Within her high school graduating class of nearly 900 seniors, including 12 National Merit Scholars, in Richardson, Texas, Rice University was considered the gold standard, said Lavelle Fritz Ferris ’82. “If you were smart, you went to Rice.” When she arrived on campus, she found not only academic rigor but also a community where she truly belonged. “It’s where I found my people,” she said.

Although she majored in chemical engineering, Lavelle eagerly explored disciplines far beyond her field. “One of the things I loved about Rice was the ability to take any class I wanted, if I had the time. I took Professor Kolenda’s philosophy class; I took Professor Brody’s class on atheism,” she said. “As an engineer, if I had gone to another university, I never would have been exposed to that material.”

Lavelle also embraced the social and residential life at Will Rice College. She was a rider in Beer Bike and served as bike captain for two years. Although she was not a “huge athlete,” Lavelle also competed in intramural sports for fun. “I did as much as I could. College was an experience.”

A culture of giving took root early in her alumni years. When she graduated, the Brown Foundation offered a four-to-one match for donations from young alumni. “That match got me started as a donor,” Lavelle said. Rohm and Haas, where she worked as a chemical engineer, also matched donations. Her contribution was multiplied on a grand scale, and that philanthropic habit has continued ever since.

In 2000, Lavelle helped to fund the Jeanne Carroll Arnold Scholarship Fund in memory of her Will Rice roommate, Jeanne Carroll Arnold ’82. Lavelle continues to add to the scholarship and promotes it to classmates.

Lavelle’s commitment to the Rice community has remained strong. She volunteered enthusiastically with the Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admissions, even during the four years she lived in Singapore, and co‑chaired her class’s reunion giving committee. “Rice people are great people,” she said. “When you meet a Rice person in the wild, you almost always feel like you can chat.”

After leaving Rohm and Haas and while raising twin boys, Lavelle became a math and science teacher at Gatesville High School. Working closely with students reinforced her belief that financial barriers should never limit a young person’s potential.

“I don’t want any kid to say, ‘I got into Rice, but I couldn’t afford it.’ That would break my heart.”

So, in 2025, she and her husband, Lonnie, created the Lavelle Fritz Ferris Endowed Scholarship.

“Every gift matters,” said Lavelle. “I wanted to do my part to support The Rice Investment to help ensure a Rice education remains accessible to every student, regardless of their background.”

Accelerate the Vision

To learn how you can support Rice students, contact Kade Smith, director of development at 713-348-5344 or kade.i.smith@rice.edu.

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