A Couple’s Bold Dedication to UTSA and Preserving Texan Culture
Melinda ’83 and Daniel “Danny” Bryant have long been devoted to helping students pursue higher education. As loyal donors to UTSA for several decades, they have even named UTSA as a beneficiary in their estate plans and retirement accounts, establishing several endowed scholarships and an annual scholarship to support students immediately. Most recently, Danny pledged further support to UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) with a gift in his will.
Melinda, who earned her accounting degree from UTSA in 1983, established the Melinda H. Bryant Endowed Athletic Scholarship and the Melinda H. Bryant, CPA Endowed Scholarship in Accounting. The couple also created the Melinda and Danny Bryant Annual Scholarship in Accounting, first awarded in fall 2018.
“Both Danny and I were first-generation college students, and affording college for us was a struggle. We’re fortunate to be able to give back to a university with so many students who are also the first in their families to pursue a degree,” shared Melinda. “We’ve met the scholarship recipients over the years and have been able to see the impact of scholarships first-hand. We’re so proud of what they’ve done. The best thing in life is to give—it truly is.”
Though a graduate of what is now known as Texas State University, Danny has supported UTSA alongside Melinda, even becoming a joint member of the UTSA Alumni Association in 2011. His recent commitment to include the Institute of Texan Cultures in his estate plans reflects a lifelong connection that began in his childhood.
Danny fondly recalls attending HemisFair ‘68, the 1968 World’s Fair in San Antonio, when he was ten years old. “I remember visiting all the pavilions, and the Texas Pavilion, now the ITC, really stood out to me. I remember the dome with all the photos and videos being shown, the African American house with the newspaper on the walls, and even hearing crickets chirping as part of a display. Those memories have always stuck with me,” he reminisced.
Over the years, Danny and Melinda have enjoyed attending the annual Texas Folklife Festival together, further immersing themselves in the various Texan cultures and reaffirming their commitment to the ITC. Looking ahead, Danny hopes his gift to the ITC will inspire future generations.
“With the location changing, I hope the ITC will be more prominent and well-attended, spurring interest in Texana, with both San Antonio locals and visitors,” said Danny. “Most importantly, I hope it will spark curiosity for young people and generations to come.”
