George A. Brightwell, Jr. and Dr. Barbara H. Brightwell

Career path: Southwestern Faculty & Administrator, Retired (George), Southwestern Faculty & Administrator, Retired (Barbara)
Future Gift Impact: The Brightwell Endowed Scholarship Fund

George and Barbara Brightwell were both Southwestern faculty members and administrators, back in the university's "good ol' days" (O.K., the 70's). But George and Barbara were involved on campus in many ways beyond the classroom and the Registrar's Office. Similarly, now in retirement, the couple stays active and involved with the Georgetown community as volunteers. With over 40 years of Southwestern memories, George finds it hard to name his favorite, but says that faculty meetings in the old Cullen Building Auditorium ranks pretty high. And apparently, some of the lessons learned in that auditorium stuck fast. George says that planning for Southwestern's future is important because it "allows the university to make considered and rational provision for current and future operations, rather than, as a faculty member of long ago stated, 'random lurching.' " And the Brightwells believe that Southwestern "gets better and better every year."

Several years ago, George and Barbara established an endowed scholarship fund to acknowledge the excellence of the university and to "touch the lives of students as students and as citizens of their communities for the long-term." The couple elected to endow a scholarship knowing that it would create an ongoing benefit to future students who might not otherwise be able to afford a Southwestern education. In addition, George and Barbara have made plans to grow the scholarship fund through a provision in their will.

To anyone considering including Southwestern in their estate plans, George says, "Join Barbara and me in investing in the excellence of Southwestern and the lives of its students for the long-term future." Why? "Because" he says, "Southwestern matters. None of us can foresee the long-term positive benefits of Southwestern to its students and the world they will serve."

Interested in learning more about how to include Southwestern University in your own will, trust or retirement plan? Contact the Development Office at 512-863-1211 to learn about gift options and opportunities.

If you have already named Southwestern University as a beneficiary, please let us know of your plans. This will enable us not only to show our appreciation of your generosity, but also to include your support in planning for the future of Southwestern.