EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- UTEP Athletics has gotten another significant gift as it continues its preparations to join the Mountain West Conference in July 2026. The Paul L. Foster Family Foundation said it will give $2.5 million to support UTEP Athletics during the transition, the university announced on Monday, Jan. 6. Hunt family gives UTEP $2.5M to help with transition to Mountain West Conference "The transformative gift will play a crucial role in ensuring success on and off the playing field as the Miners enter a new era of UTEP Athletics," the university said in a news release. This is the second significant gift that UTEP Athletics has received in recent months. In December, the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation also pledged $2.5 million to help with the transition to the Mountain West Conference. That brings MWC transition commitments to $5 million, the university said. “There is clear and growing support for our move to the Mountain West Conference,” UTEP President Heather Wilson said. “I am grateful for the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation’s generous gift, which will help tremendously as we make this transition and bring back strong regional rivalries for El Paso fans.” The latest pledge bolsters UTEP Athletics' "comprehensive efforts to strengthen all men's and women's sports programs, upgrade facilities and ensure operational readiness leading into next year’s Mountain West Conference transition," the university said. “UTEP’s announcement to join the Mountain West Conference is great news for the university as well as for the entire community,” Paul Foster, president and a director of the Foster Family Foundation, said. “I believe this move is a crucial step towards advancement of the university’s athletic programs, and my family’s Foundation is proud to support this effort.” Foster said he believes the Mountain West Conference aligns UTEP with sports programs that are found closer to home and allow Miner fans the opportunity to rekindle some old sports rivalries. “I remember going to games when I first got to El Paso 34 years ago, and it was great to watch the Miners compete against teams like Air Force, Wyoming, and New Mexico. It will be exciting to be able to do that again and I look forward to the positive impact UTEP’s move to the Mountain West Conference will have on UTEP athletes, students, and Miner fans across our El Paso community," Foster said."The Foster family has become synonymous with generosity in our community,” UTEP Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Senter said. “Paul and Alejandra have a long history of making strategic investments in UTEP Athletics. Thanks to their kindness, we were able to construct a wonderful basketball practice center and engineer a beautiful renovation of the club level in our iconic Sun Bowl stadium – with both facilities proudly bearing the Foster name. We thank the Foster family for their continued support of UTEP Athletics as we prepare to launch an exciting new era in the Mountain West Conference.” Through its Mountain West Conference membership, UTEP will renew longstanding rivalries with Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming, while forging new matchups with fellow MWC newcomers Grand Canyon and UC Davis, UTEP said. The move to the new league will also enhance UTEP and El Paso’s visibility on the national level, UTEP said.