The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
At The University of Texas at Austin, student-athletes don't just play to win: they play to Light the Tower.
As we say at Texas, “The pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas will not be entrusted to the weak or the timid.” Over 550 student-athletes wake up each day and live by that directive. They commit themselves to achieving excellence in pursuit of championship rings and earning a degree from the No. 1 public university in Texas, a Tier-1 research institution and school that sits among the best universities in the world.
YOU'RE THE MVP OF OUR TEAM
The University of Texas at Austin athletics department is an entirely self-sustaining arm of the university. Since the inception of the Longhorn Foundation in 1986, annual contributions from foundation members have fueled the educational and competitive pursuits of Texas student-athletes. It's through the generosity of Longhorn Foundation members that Texas Athletics sustains its own operations and allows over 550 student-athletes to achieve excellence every day.
Texas Athletics is a three-time winner of the prestigious Division I LEARFIELD Directors' Cup in the past four years!
AN INVESTMENT IN EXCELLENCE
Whether you're close to the Forty Acres or bleeding Burnt Orange from afar, there are a variety of ways to invest in the Longhorn Foundation and support student-athletes as they Light the Tower.
- An annual membership in support of Longhorn Excellence
- Endowed giving to support scholarships, operational costs and elite performance
- Season tickets to support your favorite Texas Longhorns teams throughout competition
THE LONGHORN EXCELLENCE YOU SUPPORT
Expand the stories below to learn how Longhorn Foundation membership fuels the pursuit of excellence for our student-athletes.
FINDING THE SWING: ETTA CARPENDER (ROWING)
FINDING THE SWING: ETTA CARPENDER
Rowing
Class of 2024, Sustainability Studies
In rowing, the magic moment of being in perfect sync with other rowers and the boat is referred to as “swing.” Etta Carpender, A 2024 UT graduate and Sustainability Studies student, achieved her swing early on at Texas. Her journey as a student-athlete on the Texas Rowing team has been defined by a quick rise to success and a steady stream of remarkable achievements. She finished her time at Texas as a two-time national champion, four-time Big 12 champion, and four-time San Diego Crew Classic trophy winner.
ON AMBITION & EXCELLENCE: BENTLEY COTTON (WOMEN'S GOLF)
ON AMBITION & EXCELLENCE: BENTLEY COTTON
Women’s Golf
Class of 2024, Corporate Communications
Long before the meteoric rise of tech unicorns in Austin, there was a different type of unicorn in town. For Texas Women’s Golf student-athlete and native Austinite Bentley Cotton, the decision to become a Longhorn—and a unicorn—was driven by her pursuit of excellence and desire for a collegiate athletics experience that would match her ambitious nature.
A LIFE CHANGED: HAFTU KNIGHT (MEN'S TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY)
A LIFE CHANGED: HAFTU KNIGHT
Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Graduate Student, Strategic Communication
At age 10, Haftu Knight was an Ethiopian shepherd. Four years later, he found himself as a runner in Tyler, Texas, casually picking up running with midweek 16-milers. And just a few years later, he found himself on the Forty Acres. The University of Texas and the Longhorn Foundation have given Knight a life he never deemed possible. He is not only a first-generation college student, but first-generation to receive a master's degree and acting as an example to all those near and far, including his remaining family in Ethiopia.