TEXARKANA, Texas – Texas A&M University-Texarkana Professor of Biology Dr. David Allard and his wife Ellen have created an endowed scholarship at the university where he has taught for more than 25 years. Their recent donation of $25,000 will be used to create the David and Ellen Allard Endowed Scholarship, which will benefit Texas A&M University-Texarkana students who are studying biology.
Dr. Allard began his teaching career at A&M-Texarkana in 1997 as an adjunct faculty member and was hired as a full-time instructor in 2000. In 2019 he was recognized by The Texas A&M University System as the recipient of the Regents Professor Award. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents established the Regents Professor Awards program in 1996 and the Regents Fellow Service Awards program in 1998 to recognize employees who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the people of Texas.
“We are so thankful to have received this wonderful gift from Dr. and Mrs. Allard,” said Texas A&M University-Texarkana president Dr. Emily Cutrer. “Dr. Allard is a treasured member of our Eagle Family and a beloved instructor to our students.” Dr. Allard frequently gets updates from his former students letting them know about significant accomplishments in their lives.
He is also an ardent supporter of Eagle athletics and is a frequent fixture in the bleachers or on the sidelines where he watches his students compete. If he can’t attend an athletic event in person, he always watches the live stream online. “Dr. Allard has been one of our athletic department’s biggest fans from the very beginning,” said A&M-Texarkana Director of Athletics Michael Galvan. “It means the world to our student athletes to look over and see their professor cheering for them.”
“Dr. Allard was one of my professors at A&M-Texarkana,” said alumna Kara Crane Garvin. “I was a biology major and now I am about to graduate from the Oklahoma State University-College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Allard has supported me since day one and continues to even today. His love for biology and his students showed through in every lecture. This scholarship will benefit biology majors immensely, as it will allow them to focus on their studies, decrease their financial burden, and help them in achieving their goals and dreams.”
“This endowed scholarship is something that we have been thinking about for a while, and it just seemed like the right time,” said Allard. “We’re building the future here,” he added. “Getting an education is expensive and many of our students have financial needs. It means the world to us to be able to help them follow their dreams.”