s d a y we think it’s special,” enrolling at Amarillo College this fall who from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. said Bob Austin, vice will get to attend free of charge. We’ve and Friday from 8 president of enrollment a.m. - 5 p.m. management. “There never had that before. Previously, many are literally hundreds of AISD students attended local students who are with the help — Bob Austin, vice president of college going to be enrolling of the ACE scholarship at Amarillo College enrollment management program. The Amarillo this fall who will get Area Foundation and to attend free of charge. We’ve To get the scholarship, partners Amarillo Independent never had that before.” students are asked to apply School District, Amarillo The new scholarship for admission to AC, apply for College and West Texas A&M program covers the cost of financial aid and register for University began the program tuition, books and fees for 60 classes. in 1994 at Palo Duro High credit hours or three years at “Thrive is what we call a School. AC - whichever comes first. ‘last money in’ scholarship, so The program later expanded While students are we ask all students to apply to include Caprock High School, enrolled at AC, they don’t for admissions to AC, and for and eventually Tascosa High need to maintain a certain federal financial aid. They don’t School students from certain GPA or number of classes to necessarily have to qualify to elementary schools. The keep the scholarship. As long receive federal financial aid, but program covered tuition, fees as they are in good academic we ask all students to apply,” and books at AC and/or WT and financial standing, the Austin said. “As far as that goes, for students who met certain scholarship is there. it’s relatively simple.” criteria until it’s end earlier this The clock starts ticking A ‘last money in’ year. at the beginning of the scholarship means that the While it is no longer fall semester following Thrive scholarship is the last accepting new students, those high school graduation, so piece of financial aid to be who signed the ACE program students are encouraged applied to a student’s account. contract at the beginning of to enroll in classes right All other scholarships and last year can still keep their away and get as much as financial aid are applied scholarships, so long as they possible done with the first, and then Thrive meet the requirements. By STEVI BRESHEARS
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Illustration by STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger
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