Davila Endowment Fund at TAMIU Tribute to Laredo Educator

Seeking to memorialize the life of a much-loved Laredo educator, family and colleagues of the late Luz Maria Davila have announced the establishment of the Luz Maria Davila Endowment Scholarship Fund at Texas A&M International University.

Luz Maria believed in education and we feel that this is a most fitting tribute to her, said Endowment co-organizer, Delia Slight of the United High School Science Department, Luz Maria's dream of helping students will continue through this Endowment Scholarship Fund.

Sylvia Meza, UHS instructor in the Fine Arts Department and Endowment co-organizer, explained the group's goal. Our goal is that this endowment become self-supporting, enabling us to provide one four-year scholarship to a high school student planning on attending Texas A&M International University, said Organizers are hoping that interested individuals and supporters will help to fund the Endowment with donations. In order to make the first scholarship available from the Endowment, organizers have set a goal of $25,000 by September 1996.

Dr. Janet K. Black, Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs at TAMIU, said that the Davila Endowment could make a lasting difference for many students at TAMIU.

The University is honored to work with the family and organizers of the Luz Maria Davila Endowment Scholarship Fund. We believe that this Endowment will provide a lasting remembrance of Luz Maria Davila and we are especially pleased that students at Texas A&M International University will be the direct beneficiaries, she said.

Davila was a former Spanish teacher at Martin High School, a vice principal in the Laredo Independent School District and a doctoral student only three hours away from completing course work for her doctorate in Spanish at Arizona State University at the time of her death. She had earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees at TAMIU. She was married to Manuel J. Davila. The couple had three children, Manuel J. Davila Jr., Cecilia E. Davila and Veronica B. Davila.

The organizers said they are keenly interested in encouraging Davila's many students, colleagues and friends to support the Endowment effort. We encourage former students, friends and colleagues of Luz Maria Davila to join us by contributing to this Endowment Fund and helping to keep her dream alive, said Dr. Norma Cantu, Professor of English at TAMIU and a supporter of the initiative.

Contributions to the Luz Maria Davila Endowment Fund can be made by mail to:

The Luz Maria Davila Endowment Fund
Attention: Dr. Janet K. Black
Texas A&M International University
5201 University Boulevard
Laredo, TX. 78041-1999

For additional information, contact Dr. Janet K. Black at TAMIU, (210)-326-2175.