Category: Features
Determined first-generation student finds faith, community amid adversity
Matias Montanes, a first-generation international student from Spain, will graduate from Abilene Christian University this weekend, taking with him much more than a diploma. A tennis scholarship brought Matias to Abilene, Texas – a place he knew nothing about. Despite minimal knowledge of the English language, he traveled to the U.S. with a passion for … Continued
ACU Admissions launches new podcast
The Abilene Christian University Admissions office launched a new podcast – “Welcome to ACU: Stories from Wildcats Around the World” – to help introduce prospective students to the university. The first episode was released Nov. 1. [aesop_image img=”https://mllcnzvqahci.i.optimole.com/cb:a79E.7a2e/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/f:best/https://acu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Podcast_Opt.jpg” panorama=”off” imgwidth=”40%” alt=”Allysa Wiley, sophomore psychology major from Spring, and Ben Mercer, junior social work major from … Continued
Brush up on Rangers history with video from ACU’s RangersU in honor of World Series
As the official higher education partner of the Texas Rangers, Abilene Christian University wants to help fans celebrate the start of the World Series with free video content from RangersU highlighting the storied history of Rangers baseball. In 2022, ACU launched an educational partnership with the Texas Rangers called RangersU powered by ACU, which offers … Continued
Bringing Big Tex to campus in 1955 was no small feat
Visitors to the State Fair of Texas this month will find it hard to miss Big Tex, the 55-foot-tall cowboy who has stood sentinel over the nation’s largest state fair since 1952. Millions of fairgoers each year experience his towering presence, friendly wave and iconic “Howdy” greeting. His legacy, however, is … Continued
U.S. News highlights ACU’s nationally ranked student experience for fifth year in a row
For the fifth consecutive year, the student experience at Abilene Christian University, both in and out of the classroom, was ranked as one of the nation’s best in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings released today – in the categories of Study Abroad, Learning Communities, Service Learning, First-Year Experience and Senior Capstone. Overall, … Continued
Willises’ picture worth a thousand words to Cracker Barrel employees, students they fed
A framed photo of the late Dr. John Willis (’55) and his wife, Evelyn (Forrest ’56), graces the fireplace mantel at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Highway 351, a testament to the power of a shared meal. Willis, a beloved Bible professor at ACU for 46 years, was well acquainted with … Continued
Lynay students, staff volunteer with Ukrainian refugee children in Poland
A group of ACU students took their soccer skills and a desire to love their neighbors to Poland this summer to conduct a soccer camp for Ukrainian refugee children who have resettled there. The 12 students, all Lynay scholars at ACU, traveled June 4-15 to Warsaw, where they partnered with Abilene-based Play4More Soccer … Continued
ACU announces $25 million gift, first named college in its rise as a national research university
A Houston family’s long legacy of philanthropy and service to Abilene Christian University culminated in a $25 million gift announced this week from Kay Onstead. Her generosity marks the fifth largest single donation in the university’s history, and Kay and her late husband, Robert, have given more than $59 million to Abilene Christian over their … Continued
Two ACU students receive Fulbright Grants for 2023-24
Two recent Abilene Christian University graduates will live, work and learn abroad next school year as recipients of the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. ACU had six students apply to the program this year, with four qualifying as semi-finalists and two selected … Continued