National Nurses Week Celebration
Pat and Laura Gordon Give $25,000 for Full-Ride Hunt School of Nursing Scholarship
As National Nurses Week draws to a close, Texas Tech Health El Paso announced that business leaders Pat and Laura Gordon have generously donated $25,000 to fund a full-ride scholarship for a Hunt School of Nursing student.
The gift will cover tuition and fees for a deserving nursing student from El Paso County, ensuring they can pursue their education free from financial barriers. The scholarship recipient will be selected this fall.
The Gordons have been long-time supporters of the Texas Tech University’s mission to grow the region’s nursing workforce to help address a critical shortage of providers in border communities. In 2024, the Gordons gave a $10,000 gift to help alleviate financial obstacles for nursing students, enabling them to complete their education and serve our Borderplex community.
At the Hunt School of Nursing, many students are nontraditional in the sense that they are attending school while working and caring for family or have already pursued other degrees before nursing. This results in unmet financial need for approximately half of all incoming classes.
“We are honored to support the next generation of nurses who will serve our community with compassion and skill,” Pat Gordon said. “By helping students pursue their dreams, we are investing in the future health and well-being of our region. We are grateful to be able to support such a deserving program and sincerely hope that we can make one of our student’s lives easier”
Pat Gordon, an El Paso transplant who moved to El Paso in 1984 after marrying his wife Laura, is a Regent of the Texas Tech University System, appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021. He currently serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee and Vice Chair of the Finance and Investments Committee. Pat is a founding partner at Gordon Davis Johnson & Shane P.C., where he specializes in business, corporate and tax law. He is Board-certified in tax law and a certified public accountant and has built a career advising clients on complex business transactions and tax issues, both domestic and international.
Laura Gordon, a fifth generation El Pasoan, is a lawyer and currently serves on the Texas Tech University School of Law Foundation Board. She previously worked for the Texas 8th Court of Appeals and spent 30 years as an attorney with the City of El Paso. She now serves as general counsel for Vista Star, the Gordon’s family real estate business.
The Gordons are proud graduates from Texas Tech, with Pat graduating from the Rawls School of Business with an MBA and Pat and Laura Gordon both graduating from the Texas Tech University School of Law where they met.
The Gordons believe in giving back not only to their community but also to Texas Tech University that holds a special place in their hearts. In 2006, the Gordons established the Pat and Laura Gordon Endowed Scholarship at the Texas Tech University School of Law. In 2024, the Gordons established the Gordon Family Center for Real Estate Endowment at the Rawls School of Business. These endowments reinforce their longstanding dedication to education and community advancement. In recognition for their service on various board and philanthropic gifts, the Gordons were inducted into the Texas Tech Spur Society in 2024.
Their latest gift strengthens local impact by supporting Hunt School of Nursing students, most of whom are from the El Paso area.
Hunt School of Nursing student Lexy Lozano is one of the students who has directly benefited from the Gordons’ generosity. Last year, she received scholarship support from their previous gift to the university, which helped ease the financial obstacles on the path toward her education.
“I am incredibly thankful to have received the Pat and Laura Gordon Scholarship which has been a tremendous blessing throughout my journey in nursing school. This generous support not only eased the financial burden but also allowed me to focus more fully on my studies, clinical experiences, and personal growth as a future nurse,” Lozano said. “More than just financial assistance, it restored my faith in humanity. It reminds me that there are people who genuinely want to see others succeed and give back to their communities. This has inspired me even more to serve with compassion and to one day give back in the same way.”
Lozano is set to graduate this month, along with 92 other nursing heroes who will graduate to serve our community.
Growing Our Own Health Care Heroes
By growing our own health care heroes, the Hunt School of Nursing is addressing the critical nursing shortage and tackling the unique health challenges of the U.S.-Mexico border region. Since its establishment, the school has graduated more than 1,500 nurses, with 90% remaining in the area to practice.
The mission of the school resonates deeply with its students, many of whom have personal connections to the region and its health care needs.
Eight years ago, the school had no scholarship endowments or current-use scholarships. Today, in its 14th year, the school has 20 scholarship endowments valued at nearly $7 million, along with additional financial support. In 2024 alone, nearly $400,000 in scholarships was awarded to students.
This new gift from the Gordons establishes only the second full-ride scholarship ever offered at the Hunt School of Nursing. The first was created earlier this year through a gift from the GECU Foundation.
The generosity of individuals and organizations who believe in the school’s mission is instrumental in supporting these future health care heroes.
For more information about supporting Hunt School of Nursing students, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 rural counties in West Texas and is a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences, and dental education.
With a focus on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 professionals over the past decade and will include dental graduates beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.