Janetta Kleier

Wayland has long been a place that believes in the transformational power of higher education to shape the lives of students. And with a Christian environment that nurtures students on the spiritual side, that belief is even stronger.

That’s why alumni like Janetta Kleier are so vital to the mission, providing valuable gifts to bless students both now and into the future.

“Being in Florida, my physical involvement with Wayland is limited, but Alan and I have been blessed financially so we both support our universities. We want to make sure that students who want to go to college have the help they need,” says Janetta, who earned a degree in sociology and religion in 1975 at the Plainview campus. “Wayland was for me my first opportunity away from home, and it gave me a good basis for my whole life.”

Janetta followed her brother Ernest Topper to Wayland in 1972 and got involved in campus life. She worked primarily for nonprofit organizations in her hometown of Odessa before marrying Alan and following his work in the oil industry all over the world. When they retired a few years back and began to make their estate plans, they both included their alma maters.

“Planned gifts help Wayland plan for the future. Giving a planned gift helps them know there is a future and you don’t have to live day to day,” says Janetta. “It works like my retirement plan. Wayland can survive this year on tuition but planned gifts help them know what’s down the road.”

When it comes to what “passion projects” to support, Janetta is clear: “My favorite initiative is the students. Everyone is different and has a different path and interest, and I don’t want to limit what we do with our funds. I want to make sure that what I give helps some student attain the path for their life and what God is leading them to do. If we can help even one student get through the university and achieve their goals, that’s what we want.”

Another area of passion is developing tomorrow’s leaders who will serve the world in various fields, ideally with a faith-based foundation that Wayland aims to develop. For Janetta, being a part of a student’s journey as they pursue their dreams at Wayland and removing even a portion of the financial stress is key. As someone who walked these same halls and enjoyed the unique Wayland experience, she wants others to have that same opportunity.

“The minute I stepped on campus at Wayland, I felt at home, and my parents felt comfortable with me here. But it wasn’t just the atmosphere; it was the administration, the professors and the students. We became a family,” she recalls. “When you walked across campus, you would see your professors, and they were approachable to us. You can tell they cared about you not just as a student but as a person.”

That’s why in addition to giving themselves, the Kleiers are passionate about encouraging others to see their role in supporting higher education and the blessing it provides.

“I tell people to give what you can. No matter what the amount, every dollar counts. It reminds me of the widow’s mite story; she gave what she could,” says Janetta. “Every little bit helps. It’s like a thousand-piece puzzle, and every person is part of the picture. If one person holds back their gift, the picture isn’t complete.”

On the other side of that blessing is Kira Weatherton, a brand new May 2023 graduate who got to experience what Janetta described, just 50 years later. The Clarendon native jumped into the BSM, cheerleading, student government, the chapel praise team and her studies in molecular biology with gusto, and she relished the relationships and experiences she got at Wayland.

“It has been amazing here, and I definitely wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Kira says. “I’ve really had the time of my life here. I found amazing friends. I have an amazing church where I get to serve. My main purpose in life is to be able to serve others and just love people as much as possible.”

Now a vivacious graduate with an infectious smile, Kira is channeling her passion into a graduate degree at Wayland in Christian ministry before she heads to medical school aiming for a career working with children.

Thanks to forward-thinking donors like Janetta and Alan, students like Kira can graduate Wayland with a bright future, knowing that they are fulfilling God’s plan in their lives.