Rooted in Purpose, Driven to Serve
Michael Torres (’19) believes in the power of a single moment—something he witnessed first-hand this summer while guiding campers on Lady Bird Lake as a volunteer for Austin Sunshine Camps (ASC).
“For many of these kids, it’s their first time seeing downtown Austin from the water,” he says. “Paddling a canoe in a peaceful setting and open sky with a view that’s full of possibility—you can see the spark in their eyes. Moments like that remind me why I keep coming back.”
Michael is a member of the Austin Young Men’s Business League (YMBL), a civic organization whose primary philanthropic focus has been supporting Austin Sunshine Camps since 1928. Through YMBL, he has volunteered numerous hours and raised over $6,500 to support ASC, which provides free overnight summer camp experiences and year-round programming to more than 500 low-income, high-potential youth in the Austin area.
“I’ve raised funds primarily through peer-to-peer outreach, sharing the mission with friends, family, and colleagues,” he explains. “For many campers, it’s more than just fun. It’s often their first real connection with nature, their first chance to step outside their everyday environment and experience something entirely new and the first time they realize they belong in a world bigger than they imagined.”
Professionally, Michael works as a financial consultant with HORNE, a national professional services firm. There, he provides financial management oversight, mentors junior team members, and supports their career growth. “HORNE encourages community involvement and allows me to integrate my faith into my work,” he shares. “They even provide paid time each year to serve locally, which has helped me stay engaged with causes I care about.”
While his impact today stretches across Austin, the roots of Michael’s purpose-driven life trace back to Lubbock Christian University. A native of New Home, Texas—just 19 miles south of Lubbock—Michael first visited LCU during a Chap Day in high school, encouraged by his older sister Alexsis (Torres ’18) and a childhood friend who would also enroll.
“That visit, the people, the spiritual foundation all confirmed that LCU was the right place for me,” he recalls.
During his time at LCU, Michael pursued a degree in Humanities and quickly became an active presence on campus. He served as Student Body Treasurer, held leadership roles in Alpha Chi Delta, and worked with the university’s Grounds Maintenance team. One of his favorite campus memories was Alpha Chi’s winning Master Follies production, You’ve Got Mail.
“As a new club member, getting to be part of that show was incredible,” he says. “It wasn’t just the performance—it was learning the club’s history, rehearsing with friends, and being part of a tradition that brought everyone together.”
Michael reflects on his college experience as deeply formative grounded in the mission that still drives him today. “LCU walked with me,” he says, referencing the university’s We Walk with You initiative. “The faculty, the staff, my peers poured into me, and that shaped how I pour into others now.”
From volunteering on summer nights in Austin to mentoring young professionals in the workplace, Michael Torres is a living example of how LCU’s mission continues long after graduation. He’s building a life that reflects transformed hearts, minds, and hands, and inspiring the next generation to believe in their own story of purpose.