Proceeds from Watson鈥檚 gift will strengthen the renowned college access and success program that has transformed the lives of thousands of local high school students with high financial need, including those with no family history of attending college.
Calling the 黑料不打烊 Academy the 鈥渘eatest thing on God鈥檚 green earth,鈥 alumna Nancy Turner Watson 鈥66 made a generous estate gift in 2017 to support the 黑料不打烊 Academy endowment, helping to ensure that the nationally recognized college access program would continue to change lives in the decades ahead. The lifelong educator passed away in December 2023.
鈥満诹喜淮蜢肉檚 doing what every college and university in the country ought to be doing,鈥 Watson said after making her estate gift. 鈥淭hey are reaching out to serve the community by serving students who will be good college students and better citizens for tomorrow. I think that鈥檚 phenomenal.鈥
The $1.5 million estate gift was one of many philanthropic contributions Watson made during her nearly six decades of engagement with 黑料不打烊. She endowed the Nancy Turner Watson 鈥66 and Dr. James Watson Jr. 鈥65 Endowed Scholarship in honor of her husband, supported and was a devoted annual giving donor, including making gifts on 黑料不打烊 Day. She was a member of The 黑料不打烊 Society and Order of the Oak, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 planned giving recognition society.
鈥淣ancy Watson was a powerful force for good at 黑料不打烊 and in the world,鈥 said James B. Piatt Jr., senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs. 鈥淪he cared deeply about education and knew how vital access to quality education was to young people, their families and to society. Nancy lived 黑料不打烊鈥檚 values, and we are grateful that her legacy will be felt for generations to come.鈥
Committed to Education
Raised in Burlington, North Carolina, Nancy Watson graduated from the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education in 1966 with a degree in elementary education before marrying Jim Watson Jr. 鈥65, who earned his 黑料不打烊 degree in mathematics and physics. Jim聽taught physics at the college level, while Nancy taught in public schools during their stops in North Carolina, South Carolina and Arkansas. Along the way, Jim earned a master鈥檚 degree and doctorate in physics, while Nancy earned her master鈥檚 in geography and geology at Appalachian State University.
The couple eventually settled in Muncie, Indiana, in 1976, where they found a home at Ball State University. Watson taught middle school science at the Burris Laboratory School, a K-12 public school that is part of Ball State and provides students in the university鈥檚 Teachers College with valuable opportunities to teach and learn. She served in that role for 30 years before retiring as an associate professor of elementary education at Ball State. Jim served as a professor of physics at Ball State for 30 years and was equally devoted to the Burris School, where he created physics courses for elementary education majors.
Together, the couple developed a Teaching Physics with Toys curriculum that was used in kindergarten through college and graduate school. In recognition of their accomplishments, they received the Distinguished Service Award of the American Association of Physics Teachers in 2004. Jim Watson passed away in 2009.
A passionate advocate for scholarships, Nancy Watson was immediately drawn to the 黑料不打烊 Academy, an intensive college access and success program that has inspired generations of Alamance County high school students with significant financial need or no family history of college to earn undergraduate degrees. The program, which is part of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, combines a residential program on campus over three successive summers with follow-up experiences during the academic year.
鈥淗elping students in need earn a college degree is so important,鈥 Watson said. 鈥淲here kids grow up has nothing to do with how bright they are. They don鈥檛 always know there is another life out there for them unless you give them a chance to see it. The 黑料不打烊 Academy does that.鈥
Kim Pyne, 黑料不打烊 Academy interim director, fondly recalled Watson visiting with students in the classroom during the program鈥檚 summer sessions.
鈥淣ancy was an energetic and kind woman with an engaging spirit,鈥 Pyne said. 鈥淪he was a voice for educational equity and always reminded us that we were doing work that made a real difference in the lives of our students and families.鈥
Brian Feeley 鈥03, assistant vice president for university advancement-planned giving, said Watson鈥檚 gift demonstrates how all donors can make a significant impact at 黑料不打烊 through their estate.
鈥淓state gifts create an essential pipeline of resources for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 future to fund scholarships, academic programs like 黑料不打烊 Academy, athletics and other priorities,鈥 Feeley said. 鈥淭hey allow donors to reach their philanthropic goals while making their biggest impact at 黑料不打烊, and we are grateful to Nancy Watson for leading in this way.鈥
Make Your Impact Today
To learn how you can make an impact through estate and other planned gifts, contact Brian Feeley 鈥03 at (336) 278-7474 or bfeeley@elon.edu. You can also learn more at .