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AUSTIN, Texas — ����������Ƶ is proud to announce that it secured more than $10.8 million in support from both long-standing and new donors during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Among our generous supporters are five benefactors who have made significant contributions ranging from six to seven figures — benefiting the School of Health Sciences and The Bill Munday School of Business, as well as first-generation college students.

“We are incredibly grateful to our long-standing and new philanthropic partners. Their generosity strengthens our mission to ensure every student has the resources and opportunities to pursue an exceptional, innovative learning experience,” said ����������Ƶ President Montserrat Fuentes. “Donor investment plays a vital role in fostering an inclusive and thriving academic community — one that supports the growth of our new School of Health Sciences, advances our internationally acclaimed business school and empowers my fellow first-generation students.”

The Fondren Foundation is a longtime supporter of the hilltop through the advocacy of former trustee and dedicated alumnus, Duncan Underwood ’95. The foundation has now gifted nearly $3 million to the university. This year, the Houston-based organization gave $900,000 towards capital renovations for Fleck Hall, which houses the Simulation and Learning Resource Center (SLRC) in the School of Health Sciences. The Fondren Foundation’s commitment will enhance the university’s objective to address the nationwide nursing shortage by providing students with world-class training essential for successful careers in healthcare.

For the first time, St. Edward’s is the recipient of two generous gifts from the Schoen Foundation through the advocacy of alumna Jessica Pollard ’13. The Florida-based non-profit organization has pledged a $1,000,000 endowed gift and a $45,000 restricted gift to provide scholarships to juniors pursuing Finance or related degrees in The Bill Munday School of Business. The Schoen Foundation Endowed Scholarship will benefit first-generation and migrant students, as well as students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants.

In Fall 2024, the university was awarded $1 million from the Ladies of Charity of Austin to support the renovation of the School of Health Sciences and its state-of-the-art instructional labs. The university named The Ladies of Charity of Austin Women, Children and Family Suite in the charity’s honor. In Spring 2025, members of the organization attended the grand opening of the School of Health Sciences, where they officially signed a $1 million check on display at a special reception in the Munday Library.

Additionally, esteemed faculty member and continuing benefactor Kathleen Wilburn generously pledged $1 million to support scholarships, five mission and student-focused initiatives — including Campus Ministry and the Holy Cross Institute — and an endowed professorship within The Bill Munday School of Business. Wilburn joined the St. Edward's University faculty in 2002 alongside her husband, the late H. Ralph Wilburn, who passed away in 2021. Wilburn's gift reflects the commitment that both she and her late husband shared to improving lives through higher education.

Deep-rooted donor and former university trustee Patricia "Pat" Munday gave more than $2 million, with $1.5 million supporting The Bill and Patricia Munday Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship provides tuition assistance for up to 140 students each year. Part of Munday’s investment is designated for The Bill Munday Outstanding Business Student Endowed Scholarship, which benefits high-achieving business students from Central Texas. Munday and her late husband, Bill, are the most generous individual donors to St. Edward’s, giving more than $50 million in total gifts through the years.

About ����������Ƶ

����������Ƶ is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West.