Tatangelo Names Endowed Student Scholarship at A&M International

Students of Public Administration and Political Science at Texas A&M International University have a new champion. Former Laredo mayor Aldo Tatangelo has announced his intent to provide A&M International with an Endowed Scholarship.

The Aldo Tatangelo Endowed Scholarship In Public Administration is a $25,000 gift that will support student tuition, books and fees for a select group of students to be known as Tatangelo Scholars. It was announced in a brief reception held Thursday (Jan. 20) in the University's Great Room and attended by family and friends of the mayor.

University president Charles Jennett said the Tatangelo Endowed Scholarship will provide support for students in political science or public administration programs.

"Our undergraduate program in political science and our recently added graduate program in Public Administration are popular programs for our students and we know that they will appreciate the support provided by the Tatangelo Endowed Scholarship.

"We are truly privileged to be able to be the home of the new Tatangelo Endowed Scholarship. Mayor Tatangelo changed history during his time in office and we look forward to A&M International graduates doing the same in their careers in public service or government," Dr. Jennett said.

In order to be eligible for the Tatangelo Endowed Scholarship the student must be an undergraduate political science major or a graduate public administration major. They must hold a grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale and letters of recommendation from two faculty members.

The Scholarship is renewable provided the recipient continues to meet the established criteria. Preference will be given to residents of Laredo, Nuevo Laredo or Webb County.

Awards will be made by the Texas A&M International University Department of Social Sciences Faculty, in consultation with the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and the University's Scholarship Committee.

Tatangelo served as Laredo's mayor from 1978 to 1990. Although a successful businessman originally from Rhode Island, he moved with equal ease from boardrooms to barrios and earned the respect and admiration of his adopted hometown.

He recently provided a historic collection of materials from his period as mayor to the University's Killam Library. The Tatangelo Collection includes historic correspondence, special gifts, presentations by visiting state, national and international dignitaries, hand-written messages from the day's political leaders, newspaper collections, awards and historic photography.

For additional information on the Tatangelo Endowed Scholarship, please contact the Office for Institutional Advancement at 326.2175.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu