Philanthropist Harvey Najim has committed a new $5 million donation to the University of Texas at San Antonio to establish the Harvey Najim Bold Promise Scholarship, an initiative created to help undergraduates offset essential non-tuition costs such as housing, meals, transportation, and course materials. The university announced the major gift this week, highlighting it as a critical step forward in addressing the comprehensive financial needs of low- and middle-income scholars.
Under the framework established for the endowment, the $5 million gift will be distributed in annual increments of $500,000 across the next decade. These dedicated funds are designed to directly complement UTSA's existing tuition assistance programs by supporting students who are already participating in the university's flagship Bold Promise initiative.
The Bold Promise program serves as UTSA's core tuition-guarantee pathway, covering 100 percent of tuition and mandatory institutional fees for four full academic years for qualifying students. While the promise of fully covered tuition eliminates one of higher education's largest financial hurdles, university officials noted that secondary living costs often remain a major obstacle to degree completion.
By assisting students with basic living expenses—including residential rent, groceries, transportation costs, and required textbooks—the new scholarship aims to alleviate intense economic pressures. University administrators emphasized that this additional layer of financial aid will enable recipients to concentrate fully on their studies rather than having to juggle multiple outside jobs simply to survive.
Najim highlighted the transformative role of higher education when discussing his decision to fund the new scholarship program. He noted that education has the capacity to fundamentally alter individual lives while concurrently strengthening broader communities.
"Education changes lives and strengthens communities," Najim stated. "I have seen firsthand the determination and potential of the UT San Antonio students, and I believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed."
UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy commended Najim's continued dedication to the university community, expressing gratitude for his ongoing philanthropic support. Eighmy observed that the substantial contribution underscores how deeply Najim believes in the potential of the university's student body and the life-changing power of higher learning.
"This generous commitment builds upon the countless opportunities Harvey has already created for young scholars at our university and across our region to build strong foundations for their future," Eighmy said in response to the announcement.
The newly established scholarship is specifically structured for Bold Promise students enrolled at UTSA or the UT San Antonio Health Science Center. The program also extends to community college students from the Alamo Colleges District who transfer into the university through the AlamoPROMISE to Bold Promise pipeline.
To qualify for funding through the Najim scholarship, applicants must satisfy specific regional residency requirements. Recipients must reside within Bexar County or one of seven adjacent surrounding counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, or Wilson.
To gain eligibility for the foundational Bold Promise program itself, students must maintain Texas residency, come from families with an annual household income of up to $100,000, and satisfy the university's academic standards for first-year freshmen or incoming transfer students.
The Bold Promise initiative has experienced considerable growth since it was originally launched in December 2019. When the program was first established, it was restricted to first-time freshmen who graduated in the top 25% of their high school classes and had an annual family income cap of $50,500, though it was subsequently broadened to encompass eligible transfer students.
A pivotal milestone occurred in 2024, when the University of Texas System raised the family income ceiling across all nine of its academic campuses to $100,000. That administrative expansion made a tuition-free college education attainable for an estimated 7 million additional Texas families.
To date, the Bold Promise initiative has supported more than 5,000 students pursuing their degrees at UT San Antonio, providing a vital debt-free tuition pathway for scholars across the state.
The recent $5 million gift brings Najim’s cumulative lifetime contributions to UT San Antonio to more than $25 million. This extensive history of giving cements his position as one of the institution's most influential benefactors, with his support touching a wide variety of student programs and campus initiatives.
Najim’s philanthropic endeavors have frequently targeted the basic physiological needs and food security of the student population. Last year, he contributed $1.25 million to UTSA and the San Antonio Food Bank, providing $125,000 annually over a 10-year period to support on-campus food pantries located at both the Loop 1604 and downtown campuses.
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