Scott and Lenna Summy have established an endowment to support the law school’s Advocacy Program.
Scott and Lenna Summy recently gifted $2 million to Texas Tech University’s School of Law to establish the Scott and Lenna Summy Elite Advocates Endowment. The gift will provide holistic support for the law school’s Advocacy Program.
“Lenna and I are excited to support Texas Tech Law’s Advocacy Program,” said Scott. “I still remember how it felt to dream of becoming a trial lawyer, and this program helped me realize that dream. We’re donating to support students who dream big and work hard, hoping to help them find their own path to success.”
Through the Advocacy Program, students learn and perfect practical legal skills by conducting legal research; drafting briefs; and participating in regional, national and international competitions that test client counseling, negotiation and oral argument skills. In the past 44 years, the program has taken home 55 national and international championships, 125 state and regional championships and 141 individual awards.
The Summys’ gift strives to build on the success of the program and push it to even greater heights. Funding from the endowment will be used for scholarships for students in the Advocacy Program, competition support, travel expenses and other advocacy-related needs.
“We are so grateful for this incredibly generous gift from Scott and Lenna,” said Jack Wade Nowlin, dean of the School of Law. “Texas Tech Law is dedicated to offering outstanding practical training opportunities. With this support, we can take our Advocacy Program to the next level and provide students with greater opportunities to develop their skills, participate in national competitions and have a meaningful impact in the legal profession, just as Scott Summy has.”
A 1990 graduate of the Texas Tech School of Law, Scott was originally led to Texas Tech by the school’s outstanding reputation for advocacy. Scott said their gift was inspired by the cherished opportunities he had through the Advocacy Program as a student, as well as the incredible mentorship he received from Don Hunt, faculty adviser and head coach, and Murray Hensley, mock trial coach. He also said his participation in the Advocacy Program has been essential to his career success.
Scott is the leader of the environmental litigation group and a shareholder at Baron & Budd in Dallas. He has been nationally recognized for his legal work representing thousands of individuals and public entities facing environmental contamination. Scott is also a 2023 School of Law Distinguished Alumnus and serves as a trustee on the Texas Tech Law School Foundation Board.