April Rice

Athletics Financial Aid Advisor

April is a dedicated student advocate who works tirelessly to ensure that the financial aid process goes as smoothly as possible. She began her journey at the University of Texas at Dallas, then moved to Collin College, where she expanded her experience by working with a diverse student population, including military veterans. In her current role, April works with student-athletes to help them secure scholarships and other funding. Her extensive knowledge of the financial aid process makes her an invaluable resource for our student-athletes, helping them manage the process and achieve their goals.

A Conversation with April

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?

You will enjoy a sense of community at A&M-Commerce. Our staff members care about students and are advocates for them. They truly go the extra mile.

What do you like most about your role as a financial aid advisor? How do you help students?

I enjoy helping underserved students. My job is to guide student-athletes and help them understand the basics of how scholarships and financial aid work. Together, we can make the financial aid process smoother. Currently, I am working with Student Accounts to streamline processes for our student-athletes.

What is an important life lesson you have learned?

The most important (and most difficult) life lesson I've learned is that you cannot be everything to everyone. The people who love you and truly care about you will understand this and may even respect you more for your honesty and transparency. The people who abandon you or guilt trip you because of it usually end up being people who never deserved a seat at your table in the first place. Sometimes, we have to make the difficult choice of letting those people go for the sake of our own self-care. A quote that helps me to stay grounded in this principle goes like this: “The only people who get upset when you set boundaries are those who benefited from you having none.” I thought that was really profound; it shows how important boundary-setting is in our personal relationships.

What do you like to do for fun and relaxation?

I am a concert junkie! I love being part of the crowd and listening to my favorite performers live. There is nothing better than going to see your favorite singer or band in person. My best memory is attending a George Strait concert in Fort Smith where George Strait gave a wounded veteran and his family the key to a new home. The home had been built by a non-profit organization and sponsored by George Strait. It was a powerful, moving moment.

Education

• B.A., English Language and Literature, Northeastern State University, 2010

Professional Experience

• Financial Aid Advisor II – Athletics, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2023-Present
• Financial Aid Advisor, Collin College, 2019-2023
• Student Accounts Officer, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2019
• Student Financial Aid Officer III, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2017-2019