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Calvin Ladner
Calvin T. Ladner '80 | Image: Courtesy of James Ross
LJA Engineering has established the LJA Engineering in Memory of Calvin T. Ladner ’80 Endowed Scholarship. Distributions from this endowment will be used to provide one or more scholarships to full-time students in good standing pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University.
 
LJA Engineering established this scholarship in honor of their founder, Calvin T. Ladner, who served as president and CEO from 1997 until his passing in August 2020. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1980 with his degree in civil engineering.
 
“LJA is honoring Calvin’s legacy and love of Texas A&M University by establishing this scholarship in his name. He was never far from his prized possession, his Texas A&M football coffee mug, and his Aggie enthusiasm seeped into everything he did,” said LJA’s current president and CEO, James D. Ross ’96.
 
Ross is also a graduate of Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. “I was drawn to the engineering school at Texas A&M because of the great people and great traditions,” he said. “The lessons learned and relationships that I built at A&M have had a big impact on my career and me personally.”
 
Ross said LJA has many Aggie former students walking the halls of the company and they wanted to honor Calvin through his love for Texas A&M. “Calvin loved Texas A&M and having his scholarship established at his alma mater is so fitting to his legacy and to the history of our firm as well,” he said.
 
Ross said that he and all of those at LJA Engineering hope that everyone who benefits from this scholarship can follow in Calvin’s footsteps in some way. “There is so much to admire about him. He was not only an amazing businessman, but a wonderful person loved by family, friends, clients and employees,” Ross said.

Giving with a purpose

The College of Engineering is one of the leading engineering programs in the United States, ranking first in undergraduate enrollment and ninth in graduate enrollment. Endowments supporting the students in the college have an immeasurable impact on their education. If you are interested in supporting the College of Engineering and its departments or would like more information on how you can give, please contact True Brown, director of development.