How This Couple Turned Gratitude Into Generational Giving

Even while advancing in their careers — Aleida as a decorated engineer and senior vice president of bp and Ed in the financial services sector — the couple is committed to showing their children the value of generosity, whether through volunteering time, resources or service. Aleida has remained connected to the university as a member of the chemical engineering advisory board and the engineering advisory council, and the couple’s ties with Texas A&M deepened when their youngest son, Gabriel ’22, became an Aggie. “Staying involved made the university feel like a part of my life, not just a chapter I closed after graduation,” Aleida said.

When Gabriel was at Texas A&M, the Rioses established their first Foundation Excellence Award (FEA) to provide scholarships for students from underserved groups. “Equal access to education is important to us, and the Foundation helped us create and direct a scholarship that truly reflects our values,” Aleida added. For Gabriel’s graduation gift, they created a second scholarship in his name and chose to fund half of it, encouraging him to complete the gift when he’s ready.

When the Rioses began estate planning, they considered how to build their legacy. “We see the difference our current gift makes,” Aleida said. “But we also asked ourselves how we could continue setting that example even after we’re gone,” Ed continued.