TAMIU’s ‘Excellence Investment’ Launches with $1 Million Expanded Scholarship Program

An expanded vision for scholarships at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), will provide first time freshmen with access to an additional $1 million in scholarship funds.  The University has already reached out to  400 eligible students. 

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the program, dubbed “The Excellence Investment,” aims to attract and retain students who then become TAMIU graduates, drive future growth and sustain South Texas’ economic success.

“With the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are living through our shared civilization’s greatest challenge…but we must focus on the post-Pandemic world that will come. At TAMIU, we’re committing to investing in a brighter future for students in this region through an aggressive expansion of our scholarship program. 

“We believe The Excellence Investment has the potential to nurture a generation of graduates who will lead this community forward…and we’ve already identified 400+ students who would benefit.  For over 50 years, the University has helped graduates earn over 29,000 degrees.  They’ve gone on to careers and lives of meaning and purpose, changing this community and others. This is part of our ever-expanding commitment to empower our graduates to, as we always say, ‘Go Beyond,’ ”  Dr. Arenaz said. 

The Excellence Investment is renewable for up to four years with annual completion of 30 credit hours while maintaining a 3.0 GPA.  It will be open to any student, local and regional, who has been ranked in the Top Ten percent of their graduating class.  There is no ACT or SAT requirement. 

Recipients can also combine their Excellence Investment scholarship with other federal or state need-based financial aid such as Pell or Texas Grant -- making a tuition-free TAMIU degree possible.  There is, however, some urgency, Arenaz pointed out. 

“We need those qualified students who have been accepted to The Excellence Investment to make their commitment to TAMIU known by January 15, 2021.  While the Excellence Investment fund is significant, it will be limited to those who act early,”  he said.    

And for those who may not qualify for The Excellence Investment, Arenaz said the University has advantages and other scholarship opportunities  ready for all students. 

“To start off, we’re ranked fifth nationally among most affordable  universities in the nation and first in the State for lowest student debt; our return on investment is nationally ranked, and the majority of our students usually qualify for other financial aid or assistance.  Just last year alone, we awarded over $72 million  in financial aid funds,” he noted. 

For additional information, The Excellence Investment candidates should visit www.tamiu.edu/prospect email enroll@tamiu.edu or call 956.326.2270. 

Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, TAMIU saw record enrollment this Fall with 8,525 students in 95 undergraduate or graduate programs.  Students came to TAMIU from throughout Texas, the U.S. and 30 countries for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs delivered through five Colleges or Schools.

TAMIU offices close in a State-authorized holiday Monday, Dec. 21 - Friday, Jan. 1, 2020. The campus will close at noon on Friday, Dec. 18. University offices and the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library will reopen Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 at 8 a.m.

For more on the University’s story, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu, follow its social channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube, or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.