Senior business management major James San Marco—recipient of the Lowell Lebermann Texas Exes Scholarship—wants to own his own business one day, but he wants to make sure it maintains a philanthropic role.

“I want to create a business that makes a difference in whatever it does, one that also gives back to the community in a big way,” San Marco says. “I want to spend my time in an environment that creates positive change.”

Already, San Marco is in pursuit of that goal. As founder and president of SA for MDA, he has helped raise more than $65,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). He has also served as a mentor for Communities in Schools of Central Texas, helping local students achieve their goals.

San Marco has worked at the Texas Exes since January, first with chapters and now in the events department. Over the summer, he interned in San Francisco at Bloomberg LP as a financial analytics and sales intern. He has also studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain, and is both a Lime Connect fellow and a McKelvey Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholar.

San Marco says being a TEA scholar has dramatically enhanced his time at UT.

“It’s shown me a side of UT that is much more personal, and it’s given a big university more of a homey feel,” San Marco says. “There’s always somebody that cares, wants to help, and knows me personally and what my goals are.”

The family atmosphere at the Texas Exes, San Marco says, has made TEA much more than a just a scholarship.

“The relationships that I’ve developed over the years with the other scholars and people who work at Texas Exes have made for a really unique experience,” San Marco says. “It’s way more than a scholarship. It’s a full program. There are so many experiences, fun, and excitement.”