BRYAN — Dr. Finis Welch has established a $150,000 Foundation Excellence Award through the Texas A&M Foundation to benefit Hispanic students who have graduated from Texas high schools, demonstrate economic need and are pursuing a degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on the College Station campus.
The award was created by Dr. Welch, a 1966 University of Chicago graduate. He is a retired economics professor who taught at Texas A&M University for 12 years. Welch funded the gift in memory of his son, Samuel, a former student in Texas A&M’s agriculture program.
“The Foundation Excellence Awards provide critical financial assistance to support Texas A&M’s efforts to increase student diversity,” said John Stropp, interim president of the Texas A&M Foundation. “A diverse Texas A&M is a stronger Texas A&M. We appreciate and acknowledge the generosity of Dr. Welch.”
The Texas A&M Foundation established the scholarship program in 1999 to provide scholarships to students from under-represented groups, including minorities and students from economically disadvantaged areas and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. It helps the university recruit and retain these outstanding under-represented students instead of losing them to out-of-state colleges that offer more attractive financial aid packages. Ultimately, the FEA helps to provide Texas employers with a more diverse pool of potential employees.
The Foundation Excellence Award endowment is worth about $9.3 million and more than 500 FEA scholars have graduated as part of the program.
For more information about this endowment, contact Lee Ann Knox, Texas A&M Foundation, 979-847-9314, e-maill-knox@tamu.edu
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