$8 million donation contributes to university enhancement

Fort Worth, TX

8/28/2008

By: Rylee Nye, Daily Skiff

An $8 million donation from a Fort Worth couple this summer will fund scholarships, stipends and facility upgrades for the Honors Program, the Mary Couts Burnett Library and the Andrews Institute of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, university officials said.

Paul and Judy Andrews chose the Honors Program, which will become the Honors College in 2009, as a recipient for a $2.5 million endowment. The college will be named for the Andrews' good friend and former chairman of the Board of Trustees at TCU, John Roach, said David Nolan, associate vice chancellor for development.

Ron Pitcock, assistant director of the Honors Program, said the endowment is intended to support the transition from the honors program to the Honors College.

"The funds will play a significant role in shaping how the Honors College will influence the lives of TCU Honors students and impact the university's academic community," Pitcocksaid.

Nolan said the donation will be used specifically to enhance the Honors living learning communities, facility upgrades, faculty stipends and study abroad scholarships.

The Andrews' investment will also benefit the Mary Couts Burnett Library with a one-time $500,000 gift.

A portion of this money will be used to contract with architectural and engineering firms to develop cost estimates for a new library addition, said June Koelker, dean of the Mary Couts Burnett Library. This gift is given in honor of Robert Newkirk, a TCU alumnus and close friend of the couple who helps fund the TCU Texas Book Award through the library, Koelker said.

The Andrews have made two previous donations to the library, and students have already benefited from their generosity, Koelker said.

"Great libraries transform universities into academic learning centers," Koelker said.

The Andrews Institute of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education received $5 million of the total donation, a large portion of which will fund undergraduate, masters and Ph.D scholarships and stipends for students in math and science educational fields, said Molly Weinburgh, director of the institute.

The rest of the donation will fund workshops and events for local teachers and K-12 students centered around math and science, Weinburgh said.

Paul Andrew founded the Fort Worth-based company TTI Inc., an electronic component distributor. TTI employs more than 1,500 people at more than 50 locations throughout North America, Europe and Asia, according to the company's Web site.

FOR YOUR INFO

Honors College: $2.5 million endowment
Andrews Institute: $5 million endowment
Library: $500,000 gift

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