Class Acts
Linda Garcia Mora
From an early age, Linda Garcia Mora (Ph.D. ’05) understood the importance of education but didn’t know just how big of a role it would play in her life. While growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, Linda’s parents made education a priority in their household. She recalls, “As a first-generation student, my dad was pushing college readiness before it became a thing.” Linda excelled in her studies and received a doctorate from UT’s Cooperative Superintendency Program.
Now an adjunct professor at The University of Texas San Antonio, Linda is transforming students’ lives in and out of the classroom by creating a future gift in her will to support the College of Education. “My time at the College of Education meant so much to me and I want to pay it forward,” she says. “I hope my gift can provide students who may be struggling with an opportunity to complete their education and reach their full potential.”
Dixie and Phil Stanforth
Having spent decades in higher education and witnessing firsthand the financial struggles some students face, Dixie (Ph.D. ’10) and Phil Stanforth, both retired professors from UT’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, felt a deep desire to give back. “One of the biggest challenges we saw was for first-generation students and students from smaller towns,” says Phil. “Paid internships in our field are rare and many of these students couldn’t afford to have an unpaid internship.”
Inspired to help, Dixie and Phil made a gift to support students majoring in exercise science or applied movement science. They also documented a future gift in their estate plans that will assist students in the College of Education for generations. “We have so much to be grateful for and UT is a huge part of that,” says Dixie. “Students have always been at the center of our careers, and a scholarship was our way of giving back and making a life-changing impact.”
Will You Join Linda and the Stanforths in Changing Students’ Lives?
It might be easier than you think to make a lasting difference in a student’s life. Our FREE guide offers suggestions for noncash ways to support the College of Education, tax-smart ideas and even gifts that come with a stream of income. Download “4 Strategies to Make a Lasting Impact” today! For more information, contact the Gift and Estate Planning Team at 512-475-9632 or giftplan@austin.utexas.edu.