AUSTIN (KXAN) — Samsung Austin Semiconductor gifted $1.5 million to aid an engineering academy at the Austin Community College District, ACC officials announced Tuesday.
The donation will help support the Texas A&M Engineering Academy, which was created in collaboration between ACC, Texas A&M University and Samsung. The goal of the academy is to offer “an affordable and accessible pathway for aspiring engineers while addressing a critical workforce need in Texas,” ACC officials said in the Tuesday release.
Samsung’s $1.5 million gift will help fund scholarships, improvements to program resources as well as student services, officials noted.
Jon Taylor, executive vice president of Samsung Austin Semiconductor, said the donation marks a critical investment in expanding local engineering pipelines and adding the state’s semiconductor work. Through the Texas A&M Engineering Academy, students can enroll in both universities, beginning coursework at ACC before switching over to Texas A&M to finalize their engineering degrees, the release said.
The academy has enrolled 710 students since its launch in 2017; since 2021, it has graduated 134 students. As of Tuesday’s announcement, there are nearly 330 students who are still enrolled at ACC or Texas A&M.
“This partnership is transforming the way we prepare students for careers in engineering,” ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart said in the release. “At ACC, we are committed to creating systemic change that removes barriers to opportunity and ensures every student has the support they need to succeed. Together with Texas A&M and Samsung, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive pipeline of engineering talent that will shape the future of our region.”
There are currently more than 154,000 engineers employed statewide, according to ACC’s announcement. That workforce is expected to grow nearly 2% annually.
More details on the academy are available online.
