ENDOWMENTS: Adding Your Legacy to Ours

The excellence of St. Michael’s experience is made possible by the vision and commitment of generous parents, alumni, past parents, and friends. Guided by our mission, your gift will impact every student, every day, giving students a strong foundation and inspiration to transform our communities and our world.
A thriving endowment program is essential to the future of St. Michael’s. An Endowment consists of funds given to the school that are invested in perpetuity. Endowed funds may be unrestricted, providing a resource that can be used to meet current school priorities and exciting new opportunities as they arise, or can be designated for specific purposes, including scholarships for students. Your gift to the endowment will ensure that the St. Michael’s educational experience is available for generations to come.

Endowments are:
  • charitable funds that offer a source of stability for institutions; 
    critical to the financial health of schools;
  • essential to support institutions as they work to offer high-quality, affordable, accessible education;
  • not a single fund, but a compilation of funds given by many donors over time for specific purposes.
At present, St. Michael's has over 13 named endowments that you can read about below. Many of these named endowments are rich in history and date back to the founding of the school in 1984.

Current Endowments + Criteria

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  • Al Ramos Endowment

    This grant, which was created anonymously in 2005 in the name of Al Ramos, an alumni parent of Scott '96 and Jacob '01, will be awarded to an applicant of Hispanic heritage who has maintained a solid B or higher average in junior high.
  • Beverly Nash Bell Endowment

    This grant was created in 1997 in memory of Beverly Nash Bell.  In an effort to keep her memory, this grant will be awarded to an applicant who would not be able to attend St. Michael's without financial support. This student is academically-motivated and has a strong desire to take advantage of the dynamic curriculum St. Michael's offers.
  • Bishop John McCarthy Endowed Scholarship

    The Bishop John McCarthy Endowed Scholarship Fund was created for young adults who emulate and share the values of Bishop McCarthy in his service and devotion to the poor as well as those who suffer due to poverty.  Bishop McCarthy loved the Catholic Church and stood by the side of the Church throughout his life.  He was an incredible intellectual, scholar, leader and thinker.  It is the hope of Dr. William J. and Mrs. Rhonda G. Paver that the fund will grow in future years and be awarded to students who exemplify these traits as young men and women.
  • Brendan P. Mooney Endowed Scholarship

    This grant was established in 2002 in memory of St. Michael's Class of 1999 alum, Brendan P. Mooney, who passed away unexpectedly as a college student.  Started by his parents, Mary and Tom Mooney, the grant celebrates his life, and will be awarded to an applicant who has maintained a B or C average who would like to expand their knowledge and perfect study skills during his/her St. Michael's high school career.  The award will be given to a child from a St. Michael's partner school, who also hails from a large family.
  • Deacon Crain Endowment

    This endowment was created in memory of William H. "Deacon" Crain in January of 1985. This grant will be awarded each year to an academically qualified student who is also able to demonstrate financial need.
  • Dehan Endowment

    Established in 1998, the Dehan Endowment is awarded to a student who exemplifies the St. Michael's mission and appreciates the opportunities for leadership, service and decision-making that is consistent with Catholic values. The Dehan Endowment helps to supplement ongoing support for programs at St. Michael's that make a difference in the educational experience through usage of the school's support services such as the Learning Center, the Writing Center, and the College Counseling office.
  • Father Vincent Lopez Endowment

    This endowment was created in 1992 in honor of Father Vincent Lopez, the former head of school at St. Michael's.  This grant will be awarded each year to an academically qualified student who is also able to demonstrate financial need.
  • Kairos Endowment

    Since 2011, this grant has been awarded each year to the Theology Department to offset costs associated with the Kairos retreats for St. Michael's students.
  • Klepac Endowment

    This grant was established in 1997 in memory of Jim Klepac, a close friend of Corky Cave, a St. Michael's supporter.  Both men valued Catholic education in Austin and so Corky generously started this endowment in Jim's memory at St. Michael's.  The grant will be awarded to an applicant who has maintained a solid B average in junior high.
  • Leroy and Lola Bednar Endowment

    Established in 1994, this grant was created by Lola Bednar and will be awarded to an applicant who would not be able to attend St. Michael's without financial support.  This student is academically-motivated and has a strong desire to take advantage of the dynamic curriculum St. Michael's offers.
  • Marist Endowment

    This endowment was created in honor of the Society of Mary (S.M.) or Marist order of Catholic priests in 1997. The St. Michael's president and principal, now The Most Reverend Joel M. Konzen, S.M., Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, departed the same year the grant was established.  This grant will be awarded each year to an academically qualified student who is also able to demonstrate financial need.
  • Msgr. Richard E. McCabe Endowment

    This endowment was created in memory of Msgr. Richard E. McCabe, who was one of the founders of St. Michael's.  He worked tirelessly throughout his life for Catholic causes and held a special place in his heart for St. Michael's, the first Catholic high school in Austin.  This grant is awarded each year to an academically qualified student who is also able to demonstrate financial need.
  • Seton Healthcare Family Endowment

    Created in 1995 by Seton Healthcare Family, this grant will be awarded to a minority applicant who has a specified interest in pursuing studies in the medical field.  This desire will be identified through the answer to a prompt for an application essay as well as a solid B or higher average in science in junior high.
  • Talbot Family Faculty Endowment

    The Talbot Family Faculty Endowment aims to support St. Michael’s outstanding faculty by providing an annual grant for professional development. It is the faculty's passion, hard work, and authentic interactions that help the students at St. Michael's succeed. As such, it is vital for faculty to have the opportunity to continue their education in order to uphold the reputation for academic excellence that St. Michael's was built upon. The hope that the endowment will grow in order to both support current faculty and attract outstanding educators to our school.
  • The Figer Distinguished Teaching Award

    Generously started in 2017, Donald and Pamela Figer donated the seed money for the annual St. Michael's Excellence in Teaching Award. This grant is awarded to a St. Michael's faculty member who has had a direct and positive impact on a number of St. Michael's students during the school year. The current St. Michael's community (families, students, and faculty/staff) vote for the winner in the spring of the current school year. The award is presented at the graduation ceremony of the same year it is voted upon.

Questions About Endowments?

Contact Leah Esparza 
Director of Advancement
(512) 328-7643
lesparza@smca.com

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