Patty Therrien '89
You've been a supporter of the programs and scholarships at UCF for many years and are active in your alumni chapter: What made you decide to include UCF in your estate planning as well?
I made the decision to include UCF in my estate planning because I wanted to be able to make a difference. My husband and I discussed how we would like to provide for each other as well as his children and grandchild from a previous marriage. Supporting the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences at UCF just seemed to be a natural extension of that.
When you think about the future of UCF, maybe 20, 30 or even 50 years from now, what do you see?
I expect to see UCF as the first choice of a University for more students. I think the research being done here, especially in Engineering and Biomedical Sciences will put us with other top-tier programs around the country.
What kind of changes do you envision for UCF, both physically and programmatically (degrees, programs, opportunities, etc.) in the years to come?
This is a tough question. Technology is changing the world as we know it on a daily basis. What is high-tech today is obsolete in a year, or less. And the impact of technology is far-reaching. It is critical that the degree programs offered by UCF stay on the forefront of these changes. Whether it is having the latest equipment in our Engineering labs; or all students having tablet computers; or looking at alternative methods to provide instruction, guidance and feedback for students; UCF needs to be a leader in providing an education that meets the needs of the economy, locally and globally. The prestige of a UCF degree should always be growing.
How will your planned gift shape UCF's future and help make some of these changes possible?
My primary goal with this initial gift is to provide scholarships. With budget cuts and tuition hikes, it is getting harder every year for talented students to pursue a degree. I hope to ease that burden. If I have the ability in the future to supplement the initial gift, then I would like to increase the endowment for CECS so that more funds are available to buy needed equipment and technology and to hire the best and brightest faculty.
How has giving back to UCF impacted your life?
I have a UCF Family. The Alumni Association staff and members of the CECS Chapter, the CECS Faculty and staff, and some of the Foundation staff have become extensions of my family. I have friends and colleagues who were recipients of scholarships I helped to raise money for. There is a sense of pride in seeing those people advance in their careers, in part because of the education they received at UCF; and knowing I had a tiny part of that.
