Bill and Janice Hanna, with their family.

Their recent engineering gift provides scholarships totaling $100,000 over seven years to support the CONNECTS program, which "opens the door" for incoming freshmen with high potential and high financial need.

"There are many young people in Texas who, though academically qualified, are unable to attend Texas A&M for financial reasons. This gift from Janice and Bill Hanna helps attract and retain these valuable students by creating a sense of community to help in the transition to college and the engineering profession," said Dr. Jo W. Howze, associate dean for academic programs.

Through CONNECTS, Hanna Scholars attend orientation camps together, live in the same residence hall and attend the same science, math and engineering classes. They are involved in mentoring activities with upperclassmen and industry engineers. The students attend monthly seminars where faculty members lead discussions to help them relate to the academic community and the engineering profession.

Recipients are high school graduates with a preference for U.S. residents who are first-generation college students and participants in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Each scholarship is renewable for up to five years.

"Janice and I are interested in helping young people of all ages, so to participate in a program where young people who have high potential are given an opportunity seemed only fitting," Hanna said. In May he was one of two honorees inducted by the Junior Achievement of Wichita Inc. into its Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to community progress and prosperity through leadership, vision and innovation.

Class of 1958, Hanna earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M. He started his career with Sunray DX Oil Company in Oklahoma before joining Koch in 1968.

His distinguished career at Koch spanned three decades. He created the natural gas and liquids group, was named vice president for energy products and was elected to the board of directors. In 1987 he became president and chief operating officer of Koch Industries, now the largest privately owned U.S. company. He served as vice chairman from 1999 until his retirement in 2001.

Hanna serves on the board of directors for Security Benefit Corp. of Topeka, Kan., the University of Kansas School of Business advisory board and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, among others.

He has been a member since 1990 of the Engineering Advisory Council at Texas A&M and honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of its engineering college.

Janice Hanna's civic involvement includes serving on the board of trustees for the Wichita Children's Home, which provides emergency shelter for abused and neglected children, and the board of directors for the Wichita Child Guidance Center, which provides mental help assistance for children who are underinsured.

The Hannas previously established scholarships in chemical, civil and mechanical engineering at Texas A&M, and also assist young people attending the University of Kansas. They have three adult children and seven grandchildren.

They are members of the A&M Legacy Society, which recognizes supporters whose gifts total $100,000 or more through the university, Texas A&M Foundation, Association of Former Students (AFS), 12th Man Foundation and George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, as well as individuals who have planned future gifts through their estates.

The Hannas are supporters of The 12th Man Foundation and 31-year members of the AFS Century Club and at the Endowed Diamond-level since 1991.

Reporter: Exa York
e-york@tamu.edu