Cristina (ABJ ’98) and Baxter (BS ’98) Tharin remember UGA in their living trust.
At a glance
The Tharins took full advantage of what UGA had to offer during their time in Athens. They both were involved in various campus organizations and also discovered their professional passions.
The couple and their two sons now live in Anchorage, Alaska where Baxter, a UGA 40 Under 40 honoree in 2015, now serves as a radiologist at Joint Base Elemendorf Richardson.
The Tharins chose to leave a legacy at UGA through a living trust to benefit several areas of campus:
- Alumni Association’s Endowed Scholarship Fund,
- Let All the Big Dawgs Eat Food Scholarship,
- and WUOG-FM (where Christina served as the general manager while enrolled at UGA).
“A living trust gives us peace of mind that there is a clear plan in place. If an untimely event were to happen while our children are young, their care is the priority. Once they are grown, that emphasis shifts to organizations, like UGA, that make the world a better place.”
Baxter Tharin
It was over trays of chemicals and piles of photo paper in a dark room that Baxter and Cristina Tharin first met at the University of Georgia.
“As a science major, I stuck out like a sore thumb in that photography class,” Baxter jokes. “My classmates were amused that I’d arrive early to mix the bath of chemicals for developing negatives. I was a chemistry major, after all.”
The pair took advantage of all that UGA offered. Cristina was a member of Delta Epsilon Iota and Phi Kappa Phi, and served as general manager of WUOG-FM, the student-run radio station.
Baxter, an Honors student, spent most of his time preparing for chemistry exams, but participated in the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Program, conducted organic chemistry research, and joined University Round Table discussions.
The couple now has two sons, Charlie, 11, and Davis, 9. Baxter’s career in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps led the family to recently relocate from Las Vegas to Anchorage, Alaska, where he serves as a radiologist at Joint Base Elemendorf Richardson. Baxter was named a UGA 40 Under 40 honoree in 2015.
“It is gratifying to provide health care to the men and women who protect our freedom,” Baxter says. “UGA prepared me for my career by helping me develop critical thinking skills, honing my interest in scientific exploration, and broadening my understanding of topics ranging from the social sciences to the arts.”
As the Tharins planned their living trust, they contemplated which organizations had made the greatest impact on their lives, and would make a similar impact on future generations. UGA was at the top of their list.
“A living trust gives us peace of mind that there is a clear plan in place,” Baxter says. “If an untimely event were to happen while our children are young, their care is the priority. Once they are grown, that emphasis shifts to supporting organizations, like UGA, that make the world a better place.”
The couple designated their support to three areas of campus: the Alumni Association’s Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Let All the Big Dawgs Eat Food Scholarship, which ensures UGA students in need have access to regular meals, and WUOG-FM.
“UGA shaped our personal and professional lives forever,” Baxter says. “When UGA graduates succeed, they should have a sense of pride in giving back to UGA knowing that their support will help others thrive.”
Join the Tharins and leave your legacy at UGA. Visit give.uga.edu/plannedgiving to learn how gifts donated through a will or trust can meet your financial and charitable goals while supporting UGA in the long term.
