Plainsmen Premiers
Frank Phillips College has always believed that education is about more than classrooms and textbooks. It is about creating opportunities, investing in people, and building a stronger future for the Texas Panhandle. This year, that commitment is on full display as FPC celebrates a series of exciting new premiers — from a new residential hall and a newly remodeled cafeteria to expanded athletic programs, innovative education opportunities, and improved campus facilities.
The premiering of the college’s new residential hall (in mid-September) marks an important investment in the future of FPC. A modern, comfortable, safe place for students to live is an essential part of creating a vibrant college experience. The new residence hall will provide students with a welcoming home on campus where they can build friendships, become involved in campus life, and focus on achieving their educational goals. By providing quality student housing, FPC is strengthening its ability to attract and retain students from across the Texas Panhandle and beyond.
Students and community patrons will also enjoy a newly remodeled cafeteria designed to enhance the campus experience. A college cafeteria is more than a place to eat; it is a gathering place where students, faculty, and staff come together. The newly remodeled space provides a fresh, inviting environment where students and others can share a meal, connect with friends, and create memories that will last long after their college years are over. This investment reflects FPC’s commitment to creating a campus where students feel that they belong.
At the same time, Frank Phillips College is breaking new ground in Texas community college athletics with the addition of the first and only men’s and women’s wrestling community college programs in Texas. Beginning competition in the 2026-2027 season, these programs will give student-athletes from Texas and across the nation the opportunity to compete at the NJCAA level while earning a college education. The addition of wrestling brings new energy to the Plainsmen athletic program and provides another pathway for talented athletes to continue their education and athletic careers close to home. The opportunity to wear the Plainsmen uniform, compete at the collegiate level, and earn college credits and scholarships will open doors for student-athletes who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to continue their wrestling careers.
The college is also premiering a new partnership at the Allen Campus at Perryton with the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP) program PRIME. This program allows rural school districts to enter into agreements with other school districts to develop rural college and career pathway partnerships. The goal of the R-PEP program is to increase access to high-quality post-secondary pathways for rural students through multi-district collaboration. PRIME stands for Panhandle Rural Innovation for Meaningful Education and is the designation given to the R-PEP group of Perryton, Canadian, Follett, and Darrouzett ISD’s.
FPC is taking education beyond the traditional classroom through our prison education program in Dalhart. This program represents one of the most important things we can do as an institution of higher education: provide people with the opportunity to change the direction of their lives. Education can open doors that once seemed permanently closed. By providing access to a college education, FPC is helping these individuals develop the knowledge and skills they need to build a more productive future. When we help one person change their life, families and communities are also strengthened.
Back on campus, the newly remodeled tennis courts and game room provide additional examples of FPC’s ongoing commitment to excellence. Quality facilities give students and the community the opportunity to interact in an environment that reflects the standards they strive to achieve.
These projects and programs — a new residential hall, a remodeled cafeteria, men’s and women’s wrestling, the PRIME program, the Dalhart prison education program, and newly remodeled tennis courts (with pickleball) — may appear to be very different initiatives. Yet each one represents the same underlying commitment: creating opportunities and improving lives.
Frank Phillips College is proud to be a place where new beginnings are constantly taking shape. A student moving into a new residence hall, a group of friends sharing a meal in the remodeled cafeteria, a wrestler stepping onto the mat for the first time as a Plainsman, an incarcerated student working toward a college credential in Dalhart, or a tennis player competing on newly remodeled courts — each represents the promise of education and the power of opportunity.
The future of Frank Phillips College is bright because the future of the Texas Panhandle is bright. These new investments are not simply improvements to buildings, facilities, or programs. They are investments in students, families, athletes, and communities. They are investments in the people who make this region strong.
At Frank Phillips College, we are proud to be Plainsmen. As these new opportunities premier across our campuses and programs, the college looks forward to seeing the next generation of Plainsmen walk through our doors, take their place in our classrooms, compete on our fields and courts, and carry the Plainsmen spirit forward.
