Athletes across TXST’s 16 Division 1 men’s and women’s teams are benefiting from NEXT IS NOW.
For many student-athletes, a scholarship is more than just a ticket to play sports. It’s an opportunity to get a degree, develop leadership skills, and be part of a community.
The NEXT IS NOW campaign made significant contributions to Texas State Athletics—from renovations to the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center to scholarship endowments, planned renovations at Bobcat Ballpark, and University Federal Credit Union’s historic naming rights deal for UFCU Stadium.
In 2017, El Paso businessman and Distinguished Alumnus Richard Castro donated $1 million to support scholarships for student-athletes, part of his overall giving of $2.3 million.
Castro has supported TXST across a broad variety of initiatives, including as a member of the Texas State Development Foundation Board and on the Council of the College of Liberal Arts. The Richard A. Castro Legacy Club, which overlooks the basketball court at Strahan Arena, bears his name, as does Richard A. Castro Hall, a new 1,000-bed residence hall scheduled to open on the San Marcos Campus in fall 2025.
“I am truly fortunate to be able to give back to my alma mater and am pleased to be extending greater opportunities to Texas State’s dedicated student-athletes,” Castro said.
“I think people assume they need to wait until they have retired to contribute, but if multiple people give a little, it can make a huge difference."
Another contributor was former Strutter captain Sarah Visel, a 2002 graduate. A recipient of two scholarships during her college career, Visel’s gifts totaling $70,600 support academic scholarships for current Strutters.
“I think it’s important to give back,” said Visel, who owns Showmakers of America in Austin. “There are so many students balancing their education and a job. I think people assume they need to wait until they have retired to contribute, but if multiple people give a little, it can make a huge difference."
The partnership between Texas State University and University Federal Credit Union is the largest corporate sponsorship in the Sun Belt Conference for naming rights at a football stadium and one of the largest for a college football stadium in the state of Texas.
"We are in the middle of a tremendous run of success that has created unprecedented momentum across campus,” said TXST Director of Athletics Don Coryell. “To further that momentum, we are excited to expand our partnership with UFCU.”
Photography of Chloe Jones provided by App State Athletics.