Posted: March 12, 2008

University of Texas at San Antonio receives $822,000 from Kleberg Foundation to enhance scientific research

(Nanowerk News) UTSA President Ricardo Romo used the occasion of the dedication of the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Commons on the University’s 1604 Campus to announce an $822,000 gift from the charitable foundation that honors the two Texans.
“For some time, we have wanted to create a lasting tribute to the Klebergs’ legacy of philanthropy,” said Romo. “So, several months ago, we asked the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System to approve the naming of one of our more popular student gathering places outside the new Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building as the Kleberg Commons.”
It seemed only fitting, he said, to use the dedication ceremony as the time also to announce the latest gift to UTSA from the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation. The $822,000 gift will support the purchase of three state-of-the-art electron microscopes, including a scanning, a tunneling and an atomic force microscope. While housed in the College of Sciences, the new laboratory equipment will be made available for multi-disciplinary research ranging from physics and engineering to archaeology and art conservation and preservation.
“These microscopes, which represent some of the most important tools in modern science, will form the nucleus of a groundbreaking research unit that will be unique not only here in San Antonio but also in the entire state of Texas,” President Romo told the audience gathered on campus for the Kleberg Commons dedication Tuesday, March 11.
Other speakers at the ceremony included John Frederick, UTSA’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Helen K. Groves, president of the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation – and the only child of the Klebergs.
Groves was joined by UTSA Development Board chairman Tom C. Frost in unveiling a commemorative plaque honoring the memory of her parents and celebrating the generosity of the foundation and its commitment to UTSA.
George Perry, dean of the UTSA College of Sciences, said that the gift of the microscopes would contribute to UTSA’s goal to become a premier public research university.
“I am so grateful to the Kleberg family for this generous gift and for their interest in scientific research,” he said. “This is an exciting time for the college, as we strive to advance scientific literacy, conduct cutting-edge research and provide leadership in the education of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.”
Source: University of Texas at San Antonio