Cynthia and Fred Balda have generously established the Cynthia '82 and Fred '82 Balda Endowed First-Generation Scholarship. Distributions from this endowment will support undergraduate students participating in the First-Generation Engineering (FGEn) Students Mentoring Program in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.
Cynthia and Fred Balda both graduated from Texas A&M. Cynthia graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in advertising and worked in commercial real estate for eight years. Fred graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and an emphasis in construction management. After working for the H.B. Zachry Company for several years, he started a successful career in real estate. He is currently president of Hillwood Communities, one of the top residential development companies in the country.
In 2017, Fred was one of three awardees to receive the annual Distinguished Graduate Award from the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He remains actively involved with Texas A&M and has served on the Master of Real Estate Advisory Board and the Civil Engineering Advisory Council.
The FGEn students mentoring program is designed to foster academic success for first-generation students who are studying engineering. Members are provided with a community of trained peer and faculty mentors who assist them in reaching their personal and professional goals.
Cynthia and Fred have three sons, Brad, Blake and Brett. Brett followed in their footsteps and graduated from Texas A&M in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial distribution. The Baldas live in Dallas.
Cynthia and Fred Balda both graduated from Texas A&M. Cynthia graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in advertising and worked in commercial real estate for eight years. Fred graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and an emphasis in construction management. After working for the H.B. Zachry Company for several years, he started a successful career in real estate. He is currently president of Hillwood Communities, one of the top residential development companies in the country.
In 2017, Fred was one of three awardees to receive the annual Distinguished Graduate Award from the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He remains actively involved with Texas A&M and has served on the Master of Real Estate Advisory Board and the Civil Engineering Advisory Council.
The FGEn students mentoring program is designed to foster academic success for first-generation students who are studying engineering. Members are provided with a community of trained peer and faculty mentors who assist them in reaching their personal and professional goals.
Cynthia and Fred have three sons, Brad, Blake and Brett. Brett followed in their footsteps and graduated from Texas A&M in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial distribution. The Baldas live in Dallas.
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 Jay Roberts, assistant vice president for development.