Brian L. Harlan Memorial Endowment

Dec 27, 2011 | Excellence Funds & Program Support

Gifts to the Brian L. Harlan Memorial Endowment benefit the Counseling and Mental Health Center at UT Austin and support the Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Program, which raises awareness of college student suicide by engaging faculty, staff and students to take an active role in suicide prevention. Statistics on college-age young adults show that roughly one in four experiences depression severe enough to impact their ability to function and one in five seriously contemplates suicide.

Brian L. Harlan

Brian was a 20-year-old student at The University of Texas at Austin at the time of his death. The Harlan family hopes that his endowment will help students become aware of the services available through the Counseling and Mental Health Center and to encourage students to seek the assistance that is offered. The family believes that Brian would be proud to have his name associated with the Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Program.

Brian came from a family of Longhorns. His parents Nancy and Larry and younger brothers Kyle and Jason all graduated from UT, and his sister Kendall, a TCU alum, is also a Longhorn fan. Three aunts, an uncle, a cousin and a grandparent are also UT alums.

Brian loved the Longhorns so much that there was never any doubt he would attend the University. His best friend, Jeff Welch, attended Texas A&M and Brian showed off his Longhorn pride while the two watched UT take on the Aggies in a basketball game in College Station. As shown in this picture, Brian stood in the middle of the A&M student section, his burnt orange outshining a sea of maroon. Brian and Jeff loved that photograph and it was the source of many great laughs.

Brian Harlan cheering the Longhorns from Texas A&M’s student section.

Brian, Nancy and Larry’s first-born child, was a joy from the first day he came into their lives. He possessed a great sense of humor and loved to tell jokes and stories. He had a great laugh that was contagious with everyone around him. Brian was caring toward others and a loyal friend to those who knew him.

Brian was active in the Prince of Peace Catholic Community and made his best friends there. Through this youth group he grew and matured into a caring and loving young adult. Although he is missed by many, he is remembered through this endowment that continues to assist others — as Brian would have wanted.

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