Debbie and John Tolleson
A $1 million gift from John C. (’70) and Debbie Tolleson of Dallas helped propel the Edwin L. Cox BBA Scholars Program in Cox School of Business past its endowment fund goal of $10 million. Dean Albert W. Niemi Jr. plans to build on that momentum by raising an additional $5 million for a total Scholars Program endowment of $15 million.
The merit-based undergraduate scholarship program was named in fall 2007 in recognition of a $5 million challenge grant from Mr. Cox.
John is chair and CEO of Tolleson Wealth Management, a Dallas-based private banking and wealth management firm. He has been a member of the SMU Board of Trustees since 2000. He also serves on the executive board of Cox School of Business. Debbie is president of the Tolleson Family Foundation and serves on the board of directors of Tolleson Wealth Management. She also serves on the executive board of Meadows School of the Arts. In addition, both are members of the Parent Leadership Council.
The Tollesons have pledged more than $6 million to SMU since 1990. Their gifts have included the Tolleson Chair in Business Leadership in the Cox School and support for the Tate Lecture Series.
About 100 students enter SMU each year as B.B.A. Scholars. The average SAT score for the entering class of 2008 was 1412.
“As a BBA Scholar, you have phenomenal networking connections established, even within your first year as an undergrad,” says sophomore and BBA Scholar Natalie Bornowski.