On May 2, the Texas A&M University-San Antonio community gathered to celebrate a $100,000 gift from Frost Bank to support A&M-San Antonio Athletics. An official check presentation was held in the Auditorium to recognize the gift, which will go toward the “Building Champions” capital campaign to support a recreation center on campus.

The event included speakers Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio; Candace Wolfshohl, group executive vice president of Culture and People Development at Frost and a graduate of Texas A&M University; Darnell Smith, Texas A&M University–San Antonio athletics director; and current A&M-San Antonio student-athletes.

“This gift signals an investment in the South Side. It is the largest gift from Frost to date and we are thrilled to share this moment with them,” said Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio. “The recreation center will facilitate immediate growth in our athletics and contribute to the lifelong pursuit of healthy living for our students.”  

Both grants will support the construction and equipping of the future recreation center on the A&M-San Antonio campus, which is projected to open in fall of 2023. The facility will be designed to enhance and increase sports performance as well as the holistic wellness of students.

“Health and wellness and building a recreation center as a safe place for students to go and live healthy lifestyles and help each other from a physical and mental perspective is an amazing goal that the University will be achieving very soon,” Wolfshohl said. “A&M-San Antonio and Frost Bank work hard everyday to make our communities better places to live and work.”

Student Body President Jacob Goldstein and student-athletes Vanessa Garces, a member of the softball team; Javier Jazo, a member of the golf team; Joe Kamuntu, a member of the men’s soccer team; and Aleah Montes, a member of the women’s soccer team; spoke during the event.

Jazo, who is graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration this spring and is from Freeport, Illionios, said, “This gift will be greatly used by our Athletics Department and help grow our collegiate athletics on the South Side of San Antonio. Frost has been a champion in serving the community and we appreciate their continued support. The recreation center will elevate student engagement, bolster school spirit, and will help A&M-San Antonio become an elite-level program.”

“This facility will give our athletes a better opportunity to represent A&M-San Antonio at the highest levels of competition,” said Vanesa Garces, a senior originally from Edinburg, Texas, who will graduate with a bachelor’s in science this spring. “This reaeration center will not only help student-athletes prioritize their physical health but their mental health as well. It also provides a space for coaches and staff to focus on creating a plan to help bring success to their programs.”

The first of the two grants is a $75,000 gift from the Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust, Frost Bank, Trustee, to be paid in $15,000 annual installments from 2021-2025. The second grant is from the Frost Bank Charitable Foundation and will be paid in $5,000 installments starting in 2022 and ending in 2026.

“It is amazing to be a part of this history-making moment,” said Smith. “Great things are happening, and great things are on the horizon, and this partnership is reflective of the amazing support from the community and Frost Bank.”