But beyond the classroom, Wolff is also getting a good education on the value of generosity and Aggies paying their success forward. “Dr. Anderson’s fellowship has helped relieve my financial stress,” explained Wolff, who plans to pursue a career in industry research. “Whether it’s helping with groceries, textbooks or my next fuel stop, this fellowship has relaxed my mind about finances so I can focus on my studies.”
Anderson believes these gifts are a way to show his appreciation for the lifelong support he received from his Aggie family. He recalls a boyhood trip accompanying his father to shop for tires in nearby Brady, Texas, where he met World War II hero and future Texas A&M President Gen. James Earl Rudder ’32, who worked at the business. That interaction, combined with meeting Brady-native rancher G. Rollie White, a member of the Class of 1895 and later of the Texas A&M University’s Board of Directors, paved the way for Anderson, a self-described “naïve country boy,” to enroll in Texas A&M and go on to earn his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in chemical engineering.
With his grandchildren now in adulthood, the College of Engineering’s 2001 Outstanding Alumni recipient—who relied on a fellowship to help pay for graduate school—is relishing watching the fruits of his professional success support Aggie engineers like Wolff. “I accomplished things in my career that wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity and guidance of former students,” Anderson said. “Graduate school isn’t easy, so I’m happy that I can now help Aggie engineers who follow in my footsteps.”
Interested in helping family members and future generations of your Aggie family? Contact Meg Guerra '98 below to learn if a charitable remainder unitrust is ideal for you.
