The Joy of Helping Students

Carolyn and Alton “Jerry” Warren (M.S. ’65) graduated from rival schools for their undergraduate degrees. Life happened – marriage, a stint in the U.S. Air Force, the beginning of a career in the geophysical industry for Jerry, and a teaching career for Carolyn.

In the early 60s, Jerry decided to pursue a master’s degree, and University of Houston was the logical choice.

Making a difference in students’ lives — Carolyn and Jerry Warren got a chance to meet the first recipients of their scholarship—Shruti Hariyani and Travis Griggs. “My success at UH was due in great part to my advisor, Dr. Theo Noel Hatfield, a professor of physics,” Jerry said. “His encouragement and guidance were invaluable to my completion of the degree.”

After graduation from UH, life continued to move along. “We never thought much about scholarships or alumni activities,” Carolyn said.

That changed when UH Coach Bill Yeoman, a friend of a friend, invited them to be his guests at a Fort Bend County UH Alumni Scholarship Dinner.

“A light bulb went off!” Carolyn said. “Here were people just like us providing scholarships to deserving kids, so they could attend a great university. We were sold!”

The next year, their company, Reservoir Geophysical, Inc., became the title sponsor of the Fort Bend UH Alumni Golf Tournament. “We discovered the joy of working with other alumni toward the common purpose of providing scholarships,” Jerry said.

But, they wanted to do even more.

In November 2016, they established the Alton L. Warren and Carolyn F. Warren Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship supports College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics undergraduates who are full-time juniors or seniors.

The Warrens met the first recipients of their scholarship a year later.

“The students were well versed in their fields of study,” Jerry said. “We knew immediately we had done the right thing in setting up the NSM scholarships.”

“Jerry did not have the benefit of a scholarship for his undergraduate degree. It was hard and sometimes discouraging,” Carolyn said. “Our scholarship may help to lessen that burden for another promising student.”

The Warrens hope their endowed scholarship helps students develop school spirit that will continue long past graduation. “Alumni groups are a wonderful way for graduates to begin giving back to their university,” Jerry said.

Carolyn and Jerry are proud to support UH and NSM and feel the University is an important asset to the city of Houston. “The broad impact of UH on Houston, and its citizens, is essential to the vigor and continued welfare of our city,” Jerry said.

Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics