UHCL president recognizes donors for lasting impact on students

March 10, 2017 | George Mattingly II

President's Cabinet Scholarship

University of Houston-Clear Lake scholarship recipients joined members of the President’s Cabinet to recognize donors to the university and highlighted the impact of donor support on their lives. Pictured (l to r) are: Arturo Perez, Yamilex Villarreal, Larry Newsom, Anne Birdsong, UHCL President William A. Staples, Don Becker, Serena Jackson and Patti Funk.


Members of the University of Houston-Clear Lake community were recognized for their lasting impact on students’ lives through the power of giving at the 2017 President’s Cabinet Dinner in February.

UHCL alumna Katherine Tamer was awarded the 2017 President’s Cabinet Leadership Award for her distinguished community leadership and continual gifts to the university and the Bennett and Timm family was honored with the 2017 President’s Cabinet Philanthropy Award. The family, made up of several UHCL alumni and numerous veterans, was honored for its establishment of two endowments to support veteran students and their families.

“There’s that magic moment when a student is able to benefit from these scholarships,” said UHCL President William A. Staples. “It really makes a difference for a student. Our donors make that possible.” Honorees for both awards are selected each year by the president for their significant contributions to the university.

The Bennett and Timm family created The Bennett and Timm Family Endowment for Veterans and the Lois Gwynn Timm Endowment for Veterans and Family to honor the memory of family members and the family’s strong ties to UHCL and veterans. The endowments represent the family’s commitment to support veterans, spouses and their families by providing funds to help them achieve their educational goals.

Scholarship recipients at the event noted the rippling effects of donor support on not just their lives, but the lives of others.

“What the family has given is more than money because it reaches farther than just us students to other people who we help in the community,” said Larry Newsom, scholarship recipient of the Bennett and Timm Family Endowment for Veterans. “I’m the first person in my family to attend college and my goal is to attend law school. With the family’s help, I’m going to be able to do that.”

Joanne Timm, an employee of UHCL who spoke on behalf of her family, said “Through my position at UHCL, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact scholarship support provides UHCL students. Out of my family’s loss came the opportunity for us to create hope and the fulfillment of dreams.”

Tamer’s support carries the same enduring impact on all UHCL students. In 2003, Tamer established the Mary Elizabeth Tamer Program Endowment for Innovative Use of Library Technology to honor her mother, a former librarian.

Since then, the Alfred R. Neumann Library has continually expanded its programs and resources, including e-book readers, SMART® Board, study space and additional lounge space that benefit all students.

“Kathy has provided so many positive impacts for all of our students; we are so grateful to her and for her generosity,” said Chloris Yue, associate director of library public services.

Tamer, who earned a master of science in Computer Systems Engineering from UHCL in 1977, retired in 2010 from United Space Alliance as chief information officer and vice president. She joined DB Consulting Group Inc. in 2012 as a consultant to Johnson Space Center.

For more information on ways to give to UHCL, visit www.uhcl.edu/giving, or contact the Office of University Advancement at 281-283-2021 or gifts@uhcl.edu.

 

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