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AUSTIN, Texas — ����������Ƶ is proud to announce it has received more than $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the American Civic Explorers (ACE) program — a first-of-its-kind civics education initiative developed by the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence.

ACE will provide K-12 students free access to a blend of immersive digital and in-person learning experiences to advance constitutional literacy, civic skills and community engagement. 

“Securing this transformative grant is a powerful affirmation of the university’s commitment to equipping students to lead with purpose and civic responsibility,” said ����������Ƶ President Montserrat Fuentes. “The American Civics Explorers program will inspire our next generation of leaders and strengthen democracy.”

The grant, which was co-authored by Director for the Kozmetsky Center David Thomason and Assistant Teaching Professor of History Joseph Kotinsly, will fund opportunities for learners and teachers through ACE. Over a three-year period, more than 200 students will attend annual summer civics camps at St. Edward’s and at least 560 educators and community leaders will receive training through the Civic Educator Certification program.

In addition, nearly 6,000 students nationwide will have access to online learning modules by the end of the grant period. The Kozmetsky Center will create a custom online learning platform providing students a pathway for engagement in interactive assignments related to constitutional dilemmas, public policy decision-making and civic action. As students navigate the online modules, they will receive real-time feedback, auto-scored reflections and personalized growth reports. Students will also participate in in-person experiential assignments such as interviewing local officials, leading service initiatives or facilitating peer debates — strengthening their comprehension of how local governance and advocacy work.

“This initiative is about more than knowledge, it’s about giving our students an opportunity to reimagine civic education,” said Thomason. “By blending history with hands-on practice, our students not only learn the mechanics of government, but also grasp the deeper ideals of liberty, equality and civic responsibility that make up our Constitution.”

Under Thomason’s leadership as ACE Project Director, the program will be structured around six thematic ranks: Civic Pioneer, Liberty Learner, Justice Scout, Republic Defender, Democracy Achiever and Civic Vanguard. ACE will implement a badge-and-rank educational model throughout the program — awarding learners digital badges for completing challenges rooted in the U.S. Constitution, founding documents and civic practice. This method will help students track their progress as they enhance their civic knowledge and democratic skills. 

Furthermore, students will build their own digital personal civic portfolio documenting their intellectual development. The portfolios will support students by providing a pathway to share their badges and civic learnings with their peers, schools, universities and community leaders. This structure will also provide program leaders insights on learning trends, challenges and successes through data collection.

St. Edward's is one of 85 institutions nationwide, and the only private Catholic university in Texas, to receive a grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s American History and Civics Seminars Program in 2025.

In addition to this achievement, the Kozmetsky Center recently celebrated the grand opening of its new location at the university’s historic Carriage House. The space will serve as a hub for the advancement of student civic engagement and democratic participation by integrating civic learning through academic and co-curricular experiences rooted in our Holy Cross values.

About ����������Ƶ

����������Ƶ is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West.