To commemorate the record number of days Gov. Rick Perry ’72 has been in office, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute on Dec. 23, 2008, established a scholarship to benefit Texas A&M University. Perry became the state’s longest-serving governor on Dec. 19, passing Bill Clements’ 2,919 days in office.

Working with the Texas A&M Foundation, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (www.txccri.org) structured its scholarship to annually benefit an Eagle Scout who is accepted into A&M’s Corps of Cadets.

Both organizations are Perry’s passions. He was in the Corps and was an Aggie yell leader his junior and senior years. He also is an Eagle Scout.

The institute created the Anita and Rick Perry ’72 Corps of Cadets Scholarship with a $32,500 gift that includes $3,000 in matching funds from John Hancock Financial Services.

John Colyandro, executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, said the scholarship acknowledges “the positive role that the Boy Scouts of America plays in building the character of young men and the equally important role that the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets plays in shaping future leaders, many of whom serve America in the armed forces.” Both institutions “exemplify the very best of what it means to be selfless and devoted to the common good,” he added.

The nonprofit Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, founded in 1996, is committed to shaping public policy through a principled approach to state government. The Austin-based institute is a think tank whose research reports and policy forums have generated proposals that shape Texas government.

The Perry scholarship was established as part of Operation Spirit and Mind,SM a multiyear, $300 million scholarship initiative under way at Texas A&M. The Texas A&M Foundation, a private nonprofit organization that solicits and manages investments in academics and leadership programs to enhance Texas A&M’s capability to be among the best universities, leads this new fund-raising initiative for the university.

To learn more about scholarships, fellowships, faculty chairs, and other academic- and student program-focused giving to Texas A&M University, contact the Texas A&M Foundation at giving.tamu.edu or (800) 392-3310 or (979) 845-8161.