Lee and Philip Zinn, B.A. ’78, love to travel. “By going to other places,” says Philip, “you can learn how people in other countries do things differently. Travel gives you an opportunity to broaden your perspective.”
Since they married in 1997, Philip and Lee have visited Australia, Antarctica, Africa, Europe and various locations across North America. Through their travels, they’ve discovered a lot about each other and the world. One of the things they’ve learned is an easy way to strike up a conversation just about anywhere on the planet: Wear burnt orange.
“No matter where in the world we are, if I’m in a Longhorns T-shirt,” says Lee, “someone will say ‘Hook ’em!’”
With more than 580,000 living UT alumni across 176 countries, Longhorn Nation and the influence of its graduates spreads far beyond the Forty Acres. Philip and Lee want UT students to discover how travel can create a sense of global community as well as shape and expand their minds. They’ve made a future gift to UT to establish the Zinn Family Scholarship for Plan II Education Abroad. Their generosity will create a permanent endowment to provide scholarship support for students in the College of Liberal Arts participating in study abroad programs through the Plan II Honors Program.
A Missed Opportunity
Lee knows how travel can change someone’s life. Born and raised in Israel, she came to the U.S. on a work visa as a 20-year-old. She was about to return to her homeland to start medical school when she met Philip at a mutual friend’s dinner party. One of the first things she learned about the man who became her husband was that he was a graduate of the Plan II Honors program at UT.
“It was practically the first thing he said after introducing himself. ‘Plan II’ is practically his middle name,” Lee jokes.
Philip, whose siblings Andrew and Dorothy are also UT alumni, oozes with pride in his liberal arts education. With plans to go to medical school after earning his bachelor’s degree, he focused on Plan II courses that would expand his general knowledge, saving the medical training for later. He credits Plan II for helping him achieve professional success during his 40-plus years as a San Antonio-based cardiologist, which included the distinction of being named a “Texas Monthly Super Doctor” for nine consecutive years.
“Plan II is a great program,” says Philip. “Some of the classes had 10 people or fewer, and it gave me an opportunity to interact with some of UT’s top professors. I learned some very meaningful skills — how to think and how to analyze — and Plan II gave me a good appreciation of a variety of ideas and perspectives. It helped me learn how to interact with others.”
Philip does have one regret about his years as a Plan II student: He did not enroll in any study abroad programs.
“The opportunities were there,” he says, “but doing a study abroad program wasn’t as commonplace as it is now.”
Continuing to Grow
The Zinns no longer miss opportunities available through UT. They attend alumni events and connect with friends Philip made during his undergraduate years.
“Every year, we meet up with a group of graduates who come from all over the country for the Texas-OU game in Dallas,” he says.
Campus events have inspired the Zinns to give back to the University. “We come to many alumni events,” says Lee. “They are all fascinating and they make you want to continue to grow and be part of the community. UT has been so good to us, so why not contribute?”
With their gift, the Zinns are keeping their Longhorn love alive for future generations. Their scholarship fund will give Plan II students the chance to discover something about themselves and others.
“Plan II and UT gave me a lot,” says Philip. “We hope our gift will help someone discover a path that is really meaningful to them and perhaps help them discover something they hadn’t originally planned to do.”
This article originally appeared in Texas Leader Magazine.