Hilltopper Family Spotlight

Donors Say “Yes!” to Mabee Challenge, Advance Scientific Discovery at St. Edward’s

The joy of giving — and a desire to propel the next generation of global thinkers — inspires the philanthropy of Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro. The prominent Houston attorneys and parents of Christopher Wawro ’13 gave generously to help St. Edward’s break ground for the second phase of its natural sciences facility.

“Investing in education is the best way to impact the world and it gives the best return,” says Gray, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, a leading international law firm.

Gray and Wawro are among the many donors who responded to the Mabee Challenge, earning St. Edward’s a $1-million grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation for exceeding the challenge goal: raise $5 million in 365 days for the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–South. The new home for Computer Science, Math and Physics programs will feature technology-rich classrooms; high-powered computing labs for robotics, medicine and other disciplines; a multi-use auditorium; and galleries for research presentations.

The Heart of St. Edward’s

Calling St. Edward’s a “first-rate education” for their son Christopher, Gray says she appreciates the individual attention that helps each student prepare for a meaningful life.

“In working through the normal transitions from high school to college, we witnessed the heart of St. Edward’s — its ability to understand and know each student and not just look at the entering class as a set of numbers,” Gray says. “It’s a very compassionate place and that means so much to us.”

Nurturing 21st Century Talent

Gray and Wawro are deeply engaged in supporting their communities, giving time and resources to such organizations as Post Oak School, Inprint and The Menil Collection in Houston’s Museum District. The family’s gift to St. Edward’s will bring more research and experiential learning opportunities to students — building math and scientific literacy required for our 21st century world, says Thomas Mitzel, dean of the School of Natural Sciences.

“Today’s employers want graduates who have the capacity to think critically, solve open-ended problems and help lead groups through new challenges,” Mitzel says.

A broader perspective is exactly what Gray notices in her son these days. “Chris has been engaged in his academic studies at a level I’ve never seen before. I attribute this to the quality of teaching at St. Edward’s,” she says. “Chris often talks about his interactions with his professors, and I believe they have opened his mind to the importance of learning on a much more expansive level.”