STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Scholarship recipients and the donors who support their educational journeys came together Saturday, Nov. 7, for Tarleton State University’s 35th annual Academic Scholarship Luncheon, celebrating academic achievement and the lasting impact of philanthropy.
Held in the Barry B. Thompson Student Center ballrooms, the event continued a longstanding tradition of bringing students and supporters together to share their experiences, build meaningful connections and recognize the generosity helping make educational opportunities possible.
“One of the things I appreciate most about this luncheon is the opportunity it creates for our donors and students to connect personally,” said Tony Vidmar, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Tarleton State Foundation. “Our donors have the chance to meet the students whose educational journeys they are helping make possible. And our students can personally thank the individuals who have invested in their futures.”
Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley recognized scholarship supporters for their generosity and congratulated students on their academic achievements, emphasizing the opportunities higher education creates for future generations.
Two scholarship recipients shared their experiences and reflected on the opportunities made possible through donor support.
Alyssa Thompson, a graduate student in exercise science from Frisco, is the recipient of the Flora Foust Graduate Scholarship. Thompson shared how scholarship support helped her balance her education and motherhood as she pursued her goal of becoming a teacher and coach.
“The generosity has impacted me, but its impact won’t stop with me,” Thompson said. “It will reach the students I teach, the athletes I coach, the child I’m raising and the countless people those lives touch in return.”
Madelyn “Maddie” Hammonds, a senior biomedical science major from Little River-Academy, received the Louise and Tommy Thompson Presidential Honors Scholarship. Set to graduate in December, Hammonds reflected on how financial support allowed her to pursue undergraduate research, gain teaching experience and prepare for pharmacy school.
“My scholarships haven’t just given me the opportunity to receive an education. They’ve given me the freedom to make the most of it,” Hammonds said.
Scholarships provide support to help students manage education expenses as they work toward their academic and professional goals. The annual luncheon gives recipients an opportunity to personally thank the individuals and families who have invested in their success.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 28,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 127 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real-world learning and address regional, state and national needs.