Michelle ’88 and Todd Steudtner ’87 are passionate about helping the next generation succeed. Their commitment to future Aggies led them to include Texas A&M as a beneficiary in their trust when they began their estate planning process in 2001.
Realizing how much Texas A&M has influenced both their personal lives and professional careers, the Steudtners want to help others have the same experiences.
However, the Plano couple didn’t tell anyone at the Texas A&M Foundation about their decision. “I assumed that someone would distribute the assets of our trust and then mail a check to the Foundation one day,” Todd said. “When we set up the trust, we didn’t have a mechanism to tie our gift to.”
That changed in 2017 when the Steudtners established endowed engineering and business scholarships. During a meeting with Foundation staff, they realized they could designate that their trust’s funds be added to their existing scholarships. “Our $100,000 gift in our trust will increase the value of our endowments so that we can provide even more students with scholarships,” Todd said. “We’re donating now, but we’ve also set aside money to donate when we’ve moved on.”
The couple first met in Aggieland and bonded while participating in the university’s events and activities. “We really embraced the traditions, because that’s what makes Texas A&M so special,” said Michelle.
After graduation, Todd accepted a position at Texas Instruments in Dallas, where he now holds the title of high voltage electrical team manager. Michelle, who earned a degree in business analytics, currently serves as an IT senior director for PepsiCo’s North American Beverage and North American Nutrition divisions.
Realizing how much Texas A&M has influenced both their personal lives and professional careers, the Steudtners want to help others have the same experiences. They encourage other Aggies to include Texas A&M in their estate planning—and to be sure to let the Foundation know. “The process is easy and ensures that your plans are executed the way you intend,” Michelle said.
Heritage Society Recognizes Planned Giving Donors
After letting the Foundation know of their intentions, the Steudtners elected to join the A&M Heritage Society. Heritage Membership honors individuals and families who have made planned gifts to the Texas A&M Foundation to benefit Texas A&M. Planned gifts include gifts in wills, charitable trusts, or beneficiary gifts of retirement accounts or life insurance. Heritage members enjoy special invitations to annual appreciation events, exclusive mailings and opportunities to network with other Aggies. Membership is optional and bears no obligation; it is simply our way to recognize your notable decision to leave a lasting impact on Texas A&M.
