As published in UTB/TSC 'News and Information' (March 2001)

Six students from the School of Education at UTB/TSC received scholarships from Brownsville builder and developer Neal Simmons. The Simmons family has established a scholarship fund to benefit students majoring in education.

Receiving scholarships were Dora Eloisa Zavaleta, Maria R. Zavala, Gabriela Garcia, Rosalva Granado, Lydia A.Lopez and Erica Baldovinos.

““My wife Lourdes and I have chosen to try to give something back. Not only our time, but also financial support to the university,” said Simmons. “I feel that the single most important thing we’ve got going for us is the university and what it is doing for our young people in this area.”

Simmons describes himself as a “firm believer” in education and established the fund to give something back to the community that has given so much to him and he hopes others will follow his lead. Former chairman of the board of Valley Regional Medical Center, Simmons serves on the UTB/TSC Development Board.