Texas Tech University set a new fundraising record with 37,845 donors contributing $236 million in fiscal year 2025, including 5,854 first-time supporters who joined the Red Raider family. The historic year saw transformative investments with more than $61 million dedicated to student scholarships and aid, alongside the creation of 139 new scholarship funds to support the next generation of Red Raiders. Landmark gifts established groundbreaking programs like the John & Paige Bick Construction Engineering Technology Program, while the Matador Society alone contributed more than $80 million in planned giving. This unprecedented wave of generosity propelled the ON&ON campaign past $915 million and demonstrated Red Raider Nation’s unwavering commitment to creating life-changing opportunities for students and strengthening the university’s impact across West Texas.

For the fourth year running, Red Raiders from across the country rallied behind Texas Tech during the annual Day of Giving — and this year, they made it the most successful in the event’s history by nearly every measure. From student mental health to veterinary education and from academics to athletics, the collective generosity of the Red Raider community delivered immediate, meaningful impact on the programs and people that make Texas Tech extraordinary. It’s proof that when Red Raiders come together, the impact goes ON&ON.

Ruby Santamaria had every intention of going to college until the pandemic took those plans away. Four years later, when her younger brother Alex was preparing to graduate high school, the question of higher education resurfaced. But for a family of six living in a one-bedroom home in Fort Worth, sending two kids to college at the same time felt impossible. It took a dedicated high school art teacher, a Texas Tech professor willing to make a case for two exceptional students and a merit scholarship to make it happen. Today, Ruby and Alex are first-generation college students earning bachelor’s degrees in Jewelry Design & Metalsmithing, side by side at their workbenches in the 3D Art Annex, just as they’ve always done everything: together. Their story is a testament to what becomes possible when philanthropy removes barriers and opens doors for students who have the talent, the grit and the drive to make the most of every opportunity. That’s the kind of impact that goes ON&ON.

When Jerry S. Rawls made his transformational gift to Texas Tech’s business college in 2000, he had one directive: pursue excellence and never stop improving. Twenty-five years later, the evidence of that vision is everywhere — in the thousands of students who have earned scholarships, in the world-renowned faculty who call the Rawls College home, in the state-of-the-art building that now anchors the north side of campus and in the culture of generosity his gift ignited in others. Alumni like Kevin Hunstable and Terry Lyons, whose own lives were shaped by their time at the Rawls College, have stepped forward to invest in the next generation — proof that one transformational act of philanthropy can go ON&ON.

John Brownlee’s career in commercial real estate began in the most unlikely of places — a rental car stuck in Dallas traffic — and it was built on the same grit and determination he first discovered as a Red Raider. Thirty years later, he and Rachel are channeling that same drive into something they believe in just as deeply: the next generation of Texas Tech students. Since reconnecting with the university in 2021, the Brownlees have invested not just their resources but their time, energy and relationships into building the Center for Real Estate into a program of national consequence. Their significant gift to the center will fund scholarships, internships, faculty support and industry engagement for the nearly 300 students enrolled in the program. In recognition of their generosity and the countless hours they’ve spent building something larger than themselves, Texas Tech has renamed the center the John and Rachel Brownlee Center for Real Estate. For the Brownlees, it’s the natural culmination of a simple conviction: if you can change the trajectory of one student’s life, why stop there? That impact will go ON&ON.

Dennis and Aubrey Moore have built a remarkable partnership in both life and their careers as financial planners. The roots of their success can be traced back to Texas Tech’s School of Financial Planning, where the couple developed the skills and shared commitment to greatness necessary to propel them to industry leaders. Those same shared principles never left them and continue to be reflected in the couple’s devotion to the university that launched their careers, inspiring future generations of Red Raiders through their mentorship and philanthropic giving.

When Jerry S. Rawls pledged a record-breaking gift of $25 million to the business college in 2000, it was a testament to his belief in what Texas Tech could become. That belief has proven to be well-founded. Twenty-five years later, university leaders, faculty, staff, students and members of the Rawls family reflect on a legacy that has grown into exactly what Rawls envisioned — a hallmark of excellence that consistently earns national recognition and produces some of the most sought-after graduates in today’s workforce.

Danielle Alexandra and Rick Clemmer have spent decades building startups and nonprofits driven by a single conviction: that entrepreneurship, done right, can change the world. Now, through their generous support of the Danielle Alexandra and Richard L. Clemmer Institute for Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise at Texas Tech, they are putting that conviction to work for the next generation. The institute equips students with the knowledge, tools and entrepreneurial thinking to launch ventures that address real global challenges — from AI-powered communication devices for people with disabilities to hyperlocal weather intelligence networks. Through programs like the Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and the inaugural Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, Texas Tech students are discovering they don’t have to choose between building a successful business and making a meaningful difference. Thanks to this philanthropic vision, the impact being shaped in Lubbock today will go ON&ON.

Thirty years after earning their degrees from Texas Tech, John and Rachel Brownlee are giving back in a way that will open doors for the next generation of Red Raiders. Their significant gift to the Center for Real Estate in the Jerry S. Rawls College will fund scholarships, internships, conference travel and faculty support for the nearly 300 students enrolled in the center’s commercial real estate program. In recognition of their generosity and commitment, the center will be renamed the John and Rachel Brownlee Center for Real Estate — a lasting testament to what it means to invest in students you may never meet but whose careers will go ON&ON.

Sara Martinez, a 21-year-old Texas Tech student, has overcome three cancer diagnoses and multiple surgeries since age 5, all linked to neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Inspired by the pediatric oncology psychologist who supported her through treatment, Sara is now a psychology major with plans to pursue a career helping children navigate their own cancer journeys. Her dream of becoming a pediatric oncology psychologist has been made possible by the Gres Family Endowed Scholarship, which covers her full cost of attendance, enabling her to focus on her studies and her goal of returning to work at the hospital where her battle began. The Gres family’s investment in one student will multiply exponentially through every child Sara counsels, every family she guides and every young patient she teaches to advocate for themselves — demonstrating how a single scholarship transforms not just one life, but countless lives for generations to come and how its impact can go on and on.

Nearly 1,500 donors from 36 states contributed over $575,000 during the 2025 Day of Giving, making it the most successful event to date and surpassing the 2023 record by $145,000. The fundraising supported 157 funds across campus, with contributions ranging from tutoring supplies and professional attire to research support and emergency assistance that directly benefited students and the community. The true impact extended beyond the numbers, as donations enabled students to access food pantries, provided riderships for therapy services at the Therapeutic Riding Center, and opened the doors to free veterinary care through the CARES Program across West Texas, among many other opportunities.

When Anthonia Prince’s tuition bill skyrocketed after losing her research assistantship, a simple question from a food pantry staff member—“Do you need additional assistance?”—opened her eyes to a network of resources that transformed her crisis into opportunity. The Raider Relief—Advocacy and Resource Center has grown exponentially since its founding nearly 20 years ago, evolving from a small emergency fund that helped 12 students into a comprehensive hub serving hundreds through programs like Raider Red’s Food Pantry, the Raider Relief Fund and Fostering the Future. By centralizing these resources in one location, RR-ARC staff can have organic conversations with students, quickly connecting them to the exact support they need—whether it’s emergency funding, nutritious meals or a supportive community for students in foster care. Staff at the RR-ARC strive to ensure that when students muster the courage to ask for help, the answer is always yes—but growing demand means donor support is critical to keeping these life-changing programs accessible to every Red Raider in need.

When Cydnee Massey opened a box from Texas Tech, still in her golf uniform after a tournament, she found her acceptance letter into the Thoma Scholars Program—a moment that brought tears of joy and lifted the weight of financial uncertainty from her shoulders. Miles away, Wes Shaw received similar life-changing news in his high school parking lot, where his father stood with tear-rimmed eyes holding the open box that would transform his family’s future. The Thoma Scholars Program, established in 2023 by Carl and Marilynn Thoma, offers up to $80,000 per student over four years to welcome rural students into the Red Raider family, covering everything from tuition to study abroad experiences and empowering them to pursue their dreams without financial barriers. Now, these scholars are becoming the resilient leaders Texas Tech envisioned. As the inaugural cohort of 14 scholars grows to 36 in the 2025-2026 academic year, Massey, Shaw and their peers are setting the foundation for future generations, proving that small towns don’t equal small potential and inspiring the next wave of rural leaders ready to transform their communities.

Army veteran Robert Mason discovered his passion for plant and soil science through Texas Tech University’s online program, which allowed him to earn his degree while working as a defense contractor and single father. When Mason exhausted his GI Bill benefits during his final year, Texas Tech faculty and staff worked tirelessly to secure scholarships that enabled him to complete his degree, underscoring the university’s commitment to removing financial barriers to world-class education. His experience was so transformative that he established the Veterans Helping Veterans Scholarship to ensure other service members could access the same life-changing opportunities. Today, his scholarship supports veterans like James Awtrey, a 24-year Air Force veteran who found healing through plants during cancer treatment and is now pursuing his master’s degree at Texas Tech. Mason’s vision extends beyond his own contribution — he’s inviting fellow veterans to join him in growing the fund so that together, they can transform more lives and help service members become the resilient leaders our communities need, ensuring the impact of this scholarship goes on and on.

When Isabella Falcon Gonzalez pulls a broken piece of metal from her pencil bag – a treasured souvenir from her engineering lab – her eyes light up as she explains how materials are pushed to their breaking point under pressure. Like the metal she studies, this Texas Tech engineering student knows what it’s like to work under extreme stress, balancing over 20 hours of work per week with a full course load while funding her own education. Her story took a dramatic turn when she received a life-changing call about a new scholarship specifically designed for working students like her, leading to tears of joy when she discovered the $7,500 award that would transform her college experience. The S&B Engineers and Constructors Scholarship didn’t just ease her financial burden; it validated her path as a working student and gave her the freedom to discover her true potential in ways she never imagined possible.

The 2025 Texas Tech Day of Giving raised over $575,000 from nearly 1,500 donors, making it the most successful event to date, surpassing the previous year's record by $145,000. The contributions, including donations from first-time and sustained donors, supported over 157 funds across various university programs and are part of the ongoing ON&ON campaign to enhance Texas Tech’s mission of academic excellence and community service.

From trumpet soloist at Texas Tech's Centennial Halftime Show to dedicated mentor, Edward Dylan Torres’ musical journey flourished thanks to crucial scholarship support. Among others, the Goin’ Band Association scholarships transformed his educational experience, allowing him to focus on his passion instead of financial barriers while balancing rehearsals, performances and late-night work shifts.

Without these scholarships, Torres – like many talented students – might never have experienced the thrill of being the sole sound in a silent stadium or developed into the leader who now guides younger musicians. As the Goin’ Band celebrates its centennial, the association is working toward providing scholarship support for every member, creating opportunities for future musicians to follow their dreams just as Torres has been able to do.

The TECHniques Center of Texas Tech University provides crucial academic support to students with learning disabilities, ADHD and autism spectrum disorders, achieving an impressive 97-100% retention rate compared to the typical 30-60% without support. The center pairs students with dedicated peer tutors for personalized one-on-one sessions and offers specialized tools to accommodate different learning styles, creating a vibrant community where students thrive.

During the 2025 Texas Tech Day of Giving, the center highlighted the TECHniques Center Fund for Excellence, which serves as the center's foundational support. By supporting this fund, donors were investing in future innovators and entrepreneurs who simply need the right resources to succeed.

Jim and John White, who dedicated a combined 91 years of service to Huckabee College, were known for their mentorship and ability to nurture each student's unique talents. Their teaching careers were marked with humility and teamwork and many alumni of the program credit the professors with shaping their careers and personal growth. The White brothers' dedication to students extended beyond the classroom, making them revered advisers.

In honor of this legacy, alumni have established the James E. White, AIA and John P. White, AIA Graduate Fellowship named after the beloved professors. This fellowship ensures the White brothers’ legacy will continue to inspire and support future architects and that their contributions will be remembered and celebrated.

In 2020, Scott and Amy Dadich set up a scholarship endowment in design communication at Texas Tech with the intention of providing support for students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue a degree in graphic design.

This fall, they met some of the students who received that scholarship. Alessandra Rios and Dawn Franklin share about the impact the Dadiches have had on their time at Texas Tech.

Mike Portnoy and Vicki Cooper have made a lasting impact at Texas Tech University by donating a remarkable collection of minerals and fossils to the new Academic Sciences Building, alongside funding scholarships for aspiring geoscientists.

The couple’s commitment to philanthropy is rooted in the support they received from Texas Tech and their belief in the transformative power of education, having experienced it firsthand. Their gifts are a reflection of their desire to leave a legacy that impacts future generations, providing the same opportunities that helped them achieve their own success.

This groundbreaking scholarship will provide higher education opportunities for rural students from the Oklahoma Panhandle, the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico who have shown exceptional academic and leadership accomplishments. The dual goals of the program are four-year college completion and leadership success.

Recipients of the Thoma Scholarship will receive a significant financial award designed to substantially mitigate student debt incurred while pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, room and board, books, an international study abroad experience and other education-related expenses.

The Strickling Senior Leaders program will provide a $1,000 scholarship to every senior in the College of Education. With roughly 277 seniors graduating from the college each year, this gift will have the largest scholarship impact made by an individual on an annual basis in Texas Tech history.

Do not be deceived, though. This has not been handed to her. In her two years on campus, Hernandez has punctuated her life story with generous portions of resiliency and relentlessness, working to neutralize the challenges of a dyslexia diagnosis while also helping her parents care for siblings on the autism spectrum, balancing the demands of work and school and still, somehow, finding time to participate in campus organizations.

Like many students facing rising higher education costs, Montgomery knew scholarships were her only chance of attending a four-year university. While crunching numbers and comparing schools, she found Texas Tech University and hasn’t looked back.

Texas Tech University’s Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management & Manufacturing has received $1.25 million from Google.org to tackle a critical challenge facing the future of AI: managing massive data center energy demands while maintaining grid stability and integrating renewable power sources. The research team will leverage GLEAMM’s world-class infrastructure, Texas Tech’s real-world microgrid and the region’s diverse renewable energy sources to explore how AI workloads consuming 10-100 megawatts per facility can be intelligently scheduled and geographically shifted to support grid flexibility. This groundbreaking work positions Texas Tech at the forefront of innovation, developing solutions that will ensure reliable, affordable power while advancing technology infrastructure across Texas and beyond.

Jan and Raymond Patschke are applying the same strategic business principles that led to their business success – including their Yellow Pages agency, Fox Advertising – to build a meaningful philanthropic legacy at Texas Tech. After achieving entrepreneurial success in various industries, from jewelry to real estate, this couple asked themselves a profound question: “What can we do to make a difference?” They found their answer in helping develop young people through education. Their thoughtful approach to giving – beginning with small current-use gifts, joining the advisory council and forming deep relationships with faculty – culminated in an $8 million planned gift that will establish Texas Tech’s first deanship, while supporting scholarships and strategic priorities for future generations. The Patschkes’ “exit plan” isn’t just about leaving money behind; it’s about creating a lasting infrastructure that will attract top talent and transform lives long after they’re gone.

After finding his calling in Texas Tech's construction engineering technology program, John Bick's career soared from humble customer service representative to industry titan, masterfully building Priority Power into a billion-dollar energy management powerhouse. Equipped with leadership skills and innovative thinking from his education, Bick navigated industry challenges to help create one of the largest independent providers of energy management services in the U.S. In February 2025, John made a visionary $5 million gift to resurrect the very program that launched his success, exemplifying how education, foresight and a builder's mindset can construct not just buildings and businesses but also profound legacies that will shape future generations of engineers.

With a gift of $5 million, John and Paige Bick have brought new life to a once-dormant program in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering – the Construction Engineering Technology (CET) program. To honor their generosity, the program, which is in the approval process, will be named the John & Paige Bick Construction Engineering Technology Program.

The Bicks’ gift will provide comprehensive support for the Bick CET Program by funding scholarships, lab renovations, equipment maintenance and replacement, faculty and instructor support and other program needs in the Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction Engineering. The Bick CET Program will complement the Construction Engineering program in the same department, providing a hands-on, practical option for students seeking a pathway to the industry.

Murray Randle has spent the last four decades transforming the 7R Ranch from an overgrazed, eroded landscape into a thriving model of conservation. When he began considering the ranch’s future, Randle sought to ensure it remained a conservation resource rather than be developed, ultimately choosing Texas Tech University because of their shared commitment to preserving the land.

Now, with a first-of-its-kind estate property gift to Texas Tech and the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, the 7R Ranch will serve as a living laboratory for faculty and students, providing opportunities for research in wildlife management, water conservation, and ranching practices. Randle’s generous gift ensures the ranch’s legacy will continue, serving as a center for education, research, and outreach in conservation and agriculture for generations to come.

Through nearly three decades of partnership between the entities and legacy companies, the full impact of BASF’s contributions to the university to date is nearly $57 million, when including matching funds. This collaboration has supported groundbreaking research in crop genetics, precision agriculture, and natural fiber research.

Beyond the laboratory, the public-private partnership has fostered generations of relationships between the two entities – providing valuable, real-world experience for Texas Tech students and cultivating novel, innovative research projects for BASF.

“Texas Tech’s College of Education is uniquely situated geographically to serve the educational needs of West Texas,” said Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Client Management at Bank of America Kelly Garlock. “When you couple that with their commitment to rural education, it became clear the College of Education was the perfect place to house the Prentice Farrar and Alline Ford Brown Foundation Chair of Rural Education. We are delighted to have the opportunity to further our mission in this unique way and to support innovations we are confident will become a model of rural education.”

He was a leading figure in the fight for civil rights, defended Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. in court, helped plan the Montgomery bus boycott, was a legal counselor in Browder v. Gayle and made a career fighting injustice.

In November 2023, Mark and Becky Lanier made sure Gray’s legacy would long live in the hearts, minds and educations of students at Texas Tech University’s School of Law.

Their generosity established the Fred Gray Endowed Chair for Civil Rights and Constitutional Law with the hope that the law school would find a person to fill the chair who exemplified two of Gray’s most admirable characteristics – a strong moral sense of right and wrong, and a strong work ethic.

One of these is tucked into the north side of campus, nestled behind trees and recognizable by sculptures and outdoor kilns. It’s the School of Art’s 3D Annex, which houses jewelry, ceramic and sculpture programs.

For jewelry makers, the annex boasts a state-of-the-art space that’s the thing of dreams. One of the finest facilities in the Southwest, students from around the country are drawn to Texas Tech because of the studio and faculty.

For 1,923 minutes, honoring the year Texas Tech was founded, Red Raiders across the country will come together on March 24-25 to fuel the university’s future. With more than 100 funds to choose from, every gift of any size makes a donor part of ON&ON: The Campaign for Texas Tech University and a champion for the students, programs and communities that make Texas Tech extraordinary.

Texas Tech’s new crowdfunding platform, Onward, harnesses the power of collective giving by connecting donors directly with students, faculty and campus projects that need their support. The inaugural cohort features five diverse campaigns running through Giving Tuesday, December 2. When Red Raiders pool their resources, even small gifts gain momentum and create broader change across campus and throughout the Lubbock community, achieving results that individual donors couldn’t accomplish alone. Onward empowers the Texas Tech community to discover causes that inspire them, watch their contributions create real-time impact and join fellow Red Raiders in turning big ideas into lasting change.

“Bill Brookshire, the founder of the William A. Brookshire Foundation, was committed to helping students who help themselves, work hard and simply need extra assistance to be successful,” said Dean Quinn, a Texas Tech alumnus and member of the foundation’s board of directors. “Dr. Brookshire worked all the way through school including while earning his Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Working students and military veterans were passions of his. The Brookshire Foundation is excited to partner with Texas Tech to help future engineers succeed and provide assistance to those students who have served our country.”

“What do you do when a doctor tells you your child is autistic?” Jim asked. “Believe me, back then it was a big black hole. We paid people, we brought in experts, and we learned one piece at a time, but not everyone can afford to do that.”

While they met this challenge head on, they did not want others to have to do the same. Their original thought was to create a place with two purposes: an educational center where teachers could learn classroom approaches to educate students with autism and a location where parents could access all recourses available about how to care for children with autism.

Through his music, poetry, and radio and television shows, Steagall has captured the spirit of Western and cowboy culture. In addition to his popular Texas swing dance music and poems about life on a ranch, his collection includes more than 30 years of his popular syndicated radio show, “Cowboy Corner,” and more than 20 years of his RFD-TV shows, “In the Bunkhouse with Red Steagall” and “Red Steagall is Somewhere West of Wall Street.”

Tracy Sellers knows firsthand what it means to compete as a Red Raider. A former Texas Tech softball student-athlete, she and her husband, John, have channeled that experience into a deep commitment to giving the next generation of Red Raiders every opportunity to succeed. Their philanthropic support has helped elevate the softball program to the national stage and fund significant facility upgrades. In recognition of their generosity, Texas Tech has renamed its softball facility Tracy Sellers Field, a lasting tribute to two alumni whose belief in the power of Texas Tech athletics goes ON&ON.

When Jurrien Loftin visited Texas Tech as a high school recruit, he sat in on an economics class taught by Dr. Rashid Al-Hmoud—a pivotal moment that led him to become a Red Raider and set him on an extraordinary path. The Presidential Merit Scholarship and Department of Economics Chair Scholarship transformed his life by eliminating financial barriers, allowing him to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in just three years and now pursue his Ph.D. in sports economics while competing as a Division I football player. Between early morning practices, film sessions, doctoral coursework, teaching assistant duties and groundbreaking research on NIL and the transfer portal, Loftin embodies the fierce determination and grit that define Red Raider student-athletes. With support from faculty mentors, athletics advisors and Head Coach Joey McGuire—who affectionately calls him “Dr. Loftin”—he’s become a leader both on and off the field, mentoring young linemen while proving that with the right support, promising minds can reach incredible heights.

1,168 rushing yards.

That’s how many more rushing yards Brooks needs to set the career record at TTU. With 3,052 yards, he has his eyes on taking the title from Red Raider legend Byron Hanspard (1994-96).

But even with the opportunity to make history on the line, Brooks is thinking about how he can serve his team this year.

In recognition of the gift, Texas Tech will name its soon-to-be-completed walkthrough area in the Womble Football Center in his name. The three-time Super Bowl champion will also be recognized by being the namesake for Texas Tech's quarterback meeting room and the offensive coordinator's office in the new South End Zone Building to Jones AT&T Stadium.

“When we first launched this campaign, Patrick was only a freshman and now it is fitting that we approach the end of the campaign with a gift of his own,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. “We couldn't be prouder to announce this gift from Patrick and Brittany Mahomes. We are so proud of Patrick for all he has accomplished and how he has continually supported Texas Tech on a global scale.”

“My wife is living in Alabama right now. For us to be able to be able to fly and see each other, it gets expensive. So, putting funds away to be able to see each other and, kind of take the weight off my shoulders for sure—trying to fill that husband role…,” said Rodriguez.

The charter members include longtime supporters Dustin R. Womble, Cody C. Campbell, James E. Sowell, Edward E. Whitacre Jr and Gary R. Petersen as well as two corporations in United Supermarkets and AT&T. In honor of their lifetime of contributions, they will be recognized on the Founders Society wall, which will be located at the main entrance to the concourse of the new South End Zone Building to Jones AT&T Stadium.

Standing 6’3” and decked out in all black Texas Tech gear, she might appear intimidating if it was not for the beaming smile stretched across her face.

“Sorry I’m a little late. I’m having some car issues, so my friend had to pick me up,” Tofaeono said with a laugh – seeming unphased by her hectic morning.