Alcon Recognized for Endowment in the Goolsby Leadership Academy
$250,000 gift will be matched to create the Alcon-Goolsby Endowed Chair.
October 30, 2008—Today The University of Texas at Arlington College of Business honored Alcon for its $250,000 gift to benefit the Goolsby Leadership Academy in the College of Business. The gift will be matched by funds from an existing endowment to establish the Alcon-Goolsby Endowed Chair in the Goolsby Leadership Academy.
The Goolsby Leadership Academy is designed to transform a select group of business undergraduates into future leaders. The two-year program offers rigorous study in the areas of leadership development, management and decision-making, emotional competence, ethics, performance measurement and team building. Academy Scholars are challenged to discover their full potential to succeed in the business world.
"Development of the next generation of leaders is a priority for the business community," says Alcon Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Cary Rayment. "Alcon and the rest of the business world are looking to today's most promising scholars to one day lead our organizations with the highest level of competence and integrity. The Goolsby Leadership Academy is a remarkable institution for preparing tomorrow's leaders. Alcon's support today helps ensure a bright future."
Each year undergraduate students apply to the Academy in the spring prior to entering their junior year. New scholars are selected to fill a 30-member cohort through a competitive selection process based primarily on academic performance and demonstrated leadership potential. Scholars progress through the program as a team-based unit. “The Goolsby Leadership Academy invigorates conventional learning with an approach based on leadership principles, preparing students to be problem solvers and ethical leaders,” says College of Business Dean Daniel Himarios. “It’s a special program that cultivates the unique set of strengths of our best and brightest scholars. We are grateful to Alcon for investing in the Academy, which is an investment in our future leaders.”
The Academy was established in 2003 through a $2 million anonymous gift made in honor of Judy and John Goolsby. To implement the shared vision of the Goolsby’s and the college, $1 million of that gift created an endowment to generate scholarships for the Goolsby scholars. The other half was designated to produce endowed chairs for the Academy by matching major gifts like Alcon’s.
About The University of Texas at Arlington and the College of Business
With a commitment to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and service to the community, The University of Texas at Arlington is the educational leader in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The College of Business at UT Arlington is home to innovative thinkers who know business—a place where blazing new trails is the norm. One of the largest business schools in the nation, the college prepares more than 5,000 students each year for their roles as leaders, innovators and influencers in the global community.About Alcon
Alcon, Inc. is the world’s leading eye care company, with sales of approximately $5.6 billion in 2007. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for 60 years, researches, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye. Alcon’s majority shareholder is Nestlé, S.A., the world’s largest food company.
