Horns helping Horns
Kim Heilbrun Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
This endowment was established by Kara Nordstrom Wells (BBA ’91) and Shawn Wells (BBA ’86). Kara and Shawn have been strong supporters of the university for many years, most recently devoting time and attention to the Horns Helping Horns program, which assists students with limited family and financial support. After learning more about the School of Social Works initiatives and challenges to reduce student debt, they decided to step up and help.
Their scholarship honors Kim Heilbrun (JD ’81), wife of UT Austin president Bill Powers and dedicated champion of the 40 Acres. Ms. Heilbrun was instrumental in bringing the Horns Helping Horns program to the university and has supported countless other initiatives. This scholarship will forever honor her legacy of empowering students to succeed in higher education and in life.
From social work to computing
Jeanne and Terry Startle Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
This endowment was established by Jeanne and Terry Startzel (BA ’76. MSSW ’85).
While enrolled in the School of Social Work, Terry was a research assistant under professors Ruth McRoy and Michael Lauderdale. While working for Lauderdale, Terry had the unique opportunity to develop early GIS maps in support of the Texas-Mexico Border research initiative using social and economic data. Lauderdale and Startzel’s work was presented at an international symposium hosted by the Center of Social Work Research at the LBJ Library, to the Mexican Government in Mexico City, and later at a Sociology Convention in New York City under invitation from IBM.
During this time, Terry discovered his aptitude for computing which helped forge his professional path. Today, he serves as a Chief Systems Architect for Visa Inc.
Due to his hard work as a master’s student and earning a 4.0, he was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and was awarded the Charles W. Laughton Endowed Presidential Scholarship, an honor he still highly values today. Jeanne and Terry look forward to helping other social work students experience this prestigious honor while providing financial support for their studies.
Why I give
Kia Watts (MSSW ’02) wants to give back to a school that provided her the opportunity to attain a degree in a profession that she loves.
“Ever since the school has empowered me to continue in my pursuit of helping our nation’s growing aging population, many of whom are veterans,” says Watts, who is case manager for the Veteran Administration Supportive Housing Program.
“As a minority student, I appreciate the active role UT has taken to be inclusive of those who are often the first generation in their family to attend college. For this, the LONGHORNS will forever have my support,” she adds, and closes with a favorite quote: “To whom much is given, much is expected” (Luke 12:48)