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TWU
Receives $330,000 estate gift for nursing education
5/14/09
DENTON – More Texas Woman’s University graduate
nursing students will receive financial assistance to become
nursing faculty thanks to a $330,517 estate gift from the
Austin W. Roberts Charitable Trust.
The endowment to
the TWU Foundation will be used to give fellowships and scholarships
to master’s or doctoral level nursing students who will
eventually become nursing faculty.
“In order
to solve the nursing shortage, we must increase the supply
of nursing faculty,” said Dr. Patricia Holden-Huchton,
dean of the TWU College of Nursing. “This generous gift
is excellent news for our graduate students who desire to
become faculty, so that they can pursue their goals with less
of a financial burden.”
Mr. Roberts’s
daughter, Dr. Diane Benson, received her bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in nursing from TWU.
“My father
was definitely committed to supporting nursing education,”
said Dr. Benson, professor of nursing at Humboldt State University
in Arcata, Calif. “I am delighted he chose TWU as part
of this bequest because of my connection to the university.”
Col. Austin W.
Roberts (ret.) passed away in October 2008. He graduated from
Texas A&M University in 1941 and served in World War II
and the Korean War. He remained active in the Army Reserve
until his retirement in 1971. He was an accredited tax adviser,
an ordained deacon, a member of the Scottish Rite Freemasonry
and an active Mason and Shriner.
He and his late
wife Ruth donated more than 27 scholarships to Texas A&M,
including the university’s first endowed nursing scholarship.
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Media Contact:
Amanda Simpson
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: asimpson1@twu.edu |
