A Shared Gift

Sona and Jerry Nast show their Longhorn pride by creating two endowed scholarships.

Sona and Jerry Nast

Encouragement from professors can make an enormous difference in a student’s life. For Jerry Nast, B.A. ’72, the mentorship, friendship and guidance of Dr. Oscar Weigand, a UT professor of zoology from 1961 to 1985, made an enormous difference in his life, including influencing Jerry’s decision to study dentistry.

For Sona Nast, B.A. ’79, MSSW ’80, the professor who influenced her the most was her own father. Dr. Irwin Spear was a UT professor of botany and biology from 1953 to 1994. “He encouraged many of his female students to go to medical school and to reach beyond their expectations,” Sona recalls. “That made a lasting impact on me.”

No wonder, then, that Jerry and Sona are providing encouragement to future Longhorns with the creation of two endowed scholarships: The David M. Nast Endowed Excellence Fund and the David M. Nast Endowed Scholarship, named for Jerry’s younger brother. By honoring his memory with a gift of education, Jerry and Sona recognize the past while helping others look to the future.

“The Texas Challenge made our money go further, so we could help more people. I want to ensure others who don’t have opportunities to pursue advanced education gain access.”
— Sona Nast

Stretching Opportunities — and Money

David Nast, Jerry’s only sibling, was born with severe cognitive disabilities that prevented him from pursuing advanced educational opportunities. Jerry remembers his brother for his outgoing personality. “When we would go out to a restaurant, he’d go up to the hostess, stick out his hand and say, ‘Hi, I’m David Nast,’” says Jerry. “He would have been a great social director on a cruise ship. David was a wonderful outgoing guy, as friendly as could be.”

The Nasts’ grandmother had established a trust fund in case David needed further care than what was provided for him at River Gardens in New Braunfels, where he lived most of his adult life. Over time, the trust grew and remained untouched. When David passed away in 2021 at age 72, Jerry decided to use the money to make a gift in David’s name as a way of honoring what could have been.

“David never had the opportunity to study something of interest to him. I wanted to support science or engineering — something that was a real intellectual stretch,” says Jerry. After touring several laboratories at UT, Jerry decided to make a gift to Cockrell School of Engineering’s Texas Inventionworks, a program that puts students in the role of innovators and challenges them to solve problems, develop products and ultimately launch ventures. “I knew we’d found the right home for our gift because I can barely understand what the heck these people are doing,” he laughs.

David Nast (left) with Jerry. At the 2024 Texas Leadership Society luncheon, Jerry (at right) was awed by student displays, like the one presented by biomedical engineering student Ashauntee Fairley. TLS luncheon photo by Sloan Breeden.

Jerry and Sona saw their gift in action when they visited with Texas Inventionworks students during the 2024 Texas Leadership Society Luncheon. Jerry says, “I enjoyed talking to the students, mostly undergraduates, who had different booths to display their projects. I really got into it!” It was the first time the Nasts had attended the annual luncheon, a perk of belonging to the Texas Leadership Society. “Being there made me proud to be a Longhorn,” says Sona.

Growing up with a professor for a father meant education was part of the equation for Sona and her four siblings, all of whom are UT alumni. Establishing an endowed scholarship has allowed Sona to demonstrate her gratitude for the advantages she had while ensuring others don’t miss out on all that UT has to offer. The David M. Nast Endowed Scholarship supports high-potential Texas students from low- and middle-income families, with a preference for those enrolled in the College of Natural Sciences. The gift was made as part of the Texas Challenge, a 1:1 matching program.

“The Texas Challenge made our money go further, so we could help more people,” says Sona. “I like the idea of giving that leg up to people who didn’t have the same level footing when they started UT; that spoke to my social worker’s soul. I want to ensure others who don’t have opportunities to pursue advanced education gain access.”

To learn more about the Texas Challenge, visit giving.utexas.edu/challenge.

A Graduate’s Gratitude

Rihana Gray

Dallas, TX, B.S. ’24, Human ecology, minor in management information system

What impact did receiving the David M. Nast Endowed Scholarship make on your life and future?

Coming from a single-parent home, trying to work through college and being the youngest of seven, sustaining myself was challenging. With the scholarship, I was able to worry less about the next meal or if I could pay for rent or parking fees. I was able to be productive in the classroom and not worry about how I would make ends meet by the end of the month.

What do you want to say to your scholarship donors, Jerry and Sona Nast?

Thank you for providing me with safety, confidence and security in my academic journey. Knowing there are people in the world who care about the education of others inspires me to return the favor once I can. Your belief in my potential reaffirmed my commitment and inspired me to exceed expectations by maximizing every opportunity that fell upon me. With the scholarship, I had an enjoyable last year at UT. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for showing me that someone believes enough in me to invest in my future.

A Graduate’s Gratitude

Rihana Gray

Dallas, TX, B.S. ’24, Human ecology, minor in management information system

What impact did receiving the David M. Nast Endowed Scholarship make on your life and future?

Coming from a single-parent home, trying to work through college and being the youngest of seven, sustaining myself was challenging. With the scholarship, I was able to worry less about the next meal or if I could pay for rent or parking fees. I was able to be productive in the classroom and not worry about how I would make ends meet by the end of the month.

What do you want to say to your scholarship donors, Jerry and Sona Nast?

Thank you for providing me with safety, confidence and security in my academic journey. Knowing there are people in the world who care about the education of others inspires me to return the favor once I can. Your belief in my potential reaffirmed my commitment and inspired me to exceed expectations by maximizing every opportunity that fell upon me. With the scholarship, I had an enjoyable last year at UT. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for showing me that someone believes enough in me to invest in my future.