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Posted: 4/06/06

BBVA Group Presents $1 Million Gift

 

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In a historic move from an old friend and new Laredo corporate citizen, Laredo National Bank-BBVA Group presented Texas A&M International University with an Endowed Professorship in International Finance for the College of Business Administration. 

The $1 million donation was presented (photo) in ceremonies held at the University’s Student Center on Friday, April 7,  2006.

Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU president, said the gift accelerates the College’s reputation as a business school of choice.

“Gifts of this magnitude change a University’s program and give us an added measure of academic strength,” Dr. Keck said, “We are especially honored to receive this gift from a long-time friend and a new partner, Laredo National Bank-BBVA Group.”

Francisco González Rodríguez, Chairman of BBVA, said BBVA’s business strategy is focused on innovation as the means to maintain growth and leadership.

“This donation is consistent with our vision, our business strategy and our commitment to the communities that we proudly serve.  We encourage innovation and believe that this donation will help the University foster its students’ drive for excellence,” González said.

TAMIU Dean of the College of Business Administration Dr. Jacky Yuk-Chow So said Friday’s gift contributes to the College’s aggressive growth plans.

“Thanks to the support of LNB-BBVA Group, we will be able to use this endowment to create new opportunities for our students that few universities can provide. This is truly a blessing,” Dr. So explained.

While relatively new to Laredo, BBVA Group is a large, multinational financial services group, with a leading position in the Spanish market and a strong franchise in Latin America. BBVA provides a diversified range of products and services to over 35 million customers in more than 32 countries through its network of 7,410 branches. The Group’s assets as of year-end 2005 were approximately US $462 billion.

Accredited by the American Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), TAMIU’s College of Business Administration was recently named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s most outstanding business schools and ranked second in the nation for offering the “Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students” in its 2006 edition of The Best 237 Business Schools.

Home to a variety of research centers, including the Texas Center for Border Economics and Enterprise Development, and the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, the College also features the University’s first stand-alone Ph.D. program in International Business.

This past year, the College’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team earned the national  “Rookie of the Year” Award at the SIFE USA National Exposition. They had previously won the  Regional Champion honors at the SIFE USA Regional Competition in Dallas. They return to regional competition this Spring.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu or click on www.tamiu.edu

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 Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu