Certain Purpose

Fall 2020 - When Augie Strauch first visited Baylor's campus as a high-school senior, he had a strong feeling it was where he belonged. "Baylor held a high academic standard and was the perfect size. It had the exact school culture I was looking for," he said. "I fell in love when I first came here and immediately felt welcomed into the family. Baylor makes students feel like they really matter, and I knew I wanted to go to a school that placed a large emphasis on caring for their students.

Having recently earned a BSEd in secondary social studies from Baylor, Augie is certain he made the right choice.

"I can truly say my education was deep and meaningful. My classes have prepared me to succeed in my major, and my professors have worked hard to prepare me to be a better professional in the working world."

GENEROUS HELP

During his years studying at Baylor, Augie has received financial support through the A. A. Torrance Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Oscar Reeves Education Scholarship Fund, the Todd and Amy Patterson Scholarship Fund and the Thomas P. and Gretchen C. Lynch Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Augie said that such generous assistance from other members of the Baylor Family has been essential to achieving his dream of earning a Baylor degree.

"My Baylor experience would be impossible without the scholarships that I received," he said. "If I had not received them, my family wouldn't have had the financial means to send me to Baylor."

The future teacher said the opportunity to be a Baylor student "truly was a gift," allowing him to get involved in a community of kind, genuine people who are seeking the best education possible. "Scholarships make a huge difference for many students. The scholarships I benefitted from enabled me to have a very rewarding college experience."

AN EDUCATOR'S HEART

Augie is determined to use his Baylor education to make a difference in the lives of others. It's an education, he said, that has been well rounded. "Baylor classes go beyond teaching content," he said. "In all my classes, I've felt like my professors have gone above the standard to ensure that all their students are prepared for life after graduation."

Having refined his teaching skills and learned from compassionate mentors, Augie intends to become the best educator he can be.

"I wanted to become a teacher because I am passionate about education and learning." And while he wants to teach high school for several years, he hopes to eventually step beyond secondary education into a more administrative role. He aspires to become either a professor, principal or superintendent so that he can impact education under a wider umbrella.

However, he said, "I will always be a teacher first. I've always loved that interaction of taking knowledge and passing it on to someone who's wanting to accept it."

OPENING DOORS

For information on how to create your own Baylor legacy and to make a Baylor education available to future students like Augie Strauch, call the Office of Gift Planning at (254) 710-2561 or send an email to [email protected] or [email protected].