A Georgetown resident with a passion for both education and philanthropy has received Southwestern’s ninth annual Martha Diaz Hurtado College Town Award.

Scott Alarcón is chief executive officer of the Georgetown Health Foundation, which provides grants to a variety of organizations that promote health and social services in Georgetown.

Alarcón also is president of the Georgetown ISD Board of Trustees and is a past chair of the Texas Life Sciences Collaboration Center, which was co-founded by the City of Georgetown, Southwestern University and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

Alarcón has held leadership positions in a variety of other local civic organizations including The Caring Place, Georgetown Partners in Education, the Lone Star Circle of Care and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

Alarcón’s passion for both education and philanthropy is evidenced by his involvement with the First-Year Seminar class taught by Melissa Byrnes, assistant professor of history. The seminar, titled “Doing Good and Doing It Well: The Theory and Practice of Philanthropy,” helps students learn the principles of philanthropy and grant-making. In addition to providing funding for the class through the Georgetown Health Foundation, Alarcón visits the class each year to share his experiences with nonprofit grantmaking.

“Scott has been a tremendous support both materially and − more importantly − as a resource for the students,” Byrnes said. “He is warm, insightful and creative; someone who melds both theory and practice by taking actions with thought and care.”

The College Town Award was created in 2006 to recognize citizens, organizations or businesses whose exemplary efforts have enhanced the “college town” environment for students, faculty and staff at Southwestern. Previous recipients of the award include the Williamson County Sun, the Downtown Georgetown Association, former mayor Gary Nelon and Chamber of Commerce President Mel Pendland, Dr. Doug Benold, Ellsworth Peterson, Esther Weir, Barbara and George Brightwell, and the College Town Committee. The award is named for a long-time Southwestern University employee who was also very active in the community.

The 2014 award was presented Jan. 31 at the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet.