Nancy Watson '66
"Elon's doing what every college and university in the country ought to be doing," Watson said after making her estate gift. "They are reaching out to serve the community by serving students who will be good college students and better citizens for tomorrow. I think that's phenomenal."
The $1.5 million estate gift was one of many philanthropic contributions Watson made during her nearly six decades of engagement with Elon. She endowed the Nancy Turner Watson '66 and Dr. James Watson Jr. '65 Endowed Scholarship in honor of her husband, supported The Inn at Elon and was a devoted annual giving donor, including making gifts on Elon Day. She was a member of The Elon Society and Order of the Oak, Elon's planned giving recognition society.
"Nancy Watson was a powerful force for good at Elon and in the world," said James B. Piatt Jr., senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs. "She cared deeply about education and knew how vital access to quality education was to young people, their families and to society. Nancy lived Elon's values, and we are grateful that her legacy will be felt for generations to come."
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. '65, who earned his Elon degree in mathematics and physics. Jim 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's degree and doctorate in physics, while Nancy earned her master's 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's 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 Elon 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 Elon's Center for Access and Success , combines a residential program on campus over three successive summers with follow-up experiences during the academic year.
"Helping students in need earn a college degree is so important," Watson said. "Where kids grow up has nothing to do with how bright they are. They don't always know there is another life out there for them unless you give them a chance to see it. The Elon Academy does that."
Kim Pyne, Elon Academy interim director, fondly recalled Watson visiting with students in the classroom during the program's summer sessions.
"Nancy was an energetic and kind woman with an engaging spirit," Pyne said. "She 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."
Brian Feeley '03, assistant vice president for university advancement-planned giving, said Watson's gift demonstrates how all donors can make a significant impact at Elon through their estate.
"Estate gifts create an essential pipeline of resources for Elon's future to fund scholarships, academic programs like Elon Academy, athletics and other priorities," Feeley said. "They allow donors to reach their philanthropic goals while making their biggest impact at Elon, and we are grateful to Nancy Watson for leading in this way."