Going for the Gold

July 6, 2012
Going for the Gold

This year's inaugural Going for the Gold Gala, benefiting The President's Scholarship Initiative and students at the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, lived up to its ambitious name.

The event raised more than half a million dollars and featured three outstanding personalities: NFL Live host and event emcee Trey Wingo, BA '85; former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, the father of a Baylor nursing major; and keynote speaker Kim Mulkey, whose Lady Bear basketball team had just clinched its second national title two weeks earlier.

"What a joy it was to work with so many dedicated Baylor volunteers to create a spectacular evening featuring our own beloved Coach Mulkey, the No. 1 women's basketball coach in the nation," Baylor First Lady Alice Starr said. "Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the Going for the Gold Gala was the most successful fundraising event in Baylor's history. Ken and I celebrate the dedication and love for this university and especially for the Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

"Without scholarships, deserving students would not be able to enjoy the benefits of a superior nursing education," Starr continued. "Like Coach Mulkey, Troy Aikman and Trey Wingo, our dedicated nursing students will have an opportunity to reach the pinnacles of their careers, thanks to vital support provided by the more than 700 who attended the gala."

The gala, held April 14 at the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas, brought together a sold-out crowd.

"The Going for the Gold Gala was a great celebration of the success of Baylor University and of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing," said Wayne Tucker, chair of the event's sponsorship and underwriting committee. "Not only was the event a success in building the endowment for student scholarships, it brought considerable awareness to the outstanding nursing program Baylor provides in Dallas."

For 102 years, the Louise Herrington School of Nursing has educated those who are called by God to serve others through nursing care. The school has the distinction of being the oldest nursing program in Texas, with faculty members who teach students to care for their patients with a holistic approach.

For more information on how you can support nursing students through the School of Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund, visit bbis.baylor.edu/give.