University of Houston nets $4.5 million gift from local family estate

HOUSTON, Texas -- The University of Houston Cougars are no doubt licking their wounds after a sound dismissal by Baylor University at the NCAA Men's Final Four Tournament on April 3. But now, the Coogs have a reason to roar again.

SEE RELATED: University of Houston's men's basketball team returns home after Final Four run

UH received a $4.5 million gift to establish an endowed chair in the Cullen College of Engineering; a scholarship endowment available to students throughout the university; and an endowed lecture series focused on equity and social justice, which will reside in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

This new gift comes courtesy of the Thomas Michael Panos family estate per, a press release.

WATCH: UH coach partnership with Houston billionaire helps bring exposure

"You have to get the right coach, you have to get a good practice facility and then you have to get a great place for the fans to come so they can cheer your team."

The video above is from a previous story.

For more on this story, continue reading from our ABC13 partners at Houston CultureMap.