New Donors, Making a Big Impact: Cally ’99 & William Taylor ’96

Photo by Ryan Price ‘07

Texas A&M University former students Cally ’99 and William Taylor ’96 have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering educational opportunities in Aggieland by establishing the Cally ’99 and William Taylor ’96 Mays Business Honors Endowed Scholarship. Their initiative reflects a passion to enhance the academic pursuits of the next generation of business leaders.

As a Mays Business School finance graduate with role models like Lou Paletta ’78 and Brian Pinto ’93, William saw the legacy these men were leaving at the school and was determined to follow suit. “Cally and I really felt compelled to invest in Mays,” William Taylor said. “With Dean Sharp leading the charge and Cassie Mahoney ’15 [assistant vice president for development at the Texas A&M Foundation] sharing the vision, it was clear we needed to invest in providing scholarships for exceptional students that excelled not only academically but also had demonstrated leading their peers. I wanted to invest in the leaders of the future, and Mays is developing business leaders differently than any other business school.”

The endowment is designed to offer financial assistance to deserving high school students who are actively engaged in significant leadership roles. The national average for those with undergraduate debt at graduation is 62%, but only 42% of Texas A&M undergraduates carry debt. This makes private scholarship support increasingly vital as higher education costs rise. The stark contrast highlights the crucial role that private scholarship support plays in making education more accessible, providing opportunities for students who may otherwise be unable to attend.

“It is scholarships like these that really move the needle as students choose their school,” said Claire Raabe ’16, the director of the Business Honors program at Mays Business School. “It is one thing to fall in love with a school, to really align with its culture, but it is hard to say ‘Yes’ — even with that connection — if you have a strong financial offer from another school, if it strategically makes sense somewhere else.”

The impact of this substantial gift extends beyond mere financial support; it embodies the Taylors’ dedication to empowering aspiring students who are poised to make significant contributions to the business sector. The scholarship will specifically target talented individuals who demonstrate a strong potential to lead and innovate within the business world, ensuring that Mays will continue to deliver excellent education and recruit top talent. “Dean Sharp has set an aspiration at Mays to be preeminent, and supporting exceptional student scholarships helps accomplish that goal,” Taylor remarked.

The Taylors hope this scholarship — their first major gift to Mays Business School — inspires others and leaves a legacy of generosity with the students that receive financial support. “The experience of serving at Texas A&M has been unbelievably rewarding because of the relationships that I have developed along the way,” Taylor said. “They have served as the bedrock of my personal and professional development.”

Currently the founder and managing partner of Hartmann Taylor Wealth Management, LLC, Taylor’s engagement with Texas A&M has continued after graduation through his participation in the Dallas A&M Club and several key organizations, such as The Association of Former Students, the 12th Man Foundation, and the Texas A&M Foundation.

Giving back to Aggieland is ingrained in his values, and he’d say all Aggies should do the same: “We should all give selflessly what we can to organizations and causes that are most meaningful to us,” Taylor said. “In a world rampant with issues ranging from food insecurity and the need for scholarship assistance, there is no shortage of areas that require our support. If Texas A&M has made a positive impact on you and/or your family, you should consider what aspects of the university are most important to you and get involved.”