Enriching Minds Abroad

Through memorial gifts in honor of two of their late friends, Drs. Suzanne '00 and Bob Droleskey '75 are supporting deserving students at Texas A&M University by giving them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to continue their education abroad.

The couple’s gifts are named in honor of Professor Paolo Barucchieri and Dr. Rainer Zäck, two individuals who played an integral role in enhancing Texas A&M’s education abroad programs and who were passionate about exposing students to the beauty of diverse countries and cultures. By funding scholarships, the couple’s gifts will alleviate the financial burden students encounter when they decide to study abroad.

Paolo Barucchieri's love of immersing Aggies into Italian culture moved the Droleskeys to honor his legacy by endowing the Paolo Barucchieri Study Abroad Scholarship.

Igniting Imagination in Italy

The late Paolo Barucchieri, whose architecture career began in Florence and Rome in the 1960s, studied for his Master’s in Fine Arts at the University of Northern Colorado, where he eventually became a tenured faculty member. Barucchieri, a former executive professor for Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, was the longtime director of Texas A&M’s study abroad program in Italy.

He founded the first Texas A&M Italian program site at La Poggerina, as well as the second one, the Santa Chiara Study Center in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy, a 500-year-old ex-convent where Aggies have studied abroad for more than three decades. In addition to his directorship, Barucchieri taught a variety of art and architecture courses, including an arts and civilization course where he led students on countless study tours around the country. Although these programs began as architecture only, under Barucchieri’s leadership, the Santa Chiara program expanded to include students from all majors. In the early 2000s, Suzanne oversaw the Italy program for a number of years, and her working relationship with Barucchieri quickly warmed to one of friendship.

"Paolo ignited students’ imaginations and gave them the gift of expanded horizons.”
- Dr. Suzanne Droleskey '00

“He was a remarkable man whose vision and passion made it possible for more than 5,000 Texas A&M University students to have the life-changing experience of studying abroad,” Suzanne said. “In his classes, during his museum tours or over a cup of espresso in the café, Paolo ignited students’ imaginations and gave them the gift of expanded horizons.”

Barucchieri’s passion for and dedication to his students was unwavering, and their welfare was his ultimate priority. Even during his battle with cancer before his passing in 2012, he could only think of them and the program’s future. His love of immersing Aggies into Italian culture and his determination to help them open their minds to international perspectives moved the Droleskeys to honor his legacy by endowing the Paolo Barucchieri Study Abroad Scholarship to support students who participate in study abroad programs to Italy, especially at the Santa Chiara Study Center.

To honor Dr. Rainer Zäck's dedication to introducing students to German people and culture, the Droleskeys created an endowed scholarship to help students further their education in Germany.

For the Love of Germany

The late Dr. Rainer Zäck was the inspiration behind and founder of the Akademie für Internationale Bildung (Academy for International Education) in Bonn, Germany. Commonly referred to as “AIB,” Aggie students frequently study abroad at the center, where they can immerse themselves into Germany’s fascinating culture.

For years, Zäck was a professor at Bonn University and the University of Wuppertal. From 1985 to 1993, he taught German as a second language at the Akademie Niederberg, working primarily with foreign students studying in Germany. In 1993, he founded and became the director of AIB. In conjunction with Texas A&M faculty teaching German, Rainer developed a study abroad program for German language study.

Suzanne met Rainer in the early 2000s, through her leadership role as the executive director of international programs for students, which gave her the responsibility of overseeing International Student Services, Sponsored Student Programs and Study Abroad Programs. Zäck soon moved from the role of Suzanne’s colleague to that of friend to both Droleskeys.

“Rainer was an exceptional human being,” Suzanne said. “He was zealously dedicated to helping U.S. students learn about global issues through studying abroad in his beloved Germany.” His passion laid the foundation for programs that introduced thousands of students—many hundreds of them Aggies—to German people and culture through homestays, formal outings, internships and informal engagement with German students that developed into lifelong friendships.

Zäck lost his battle with cancer in April 2019. To honor his life’s work, the Droleskeys endowed the Dr. Rainer Zäck Study Abroad Scholarship to help students further their education in Germany, especially at AIB.

Drs. Suzanne '00 and Bob Droleskey '75 give Texas A&M students once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to continue their education abroad.

“We hope these scholarships give students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover and learn in other parts of the world, embracing and continuing the vision of these two amazing men.”
- Drs. Suzanne ’00 and Bob Droleskey ’75

Two Legacies, One Vision

The Droleskeys’ gifts inspire students to embark on journeys to Europe and broaden their global perspectives and passion for learning. Aggies who receive their scholarships not only fulfill their aspirations to study abroad, but also honor Barucchieri’s and Zäck’s legacies of creating an international community in which students can challenge their minds and embrace diverse cultures.

“We share Paolo’s and Rainer’s belief in the betterment of the student and expansion of their worldview, which has led to the creation of these funds,” Suzanne and Bob concluded. “We hope these scholarships give students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover and learn in other parts of the world, embracing and continuing the vision of these two amazing men.”

A gift in memory or in honor of a spouse, parent, sibling, relative or friend is a generous and thoughtful way to recognize a loved one while also supporting Texas A&M University. Many individuals even use honorary or memorial gifts as a way to celebrate important life milestones, such as birthdays, graduations or anniversaries.

Honorary and memorial gifts to the Texas A&M Foundation can be tailored to fit the interests and values of your loved one, making it a true extension of that person’s life and accomplishments. Discover the different ways that your gift can create a living legacy for someone who has made an undeniable difference in your life.

Honor Your Loved One

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