Estate planning is usually not at the top of a priority list for a couple in their 20s, but for Yancy and Christina Wright, it seemed only practical to establish a will.

“We are planners,” Christina said. “We plan everything, and as we started acquiring assets, we decided that making a will was something that needed to be done.”

So the Wrights met with their lawyer and started discussing how their estate would be distributed if they were to pass away. After providing for family, the Wrights decided to name the OSU Foundation as beneficiary to the remaining 50 percent of their estate.

“It wasn’t a big topic of discussion because we both know that OSU means a lot to us,” said Christina.

Yancy and Christina both graduated with degrees from OSU’s College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources. Yancy earned a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences in 2001 and a master’s in agricultural economics in 2003, and Christina earned a bachelor’s in agricultural economics in 2005 before attending the University of Arkansas and earning a master’s in education in 2007.

During their time at OSU they made lifelong bonds with faculty, were involved in student organizations and met each other on the fifth floor of Ag Hall while Yancy was working as a graduate assistant. Friendships were formed and life-changing decisions were made as the couple worked to complete their education.

“I’ve never had a point in my life like when I was at OSU that I had so many people to share experiences with,” Yancy said. “Especially in the college of ag. where everyone was so close-knit. It was like a family because we had so many good times, but even in the bad times, we were there for each other.”

Coming from a family of University of Oklahoma graduates, Yancy decided to attend OSU because he wanted to pursue a future in agriculture. After graduating with his master’s, he started his career with John Deere & Company and now works with seeding products in international markets from its branch in Moline, Ill.

Christina, however, grew up in Stillwater and fulfilled a lifelong dream when she became an OSU student. Her extracurricular activities in college prompted her to seek a master’s degree in higher education leadership, and she now works as assistant director of alumni programs for the University of Iowa Alumni Association.

“I’m very proud to be an OSU alum,” Christina said. “It’s a respected institution and wherever I take me degree, I take it with a sense of pride.”

The Wrights’ estate gift will be designated as an unrestricted gift to CASNR, allowing the college to use the funds toward its greatest needs.

“Who knows what (the college’s) needs will be in 70 years?” Christina said. “We don’t know that, but we do know that the people at OSU will know what’s in the best interest of the university and we’re putting our trust in them.”

Yancy and Christina received scholarships while attending OSU and recognize the value of philanthropy and how a gift today can change a student’s future. Eventually the Wrights hope to be able to endow a scholarship for OSU students, but until then, they’ll continue to do what they can to support the university.

“In rough economic times, when people are losing their jobs and we see their struggles, we want even more to do what we can to help those around us,” the Wrights said. “We can’t establish an endowed scholarship right now, but we are able to include OSU in our will. We will always do what we can to give back at every stage of our lives.”

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