RUSTON — W. Rufus,’73, and Brenda Estis, of Houston, Texas, have made a $100,000 gift commitment to benefit Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business and Louisiana Tech Athletic Club.
Their gift provides support for the Brenda Kelly and W. Rufus Estis Endowed Scholarship Fund, Athletics, and College of Business programming and scholarships.
“We’re forever grateful to Rufus and Brenda for their ongoing support of the College of Business and their strong commitment to our students,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “The generosity of the Estises — and so many of our alumni and friends — ensures the College of Business will continue to educate outstanding leaders in the business world for generations to come.”
The couple initially established their endowed scholarship in 2006, with the hope of instilling an appreciation for and understanding of the impact of alumni giving. This scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming College of Business student from Concordia Parish.
“When Brenda and I were going to school, we lived in a little trailer house just footsteps from where the College of Business is now,” Rufus said. “We were very happy, but we didn’t have help from either of our parents. It was just the two of us, so I know how difficult it can be to pay your way through school. I want to give someone else the same opportunities that Tech provided me.”
Rufus and Brenda regularly host events for Louisiana Tech in their Houston home, including a recent College of Business Dean’s Reception for alumni and friends. Rufus serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board and was selected as the College’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2006.
Donations to the Louisiana Tech Athletic Club are used for scholarship support, facility enhancements and coaches’ salary supplements.