Alum leaves $1M to support travel, study away

This story, written by Jennifer Messer, was originally published on UGA Today on Aug. 19, 2024.

Bruce Gregory, a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design, donated $1 million to his alma mater through a bequest that will help students study away.

The gift established the Bruce P. Gregory Travel Support Endowment, a fund that will support, in perpetuity, CED students wishing to travel to further their education.

“Mr. Gregory’s gift will have a profound effect on our programs, and we are deeply thankful for his loyalty and generosity,” said Sonia Hirt, dean of the college. “This amazing support for travel will, of course, enhance our curriculum and create incredible experiences for our students.”

Gregory, who passed away in January, earned his bachelor’s degree from the CED in 1957. With his degree, Bruce dedicated 30 years to the National Park Service and contributed significantly to the design and construction of sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway during the 1960s.

Gregory’s endowment will support students pursuing some of CED’s most impactful learning experiences: from studying historic preservation on Georgia’s coast to exploring archaeology in Croatia to examining urban design in Italy.

Expanding access to experiential learning opportunities like these has been a priority of the university for years, and that focus has made UGA a national leader in study abroad: the 2023 Open Doors report ranked UGA No. 6 overall in student study abroad participation in the U.S. Gregory’s gift will further expand student participation in these valuable experiences.

For many years, Gregory was an active CED alumnus, attending annual alumni events in Athens. His nephew, Phillip Gregory, remembers the “ragged red UGA baseball cap” that his uncle always wore.

Phillip was close to his uncle and enjoyed traveling to North Carolina to visit him. During those trips, Bruce would often take Phillip for drives and point out places he had a hand in designing. He showed Phillip the Mt. Pisgah campground, which Bruce designed in the mid 1960s. Phillip remembered “Bruce was quite proud of the work he did in and around the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I was always so impressed with what he had achieved.”