Dr. E. Gaines Thomas scholarship
Dr. E. Gaines Thomas, chemistry ’72, decided, along with his
wife, Linda Pritchett Thomas ’72, that it was time to do something
that would help better the university they loved dearly.
Thomas said it was several years ago that the decision became
clear. The greatest way his family, including three sons who each
attended Auburn, could honor their mutual alma mater was
through the establishment of an endowed scholarship that will be
funded through a planned gift.
Leadership Council member spotlight:
TaShawna Thomas Stokes
“We were looking for a way to contribute to Auburn,” Thomas
said. “Auburn has always meant so much to our family and we
thought that this was such a great way to give back.”
Thomas, who now lives in Mobile, Ala., and practices pediatric
dentistry, said the scholarship was created to enable one student
each year, who otherwise would not have been able to study at
Auburn, to attend and have the revered Auburn experience. Thus,
the Thomas Family Scholarship was created.
Thomas believes that with rising tuitions nationwide,
scholarships will continue to increase in importance for potential
students.
“Our hope is that this scholarship will help Auburn to be
competitive in the scholarship arena in continuing to attract the
best and brightest of students,” Thomas said.
To learn more about establishing a scholarship, contact the
COSAM Office of Development at 334-844-2931.
Dr. TaShawna Stokes, biomedical sciences ’01, is a Madison, Ala.,
resident and pediatrician. Stokes, who attended the University of South
Alabama’s medical school, was asked to join the Dean’s Leadership
Council in 2005 before she headed to California to complete her
residency at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
It was her fondness and pride in Auburn and the College of Sciences
and Mathematics that led Stokes to join the council.
“When I was at Auburn I completely loved it and had tremendous
support from COSAM and its donors,” Stokes said. “I felt being involved
with the Dean’s Leadership Council would allow me to transition into
giving back, as well as stay abreast on what the college is doing.”
Stokes said that her involvement with the council has opened her
eyes even more to the great opportunities Auburn and COSAM afford
students.
“Auburn is a wonderful university,” Stokes said. “In general, Auburn
begins all of the preparation from the beginning of school as a freshman
and for COSAM students, the college continues it until the student is