Learning to Give: The Warnes’s Story
Barbara Warnes ’14 shared that her husband, Craig ’86, has demonstrated generosity and a deep commitment to supporting Utah State since the early years of their marriage. She credits him with making philanthropy a core part of their lives, ensuring that giving back remains a priority in their plans.
Barbara ’14 and Craig ’86 Warnes first met as students at Utah State University in the 1980s. Over the years, their appreciation for the university has grown, alongside their commitment to giving. This commitment is evident in their creation of two impactful scholarship endowments — one for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the other for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. These endowments will be pivotal in supporting future generations of students, empowering them to pursue their dreams.
Their story together began on a snowy, cold Valentine’s Day in 1985 when Craig invited Barbara to a USU men’s basketball game. While supporting himself through school, Craig drove a 1964 Rambler station wagon that had belonged to his grandparents. The car door ended up with a new dent that night as Craig tried to navigate around a parked car hidden by a large snow pile. The fun they shared at the game and, afterwards, marked the start of a relationship defined by humor and connection.
After a year of dating, Barbara left to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, meanwhile Craig completed his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Utah State and an MBA from the University of Utah. They kept in touch through letters during her mission and, when Barbara returned, the two reconnected and soon married.
Craig’s career began with a job in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, where they raised their two children, Julie and Brian. Despite the distance, their ties to Utah State remained strong. They included stops on campus when visiting family in Cache Valley and regularly attended basketball games at San Jose State University when the Aggies came to play. Just five years into their marriage, Craig was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The disease progression forced Craig to take an early retirement in 2005, after an eighteen-year career with Abbott Laboratories.
Five years later, the Warneses needed to make a change and returned to Cache Valley, where they could be closer to extended family. Julie began her freshman year at Utah State, and Barbara started working at USU’s Mountain West Center for Regional Studies in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS). The timing and circumstances provided the opportunity for Barbara to resume her education. She pivoted from accounting and completed her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 2014. That spring, she walked at commencement with her daughter, Julie, who earned her degree in English (creative writing) and a minor in statistics. Their son, Brian, followed in 2019 earning a bachelor’s degree in global communications with a minor in Spanish from CHaSS, along with an additional bachelor’s degree in economics from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. In November 2024, as a lifelong learner, Barbara earned an MBA from Western Governors University.
Reflecting on the moments that led to establishing scholarship endowments at Utah State, Barbara and Craig recognize several key experiences in learning to give.
Craig, a first-generation college student, began his higher education journey at Weber State University. He transferred to Utah State because he was offered a scholarship. Scholarships continued to help him achieve the life-changing opportunities that come with a college education.
“When I was in school, I applied for every scholarship I could, and whatever wasn’t covered, there was someone I knew in USU’s Student Services who would help me find more funding so that I was able to stay at Utah State,” Craig said. “It made all the difference and helped me recognize chances to do the same for others.”
Barbara said that Craig’s generosity and commitment to supporting Utah State was evident from the early years of their marriage, and she credits him with always keeping the desire to give an important part of their planning.
“Even early on, when we first got married, Craig would see the alumni mailers, and he’d say, ‘I want to give something to Utah State,’” Barbara reflected. “It was a small amount at first, but we always made a point to give.”
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Utah State alongside her daughter, Julie, was an incredibly proud moment for Barbara that made her realize the profound impact education has had on her family.
“As a non-traditional student, I was fortunate to receive scholarships that helped me complete my degree,” Barbara said. “That experience strengthened our desire to support others seeking education.”
For Barbara, her work at USU’s Mountain West Center for Regional Studies offered a firsthand look at how scholarships and endowments can transform students’ lives. This exposure, combined with hearing personal stories about philanthropy, sparked a shift in how she and Craig thought about their own resources and the timing for using those resources.
“I attended a workshop and heard someone speak about their family foundation,” Barbara recalled. “They posed the question, ‘If you could give, where would you want to give?’ That question helped me to think about what I value and the practical side of how to give.”
Another important moment in giving came during Barbara’s routine drive home from work when a popular radio show about money was playing on the radio. One day, the host was interviewing a guest who spoke about the concept of “planned spontaneous giving.” The idea was simple: if you want to be a giver, you can plan to give even in spontaneous ways by budgeting for it, no matter the amount, even if it’s just a few dollars a month. With that amount earmarked for giving, you don’t need to evaluate if you have funds to give, they are already there when you see an opportunity that aligns with your goals.
At that time, Barbara and Craig were already making small contributions to various programs at Utah State through the annual giving campaign and through USU employee payroll donations, as well as support for USU Athletics program. This pattern of giving prompted further discussion to consider ways to be more intentional about their giving. It was the beginning of a journey that would lead them to establish their own endowments at the university.
In 2021, the Warneses made the deliberate choice to fund an endowment in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS). Barbara was approached with an opportunity offering matching funds with the creation of a scholarship endowment. They didn’t feel like they were in that stage of life yet and worried about making that big of a commitment. Yet as they discussed it, they recognized the amount needed was about equal to the purchase price of a car they had recently finished paying for.
“We’d just paid off our car, and I realized, ‘We don’t need another new car, so we could buy a scholarship instead for the same amount of money in the same amount of time,’” Barbara said. “With this thought, it changed our giving to intentional rather than waiting for extra funds to be available. With that perspective, it simply became a decision of where to use our resources. It has been meaningful to meet the scholarship recipients and know we are making a difference right now.”
The couple’s decision to establish their endowment took on an even deeper meaning after the passing of Barbara’s mother and father. Barbara and Craig chose to use a portion of the modest inheritance they received as one of the yearly installments on their first endowment. The desire to include these funds as part of the family legacy at Utah State came after a conversation Barbara had with her father.
“One day we were discussing the probabilities of entering a contest and winning a large sum of money,” Barbara said. “I asked him, ‘What would you do with the money if you won?’ He said, ‘That is easy - I would give to three places that have had a significant impact on my life.’ Without hesitation, he listed Utah State University, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As he explained his feelings about coming to Utah State and getting an education, followed by many of his children and grandchildren doing the same, he helped me to see the immense gratitude he had for the way Utah State had changed and shaped our family’s trajectory.”
Inspired by the joy of giving, the couple decided to establish an additional fund in 2024: The Craig A. and Barbara Lindhardt Warnes Accounting Scholarship Endowment. This endowment, aimed at supporting accounting students, reflects Craig’s connection to his chosen profession and their shared belief in helping students as they launch their careers.
“Accounting is a great base for any business,” Craig explained. “It drives decision-making and helps people with managing their resources — it’s actually a very service-oriented field. Supporting students in this field is our way of helping like we were helped.”
Barbara and Craig find many ways to enjoy life. The couple enjoys attending Kansas (it’s a band) concerts. This shared love for music has created many cherished memories. Since traveling over 600 miles with their children to attend a Kansas concert during spring break in 2010, Barbara and Craig have enjoyed more than 30 Kansas concerts across the western United States.
“In October 2024, we were able to drive to Topeka, Kansas, where the band started in 1974, for their 50th-anniversary tour,” Barbara said. “It’s been very enjoyable to share this together.”
Coming full circle from their first date, Craig and Barbara have enjoyed holding season tickets to Aggie basketball games since moving back to Cache Valley. Also, their love for baseball, particularly for the San Francisco Giants, has shaped their family’s experiences. During their years in California, Craig would listen to the Giants games on the radio, passing his passion for the sport to Barbara and their children. Their connection to the team runs deep. They even own a commemorative brick at the Giants’ ballpark and have made it a family tradition to visit stadiums across the country.
“Baseball is one of the things that binds us together,” Craig explained. “It’s something we can always talk about and enjoy as a family.”
The Warnes have instilled in their children the values of education, family, and giving back. Their daughter, Julie, now works as the writing center coordinator at USU Tooele statewide campus, while their son, Brian, has pursued a career in international economics. Barbara and Craig say that both children feel that Utah State played a pivotal role in opening doors to opportunities that shaped their careers.
As the Warneses look to the future, they have thoughtfully planned for their legacy at Utah State University. Through a planned gift, Craig has designated Utah State as a beneficiary for a percentage of his life insurance policy, ensuring that the endowment in accounting will continue to benefit students for generations. Barbara, an employee at USU, also finds it easy to contribute through the university’s convenient payroll deduction program to regularly add funds to the endowment, allowing the scholarship to be awarded each year while waiting for the endowment to be fully funded.
Barbara and Craig Warnes have created a meaningful and enduring connection to the university. Their contributions will benefit generations of Aggies, as they continue to support Utah State’s mission of service, education, and community.
At USU, endowed gifts provide ongoing financial support for scholarships, faculty positions, and key university programs. These gifts benefit both the university and donors by preserving the value of the donation over time, despite inflation. As the endowment grows, more funds are available to support the specific areas chosen by the donor. Giving to USU is simple, and an endowment ensures that your contribution continues to make an impact for future generations.
Barbara and Craig Warnes first met as students at Utah State University in the 1980s. Over the years, their appreciation for the university has grown, alongside their commitment to giving.
Barbara and Julie, pictured here with Craig, shared a special milestone in 2014, graduating together from Utah State University. Barbara earned her degree in liberal arts, while Julie received a degree in English (creative writing) with a minor in statistics. That spring, mother and daughter proudly walked side by side at commencement, celebrating their achievements together.
Craig and Barbara’s love for baseball, particularly for the San Francisco Giants, has shaped their family’s experiences.
Craig and Barbara proudly celebrated with Brian when he earned his bachelor’s degree in global communications with a minor in Spanish from CHaSS in 2019. He also completed a second bachelor’s degree in economics from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, marking a significant academic achievement for the family.
Barbara and Craig enjoy attending Kansas (it’s a band) concerts. This shared love for music has created many cherished memories. Since traveling over 600 miles with their children to attend a Kansas concert during spring break in 2010, Barbara and Craig have enjoyed more than 30 Kansas concerts across the western United States.
Contact
Kimberly Larson
Business, Senior Development Director
kimberly.larson@usu.edu
Justin Barton
CHaSS, Senior Development Director
(435) 797-0769
justin.barton@usu.edu