Recent Alumni Board Working to Fund Scholarship for Rawls Students
The Recent Alumni Board was established Fall 2020 and is comprised of recent graduates who want to support the present and future goals of Rawls College.
Jacob Gordon | February 10, 2023
The Recent Alumni Board (RAB) of the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business has set a goal to raise $25,000 to help endow a scholarship for Rawls College students.
“Some of the other board members and I started talking, and we realized we wanted something that could truly quantify our efforts,” said Zach West Jr., who serves as the current chair of the Engagement and Fundraising Committee and graduated from Rawls College in 2014 with bachelor's degrees in accounting and energy commerce and a master's in accounting. “We wanted to set a goal as a committee to raise the $25,000 to endow our scholarship to then be able to put the money back into the college for current students.”
The RAB was founded in the fall of 2020 and is made up of alumni who graduated from Rawls College within the last 15 years. Currently, 40 members serve on the RAB with graduations years ranging from 2010 to 2021.
Eric Wright“The board promotes and helps progress the goals of Rawls College,” said Eric Wright, who is currently the chair of the RAB and graduated with a bachelor's in energy commerce in 2010 and a master's in business administration in 2015. “The group is composed of graduates from various majors and from a variety of industries.”
“This is one of the best ways to stay connected to the college,” said Wright. “The personal and professional development the group offers is difficult to find early in a career.”
Some of the ways the RAB works to help the college are through giving input on business curricula, speaking in business classes or with student organizations, and recruiting new or potential Rawls College students.
“The people that comprise the board are a phenomenal group,” said Wright. “Each one of them cares deeply about the success of the college and its students. It has been a great honor to lead such an amazing group. Their continued focus on their goals, like the endowment, will bring tremendous value to both Rawls College and its students.”
Each member of the RAB is committed to serve on the board for at least a three-year term. They can then opt to serve a second three-year term, giving them a total of six years on the board.
During their time on the board, members can expect two yearly RAB meetings in Lubbock along with approximately four committee meetings throughout the year.
There is also a mentoring component to the RAB, where members mentor current students in the Rawls Ambassador program.
And while the primary function of the RAB is to assist Rawls College, the networking opportunities afforded to the members was a major selling point for both Wright and West Jr.
“This is one of the best ways to stay connected to the college,” said Wright. “The personal and professional development the group offers is difficult to find early in a career.”
Zachary West Jr.“My TTU network has provided so many opportunities to me, both personally and professionally,” said West Jr. “It's always been a priority to me to not only give back what I feel like I've received over the years, but to continue to foster that relationship for future generations.”
Giving back and building relationships really captures the spirit of the new scholarship the RAB would like to endow, which is why they have set a $25,000 fundraising goal.
“No donation is too small,” said West Jr. “Though the endowment is on behalf of RAB, we're doing this on behalf of all Rawls alumni.”
Donate to the newly-establish endowment or learn more about becoming involved with RAB, by visiting their website.
Rawls College of Business
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