AUSTIN, Texas — On Saturday, the stands at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium will be packed with fans as the Texas Longhorns face the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The University Co-Op, located in the West Campus area of the University of Texas at Austin, is helping fans stock up for the big game while also using the profits to directly help students.
The store is a one-stop-shop for all things Longhorns. It sells apparel, merchandise and is also where students can get school supplies and textbooks. But spokesperson Kate Mounger said the purpose of the store runs much deeper.
The Co-op opened in 1896 as a traditional cooperative where its profits went directly to its owners. But in the 1970s, the store turned into a nonprofit.
In just the last two years, the co-op created a scholarship for students out of its profits. Mounger said every single penny made helps a student out.
She said last academic year, over 7,000 students each received a $250 scholarship for course materials and school supplies. UT band members, athletes and those on the cheer squad also automatically receive the scholarship.
Mounger said The Co-op is the only Longhorns retailer that provides something like this. She said the scholarships are awarded through financial aid for students who are eligible.
This year, The Co-op also got a new look. From February to August, the store underwent a total renovation, with crews replacing everything from the floors to the light fixtures. Mounger said The Co-op wanted a fresh new look, but also wanted to build more space for merchandise to sell to fund the scholarships.