Texas Women’s University (TWU) announced in a press release that it has received a gift of more than $10 million from Frisco businesswoman Mary L.A. Stanton. This is the largest single donation in the university’s history.
The $10,001,901 commitment supports construction of a new residential village on TWU’s Denton campus. In addition, with the $1,901 part of this gift, Stanton is inspiring the launch of the “1901 Society,” which recognizes donors who have given $1 million or more to the university in their lifetimes.
“Mary is a smart businesswoman who serves as a role model for many,” Chancellor Carine M. Feyten said in the release. “Her thoughtful and generous gift will transform student housing at TWU. And, I am pleased to see Mary leading the charge to inspire others to give to Texas Woman’s University.”
TWU’s new residential village will enhance the campus experience for second-year students by providing an important sense of community and campus activities aimed at boosting the academic enterprise. TWU’s Board of Regents will vote on a motion to name the residential village’s east portal building Mary L. A. Stanton Hall, or “Mary’s Hall,” at its August 10 meeting.
“I hope my gift will provide students with a campus experience I was not able to enjoy myself,” said Stanton in the release, who, as a commuter student and working single parent, earned a bachelor’s degree from TWU in 1989. “I loved the way the Denton campus felt when I was there.”
Opening in fall 2019 on the Denton campus, TWU’s new sophomore village (rendering pictured above) will house 875 students and contain classroom, fitness, exploratory learning and recreational spaces. The residential village will include three 4- and 5-story Georgian buildings featuring pod-style living quarters with small-scale communal baths with private bathroom and shower stalls. The project will incorporate residential amenities such as lounge spaces, study areas and community gathering places focused on the sophomore experience. The development also will have approximately 30,000 square feet of residential dining space to serve all of TWU’s commuter and on-campus student population.
This is TWU’s first major housing development since the opening of the Lowry Woods Community in 2005.
Read the full announcement here.
ABOUT TEXAS WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY
Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest university primarily for women with more than 15,000 students at its three locations in Denton, Dallas and Houston. Texas Woman’s is known for its contributions and leadership in the fields of education, nutrition, business, the arts and sciences, and especially in the nursing and health care professions. The university offers the student support, class sizes and campus esthetics more typically found at a private university. TWU prides itself on providing students with a well-rounded educational experience focused on service, health and well-being and integrity. Respect for diversity in all dimensions (U.S. News & World Report ranks the university tied for 5th in the nation for diversity) and a safe campus environment are among the hallmarks of a TWU education.
