In an important new collaboration with Terracon, a San Antonio-based engineering consulting firm, two A&M-San Antonio graduate students have received the Terracon Foundation Graduate STEM Scholarship. Terracon, through its foundation, provides grants that support scholarships in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“This is our first sponsored graduate scholarship. It’s really a milestone for Texas A&M University-San Antonio,” said Dr. Ting Liu, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. “It’s an industry partnership that will create more opportunities for our students down the road.”
The College of Graduate Studies and University Advancement worked together in securing sponsorship for the competitive STEM scholarship, which provides each student with $1,250 for both the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years.
“The scholarship has made a huge difference,” said student Ashlynn Smith, who is pursuing a master’s degree in biology at A&M-San Antonio.
The San Antonio native earned her undergraduate in biology at A&M-San Antonio as well and currently works as a teaching assistant for general biology labs. Scheduled to graduate next fall, Smith said she is considering a career in diagnostic research at a hospital or government facility.
Ahmad Elallaf, the other scholarship recipient, is originally from Egypt and relocated to Texas in January to pursue a master’s degree in computer science at A&M-San Antonio. He’s scheduled to graduate next fall.
“I researched a lot of universities, and A&M-San Antonio was the best fit,” he said. “I like that the campus is in a big city, and the University faculty and staff have been so helpful, especially at the Office of International Affairs.”
With an interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) research, Elallaf said he’s weighing his career options as well as considering pursuing a Ph.D.
As part of the scholarship presentation, Elallaf, Smith and about a dozen University representatives toured the Terracon facility.
“They showed us around and talked about the work they're doing in construction, environmental compliance, and geotechnical work,” said Liu. “It’s very interesting work, and the students got to meet engineers and other company leaders. We're building a relationship between industry and academia and preparing students to be workforce- ready.”
The Terracon Foundation, established in 2008, has awarded nearly $5 million in grants to community organizations, universities, scholarships for dependents of employees, and disaster relief efforts.
Chuck Gregory, a senior principal and vice president at Terracon Consultants Inc., served as a company champion for A&M-San Antonio, helping facilitate the scholarship application process.
“It’s a very competitive process, and we have to ensure certain criteria are met, and everyone’s priorities are aligned,” he said. “Hopefully, we’re helping create future Terracon employees. But if we can provide funding that will help someone have a better life, then that’s a real slam dunk.”