DENTON (UNT) -
The University of North Texas today announced the largest
gift in the history of UNT with a pledge of $22 million from
entrepreneur and alumnus Charn Uswachoke.
The pledged gift focuses on enhancing UNT’s already
outstanding student experience while elevating UNT’s
prominence in music, engineering and business.
“I wanted to
help the next generation have a better education so that we
all can have a better world,” Uswachoke said. “UNT is a
top-quality school and continues to grow and strengthen as
it expands into new areas.”
UNT President
V. Lane Rawlins said Uswachoke's pledge is significant for
its size, breadth and unmitigated support of the
university's quest for excellence in providing a
student-focused, highquality education and growing as a
major public research university.
"Mr. Uswachoke
knows how committed UNT is to becoming one of the best
universities in the nation and to transforming our students
in the process. He experienced that dedication while earning
his MBA here and he's supported our progress through the
years. He also understands that it will take a legion of
supporters for UNT to accomplish our goals, so he is leading
the way," Rawlins said. "His pledge, combined with all of
the other gifts that have come in this year,are propelling
us on a path of excellence.”
Provost Warren
Burggren said Uswachoke's pledge has the one-two punch of
supporting students through scholarships and faculty through
research support and endowed professorships and chairs. Some
of Uswachoke’s pledgedgift dollars are expected to qualify
for matching funds under the state's program to help
emerging research universities,such as UNT,become national
research universities, which would further boost the impact
of
his pledge.
"Mr.
Uswachoke's commitment directly impacts our students and the
quality of their education, which is where we always want to
focus our efforts. Just as importantly, the initiatives he
is supporting will make UNT a far more competitive
institution because they sustain students and faculty who
are at the top of
their game," Burggren said.
Uswachoke's $22
million pledge will be divided among UNT’s world-renowned
College of Music, the College of Engineering
and the College of Business.