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A new $10 million commitment from the O'Donnell Foundation will expand opportunities for student success and experiential learning for generations of Comets at The University of Texas at Dallas.

The gift will establish two $5 million endowments - the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Endowment for Student Success and the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Endowment for Experiential Learning - to support initiatives that help undergraduates sthrive academically and prepare for meaningful careers.

University leaders, students and representatives of the O'Donnell Foundation gathered March 10 in the Brettell Reading Room of the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Athenaeum to celebrate the announcement and the O'Donnell family's longstanding legacy of philanthropy at UT Dallas.

"Because of the generosity of the O'Donnell family and the foundation, UT Dallas continues to grow and thrive - not only as a leading public research university, but as a community defined by opportunity, creativity and impact," said Dr. Prabhas V. Moghe, president of UT Dallas and the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership.

"Because of the generosity of the O'Donnell family and the foundation, UT Dallas continues to grow and thrive - not only as a leading public research university, but as a community defined by opportunity, creativity and impact."

UT Dallas President Prabhas V. Moghe

Expanding Student Success

The Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Endowment for Student Success will strengthen programs that help students overcome financial and academic barriers to graduation. Distributions from the endowment will support scholarships, emergency financial assistance and retention initiatives for undergraduate students, primarily from Dallas County.

Initial funding will expand several programs administered by the Office of Undergraduate Education, including the Academic Bridge Program, Comet Scholars Program and Undergraduate Success Scholars. These initiatives provide financial support alongside mentoring, academic advising, leadership development and community-building experiences that help students navigate the transition to college and continuing through graduation.

During the celebration, several current students shared how these programs have shaped their educational journeys.

Adrianna Paredes, an accounting junior, said the Academic Bridge Program helped build her confidence during her transition to college while strengthening the academic skills needed to succeed in her chosen career path.

"I learned people's stories. I grew more as a person, and I grew more confident in myself to know I'll be able to handle four years of college," she said. "Coming into UT Dallas, calculus was a real struggle for me. But the Academic Bridge Program provided tutoring and never made me feel bad for being behind."

Paredes is now a peer advisor for the program.

"I want to ensure that if you're coming to UT Dallas, you can trust that people will answer all the questions you have," she said. "No matter where you came from, you can trust that UT Dallas will bring you to the place you want to be in life."

Transformative Learning Opportunities

The second endowment - the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Endowment for Experiential Learning - will expand access to high-impact educational experiences that deepen learning beyond the classroom.

The fund will support undergraduate research opportunities, global learning experiences such as study abroad programs, and other activities that connect academic study with real-world application. These initiatives will allow students to gain critical hands-on experience in laboratories and other research settings, to participate in professional development initiatives, and to be exposed to international opportunities that strengthen career readiness.

Nadia Nader, a biochemistry senior and member of the Comet Scholars Program, has been able to participate in research in the biochemistry and structural biology laboratory led by Dr. Duane Winkler, associate professor and department head of biological sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

"It's only because of Comet Scholars that I'm even in a lab in the first place," she said. "Without them, I would have needed to get a second job."

Nader now mentors other undergraduate researchers and plans to continue her education at UT Dallas through the fast track master's program before pursuing a PhD.

Similarly, Emmanuella Jaja, a political science senior and member of the Undergraduate Success Scholars program, said mentorship and professional development opportunities helped prepare her for internships and leadership roles.

"I was able to meet so many people at the right times that have always gotten me to the next place," Jaja said. "Every opportunity that I've come across has been because someone else decided to pour into me or be that mentor for me."

She plans to attend law school and hopes to one day return to UT Dallas to mentor future students.

Legacy of Impact

The new endowments from the O'Donnell Foundation build on decades of philanthropy from its founders, Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr., whose transformational support helped shape UT Dallas.

During their lifetimes, the O'Donnells contributed more than $40 million to UT Dallas, supporting scholarships, research initiatives and major campus facilities. Their philanthropy helped establish the Texas Biomedical Device Center and the Edith O'Donnell Institute of Art History, among many others. In 2013 the Edith O'Donnell Arts and Technology Building was dedicated in her honor.

The O'Donnells also played a pivotal role in the University's early growth. In the late 1980s, Peter O'Donnell Jr. helped secure state funding that allowed UT Dallas to begin offering four-year undergraduate degrees - a milestone that transformed the institution's trajectory.

Today, that vision continues to shape the campus through the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, an arts and performance complex designed to integrate creativity, technology and scholarship while expanding cultural enrichment opportunities for students, faculty and the North Texas community.

William T. Solomon, chairman, president and CEO of the O'Donnell Foundation, said this latest gift reflects the foundation's continued commitment to support students and strengthen educational opportunities.

"Since its founding, UT Dallas was and is a top priority for Peter and Edith O'Donnell and the O'Donnell Foundation," Solomon said. "O'Donnell support at UT Dallas has focused on the arts, sciences, faculty and students. Our most recent grant is concerned entirely with supporting students' success in their academic experiences. It is especially gratifying to me and my O'Donnell Foundation colleagues to meet UT Dallas' outstanding students and to know that success at UT Dallas will enhance students' chances for success throughout the rest of their lives."

"It is especially gratifying to me and my O'Donnell Foundation colleagues to meet UT Dallas' outstanding students and to know that success at UT Dallas will enhance students' chances for success throughout the rest of their lives."

William T. Solomon, chairman, president and CEO of the O'Donnell Foundation

For UT Dallas leaders, the foundation's gift represents an investment not only in individual students, but in the University's mission to expand opportunity and impact.

"This commitment will help ensure that talented students can reach their full potential," Moghe said. "It reflects the extraordinary vision of the O'Donnell family and their belief in the power of education to transform lives."

Media Contact: Daniel Steele, UT Dallas, 972-883-5485, [email protected], or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].

Tagged: Academic Bridge Program Comet Scholars Program New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas O'Donnell Foundation Undergraduate Success Scholars