Endowing Excellence in Education and Research
Mary and Rich Templeton commit $5 million to the Lyle School of Engineering
A $5 million gift from longtime SMU supporters Mary and Rich Templeton will bolster student excellence and doctoral research in SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering through endowed scholarships and fellowships.
The Templetons’ gift includes $2.5 million to endow four Templeton Ph.D. Fellowships and cover their initial operating funds for the first five years, boosting the school’s capacity to meet its research goals. The Templeton Ph.D. Fellowships endowment is the first of its kind within the Lyle School. The gift also includes a further $2.5 million to endow 10 Templeton undergraduate scholarships and cover their initial operating funds for the first five years, strengthening the school’s ability to attract the best and brightest to the Hilltop.
“This generous commitment underscores the vital nature of research and the importance of student support for the future of SMU and the Lyle School of Engineering,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “Mary and Rich have long been unwavering advocates for higher education, and this new gift highlights that passionate dedication. This gift is a tremendous investment in the Lyle School, supporting its undergraduate students in their collegiate careers and laying the foundation for its Ph.D. students’ transformative research endeavors.”