ODESSA, Texas — Odessa College (OC) is reopening its Rudy Acosta Pavilion.
It has underwent a new design and will continue working as an outdoor space for Early College High School students along with OC students.
The original pavilion was donated to the college by donors and was dedicated in 2008 to honor Raul "Rudy" Acosta, a former OC student and graduate who died in 2008. Acosta died at the age of 44 due to a rare and severe form of muscular dystrophy.
"Academically Rudy was first in my family to get a higher education [and] despite his physical imitation he had a determination that was unwavering to overcome and to get his higher education," said Pearl Jimenez, registrar at OC and Acosta's niece. "His determination was he wanted to help those who had real life problems. Getting a degree meant a lot to him he went further that anyone in our family thought he would've. When I spoke with my father he said something special he lived beyond what he was supposed to."
Family members would later establish a $500,000 endowment in Acosta's name to make it possible for OC students to earn their degrees.