The Thrive Scholarship Program is the ACE Scholarship reimagined.

Funded in partnership between Amarillo ISD, Amarillo College, the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation and the Amarillo Area Foundation, Thrive will eventually replace ACE as a scholarship opportunity available to AISD graduates.

What is Thrive?

Thrive is a scholarship open to students of any AISD high school. Previously, ACE was available only at certain campuses.

Thrive covers tuition, fees and book expenses for up to 60 credit hours at Amarillo College for eligible students. Once they graduate from AISD, Thrive scholars must enroll in AC for the upcoming semester and have up to three years to earn their 60 hours.

Thrive is a “last money in” scholarship, so students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year and apply for financial aid and scholarships.

Thrive is a scholarship, so it must be earned.

Enrollment Requirements

• Students must reside in Amarillo ISD and be enrolled full time (on or before the last day of school their 9th-grade year) and graduate from an AISD high school
• Or students may reside within the northernmost 26 county area of the Panhandle and transfer (on or before the last day of school of their 9th-grade year) into, attend and graduate from an AISD high school
• Or students can move from outside the 26 county area, transfer into, attend full time, and graduate from an AISD high school (at any time);
• Or students can transfer into, attend full time, and graduate from an AISD high school (at any time) due to a parent accepting a job related to an active AEDC Location Incentive
• Students must maintain continuous enrollment through graduation from an AISD high school once eligible enrollment in AISD is established
• Students attending Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL) who are still enrolled in and graduate from a district high school are eligible to be a Thrive scholar if all other qualifying requirements are met

Academic, Attendance and Other Requirements

• Students must earn a final grade point average of 80 or higher on a 100-point scale if graduating in the Class of 2019 or 2020.
• Students must meet the State of Texas compulsory attendance requirements
• Students must not be expelled or placed in a mandatory long-term Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP)
• Students must be eligible to apply for federal financial aid

Amarillo College Requirements

• Students must apply for financial aid, admissions and scholarships at Amarillo College before the first class day. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application must be completed and renewed every year. Students must be eligible to apply for and receive federal financial aid.
• Students should maintain minimum requirements while in college. After a student's first semester on the Thrive Scholarship, eligibility for the scholarship will continue for subsequent semesters. A student must maintain good academic standing as defined by AC.

Learn more about transfer opportunities to AISD

There is no cost to transfer into Amarillo ISD from other school districts or from private schools, charter schools or home school. Transfer requests are currently being accepted for the upcoming school year.

Learn more about Thrive

Amarillo Area Foundation: Thrive Amarillo Scholarship
801 S. Fillmore, Suite 700
806-376-4521