The Impact

Scholar Community

With your fellow Forty Acres Scholars, you will find a tight-knit group with whom you will bond throughout your four years at UT. You will thrive in a cohort of students with various backgrounds, interests, majors, and ambitions and have endless opportunities to learn and grow. Freshman scholars are matched with an upperclassman Buddy who acts as a mentor within the program and on campus from the moment our freshmen step foot on the Forty Acres. With your fellow Scholars, you will benefit from cultural and leadership activities, as well as personal development opportunities. The friendships and memories you make here will become cornerstones of your life.

“I never would have been at Texas if it weren’t for the Forty Acres Scholars Program. From my first day at school, I knew I had a family in my cohort that would become some of my closest friends. Over the years, that has proven true time and time again.”

Ashley Deutser, Class of 2021

Exclusive Access

Forty Acres Scholars have access to successful alumni who share your interests and passions. UT’s alumni network is dedicated, generous, and most importantly, everywhere. Scholars will be part of an elite group with full access to all the university has to offer.

Several of our Scholars have received internships and research opportunities through the connections they have made through the program. Forty Acres Scholars receive exclusive invitations to awards ceremonies where they can meet, mingle, and eat with influential alumni. These ceremonies include the Distinguished Alumnus Awards and the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Awards—an invitation not open to other UT students.

“Beyond the friends I have made through the Forty Acres Scholars Program, I have also met amazing alumni who have poured into me in unimaginable ways.”

Lucious McDaniel IV, Class of 2022

Financial Freedom

The Forty Acres Scholars Program allows students to put their best foot forward in the post-graduate and professional world as they graduate debt-free. In addition, they have opportunities to conduct research, pursue non-paid internships, work on startup companies of their own, travel, and more throughout their four years of college due to the financial freedom the program provides by covering their tuition and living expenses all four years.

“The all-inclusive nature of the scholarship alleviates many pressures college students feel, such as the expense of textbooks and housing, and allows them to focus on academic and extracurricular interests as well as expanding their world horizons through study abroad.”

Mary Margaret Burniston, Class of 2021

Program Staff

Our dedicated program staff is there to support scholars every step of the way. The Forty Acres Scholars Program is administered by the dedicated Texas Exes Scholarship team who facilitate programming, one-on-one meetings, and connections with faculty and alumni. This small team develops close relationships with our Scholars and strives to assist them in any way they can during their college careers.

“We are very fortunate to have supportive staff members who are always willing to work with us and make our experiences in the program richer every year.”

Alicia Crespin, Class of 2020