True To Tech
True To Tech Stories
Lelia Gibson
`97 agriculture
`99 MBA
22 years True To Tech
Pictured left to right: Jeff Abston (`89 B.S. civil engineering,
`90 M.S. civil engineering), Lelia Gibson, Lisa Gibson Harrell (`00 agriculture)
Why are you True To Tech?
After 28 years at Tech (7 as a student and 21 as an employee), Tech is like a family. It gives me great pride to do my small part to help my family succeed.
What area(s) on campus do you support?
I give or have given to the following funds regularly: Diversity Fund Campaign (in honor of my friends President Emeritus Angelo Volpe, Mr. Marc Burnett, and Dr. Robert Owens), Commission on the Status of Women’s Dr. Alison Piepmeier Student Award, Dr. Edwin Lamberth Scholarship (in Agriculture), Bonner Family Scholarship (Engineering/Business), Dr. Norman Williams Scholarship (Business), Tech Food Pantry, the College of Business Student 2 Career Program, and TTU Women’s Club Scholarship. I also have made one-time gifts to help pay for students to attend various events or fund projects I am passionate about.
Why do you choose to support these areas specifically?
My gifts can be divided into two broad categories: donations to specifically help students in need and honoring people who have impacted my and/or my siblings’ lives, both personally and professionally. The added bonus is that the latter gifts also help our students.
What inspired you to give?
I live by the motto “Pay it forward.” I was assisted during my time as a student so I need to do the same.
