Mark Smith, Jerry S. Rawls College of Business alum (finance, 2014) and 2022 G.O.L.D. Award winner, says giving back to the college was a high priority for him upon graduation. While some prioritize a new car, house, or vacation after receiving their degree, Smith moved his dream and goal of donating to his alma mater to the top of his list. Today, his commitment to paying it forward is seen through the recent fulfillment of the endowment he and his wife, Sarah, established and in his involvement with the Rawls College Recent Alumni Board (RRAB).

The 34-year-old, currently serving as vice president of treasury for Nexus Data Centers, said he was reluctant to share his giving journey at first, until he reconsidered.

“Not many people knew about this scholarship fund outside of Rawls – most of my friends and family don’t know about it because seeking recognition was never the point,” Smith explained. “Then I got to thinking about it and decided if my story can help motivate somebody else to give back, and maybe change more students’ life trajectories, then it’s worth it.”

That perspective was shaped early, though Smith says his life story was not unlike many students wanting to attend college today and finding themselves without means to do so. Coming from a big family with siblings close in age, his parents explained to him early on they would support him however they could but paying for tuition and living expenses for four kids, simultaneously, wouldn’t work in their budget. He understood then that college would be a challenge he’d have to take on himself, and while he saved Christmas and birthday money, reality shaped his work ethic early.

He worked odd jobs as early as elementary school to save money, but once he attained his driver’s license, he filled in as many hours as he could get – working during the school week around sports, on weekends, and ramping up over the summer with two jobs. By the time he graduated high school he’d saved enough money for one year of college and Texas Tech was his first choice.

“I grinded as hard as I could that year while continuing to work, sometimes going back home on the weekends to work my high school fry cook job,” Smith said. “I was able to make it through, but at the end of the year I was out of money, packing up my dorm room thinking this was it for college, and feeling very defeated.”

He’d done well his first year, ending with a near 4.0, and thought he’d be rewarded.

In those last few days on campus, when it seemed there was no light at the end of the tunnel, he received word he’d been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from an individual donor. While that wasn’t enough to get him through another semester, it was enough to motivate and reenergize him to work another summer at home and save up all over again.

For the next three years, it was rinse and repeat. Despite working every summer, part-time during the fall and spring, and using student loans, by the end of each semester he’d be completely out of money, he says, not really knowing if he’d be able to return. Every semester he’d reapply for scholarships and one-by-one, and all the way through graduation, it always seemed to work out, thanks to the scholarships he received from individual donors. Those cycles taught him something lasting.

Smith will emphasize that his story isn’t unique. He says the real story is celebrating the donors who invested in him – not the big institutional scholarships, but the alumni who set up individual funds that got him through – and in the promise he made to each of them: To pay it forward to the countless students in situations much like his.

“I was at a crossroads in my life, and I may have ended up going down the wrong path if I didn’t go to college,” he admits. “The most proven path toward changing someone’s life trajectory – not just career trajectory – is education, and I hope I’m able to change students’ trajectories the same way donors changed mine.”

Q&A

Q: What would you say to someone who is considering supporting Rawls College for the first time?

Smith: It is much easier than you might guess, and there is no amount too small. The Rawls staff are all very helpful, the technology makes it seamless, and it doesn’t have to be a huge gift to make an impact – every dollar helps. 
The money goes where you want it to go and can be defined specifically for things like suits for job interviews and purchasing textbooks. They even have a tool for checking if your employers match, which can make your gift go further. Some employers expense it and refund you directly.

Q: Why do you believe it’s important for alumni and friends to invest in business education?

Smith: My initial goal was to help students who fall through the cracks with financial aid – maybe their families make just over the eligibility threshold but they’re still largely financially independent.

When I was a freshman, I quickly realized how difficult that situation could be. I was scraping together every penny and sometimes couldn’t even afford textbooks. It made me think about how two students can start from a similar place financially but end up with very different levels of support. That experience stuck with me, and the fact that students in that situation can easily be overlooked ultimately shaped the purpose of our scholarship.

I also wanted the scholarship to be based on both merit and need, but need can be hard to identify through FAFSA criteria.

So, I worked with the Rawls Development staff to set it up so faculty insight can be included in the scholarship committee’s selection process. I figured faculty can best highlight when students are struggling, maybe they’ve mentioned concerns about affording textbooks, and that perspective helps the committee make thoughtful decisions within the established guidelines.”

I could never afford all my textbooks as a student, and sometimes that was an automatic 10% off my grade at the end because there were quizzes where you needed the link that you could only get through buying the textbook. Since I couldn't buy the textbook and do those quizzes, I had to get a 100% on everything else just to get an A or B in the class.

And that’s how the fund started out in 2019. Five years after I graduated, I’d fulfilled my promise by establishing a scholarship to help level the playing field for students who fall through the financial aid cracks and can’t purchase textbooks.

I think investing in business education is important because there are countless young men and women out there who are doing everything they can to make college work, and who will be successful and change the world for the better armed with the tools that business school provides, they just need a level playing field.

The continuation of our investment was so important to us, that we made the commitment to an endowment a few years ago, and now that is fully funded and will award students annually in perpetuity.

Q: Is there a Rawls College experience that influenced your commitment to giving back?

Smith: One in particular stands out. I won the R.C. and Carolyn Taylor Scholarship for fall 2012 and there was a small luncheon held in the Fireplace Room to celebrate in which the Taylors and Kent Hance both attended. It was very special to me to get to meet such titans in a small setting. At one point during the luncheon, Mr. Hance, with his infectious optimism, proclaimed that I too would have a scholarship named after me one day. It probably just came to him in the moment, but it had a profound impact on me. It really touched me and as someone I respect so much, I didn’t want to let him down.

Q: What advice would you give today’s Rawls College students as they prepare for their careers?

Smith: First, utilize the Career Management Center. It is world class. I knew nothing about business recruiting, and they helped me all the way. From writing my first resume, to mock interviews, to real interviews, to recruiting visits, and more. They have a database of alumni who are eager to hire Rawls grads.

Second, keep in mind that you don’t need the perfect role immediately. I always wanted to work in corporate finance, but my path to get there was non-linear. My first role out of college was sales tax consulting; completely different from my goal role. Find a company you align with, a manager that you can learn from, and get a foot in the door. Impress people with your dependability, and doors will open up to get you to your ultimate dream role.

Q: In what ways do you feel connected to the college community today?

Smith: I often tell people that I am a better alum than I was a student. I was so busy as a student, between working and trying to get all my schoolwork done, I wasn’t able to get involved. When I joined RAB in 2023, at first I thought I was a little bit old to be considered recent alumni since I graduated eight years prior to that, and I didn’t know what to expect. Being back on campus each fall for [that] meeting and connecting with other alumni has been an unintended benefit. One thing that I really enjoy about it, in addition to getting back on campus and feeling like I’m still a part of the school, is when we sit down with the faculty and go through the curriculum each year to give our feedback on what we're seeing from recent grads – things like where they can improve and where [the faculty] can get an advantage from other business schools. They really seem to listen to us and respect our feedback. In that sense, it feels like we're connected and making a difference there.

Q: In addition to giving back to Rawls College through your endowment, what do you enjoy most about giving back through your involvement with college programs and students?

Smith: There are so many successful and interesting alumni, getting to know them and hear their stories is always a treat. Another is seeing the maturity of the students. You often only hear negative things about whomever the next generation of young people is, but I am always so impressed with how well put together and polished our students are. They are so much further along than I was at their ages.

Mark Your Calendar

March 24 and 25, 2026 – Texas Tech’s Day of Giving
It isn’t just a moment. It’s thirty-two hours. It’s 1,923 minutes.
It’s your moment to be the catalyst for changing life trajectories.
Every gift matters.
Give: Visit https://dayofgiving.ttu.edu/pages/rawls-college-of-business to make your gift.