Don and Barbara Zale and the Zale Foundation have pledged gifts totalling $100,000 for minority scholarships to benefit students of Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. The Zale gifts will establish Foundation Excellence Awards (FEA).
"The Zales have been generous to Mays and Texas A&M in the most extraordinary manner over the years. These newest gifts will provide wonderful opportunities for many students," said Dean Jerry Strawser.
Mays Business School is nationally ranked among public business schools for the quality of its undergraduate program, MBA program, and faculty scholarship. Mays graduates are frequently cited for their character, leadership ability, and strong work ethic.
"Our family has had a significant interest in providing learning opportunities for minorities and others who have not been fortunate enough to attend college," said Zale. "We consider it a great privilege to be in a position to help these young people obtain a wonderful education at this great university."
Zale is chairman of Capitol Entertainment entities, a franchisee of Blockbuster Entertainent, and president of NewCourse Capital, Inc., a private investment firm he founded. He also served the Zale Corp. for 35 years in various capacities, including chairman and CEO. He received an honorary doctorate of letters from Texas A&M University in 2003.
The FEA program is open to outstanding students who meet Texas A&M's admission requirements and are from under-represented groups, including minorities and student from economically disadvantaged areas and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. The scholarship program is directed by the Texas A&M Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation that raises major gifts and manages assets in support of Texas A&M University.
The Zale gifts will count in the university's One Spirit One Vision Campaign . The campaign's goal is to raise $1 billion to support Texas A&M University's pursuit of the Vision 2020 strategic plan while sustaining the distinctive Texas A&M spirit.