Austin Community College announced today the establishment of the Gary Heerssen Memorial Scholarship in Electronics through an initial donation of $50,000 from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Friends of the late Gary Heerssen, senior vice president of corporate manufacturing at AMD, matched the donation, awarding ACC a total of $100,000.

AMD representatives presented the check to the ACC Foundation last night at the ACC Board of Trustees meeting. Heerssen passed away in December following a lengthy battle with leukemia. Active in both the semiconductor manufacturing industry and community, Heerssen served as chair of the Semiconductor Executives Council, an industry coalition that defines the strategy for high-tech workforce development in the Austin area.

The endowed scholarship will help pay for tuition, fees, and books for two students enrolled in the electronics division of the ACC Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Program.
“Gary Heerssen was a strong supporter of accessible education, and this endowment is a fitting and welcome tribute to his passion for education and technology, and to the foresight and generosity of AMD and his many friends and associates,” said ACC Interim President Dr. Steve Kinslow.

Austin Community College is a public, two-year college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas. Each year more than 65,000 credit and continuing education students take advantage of ACC’s low tuition, small classes, convenient locations, and great instructors.