A $4 million gift to Texas A&M University will be used to create a scholarship program to support both future Aggie veterinarians and future Aggie entrepreneurs in their higher education studies.
The donation from Pam ’75 and Larry Little ’73, created through the Texas A&M Foundation, will provide $400,000 annually over the next 10 years. Those funds will be divided between Texas A&M’s Mays Business School and School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) to support student scholarships.
At Mays, the Little Scholars program will provide 20 scholarships worth $10,000 annually. These scholarships will be among the largest of their kind at the school. Ten of these scholarships will be awarded to first-generation students who enroll as freshmen and plan to study marketing. The remainder will be awarded to Aggie sophomores, juniors or seniors who are in need and are studying marketing or entrepreneurship.
An additional $2 million will support the VMBS, providing 10 annual scholarships of $20,000 for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students who are studying large animal medicine, equine medicine and small animal medicine.
The creation of the program underscores the Littles’ commitment to assisting the next generation of Aggies.
“Larry and Pam strongly believe in the idea that Aggies help Aggies, and they model for all of us what it looks like to live the Aggie Core Value of selfless service,” said Mays Dean Nate Sharp. “They are committed to removing the financial barriers that would otherwise keep promising students from attending Mays and expanding their knowledge of marketing and entrepreneurship.”
Dr. John R. August, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the VMBS, said the donation “ensures that Aggie veterinarians graduate ready to serve thousands of animals across the state of Texas. We cannot thank them enough for their generosity.”
“Veterinary students graduate from the VMBS with less student debt than their peers across the United States thanks to the generosity of donors like Pam and Larry Little,” August said.
Over the years, the couple has provided financial support across Texas A&M’s campus, including gifts to the VMBS, the School of Education and Human Development, and the 12th Man Foundation. They also have financially supported ongoing scholarship funds previously created through the Texas A&M Foundation.
The Littles see their latest gift as an opportunity to help future generations of Aggies succeed. “Business education gives you some basic knowledge, but entrepreneurs often learn through trial and error,” Larry said. “As you go through life and business and you get to the points where you’ve got to make a big decision, you need to make sure to make the right decision. If you’ve got the background behind you that you need, you should make the right decisions.”
“It means a lot to me to be able to support future Aggie veterinarians, because of our love for animals,” Pam said. “People need to take care of their animals. One of the ways that people can be responsible for their pets is to take care of them physically by working with a veterinarian.”