By Angelina Syribouth
Social Media Manager
The Badger Bold fundraising campaign may be over, but, according to Amarillo College officials, its impact is just beginning.
On Oct. 2, AC students, faculty, staff and community members gathered in the FirstBank Southwest Center on the Washington Street Campus to celebrate the end of the five-year fundraising campaign, which raised $47,202,329, surpassing its original $45 million goal.
Executive Director and Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joe Bill Sherrod said Badger Bold faced several challenges, such as launching during the COVID-19 pandemic and undergoing college leadership changes.
“This campaign feasibility study started in February 2020,” Sherrod said. “We turned obstacles into opportunities, and our community was equally ready to get behind us.”
AC President Dr. Jamelle Conner said the campaign has already transformed the overall student experience.
“More than $10 million was raised to modernize and enhance our campuses,” Conner said. “Nearly $31 million went directly to scholarships and our Advocacy and Resource Center because we know success extends beyond the classroom.”
Chairman of the board of regents, Jay Barrett, said the campaign represents more than fundraising.
“Every one of those dollars that is represented on the wall behind me has a student’s name written on it,” Barrett said. “You are basically writing a golden ticket for the future of every student and every dream that will use the vehicle of Amarillo College to reach their final destination.”
Badger Bold has supported a range of initiatives, including 20 STEM scholarships, athletic scholarships and professional development opportunities for faculty.
Some students said being involved with STEM has already opened doors for them. “It’s given me the opportunity to come in as a freshman and get familiar with the college before the fall semester starts,” Adrian Rosales, a mechanical engineering major and STEM scholar, said. “They’ve also given me internship opportunities. I’m still in the process of trying to apply to internships.”
Officials said the campaign’s success reflects the community’s commitment to education and the future of AC students. Renovations and new programs funded through Badger Bold are expected to continue benefiting students as the college looks ahead to its centennial in 2029.
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