Writers: Tim W. McAlavy, (806) 746-6101, t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
Pam Dillard, (806) 359-5401, p-dillard@tamu.edu
Contact: Don Robinson, David Worrall, (940) 552-9941
John Sweeten, (806) 359-5401, j-sweeten@tamu.edu
Mark Lazar, (806) 359-5401, m-lazar@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – When students are expected to achieve, they often accomplish more than they ever thought they could. That is the reason Pat and Ed Runge have donated $25,000 as an endowed scholarship for students pursuing a degree in soil and crop sciences at Texas A&M University.
The Runges’ scholarship gift will be matched by the Agricultural Development Council.
Dr. Ed Runge, head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M, hopes these scholarships will set an expectation for agriculture students to become leaders.
“The idea is to anoint a few kids that have leadership potential,” Ed Runge said.
In addition to being a department head, Runge was the president of the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy.
Runge said these are things he would not have been able to accomplish if he had not been encouraged by people who recognized his abilities and expected him to take on leadership roles.
Also, Runge says his wife’s support has made his career successes and this endowment possible.
Pat Runge, a former nurse, is a grandmother and active volunteer. She helped form Brazos Valley Hospice. She volunteers at Scott and White Clinic, at the George Bush Library and in fund-raising activities for Habitat for Humanity.
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