Welcome To
The Finis Welch Foundation

About The Finis Welch Foundation

The Finis Welch Foundation was established in 2012 to provide college scholarships to high achieving Texas students who can demonstrate financial need. The Foundation reflects Finis’ lifelong commitment to education.

Features

Scholars from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University gathered…

Welcome to the 2024-25 freshman class of Texas A&M University Welch Scholars…

A big congratulations goes out to our 2024 Welch Scholar graduates…

Welch Scholars at Texas A&M University celebrated the end of the 2023-24 academic…

Five local engineering companies were added to the Welch Scholar Job Shadow program…

The Finis Welch Foundation welcomes the inaugural University of Texas at Austin…

Welch Scholars now have an opportunity to participate in a job shadow program to…

Scholars were treated to a formal etiquette dinner in September at the University Club…

Roland Block, Associate Director with the Career Center at Texas A&M, presented at the…

Scholars from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University gathered in September for the annual Welch Scholar Fall Dinner. They were treated to a delicious meal while guest speakers shared more detail about The Foundation and strategies to prepare for the future.

The Finis Welch Foundation was featured in The Eagle Newspaper on Tuesday, August 22. In excerpts from the story, Executive Director and President Lara Anderson descries the benefactor and the work of the Foundation. “Our founder believed very strongly in education, about the importance and so he wanted to do something to be able to give back and to offer these scholarships to selected students.” Welch was a longtime labor economist and professor of economics who worked at Texas A&M from 1991 until 2003. On August 24, 2020, Welch died at the age of 82. Following his death, Anderson said he donated the vast majority of his estate to the Foundation, including a 10,000-acre ranch outside of Centerville. Anderson said they plan to keep expanding the program and that they have plans to start working with the University of Texas.

The Texas A&M Welch Scholar Orientation kickoff event was a huge success. The Foundation welcomed 16 new students to the freshman class and together with current scholars, they participated in a fun bonding day at the Texas A&M Challenge Works Course.

Welch Scholars now have an opportunity to participate in a job shadow program to enhance career skills. The purpose of the job shadow program is to give scholars real world exposure to different careers in an on-the-job working environment. A big thank you to the following local businesses that open their facilities and make their experts available to our students.

– Baylor Scott & White Health
– G-Con Manufacturing
– First Financial Trust
– Mark Symm
– Element Retirement & Investment Consultants
– Fundamental Wealth Advisors
– StataCorp
– University Dental Associates
– Rivers Family Dentistry

Scholars were treated to a formal etiquette dinner in September at the University Club in Rudder Tower. Professional etiquette coach, Randi Mays-Knapp, worked with students on how to be a confident conversationalist while showing up well at a business meal.

Aggie ring day is an important part of the Aggie tradition and the most anticipated milestone in an Aggie student’s career. Finis Welch Foundation Scholarship Program Director Lacey Junek recently participated in a Ring Day Ceremony and had the honor of placing the ring on current Welch Scholar Jasmine Fadhil.

Roland Block, Associate Director with the Career Center at Texas A&M, presented at the October Welch Scholar lunch and learn. The meeting focused on all things Career Fair and resume writing. Scholars walked away with many valuable tips that will be instrumental as they move through their college career and prepare for the next chapter of life.

The Finis Welch Foundation is thrilled to announce a new partnership with The University of Texas at Austin. In the fall of 2024, the Foundation will welcome its first class of Welch Scholars from UT Austin. The expansion of the program will roughly double the scholar count by adding a second top university to the existing program currently operating at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Over the past year, Finis Welch Foundation staff have worked closely with UT Austin staff to advance the vision of the Welch Scholar Program. As the new academic year approaches, the Foundation is thrilled to expand scholarship opportunities for high-achieving Texas students demonstrating financial need.

Even though our benefactor, Finis Welch, was not able to see the relationship with UT Austin develop, he would be pleased with the result. Finis consistently held The University of Texas at Austin in the highest regard, and he would be honored by the Foundation’s association with this esteemed institution.

Welch Scholars at Texas A&M University celebrated the end of the 2023-24 academic school year with fun at Big Shots Golf.

Five local engineering companies were added to the Welch Scholar Job Shadow program in the Spring of 2024. The job shadow program is designed to give Scholars real world exposure to different disciplines and apply what they have learned in the classroom to the industry setting. Thank you to the following partners that opened their facilities and gave of their valuable time and resources to our Scholars.

Bryan Texas Utilities
Empact Engineering
G-Con Manufacturing
Gessner Engineering
McCord Engineering

A big congratulations goes out to our 2024 Welch Scholar graduates from Texas A&M University.

The Finis Welch Foundation welcomes the inaugural University of Texas at Austin class of Welch Scholars. This group of 23 students quickly bonded during their August Orientation event and they are eager to set the president of what it means to be a Welch Scholar.

Welcome to the 2024-25 freshman class of Texas A&M University Welch Scholars. This class of 20 students enjoyed a great day bonding at the TAMU Challenge Works Course and then followed up with a lunch with all current A&M Welch Scholars.

Welcome To
The Finis Welch Foundation