Donor Profiles
Two of a Kind: Farmer, Henry Make Scholarships Their Legacy

Allen Henry and Phil Farmer

Allen Henry and Phil Farmer both enjoyed remarkable careers, serving as captains of industry and chairmen of the Florida Tech board of trustees.

Along the way, Farmer was the CEO of Harris Corp., while Henry was the CEO of Broadband Communications Products Inc. And both say that college scholarships were critical to their success.

That’s why both men donated $500,000 to the Golden Anniversary Campaign for Florida Tech. Their gifts will fund undergraduate scholarships, making a Florida Tech degree possible for future generations of students.

“The only way I could have gone to college was with scholarship help,” said Farmer. “If I can help even one person come to Florida Tech who could not afford to do so otherwise, it’s a form of repayment that warms my heart.”

Henry tells a similar story about his college education.

“My higher education was largely self-supporting,” said Henry. “Scholarships and student loans were a big part of that. I also worked a lot. Scholarships were most important for me at the undergraduate level.”

Their gifts will create scholarships for as many as five or six Florida Tech students each year. Henry and Farmer both believe that a strong scholarship base will make Florida Tech an even better university.

“Scholarships are at the very heart of making the resources available to students who are qualified,” said Henry. “We need a robust scholarship base to succeed in our fundamental mission of attracting and teaching the best in science and technology.”

“The quality of a university is measured by the quality of its students, and scholarships provide a significant way to attract the best and brightest,” Farmer said.

One important strategic goal for the Golden Anniversary Campaign at Florida Tech is the establishment of new scholarships and further funding of existing ones. For Farmer, building the base of scholarship money is at the core of what the campaign is all about.

“The ultimate strength of any university is its students, who become its graduates. We can make a difference in their lives by providing needed scholarships. It’s the best way of giving back.”