Monday, January 19, 2026
DENTON (UNT), Texas 鈥� The (UNT) has received a transformational estate commitment of approximately $20 million from anonymous longtime supporters 鈥� including a devoted UNT alumnus 鈥� to establish a permanent legacy scholarship endowment in the 鈥� the largest scholarship gift in the university鈥檚 history.
The gift will create scholarships that provide full cost-of-attendance scholarships for high-achieving undergraduate students in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, rewarding those who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership and community involvement.
This extraordinary commitment advances UNT鈥檚 campaign, a $100 million student success campaign focused on removing barriers to completion and equipping students with resources and opportunities to persist and thrive in college and their careers.
The anonymous donors are longtime, deeply engaged supporters of the Ryan College of Business. Together, they have consistently championed the college鈥檚 faculty, leadership and students, motivated by a shared belief that talent should never be limited by circumstance.
鈥淥ur alumni have told me time and again how their education at UNT changed their lives, and this historic gift embodies this legacy in the truest sense of the word,鈥� said UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D. 鈥淭his gift reflects a deep commitment to our students, our vision at UNT to guide grit to greatness, and the transformational power of a UNT degree. With the Better Look North campaign, we are focused on removing barriers so students will graduate prepared to lead and succeed. This scholarship does exactly that, and we are so grateful for this unprecedented support.鈥�
The alumni gift reflects the kind of long-term commitment that opens doors and changes what students are able to do once they鈥檙e here, said Brandon Buzbee, vice president for university advancement.
The scholarship rewards students who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership and community involvement
鈥淭his is the kind of investment that changes the trajectory of a student鈥檚 life,鈥� Buzbee said. 鈥淏y covering the full cost of attendance, this scholarship removes one of the biggest barriers to completion and allows high-achieving students to finish strong and step into their careers with momentum. This is legacy giving with real, measurable impact 鈥� generation after generation.鈥�
For the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, the scholarship represents both a historic investment in student success and a powerful example of alumni loyalty in action.
鈥淥ur students are driven, capable and ambitious 鈥� but financial barriers can put limits on their success,鈥� said Marilyn Wiley, dean of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. 鈥淭his gift removes those barriers and sends a clear message: you belong here, and your future matters. We are profoundly grateful for the donors鈥� loyalty to this college and their belief in the students we serve.鈥�
The donors, who have requested anonymity, view the gift as an investment not only in individual students, but in the broader impact those graduates will have on their communities, professions and the world.
鈥淲e believe strongly in the hard work and determination that we see in the many UNT business students who are working to become the leaders of tomorrow,鈥� the donors said. 鈥淥ur hope is that by removing financial barriers, students can focus fully on their education and graduate without the uncertainty or disruption that financial challenges can create. This scholarship is meant to give students the freedom to persist, finish what they start and step confidently into what comes next.鈥�
As UNT advances the Better Look North campaign, this landmark gift serves as a great reminder that the most enduring philanthropy is rooted in a belief in the transformative power of higher education and the future students will shape.
From 鈥� Scholarship Endowment