Surprise TAMIU Gift Announcement by Canseco Foundation Presents $1 Million Gift to Nursing School
In a stunning announcement at last week’s traditional pinning ceremony for student graduates of Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing, trustees of the Canseco Foundation presented a $1 million gift to the School bearing their father’s name.
To thunderous applause from a crowd on its feet, Foundation spokesman Jorge Canseco shared the motivation for Foundation’s gift, presented on the 20th Anniversary of the initial gift that dedicated Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall, and made the Canseco School of Nursing possible
“We do this to further our Mother’s vision and the prospects of future TAMIU students who pursue a career in nursing by establishing the Consuelo S. Canseco Endowment for Nursing Programs. This Endowment will provide the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing with future programming and equipment so that students can learn in a cutting-edge environment with state of the art technology and teaching methods. It is our heartfelt desire that with this gift, the Canseco School of Nursing, in the words of TAMIU president, Dr. Pablo Arenaz, will ‘Go Beyond’ in preparing the future healthcare providers of Laredo and South Texas,” Canseco told graduates and guests.
Dr. Arenaz and Canseco School of Nursing Dean Dr. Glenda Walker welcomed family members to the stage, noting the Canseco Foundation gift is inspiring beyond measure.
“We are unbelievably blessed by the magnitude of this gift, and know that it will inspire our students, campus and community to aggressively impact and change healthcare here and beyond. If the first gift in 1997 inspired a legacy, then this unexpected gift truly extends that legacy beyond measure,” Arenaz said.
Canseco School of Nursing Dean Dr. Glenda Walker concurred.
“This historic Canseco Foundation gift will truly elevate this program and provide our students with remarkable opportunities and expansive experiences. It will augment our teaching, research and service and insure that the impact of our graduates continues for generations to come,” Dr. Walker said.
Canseco Foundation family members had been invited to Thursday’s event as part of a 20th Anniversary observance of the original 1997 gift and dedication of Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall, home of the Nursing School. The School’s original Dean, Dr. Susan Walker, also attended.
Since 1997, a total of 811 TAMIU undergraduate and 93 graduate nursing degrees have been earned through the Canseco School of Nursing. The original graduating class numbered 12. In 2017, 78 nursing students will receive undergraduate degrees.
The growth of the School of Nursing is also reflected in the percentage of male students now earning their degree. This year, 30 percent of the combined undergraduate and graduate student classes are male.
Immediate job offers are extended to 100% of Canseco School of Nursing graduates. At least 85 percent are in the Laredo and South Texas region.
The quality of educational experience for graduates is reflected in the 95% average pass rate for the national licensure exam. Average annual starting salary for undergraduate degree holders is about $55,000, and $105,000 for those with graduate degrees.
The late Dr. Canseco and his wife were staunch advocates of education and their gift has enabled students to achieve their professional nursing goals.
Canseco was a much-loved doctor who was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México, and came to Laredo as a child. Earning degrees from Culver Military Academy, Rice University, Stanford University and Washington University, Dr. Canseco returned to Laredo to serve as both general practitioner and surgeon here. He and his family lived here for the next 55 years.
His wife, Consuelo Canseco, was also from Monterrey, and a lifetime member of Mercy Regional Medical Center’s Auxiliary, the Tri-County Medical Auxiliary and a Society of Martha Washington past president and portrayed Martha Washington in 1981. She adored cooking, gardening and traveling, and was an accomplished canasta player. Also a firm believer in the transformative power of education, she encouraged eight children and 19 grandchildren to secure their futures through education.
For additional information on the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing and its programs, call Anna Buentello, admissions counselor, at 956.326.3110, email anna.buentello@tamiu,edu, visit offices in Canseco Hall 111, or click on: http://www.tamiu.edu/cson/index.shtml
For more about named gift opportunities at TAMIU, call Rosanne Palacios, vice president for Institutional Advancement, at 956.326.4483, email Rosanne.palacios@tamiu.edu, visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 262, or click on: http://www.tamiu.edu/alumniandgiving.shtml
Canseco Foundation Gift
Members of the Canseco Foundation presented a $1 million gift to Texas A&M International University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing during recent pinning ceremonies. The presentation was part of a special observation of the 20th Anniversary of the dedication of Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall and the Canseco School of Nursing. Left to right are Foundation family members, Jorge E. Canseco, Francisco R. Canseco, Susana Canseco, TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz; Pati Canseco Bruce, Margara Canseco Kontny, Ceci Canseco Keck and Carlos M. Canseco. All are holding pictures of Spring 2017 Nursing Candidates for Graduation.