New Endowment Honors Family’s Ties To Texas And Louisiana

When you love something, you share it with as many people as possible, right? That’s what the Stone family figured when it came to their Texas A&M University experience.

Texas A&M applied mathematical science graduate Susan Stone ’84 and her honorary Aggie husband Tommy Stone have established the Tommy and Susan Watts Stone ’84 Endowed Arts and Sciences Scholarship from a larger endowment to enable others to enroll in and earn degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Knowing a student can get a degree from the solid programs offered at Texas A&M and wanting to give back to the universities we both attended, we wanted to establish scholarships that benefited our families’ majors specifically,” the Stones said. “Because the College of Arts and Sciences is close to Susan’s heart and she received her undergraduate degree through the college, our desire to give back to this specific college was important.”

Susan not only shared her alma mater with her husband, but also with their two children, Megan ’12 and Zachary ’15. From there, the Stones took their love for Texas A&M beyond family by customizing their Arts and Sciences endowed scholarship to specifically target students graduating from the following Louisiana and Texas high schools: 

From the Lake Charles, La., area:

• A.M. Barbe High School
• LaGrange High School
• Sam Houston High School
• Iowa High School, Iowa, La.
• Sulphur High School, Sulphur, La.
• Westlake High School, Westlake, La.

From the Baytown, Texas, area:

• Robert E. Lee High School
• Ross S. Sterling High School
• Goose Creek Memorial High School

Any public high school in Harris County, Texas

Awardees must be pursuing an undergraduate degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, too. But why are the Stones so specific with the awardees’ origin?

“Even though our children lived their early years in Texas, they spent most of their formative years in Lake Charles, La.,” they said. “Because both of our children attended Texas A&M, we realize how important a scholarship would be in helping to waive out-of-state tuition for non-Texas residents, as well as reducing the financial burden for any student who receives it. Our desire is to help alleviate the financial pressure, enabling students to focus on their education and experience the full college life.”

In other words, they want to give back to those who gave to their family. But again, why did Stones choose to give so much to people beyond their immediate family? To build a larger family, of course.

“Simply put, being an Aggie equates to being part of an enormous, wonderful family,” Susan said. “What a blessing to meet a stranger who is an Aggie in an airport or in a restaurant in town and walk away feeling connected to that person. All the traditions and all the camaraderie bring us together. These experiences, along with our children attending Texas A&M and tailgating regularly with our friends, have helped my husband feel a part of the Aggie family, even though he didn’t attend Texas A&M. There’s something special about Texas A&M. You just have to come experience it! Gig ’em, Aggies!”