b'TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT GALVESTONADVOCATING FOR VETERANSBY KARA BOUNDS SOCOLI t was Friday night of Mardi GrasToday, the Boyles live in Richmond, weekend 2008, but neither DonVirginia, where Kathryn cares for Boyle08norKathrynPerry11their son, while Don is a project was feeling very festive. Kathrynsmanager for Oceaneering Interna-date had stood her up, so she foundtional Inc. But Don feels his true herself wandering the aisles of Ran- calling in life is to be an advocate dalls grocery store, where she wit- for combat veterans.nessed Don agonizing over peanut butter options. It was clear he need- With this in mind, the Boyles made ed her help.the Texas A&M Foundation ben-eficiary of a life insurance policy. Having never met, the Texas A&MAfter their lifetimes, the policy will UniversityatGalvestonstudentsfund an endowment to provide sup-learned they had a lot in common.port for undergraduate students atIN THEIR WORDSThey were older than their peers, andGalveston, with preference for mili-neither was a Texan: She grew up intary combat veterans. Indiana, while he was from Virginia."When we learned it was She had already served in the CoastWewerentfinanciallypreparedpossible to make a planned gift Guard and as an able-bodied sea- to fund an endowment right now, man for the U.S. National Oceanicthis month or even this year, Donwith life insurance, we seized and Atmospheric Administration.explained. We wanted to give, butthe opportunity."He was a former Army Airborneover a longer time frame. When we Ranger and had served as an infan- learned it was possible to make a-Don Boyle 08trysquadleaderduringcombatplanned gift with life insurance, we in Iraq. seized the opportunity.And rather than bleeding maroon,To the Boyles, leading by example eachwasattendingTexasA&M-brings to mind various aspects of Galveston solely to gain the degreestheir military experiences. But they needed to further their careersahope their example of planned giv-bachelors degree in marine trans- ing will also show their scholarship portation for Kathryn and in mar- recipients the kind of legacy that can itime administration for Don.result from a life well-lived. Kath-ryn and I made our end-of-life plans I didnt know much about Texaswithinayearofmarriage,Don A&M before I attended Galveston,concluded. If this scholarship can Kathryn said. As a freshman, I wasserve as a learning opportunity for justfocusedongettingthrough.young people about the importance Bymysenioryear,IwasCorpsof long-term financial planning, I commander and very proud to bethink that will be an added benefit.an Aggie.12 | TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION|OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING'