A naming ceremony was held March 22 at the Naveen Jindal School of Management to recognize a donor partner for providing funds to complete a $1 million gift.

The atrium’s new name — the ECLAT Foundation Atrium — recognizes the Education Changing Lives and Times (ECLAT) Foundation, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization that was created to provide scholarships and other educational opportunities to Chinese, Taiwanese and Asian American students.

Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and dean of the Jindal School, said the endowment will grow over time and will support thousands of students over the years.

“Many, many years after we are gone, this particular endowment will be supporting students and changing their lives,” he said. “I can’t think of anything else that’s more meaningful than creating an endowment at an educational institution.”

Jane Jan, who co-founded ECLAT with her husband, Dr. Yih-Min Jan, said that ECLAT, after its 10-year anniversary, wanted to make the organization more sustainable and benefit more students in the future.

“[Our] board came up with an idea,” she said. “We wanted to team up with Naveen Jindal School of Management to set up an endowment fund for the international students as our first step. Maybe we will have more but … this is the first small step we did.”

Jane Jan said ECLAT’s board was so supportive that they were able to raise all of the funds in just a few days.

“Gifts such as the one from ECLAT are an example of how the community can work alongside a top-tier public research institution,” said Melissa Bettis, assistant dean, development and alumni relations. “Such partnerships provide access to higher education opportunities for the leaders of tomorrow.”

Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker was in attendance, as were several members of the Richardson City Council: Dr. Inga Musselman, UT Dallas provost, vice president for academic affairs and the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair of Academic Leadership; and Calvin Jamison, UT Dallas vice president for facilities and economic development.

“Several years ago, I had a chance to meet Jane Jan and Yih-Min,” said Hubert Zydorek, director of the Jindal School’s undergraduate and graduate international business programs. “What sparked me during the first meeting was their passion behind supporting, creating [and] educating students, educating future leaders.”

he ECLAT gift also benefits the University’s New Dimensions campaign, for which one of the priorities is to attract the best and brightest students. Learn more on the campaign website.