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College of Engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio Online Magazine

Donor Profile: Cathy and Frank Burzik

Cathy and Frank Burzik
Cathy and Frank Burzik

Cathy and Frank Burzik believe in the power of hard work and a good education. The couple, who have been living in San Antonio since 2006, recently gave a $250,000 gift from the Catherine and Francis Burzik Foundation to establish the Burzik Professorship in Engineering Design at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s College of Engineering. The position supports the research and teaching of engineering design to nurture student-developed technology ventures and train the next generation of engineering business leaders.

“Both Frank and I don’t think we would be where we are without our educations and we wanted to give back,” said Cathy. “I think it is really hard to do well without a good education, so when Ricardo [Romo] asked us to consider creating an endowed professorship, we decided it was something that we wanted to do for UTSA.”

Currently, Heather Shipley, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, holds the Burzik Professorship in Engineering Design.

“Endowments like the Burzik’s are invaluable to the college and the faculty that receive them,” said Shipley. “The endowment can help propel the university and the college towards Tier One by providing resources that benefi t my research and teaching activities which in turn benefi ts the college and our students. I am very grateful and honored that the Burzik’s gifted this endowment.”

In addition to being passionate about education, Cathy and Frank Burzik are also passionate about ballroom dancing.

In addition to the endowed professorship at UTSA, the Burzik’s have used the Catherine and Francis Burzik Foundation to support their alma maters — the University of Buffalo, Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

“If I could share any advice with a student who is struggling, I would say, ‘Don’t give up.’”
— Cathy Burzik

While pursuing their own education, things weren’t always easy for Cathy and Frank. Cathy vividly recalled how, in the freezing Buffalo, New York, winters, she’d carry 40 pounds of textbooks with her as she took three bus transfers (each way) through rough parts of the city to get back and forth between classes because she couldn’t afford a car. Or how when she and Frank fi rst got married, they would have $2 for the week to spend on food and would buy a box of Encore beef and just eat that to get through. But even through the hard times and even harder winters, Cathy and Frank both completed their education because they realized that giving up wasn’t an option.

Frank and Cathy Burzik
In addition to being passionate about education, Cathy and Frank Burzik are also passionate about ballroom dancing.

“If I could share any advice with a student who is struggling, I would say, ‘Don’t give up. Don’t trade tomorrow for the pleasure of today,’” said Cathy.

The Burzik’s passion for philanthropy goes beyond supporting education, they also donate to a number of performing arts organizations including the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio Symphony and Ballet San Antonio. Their passion for performing arts has led to their participation in ballroom dancing competitions, a hobby that has taken them across the country during the past six years.

“Dancing has become a really important part of our lives,” said Frank. “People who dance have lower rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia – it keeps you young, keeps you healthy.”

“And, we have a big network of dancing friends here in San Antonio,” added Cathy. “That part of dancing is really fun – the friends we have made at the studio.”

Besides being an avid ballroom dancer and philanthropist, Cathy is active in the healthcare fi eld and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) and the Boar d of Directors of the San Antonio Branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve Board. Additionally, Cathy serves as a General Partner in Targeted Technology, a healthcare related fund that invests in early stage medical device, life science and biotech companies. Frank is active in several philanthropic endeavors including serving on the Board of Mission Road, an organization dedicated to helping developmentally handicapped individuals lead independent, healthy lives. He also serves on the Board of Ballet San Antonio.

– Deborah Silliman Wolfe/College of Engineering


 

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