Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 26, 1991 TAG: 9103260301
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG HIGHER EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"It's wonderful news," said Peter Eyre, dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. "It makes up for some of the gloomy atmosphere surrounding state budgets this year."
The endowment, one of the largest ever received by the university, will be used to provide scholarships for veterinary students and to help strengthen the school's minority recruitment program.
The gift is part of the estate of the late Conan W. Vaughan Jr., an alumnus with a special fondness for animals, and his late wife, Elizabeth Tyler Vaughan.
"Conan Vaughan was a distinguished `son of Virginia Tech' whose contributions to society as a businessman, a military leader and now, as a philanthropist, will long be remembered," University President James McComas said in a new release. "All of us at the university are deeply honored by this extraordinary gift."
As the university relies on tuition increases to help combat a shrinking budget, the scholarships will be especially helpful, Eyre said. "A veterinary medicine education these days is fairly expensive."
College officials have not worked out all of the details for the endowment, but Eyre said that the money likely will be used for scholarships for freshmen, to help attract new students to the school and for fellowships for fourth-year veterinary students.
"Our senior students have additional expenditures because a lot of them spend time off campus, working with public and private organizations," Eyre said. "Those expenses come out of their own pockets. There may be ways of creating fellowships to help support these off-site experiences."
The gift comes in the form of two bequests: $1.98 million from Conan Vaughan's estate and about $600,000 from the estate of Elizabeth Tyler Vaughan.
Conan Vaughan, who was from Norfolk, graduated from Tech in 1928 with degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering.
While at Tech, where he was editor of the student newspaper, he invited George Washington Carver - the famous agricultural scientist - to visit for three days and the men formed a lasting friendship.
Vaughan was troubled by the prejudice and racial discrimination that Carver endured and was gratified to see Carver's achievements receive public recognition.
Vaughan worked for Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. and served as an Army reservist after receiving the rank of first lieutenant upon graduation from Tech.
"This bequest will help our students, no question," Eyre said. "It's very, very welcome."
by CNB