The University of Texas at San Antonio today announced a transformative $1.5 million gift from Valero to support undergraduate scholarships and student success for students enrolled in the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and the Carlos Alvarez College of Business.
The five-year commitment will drive UTSA’s ongoing efforts to empower students and strengthen industry readiness in high-demand fields. The gift will support both colleges equally, providing critical scholarship support and helping students graduate with the skills they need to launch their careers.
“Valero’s investment in undergraduate scholarships and student success reflects our shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of innovators who will shape the future of Texas’ professional workforce,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “We are immensely grateful for Valero’s generosity and ongoing partnership, and we look forward to continuing to work together to create new opportunities for our students while growing the talent pipeline for our city and state.”
To support academic success, each college will award five annual scholarships to students who are majoring in disciplines such as chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical/computer engineering, construction science and management, accounting, finance, business analytics, economics, human resources management, information systems and technology, operations and supply chain management, statistics and data science and cybersecurity.
The gift will also enhance experiential learning opportunities for students. Scholarship recipients will be paired with Valero mentors and will participate in annual group visits to the company’s headquarters. In addition, Valero’s support will elevate the student success centers in both colleges by expanding professional development and academic support services.
“We are incredibly thankful for our partnership with Valero, not only for their generous philanthropic investment but also for the time and expertise they contribute to mentoring and engaging with our students,” said Klesse College Dean Eric Brey. “The Klesse College and Valero are committed to producing industry-ready graduates prepared to contribute on day one. Partnerships like this with Valero serve as accelerators and are vital for advancing the value of engineering and construction at UTSA.”
“The Klesse College and Valero are committed to producing industry-ready graduates prepared to contribute on day one.” – Eric Brey
UTSA also will collaborate with Valero on several high-impact student engagement events, including joint tailgate events at the Alamodome, an enhanced Valero Day featuring networking, fireside chats, professional development, and energy company visits for interdisciplinary student groups.
“This generous charitable commitment underscores the enduring relationship between Valero and UTSA and sets the stage for future collaboration focused on student success and building our talent pipeline,” said Jonathon Halbesleben, dean of the Alvarez College of Business. “We look forward to deepening our relationship with Valero and engaging more closely with their employees, who include many Alvarez Roadrunners.”
Valero has supported UTSA for over 37 years across various areas of the university. In 2002, the company made a $1 million investment toward endowed scholarships that have benefitted over 780 recipients to date.
In 2009, a gift from Valero to support graduate students helped drive UTSA to its current Carnegie R1 classification. And in 2013, an investment toward UTSA Athletics supported the development of the Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence. Since 2020, the company has also accepted more than 160 UTSA interns, and over 400 current Valero employees are UTSA alumni.
This latest gift also supports UTSA’s largest fundraising effort in university history, Be Bold: A Campaign for Our Future, which recently exceeded its $500 million goal two years ahead of its original timeline.
The Be Bold campaign officially closes on August 31, allowing the university to continue accounting for philanthropic support through the end of the fiscal year. President Eighmy will announce the final amount raised in October at a special event to celebrate the donors who made a transformative impact through their support and helped shape the bold future ahead for UTSA.
