The University of North Texas has announced a $3 million gift from Satish and Yasmin Gupta, which will support student scholarships and create a new career center at UNT at Frisco.
The university said that as the first endowed gift entrusted to UNT’s branch campus in Collin County, the Satish and Yasmin Gupta Career Center will be established at Frisco Landing.
“Yasmin and I are honored to contribute to UNT at Frisco’s vision of fostering student success,” Satish Gupta said in a statement. “We believe that education should go beyond classrooms, and we’re proud that the Satish and Yasmin Gupta Career Center will represent our commitment to UNT students and help equip them with the necessary tools and experiences to excel in their chosen fields.”
“It is our hope that our giving to create this career center will help thousands and thousands of students in their journey, in their career, or in helping enhance their families,” Gupta added, “because we know that when you believe in yourself, your dreams will come true.”
Gupta founded a Dallas-based steel and investment company
Satish Gupta is the founder, president and CEO of SB International, a privately held Dallas-based steel and investment company.
UNT said that after earning an economics degree from India’s Loyola College, Gupta came to the U.S. and completed an MBA in international trade at the University of Dallas.
In 2005, he formed the Gupta Agarwal Charitable Foundation, which contributes to organizations in the Dallas area to advance education, public health, medical research, and cultural initiatives.
‘Visionary support’
Tower at Frisco Landing building on UNT at Frisco campus. [Video still: UNT at Frisco]
“This transformative gift from Satish and Yasmin Gupta will serve as a catalyst in our ongoing mission to extend UNT at Frisco’s reach and impact, enabling us to serve a greater number of students in North Texas and foster stronger connections between higher education and industry to best support industry needs and our students’ career aspirations,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said in a statement. “With this visionary support, we can provide even more scholarships, cutting-edge programs and immersive learning opportunities for our students.”
Brandon Buzbee, VP for university advancement at UNT, said the gift will have a significant impact and emphasized the community’s unwavering support for the new campus.
“With this gift, the Guptas establish the foundation for an enduring impact on the lives of our students, while demonstrating the community’s support of our pioneering campus,” Buzbee said in a statement. “In many ways, this campus started with the generosity of the community through the gift of the land on which the campus is built—and this gift from the Gupta family strengthens that bond. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received, and we anticipate collaborating with the community for many years to come. Together, we look forward to making a lasting impression through the continued growth and expansion of UNT at Frisco.”
Audhesh Paswan, vice provost for UNT at Frisco, said the gift will help propel the university’s mission forward, fostering innovation and empowering students. Paswan was announced in March as dean of the New College at UNT at Frisco.
“A symbol of generosity to our students, the Satish and Yasmin Gupta Career Center will become a beacon of opportunity, helping bridge the gap between academia and industry,” Paswan said in a statement. “We offer many ways for UNT at Frisco students to gain a competitive edge and thrive in their chosen careers. This gift reinforces our commitment to producing well-rounded graduates who are ready to make a positive impact in their fields.”
City of Frisco donated 100 acres for UNT at Frisco
UNT said a public dedication ceremony will occur Sept. 15.
Classes began in January at UNT at Frisco’s $100 million Frisco Landing building.
The 135,000-square-foot Frisco Landing will be home to many of the 2,500-plus students enrolled at UNT at Frisco, which offers 27 undergraduate and master’s level programs. It’s the first permanent building to be built on the UNT at Frisco campus, located on 100 acres of land at the southwest corner of Preston Road and Panther Creek Parkway.
The land was donated by the city of Frisco at no cost to strengthen its partnership with the Denton-based University of North Texas System.
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