Strive Program successful in first semester at Tech
February 08, 2023 | General, Academics
Funded by the Red Raider Club, Texas Tech awarded $786,950 to 285 student-athletes for the fall semester
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech awarded more than $750,000 in academic achievement awards to student-athletes across all 17 sports this fall, the athletics department announced Wednesday following its first semester utilizing the Strive Program.
In total, Texas Tech presented Strive Program funds to 285 eligible scholarship student-athletes, totaling approximately $786,950 in awards. All academic achievement awards are funded solely through gifts to the Red Raider Club Excellence Fund, which is expected to distribute up to $1.8 million in Strive funds to student-athletes this academic year alone.
"Gifts to the Red Raider Club are vital as we continue to lead the way in awarding our student-athletes with academic achievement awards," Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. "We were pleased with the success of the Strive Program in only its first semester and the impact it had on so many of our student-athletes. For us to move forward with our goal in providing the best athletic and academic experience in the country, gifts to the Red Raider Club and the tremendous donor support we have experienced will continue to be essential to our success as a department."
Texas Tech is permitted to provide student-athletes with an academic achievement award up to $5,980 per year or $2,990 per semester through the Strive Program, which sets the standard of requirements for all student-athletes. Each of Texas Tech's 13 combined teams averaged more than $2,600 in awards per student-athlete thanks to another strong semester in the classroom.
Texas Tech student-athletes combined for a 3.33 GPA during the fall semester, the second-highest term GPA in history as eight different sport programs boasted a team GPA of 3.25 or better. Off the field, Texas Tech's student-athletes committed more than 1,500 hours in the community this past semester through the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Department of Student-Athlete Development.
As part of the Strive Program, Texas Tech will provide $1,990 per semester to scholarship student-athletes who are academically eligible, on course to graduate on schedule and remain a member in good standing with his or her respective sports program at the end of the semester. The additional $1,000 will be earned based on GPA requirements and participation in student-athlete programing led by Talkington Department of Student-Athlete Development.
The Strive Program awards are a new $1.8 million expense item for the Red Raider Club, which funds the necessary resources for Texas Tech student-athletes to compete at the highest level, both in the classroom and in competition. Gifts to the Red Raider Club account for 25 percent of Texas Tech's annual budget all through philanthropic giving.
Red Raider Club contributions can be made on a monthly, quarterly or one-time basis by contacting the Red Raider Club office. For more information regarding the Red Raider Club, please visit www.RedRaiderClub.com or contact a staff representative at 806-742-1196.