BAAS RPM Scholarship

Scholarship Available for Students Pursuing Careers in Real Estate Property Management

DENTON (UNT), TEXAS. September 6, 2023 –The Michael and Debra Clark Scholarships in Residential Property Management is now available for students who are interested in pursuing careers in real estate property management.

The Clark family has pledged $15,000 over the next three years to support students interested in careers in the multifamily housing industry, offering paths to obtain the skills, knowledge, training, experience, and certification necessary. The UNT Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences degree with a concentration in Real Estate Property Management is one of only a handful of university programs specializing in residential property management in the United States. The residential property management program at UNT is supported by the Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation and was developed to prepare UNT students for success in this industry.

The Clark family is offering scholarships for BAAS students pursuing the Residential Property Management (RPM) concentration. There will be up to five scholarships awarded each year for three years, with the first scholarships awarded to students attending classes in the Fall 2023 semester. Students must have completed at least one RPM course by Fall 2023 (or be enrolled in one during Fall) for eligibility.

 “We believe this is a good way to ‘pay back’ a little for the successes that we enjoyed from the business,” Clark said. “We’re excited to invest in the next generation of leaders in this industry.”

John Puthenpurackal, department chair and professor, in G. Brint Ryan College of Business’ department of finance, insurance, real estate and law, added, “We want to thank Michael and Debra for their generosity in supporting our students and helping UNT prepare a skilled workforce for the RPM industry.”

Michael and Debra Clark shared a lifelong career in multi-family property management, which started in the mid-1970s when Debra worked as a program coordinator at senior housing property in northern Virginia. Michael was working with a Washington DC consulting firm providing property management training to Indian Housing Authorities across the US. The

Clarks’ were principal owners and partners at Alpha Barnes Real Estate Services, LLC (ABRES) based in Dallas, Texas.

ABRES was one of the top 10 affordable housing property managers in the country until late 2021 when the company was sold to Asset Living. For several years, Michael Clark has been associated with the residential property management program at UNT through his participation on the UNT-TAA RPM advisory board, and as a Past President of the Texas Apartment Association and the Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation. He is also a regular guest instructor in RPM courses at UNT.

To learn more about the scholarship, go to CACS.com/Scholarships.