Gift funds one of the best comprehensive engineering scholarships in the nation
UTEP engineering college named Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering Premiere scholarship program will recruit top engineering students, offering full-ride scholarships plus additional support Largest gift in University history
EL PASO, Texas (Feb. 5, 2026) – The University of Texas at El Paso has named its college of engineering the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering to recognize a $30 million gift — the largest in university history — from alumnus Miguel Loya.
UTEP has named its college of engineering the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering to recognize a $30 million gift — the largest in university history — from alumnus Miguel Loya.
The contribution will endow the Miguel A. Loya Scholarship Program. The engineering scholarship will award full tuition, room, board and monthly stipends to extraordinary incoming engineering students. Loya Scholars with the highest honors and achievements upon graduation will a receive bonus award of up to $30,000 at graduation. Applications for the Loya Scholarship will open in Fall 2026 and the first cohort of Loya Scholars will enroll at UTEP in Fall 2027.
An El Paso native, Miguel Loya was the first of his seven younger brothers and sisters to earn a college degree. His mother and father did not attend high school but instilled in their family that education was the key to opportunity. Loya received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UTEP in 1977 followed by an MBA from Harvard in 1979.
Since then, Loya has gone on to be a trailblazer in the global energy industry, holding positions with Esso Eastern, Tenneco Oil and Transworld Oil before assuming leadership of Vitol, Inc., the North American arm of the Vitol Group and one of the world’s largest oil trading companies.
The announcement of the gift and the college naming took place at a ceremony at UTEP today attended by Loya, The University of Texas System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, UTEP President Heather Wilson and Dean of Engineering Kenith Meissner.
“UTEP had an extraordinary impact on my life and trajectory,” Loya said. “I am thrilled to be able to give back to this wonderful university and support future Miners on their own journeys.”
“This transformational gift from Miguel Loya will be one of the most generous in the nation and will support the best students who want to become engineers,” said Wilson. “It will transform lives for generations to come. I couldn’t be more grateful to Miguel.”
“Mike Loya’s unique design of this scholarship program is something that is rare anywhere in higher education and it sends a strong and compelling message to aspiring engineering students that this is their place,” said Zerwas. “UTEP will forever be a national destination institution for top engineering students,” he added.
“Our engineering graduates compete with best engineers,” said Meissner. “The Loya Scholarship program will build on the engineering excellence that is core to the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering.”
Funds will be used to develop exceptional engineering talent; Loya Scholars will demonstrate engineering aptitude and be models of academic excellence, leadership and integrity. Upon graduation, they will be high-achieving, leadership-oriented engineers.
In 2004, Loya received the UTEP College of Engineering’s Gold Nugget Award for his exceptional achievements and contributions to his profession, community and the University. In 2010, Loya was recognized with UTEP’s Distinguished Alumni award, the highest honor that the University gives to its alumni.
About the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering
The Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering enrolls over 5,000 students and has more than 290 faculty and staff in seven academic departments. The college graduates engineers with real-world experience and an exceptional academic foundation. Research is one key to the student experience and its highly-trained graduates are heavily recruited by leading companies across the nation.
Last Updated on February 05, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published February 05, 2026
By MC Staff
UTEP Marketing and Communications