BNSF gift will allow College of Business to expand Goolsby Leadership Academy
A new commitment from BNSF Railway's foundation will allow The University of Texas at Arlington to expand the Goolsby Leadership Academy to enroll promising freshmen and sophomores to participate in the select College of Business program.
Fort Worth-based BNSF, a longtime supporter of the academy, has made a new commitment of $300,000 toward the academy’s endowment. The funds are being doubled through UT Arlington’s Maverick Matchprogram, which uses natural gas royalties to leverage new endowed gifts.
The College of Business has committed an additional $300,000 in revenue generated by the University’s Executive MBA program in China for a total new endowment of $900,000.
“BNSF Railway employs a number of Goolsby Leadership Academy alumni, graduates who continually demonstrate refined leadership skills and admirable character,” said as John O. Ambler, BNSF vice president of corporate relations and president of the BNSF Foundation? “We can say firsthand that the Goolsby Leadership Academy is an outstanding and much-needed institution, which we are proud to support.”
The Goolsby Leadership Academy was established in 2003 as a leadership development program for highly-qualified undergraduate business majors through an anonymous $2 million gift made in honor of Judy and John Goolsby (BBA ’64), retired president and chief executive officer of the Howard Hughes Corp. BNSF Railway established a $500,000 endowed scholarship for the Academy in 2007.
The program traditionally has included about 60 juniors and seniors a year. Academy scholars enhance their business education by taking specialized courses and participating in activities that enhance leadership skills.
With the new BNSF commitment, underclassmen with demonstrated leadership potential will benefit from the program’s curriculum, which is focused on management and decision-making skills, ethics and integrity.
“The Goolsby Leadership Academy prepares business students to be tomorrow’s leaders by instilling them with a strong ethical core and the skills necessary to manage people,” said Mr. Goolsby, who also serves on the UT Arlington Development Board. “Support and involvement from major corporations like BNSF Railway is absolutely essential for the Academy. Likewise, these corporations will benefit from these young leaders when they enter the business world. BNSF is truly planning for the future.”
Daniel Himarios, dean of the UT Arlington College of Business, expressed gratitude for BNSF’s new and ongoing support of the Goolsby Leadership Academy.
“The business community recognizes the value of the Goolsby Leadership Academy,” Himarios said. “It is a marketable brand for the University and the College of Business. But, more importantly, the academy is a junction that connects us with leading corporate entities in this region.”
Janelle Broyles, a Goolsby scholar and senior finance major, said her experience as a Goolsby Leadership Academy scholar has prepared her to be a future leader.
“It has given me confidence and an invaluable head start toward my future success,” Broyles said. “The Academy has not only taught me the characteristics of a great leader, it enabled me to recognize those leadership qualities within myself.”
The Goolsby Leadership Academy is one of many advanced academic opportunities available at The University of Texas at Arlington, a comprehensive research institution of 33,449 students in the heart of North Texas. Visitwww.uta.edu to learn more.
Herb Booth, hbooth@uta.edu, 817-272-7075
The University of Texas at Arlington, www.uta.edu
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