Talberts establish mechanical engineering scholarship

Tony and Neera Talbert have established the Tony and Neera Bansal ’87 Talbert Endowed Scholarship II. Distributions from this endowment will be used to provide one or more scholarships to full-time students in good standing who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Neera was drawn to Texas A&M when she witnessed the strong ties between Aggie former students and their university. She graduated from Texas A&M in 1987 with her degree in management information systems from the College of Business, which is now Mays Business School. “Texas A&M started me on a path of continuous learning,” she said. “My sense of curiosity took root while I studied at Texas A&M, and it has served me well.”

Now working for Microsoft Corporation, Neera holds a strategic management position for a team that uses data and technology to provide sustainable solutions for the energy industry. “My education enabled me to leverage technology while understanding how to apply it to real-world problems, which has been instrumental in shaping my career,” Neera said. 

Her passion for engineering technology has been carried on in the family through the Talberts’ daughter, Caitlyn. She graduated from Texas A&M with her degree in mechanical engineering, aided by the help of an endowed scholarship through the Texas A&M Foundation. The Talbert family was grateful for this generous gift, which inspired them to give back when the time was right. 

In 2016, Tony and Neera established their first endowed scholarship, which was created through matching funds contributed by the Microsoft Corporation. Two years later, in partnership with the Shell Global match program, Caitlyn established the Caitlyn Talbert ’16 Scholarship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Since then, Tony and Neera have generously established their second endowed scholarship.

“When we received our first thank-you note from the student we helped, it was clear to us this was a great way to give to future generations,” Neera said. They hope the scholarship will alleviate financial burdens while encouraging Texans — as they made an additional preference that recipients of the scholarship be a graduate of a Texas high school — to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.  

Tony and Neera now live in Houston, Texas. Neera gives back to the university as a member of the Engineering Advisory Council for the College of Engineering. 

“I had a great experience at Texas A&M,” Neera said. “I made lifelong friends, received a great education and found a sense of community that endures no matter where I travel in the world.”