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portraits

    »     AMARILLO ISD

As principal of AISD’s specialty high school, the 

Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning, and a 
member of the Amarillo College Board of Regents, Jay 
Barrett understands as well as anyone the why and how 
of building the workforce Amarillo needs. 

“Th

 e THRIVE Scholarship program will directly and 

powerfully impact our current and future workforce 
needs, not only in Amarillo, but also in the entire 
region,” says Jay. “A student who utilizes the THRIVE 
scholarship and attends Amarillo College will have the 
opportunity to learn skills that are and will continue to 
be in high demand right here in Amarillo.”

Th

 ough the hope is that THRIVE Scholars will 

eventually fi ll gaps in Amarillo’s workforce and replace 
the loss of baby boomers, Jay acknowledges there’s no 
guarantee students won’t leave the area. Still, he says, 
any investment in education is not wasted. “When our 
graduates do go off  into the world to make their mark, 
they oft en act as ambassadors for our community, either 
by the way they speak of their hometown or by donating 
philanthropically to our city’s growth and development,” 
Jay points out. “If we are to meet Amarillo ISD’s mission 
to graduate every student prepared for life and success 
beyond high school, one way we send students on their 
journey to life and success is by providing a true path 
to college.”

Th

 ese days, Reece Radney is well into his journey 

as a college student and THRIVE Scholar. Just a little 
more than a year aft er that fateful night and the injury 
that changed everything, Portraits sat down with 
Reece on his 19th birthday. Reece said he had a job 
and though he graduated high school last spring, he 
was already just a few weeks away from enough credit 
hours to be classifi ed as a college sophomore. By any 
defi nition, Reece is thriving. “For me, with THRIVE, it 
is knowing that someone I don’t even know wants me to 
be successful,” he muses. “As a student, it’s really nice to 
know people are behind you.” 

Qualifying For Thrive

The THRIVE Scholarship applies funds for up to 

60-hours of tuition, books and fees at Amarillo College, 

after all federal and private aid is applied toward a 

student’s tuition balance. 
• Be enrolled full time in (on or before the last day of 

the 9th grade year) and graduate from any AISD high 
school; or reside within the northernmost 26-county 
area of the Panhandle and transfer into (on or before 
the last day of the 9th grade year), attend and graduate 
from an AISD high school; or from outside the 26 
county area, transfer into, attend full time and graduate 
from an AISD high school (at any time); or transfer 
into, attend full time, and graduate from an AISD 
high school (at any time) due to a parent accepting 
a job related to an active AEDC Location Incentive. 
Students enrolled in North Heights Alternative School 
as a full-time student in the Providing Academic 
Success for Students (PASS) program are not eligible 
to be a THRIVE scholar. Students attending Amarillo 
Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL) who 
are still enrolled in and graduate from an AISD high 
school are eligible to be a THRIVE Scholar if all other 
qualifying requirements are met. 

• Be continuously enrolled through graduation from an 

AISD high school once eligible enrollment in AISD is 
established.

• For students graduating in 2018, 2019 or 2020: Earn 

a fi nal GPA of 80 or higher or meet college readiness 
standards in reading, writing and math as set by 
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 
(for example, SAT, ACT, TSI, College Prep Course). 
Students graduating in the class of 2021 or later must 
meet college readiness standards in reading, writing 
and math as set by the Texas Higher Education 
Coordinating Board (for example, SAT, ACT, TSI, 
College Prep Course).

• Meet the State of Texas compulsory attendance 

requirements.

• Not be expelled or placed in a mandatory Disciplinary 

Alternative Education Program (DAEP). 

• Be eligible to apply for and receive federal fi nancial 

aid.

• Apply for fi nancial aid (including FAFSA completion), 

admissions and scholarships at AC before the fi rst 
class day. FAFSA must be renewed every year.

• Maintain minimum requirements while in college. 
• Maintain “good academic standing” as defi ned by AC.

The THRIVE Scholarship 
program will directly 
and powerfully impact 
our current and future 
workforce needs, not 
only in Amarillo, but 
also in the entire region. 
A student who utilizes 
the THRIVE scholarship 
and attends Amarillo 
College will have the 
opportunity to learn 
skills that are and will 
continue to be in high 
demand right here in 
Amarillo.