Donor Spotlight, 2024

Giving Back: Jim Connell Supports Next Generation of Nurses

December 2023 School of Nursing graduate Tiffany Pham never thought she’d complete college. Her family immigrated from Vietnam, and she was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, where she had to grow up at a young age to help her mother navigate her new life in the U.S.

“We were poor, but rich, in a sense, that my mother valued the importance of education and ensured everything in her power that I finish college,” Pham said.

Pham said she remembers attending orientation at UT Austin and stressing about how she was going to afford her education. Shortly after orientation, to her surprise, she found out she received the Randy Clay Burgess University Leadership Network Endowed Scholarship. This award is granted to first-generation students who reside in Amarillo.

Having this financial support was life-changing.

“Receiving this scholarship truly helped me even afford my basic needs during my time at UT Austin,” she added. “I am truly grateful that there are people who wish to help students like me.”

When Pham came to UT Austin, she was still exploring majors and determining which one was best for her. As an internal transfer, she chose nursing because she was determined to find a fulfilling major and something she could see herself doing long-term—one that keeps her on her toes and learning something new every day.

Since graduating, she has used her skills and passion to work in patient care.

“I am currently an Intensive Care Unit nurse, and I don’t regret anything that has brought me up to this point today,” she added, “but it definitely wouldn’t have happened if the Randy Clay Burgess University Leadership Network Endowed Scholarship didn’t choose me as one of their recipients. I didn’t have to worry about the hardships I could have faced and only focused on school. I am very grateful.”

UT Austin alumnus Jim Connell, BA ‘65, JD ‘69, and his brother John Connell, BA ‘65, JD ‘69, established the Randy Clay Burgess University Leadership Network Endowed Scholarship in 2017, in memory of their friend Randy Clay Burgess, who earned a Bachelor of Journalism in 1975, thereby assuring Randy’s legacy.

Future generations of students in the Amarillo area will, in his name, have an opportunity to change their lives and change the world. The scholarship supports the University Leadership Network (ULN) and is designed for first-generation students who reside in Amarillo.

The ULN is a nationally recognized incentive-based scholarship program for students with demonstrated financial need. Each year, 500 freshmen are selected to begin the program. ULN includes a comprehensive four-year plan that involves leadership training, experiential learning opportunities and university service. The ULN program helps students to develop academic and leadership skills consistent with graduating in four years.

The rising cost of higher education has become a concern for Jim Connell, and he wishes to help as many students as possible achieve their educational goals with less student debt.

To help make this possible for nursing students, Connell also established the Burgess and Connell Families Scholarship, which honors James and Elnora Connell—his parents—and Jack and Billee Burgess—Randy’s parents—whose support and encouragement enabled their sons to graduate from UT Austin. It is also endowed in honor of all those whose financial support makes the dream of a college education a reality for others. The scholarship supports the Texas Advance Commitment, a scholarship program for high-potential students from low- and middle-income families endowed by the Board of Regents of UT Austin.

“It means a great deal to me to help, in a small way, the next generation of nurses prepare for successful careers,” Connell said. “I am grateful for the education I received at UT Austin and am pleased that I can give back by helping deserving students graduate from one of the nation’s top public research universities and change the world for the better.”

Connell became interested in the School of Nursing when Pham received the Randy Clay Burgess University Leadership Network Endowed Scholarship. Connell said Pham’s resourcefulness, perseverance and determination played a large role in his decision to establish a scholarship for nursing students. Scholarships enabled Pham to pursue her dream of a college education with little or no student loan debt.

In addition, Connell believes COVID-19 is a reminder that the health care system cannot function without skilled nurses. He’s proud to support the School of Nursing as it’s well positioned to meet the critical need for highly skilled nurses, including those who will staff the two new hospitals—UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital and UT Austin Hospital—which will be located close to the School.

“I would like to become like Jim one day,” Pham said. “I want to give back to those who want to pursue higher education, but their circumstances don’t allow them to. I plan on pursuing a doctorate in the future, so I hope I can make that a goal just like Jim did.”