By Angelina Syribouth
Social Media Manager
Amarillo College has approved a new scholarship program called Badger Bound. The program is designed to provide more opportunities and make education more accessible and attainable on a broader scope than just Amarillo. It would be given to students across all of AC’s Panhandle service regions. The program will launch starting next fall in 2026.
Vice President Frank Sobey of Academic Affairs explains the purpose and vision for Badger Bound. He said “The Badger Bound Scholarship Program is more than a financial award; it is a comprehensive strategy for early college access, student engagement and degree/certificate completion. This program serves all high schools within Amarillo College’s Panhandle service region, ensuring that every qualified student has an opportunity to accelerate their college journey through structured dual-credit pathways.”
For students to be eligible, they need at least 15 dual credit hours at AC during high school and enroll at AC for the summer or fall semester right after graduation or within three years of their graduate cohort start date. To claim the scholarship, students will be automatically identified and contacted. During their senior year, they must complete the Change of Major Form and submit their FAFSA. In order to keep the scholarship, students must avoid academic and financial aid suspension.
The program qualifies up to 45 credit hours, or three years, of free tuition, fees, books and course materials. School districts are working on making partnership agreements with AC so that students are able to participate in this program.
According to President Jamelle Conner at the Board of Regents meeting on Aug. 26, “One of the things as I’ve been talking to some of our possible partners is we’re looking at ways that they can fill these gaps that we’re seeing and one of them being what happens with those students that aren’t eligible for FAFSA, their families still can’t pay. And that’s where we believe that there are some opportunities as we’re working with them; that they would be able to come in and help support that funding.”
Badger Bound has the same idea as THRIVE, the previous scholarship program that reached students within the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD). They both require students to always submit their FAFSA first and see if they qualify for it before moving on to the scholarship and allow students to shave off costs for their education. The difference is that Badger Bound expands to other service regions rather than just AISD.
At the same Board of Regents meeting, College Services Associate Colin Fields said “It’s just like Thrive in that way. The Thrive students always had to submit a FAFSA because it was the last dollar in. So, they always had to submit their FAFSA and then see if they qualify for any federal financial aid. If they did, there would be a lot of the Thrive students. PELL paid for most of THRIVE actually versus the partners. But for anyone that didn’t, that’s when THRIVE kicked in. This would be the same idea, exact same way.”
With scholarship support, potential community partnerships in the works and dual-credit pathways, Badger Bound is designed to remove barriers and help more students achieve their academic goals and success.
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