Atmos Energy Corp. recently honored its executive chairman, Robert W. Best, by creating a scholarship in his name. The $100,000 gift to UT Dallas will help students reach their academic goals by paying for a number of school-related expenses, including tuition, books and housing.

ATMOS Endows New Scholarship

Executives and guests at the dedication of Atmos Energy’s Charles K. Vaughan Center in Plano included Executive Chairman Robert W. Best (left), whom the natural gas company’s board of directors honored with a scholarship in his name.

“UT Dallas sincerely appreciates the generosity of Atmos Energy and the impact this gift will have on our students,” President David E. Daniel said.

Atmos Energy announced the new scholarship in April at the dedication of the company’s Charles K. Vaughan Center in Plano. Located just a few miles from UT Dallas, the Vaughan Center was designed to improve and standardize training for employees, as well as increase safety and reliability.

“Our University shares more than just a close proximity to Atmos Energy,” Daniel said. “We share a common vision of improving the quality of life for people in North Texas and beyond through the development and application of new technologies and by a continuous commitment to serve our core constituents.”

Gas City, the Vaughan Center’s simulation of a typical community, allows Atmos Energy employees to study gas meters and pipelines before they work on them in the field.

“We’re proud to partner with UT Dallas, which has been so supportive of our developing the Vaughan Center, to advance the goals of both the university and Atmos Energy,” said Best. “We understand the vision for UT Dallas becoming a Tier One research university for Texas and we want to help make this happen.”