ODU Receives $300K from Alumnus George Jensen ’70 to Endow Scholarship and Name Lab
April 28, 2016
Old Dominion University recently received a $300,000 gift from alumnus George W. Jensen ('70), to name the Jensen Communications Lab at the Strome College of Business and establish the Linda Holmgren Jensen Endowed Scholarship for the Arts in the College of Arts and Letters.
The state-of-the-art communications lab will enable the Strome College of Business to offer negotiations, professional sales and business communications courses. Students will be able to hone interview, negotiation and sales skills through interpersonal practice, as well as application of the latest in technology-based education.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student majoring in art at the College of Arts and Letters.
Jensen said, as an alumnus, he sees firsthand the ways in which giving improves the lives of students and faculty and wants to inspire others.
"Giving to ODU multiplies gifts innumerably," Jensen said. "Giving brings peace to the world."
Dean Jeff Tanner, of the Strome College of Business, noted the importance of Jensen's gift that will support a critical platform to accelerate students' success.
"Jobs in professional sales, for example, are in high demand and pay well," Tanner said. "With this lab, employers will find our graduates will offer accelerated performance outcomes. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Jensen for his support and vision."
George Jensen is the founder and president of Amplex Corporation, which is headquartered in the Dallas area of northern Texas. Jensen earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the Strome College of Business in 1970, and a master's in liberal arts from Southern Methodist University in 1990. While at Old Dominion he was a member of the Mace and Crown newspaper staff and the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. His wife, Linda Jensen ('72) earned a bachelor's degree in art/secondary education from the Darden College of Education and was a member of the University's Student Government Association and the Pi Beta Phi women's fraternity. Her late father, Wilton Holmgren ('69), was also an alumnus having earned a Master of Science degree from the College of Sciences.