The Power of Gratitude: Paying It Forward for Future Horned Frogs

“I can think of no greater legacy than to continue the dream for a future Frog by establishing this scholarship in honor of the man who inspired me to be a Frog for life.”

— Jeannine K. Swan ’80
Britain Society Member and Founder of the Dr. Dick W. Crews ’39 Memorial Scholarship

When Jeannine Swan met Dick Crews in the late 1970s, TCU was not the athletic powerhouse it is today. Dick, who was then area minister for the Coastal Plains Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the greater Houston area, was active with Christian Youth Fellowship high school students like Jeannine. “He showed us that it didn’t matter if TCU won or lost, being a Horned Frog was what mattered,” Jeannine says. “I attended church conferences at TCU and knew, like Dick, I just had to be a Horned Frog.”

The problem was the price tag. Jeannine’s sister was also in college, attending a more economical state university. “Dick arranged a meeting with Logan Ware, then the TCU director of financial aid,” she explains. “Through a package of grants, work study and student loans, my dream came true, and in the fall of 1976, I was a freshman at TCU.”

Jeannine graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations/advertising, and put her skills to work managing international trade shows for more than 30 years. In 2002, she established Global Exhibit Management to provide exhibit and event services. She still makes time to maintain close connections to the university through alumni service, adding: “When I started my company, it was no surprise to anyone who knows me that my company colors were purple and white!”

Mindful her success was made possible through her TCU education — and the important role Dick played to make it happen for her — Jeannine established a gift in her will to create the Dr. Dick W. Crews ’39 Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will honor her mentor and friend and will pay it forward for the next generation of Horned Frogs by supporting a student enrolled in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication.

“Scholarships like the one Jeannine created help give students of all income levels access to an affordable TCU education,” notes Melissa Villegas, CFP®, EA, senior director of gift planning at TCU. “Because they reduce the debt a student carries after college, they also serve as an investment in their future.”

You can create a gift in your will or estate plan to honor what you love most at TCU — or, like Jeannine, who made an impact on your time as a Horned Frog. Contact TCU Gift Planning at (817) 257-7299 or giftplanning@tcu.edu to learn more.