SWT receives $1 million grant for technology initiative

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — A $1 million grant from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation will help Southwest Texas State University expand its electronic library holdings and train faculty, staff and students in the latest uses of technology.

The grant will provide support for the Alkek Technology Institute at SWT by providing funding for an electronic classroom, seminars and computer equipment. The grant will also be used to hire an information technology training specialist and to increase the number of electronic journal subscriptions in the holdings of SWT’s Albert B. Alkek Library.

The grant will be paid to SWT over five years.

Albert Alkek died in 1995. A self-made millionaire in the petroleum industry, he was also a rancher and civic leader and became one of the most generous philanthropists in Texas, giving fnancial support to many of the state’s institutions of higher education. He established a scholarship fund which bears his name at SWT. Recognizing Alkek’s support for higher education, SWT named its library in his honor in 1991.

He received the SWT President’s Excellence Award in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, an active philanthropist in her own right.

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation continues to support many educational programs.