The President’s Circle

Provided by funds from the President’s Circle, the addition of the new ultra-cold freezer in the Angelo State Natural History Collection is pivotal to its growth and stability. When the ASNHC collects specimens or accepts donations, we are committing to preserve those resources for as long as possible in order that they may be available to future researchers.

In the modern emphasis for genetic and genomic research, tissues collections are extremely valuable, as well as extremely space-efficient. The new ultra-cold chest freezer is able to house 32,000-39,000 new tissue samples. At a constant “ultra-cold” temperature of -80°C (-112°F), these tissues will be viable nearly indefinitely. At such temperatures, cells encapsulating DNA will be protected from the formation of water crystals in the tissue sample.

ASU’s Natural History Collection serves the student body through undergraduate and graduate research, provides samples for molecular analysis in biology department classes and teaching specimens for organismal classes, and employs student workers and volunteers while providing hands-on experience in technical biological skills. The collections are also widely used in national and international research pursuits.

The President’s Circle helps fund and facilitate Carr Signing Days both on campus and at local high schools. Carr Signing Days are the President’s Circle’s opportunity to celebrate future students who have just committed to becoming part of the Ram Family.

Robert G. Carr and his wife, Nona, bequeathed their interests in oil, gas and other minerals from producing properties in West Texas and made the Carr Foundation possible. The scholarships are funded by a $130 million endowment, one of the largest in the nation at a regional university. Members of the President’s Circle help foster and steward the Carr legacy.

Carr Signing Days are held in conjunction with the university’s “I Chose Angelo State” celebration to encourage local and area high school students to take a closer look at what ASU has to offer. The campaign officially kicks off every year when the San Angelo City Council approves the proclamation naming April “I Chose Angelo State Month.”

Cadets in Angelo State University’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 interested in becoming pilots are able to take advantage of the detachment’s state-of-the-art HotSeat Pilot Pro 4 flight simulator thanks to the generosity of the President’s Circle.

The $16,000 simulator provides an “in-the-cockpit” experience designed to immerse students in topographically and geographically correct display graphics, surround sound, cockpit displays with navigation instruments and communications radios, tutored missions, more than 150 aircraft simulations and various other gadgets.

For ASU cadets, the simulator will help them prepare for the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) and acquire a certain number of flight hours. Previously, cadets had to pay for their own flying lessons at San Angelo’s Mathis Field at a cost of $180 per hour. By utilizing the new simulator, cadets will be able to accumulate flight training hours at no cost and without the safety risks of actual flying. The simulator’s tutored missions will also train cadets in a wide variety of situations and scenarios, some of which are not normally components of regular flying lessons.

The President’s Circle provided the matching funds for the Ram Family Student Campaign’s inaugural Giving Tuesday initiative in 2017. The promise of matching gifts helps increase the likelihood of a donation, especially for young people. The students set a goal of 300 donations, which they surpassed with 326 donations totaling $2,916.38. With the President’s Circle’s matching promise, a grand total of $5,832.76 was raised for student scholarships, allowing the Ram Family Student Campaign to become fully endowed

Collaborations between students and the President’s Circle helps foster a student culture of philanthropy, as well as stresses it is never too early to start giving back to Angelo State.