INSIDE THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Now.
SUMMER 2013
TSU Alumnus
MICHAEL STRAHAN
TSU Alumnus
KERMIT CRAWFORD
IN THIS ISSUE: Stars come out for Spring Commencement, Viola Davis visits campus, alumni updates and more!
INSIDE
Now.
Texas Southern University
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY 3100 Cleburne Street Houston, TX 77004 www.tsu.edu VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Wendy Adair ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Eva Pickens EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS Connie L. Cochran EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Carolyne Oliver
October 17 - 19, 2013 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013
12th Annual Alumni and Community Tiger Paw Golf Classic Alumni Welcome and Recognition Reception
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2013
The Homecoming Festival on the Tiger Walk
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Greg Holland
The President’s Gala honoring top alumni and community leaders
MANAGING EDITOR Meera Bowman-Johnson
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2013
The Grand Tiger Parade with its colorful floats, high-stepping bands, marching units and decorated cars. It is to date, one of the largest parades in downtown Houston with over 152 entrants and thousands of spectators watching from the sidelines.
DESIGNER Haven Barnes COVER ART Andrew McCray UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER Earlie Hudnall, Jr. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY Felix Sanchez WRITERS Angela Anderson Meera Bowman-Johnson Kendrick Callis Tilicia Johnson Aswad Walker COPY EDITOR Darcia M. Williams COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK Office of Alumni Relations Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Street Houston, Texas 77004 713-313-1363 tsualumni@tsu.edu
PROUD of our
IMPACT RT 2013
PRESIDENT ’S REPO
2012 PRESIDENT’S REPORT www.tsu.edu/impact
The Ultimate Tailgating Experience that draws more than 50,000 to the campus The Homecoming Football Game with the TSU Tigers taking on the Alcorn State Braves in TSU’s new state-of-the-art facility, BBVA Compass Stadium, where tens of thousands will enjoy the gridiron contest.
Leading up to the Homecoming activities, the University will host an exciting tribute to legends and leaders in the music and entertainment industry during the summer of 2013, called Keeping the Music Alive. This event will feature local artists performing hits of Luther Vandross, Dianna Ross, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, The O’Jays, The Temptations and others. It’s a class act with an adult audience. Events will be held one Saturday a month.
BE THERE!
For more information about our Homecoming events, call the Office of Alumni Relations & Special Events at 713-313-1363.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE From Boston to Oklahoma, individuals are heroically stepping up to overcome adversity, evidencing the best of the human spirit. This same inner drive to share one’s best with the world is in ample supply at Texas Southern University, where members of our global community remain committed to staying at the top of their game. Academy Award-nominated actress Viola Davis, star of The Help, provided some help of her own to students and community members who turned out in record numbers to hear Ms. Davis’ impassioned plea to celebrate your story by being true to your passion. This same spirit of giving the world your best was overflowing with international flavor at the grand opening of the Confucius Institute. The event underscored the winning combination for 21st century success—celebrating one’s own heritage while also embracing other cultures. And speaking of success, the University openly shared with the general public multiple signs of institutional influence. The production of the 2012 TSU President’s Annual Report: Proud of Our Impact outlined the incredible economic impact the University continues to provide to the Houston region, nation and world. And if powerful written testimony was not sufficient, the University welcomed proud alumni Kermit Crawford, president of Walgreens Pharmacies, and Michael Strahan, NFL great and TV talk show host, to the Spring 2013 Commencement, as keynote speaker and honorary degree recipient, respectively. Each shared a tale of a university—Texas Southern University—that molded them and their peers into individuals with the requisite vision, heart and determination to take on the world with both power and compassion, and emerge victorious. I agree wholeheartedly with the words of former Vice President of the United States Hubert H. Humphrey, who said, “There are incalculable resources in the human spirit, once it has been set free.” Texas Southern University has a longstanding tradition of setting free the human spirit and will continue to do so by remaining an incubator for developing students, faculty and alumni ready and willing to share their best with the world. Sincerely,
Dr. John M. Rudley, President
ALUMNI NEWS
Rolling Out When TSU Alumni Melvin Hurd (right) (B.S. Pharmacy, ’97), and James Wilson (B.S. Technology, ’96) began a bicycling club with fellow alumni, they hoped to find an escape from the endlessly clogged freeways of Houston. But what they discovered along the way was the route to wellness, service and lifelong friendships. WHO THEY ARE: The Texas Southern University Alumni Cycling Club WHY THEY FORMED THE CLUB: James Wilson decided to form the club in 2013 to promote comradery and healthy living among TSU alumni, former students, faculty and staff. The TSU Bike Club is the first of its kind at an HBCU.
HOW ALUMNI CAN JOIN: Email Melvin Hurd at mhurd@pharmacareservices.com, or call 713-557-6713 or James Wilson at jameshwilson3@gmail.com.
National Alumni Association
AUGUST 1-4, 2013 2013 ALUMNI CONVENTION
WHEN THEY MEET: The club meets weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturday mornings.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
WHERE THEY RIDE LOCALLY: The bike club has multiple routes throughout the city, but frequents Angleton and Tom Bass Park. They also participate in the Tour de Houston and Spindletop Spin, which are both annual events held in the Houston area.
New Orleans Downtown Marriott Convention Center 859 Convention Center Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130
WHAT THEY DO: The club brings alumni and former students together to ride in an effort to improve relations across all members in the National Alumni Association, raise money for charity, and to simply have fun!
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For hotel reservations: 877-622-3056 or 506-474-2009 (Reference the TSUNAA Alumni Convention) To register for the convention, go to www.tsunaa.com. For more information, call TSUNAA President Julia Askew at 832-647-1799, or email jaskewtsunaa@yahoo.com.
ALUMNI IMPACT Texas Southern University recently utilized a nationally recognized input-output model to measure the financial benefits to the University’s Houston Metropolitan region. The astounding results indicated a total economic impact of $542 million, with 47,000 alumni living and working in the region. THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES HAS A 96% PASSAGE RATE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
17%
alumni notes
OF ALL AFRICAN AMERICAN PHARMACISTS IN THE U.S. GRADUATED FROM TSU, THE SECOND-LARGEST PRODUCER OF PHARMACISTS IN TEXAS.
Alumnus Lawrence Green has been named National Director of Outreach for Students First, a bipartisan grassroots education reform movement. He will lead outreach and mobilization efforts for the organization that is currently active in 17 states. Green received a B.A. in Political Science from TSU.
OF NEWLY LICENSED AFRICAN AMERICAN ATTORNEYS FROM TEXAS GRADUATED FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW IN THE LAST 5 YEARS.
American Beginnings, a non-profit organization that has helped people seek U.S. citizenship for over 30 years, recently hired alumna Bianca Santorini. Santorini’s role in the organization alleviates the need for applicants to hire costly full-time attorneys as they seek U.S. citizenship status.
OF ALL HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS HOLD DEGREES FROM TSU.
27% 43%
96%
15 ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE TSU DEGREES. For more information, please visit www.tsu.edu/impact
A Great Day in Austin Over 300 TSU students and alumni gathered with legislators on February 25, 2013 for TSU Day at the Capitol. Numerous student clubs and organizations made the pilgrimage to Austin to meet face-to-face with legislators about issues that impact the University. The issues included, but weren’t limited to, the University’s funding request for tuition revenue bonds for a new learning center and library. The event ran concurrently with the annual Texas Legislative Black Caucus.
The Honorable Sylvia Garcia recently won the Texas Senate District 6 seat. She was elected to the Harris County Commissioner’s Court in November 2002 and served until 2010. Prior to her election, Commissioner Garcia served as Controller for the City of Houston, where she earned a reputation as the taxpayers’ watchdog. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Alumna Jacquelyn White was named director of the family and consumer sciences division of the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University. White holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from TSU. TMSL Alumnus Lewis White has been named to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. The board oversees licensing and regulation of dental care providers in Texas. White began serving as a public member on the board in February of 2013.
Members of the Texas Southern University Chicago Alumni Chapter are shown with TSUNAA president Julia Askew (center) and members of the TSUNAA Executive Board. The Chicago Chapter recently hosted the TSU Choir and Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jason Oby during a Mother’s Day Concert on May 12, 2013.
Alumnus and Washington Redskins Senior Vice President of Communications Tony Wylie has been named one of the top NFL Minority Executives by the Fritz Pollard Alliance. Wylie serves as senior advisor to NFL owner Daniel Snyder; he previously was vice president of communications for the Houston Texans.
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CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
Tigers on Screen Oscar-nominated and critically revered actress Viola Davis visited Texas Southern on April 30th. While on campus, she met with students to discuss the craft of acting. She also visited the Barbara Jordan Archives to learn more about the legendary TSU alumna she will portray in an upcoming movie. Finally, Davis participated in a public lecture in Sawyer Auditorium as part of TSU’s Legends and Leaders Speaker Series. Her frank take on the business of acting was an inspiration to many, particularly those who hope to enter the word of entertainment. Here, meet three TSU Tigers who have chosen to share their talents with the world through film and television: Vincent Powell, a gospel and jazz singer who grew up in Austin, was one of the top twenty contestants in Season 12 of “American Idol” this April. Powell majored in Music Education while studying at TSU. Bravo’s “The Kandi Factory” Episode 5 featured Houstonnative Kevin Dancy. Dancy is a Houston-based practicing/licensed attorney as well as talented singer, songwriter, and musician. After attaining degrees from TSU and professional success as a lawyer,
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community advocate, and senior staffer for Congressman Al Green, TSU alumnus, he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a music icon. Dancy was one of sixteen chosen to participate in the reality show with Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss. Rashia Whitlock, a Texas Southern University honor student, was recently featured as an extra in Quentin Tarantino’s blockbuster film Django Unchained. Whitlock has acted in several television commercials, hosted her own radio show, and has been in eight films. Also a stage actress, Whitlock toured with the stage play Overdose for the past two years.
TSU and BJ-ML School of Public Affairs Establish Historic Partnerships In April, Texas Southern University entered into a significant agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 6, that will help train qualified professionals in environmental policy, economics, and several areas of science, business and technology. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will focus on bringing innovative strategies to the forefront to assure an adequate supply of highly trained and skilled personnel for the accomplishment of environmental research, policy and program development. Dr. Robert Bullard, dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, will lead this initiative for Texas Southern. Bullard is widely known as the “Father of Environmental Justice.” Bullard and TSU’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Sunny Ohia, signed the agreement. One month later, Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced a partnership with the School of Public Affairs that will enable city employees who complete courses offered at the E.B. Cape Center the opportunity to receive credit and enroll at TSU with reduced course loads to help them get a head start in obtaining a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Texas Southern University President Dr. John M. Rudley said, “The MPA program of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs is proud to enter into a historic MOU with the City of Houston’s E.B. Cape Center. City of Houston employees will now have on-site access to the TSU eMPA and MPA programs, as well as three certificate programs at the E.B. Cape Center to continue their education and professional development.”
Where Were You in ’65? In April, the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences presented the TSU Theatre Program’s production of “Where Were You in ’65?” on campus and offsite at the Miller Outdoor Theater. Proceeds from the production helped to support student scholarships. The play was written and directed by Associate Professor of Theatre and TSU alumnus Thomas Meloncon.
campus notes Texas Governor Rick Perry has appointed to the Board of Regents Thurgood Marshall School of Law Alumna Sarah MontyArnoni. She is a partner at Monty and Ramirez, LLP and co-founder of Protectors of the Dream, Inc. of Houston. A member of the State Bar of Texas, Monty-Arnoni is also a member of the American Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Hispanic Bar Association. Also appointed is Faran Foy as the new student regent at Texas Southern. Foy is currently pursuing a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Florida State University. Regents Glenn O. Lewis, board chairman, and Eric Salwen have both been reappointed to the board. These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. In early March, the Hispanic Student Association and the Office of Student Services presented “Immigration Reform Deconstructed: Myths and Facts” hosted by Immigration Activist Gaby Pacheco. Pacheco is currently the Education Not Deportation (END) Project National Coordinator for the United We Dream Network. END is a project that seeks to stop the deportation of DREAM Act eligible youth by highlighting their stories and galvanizing support from the community. Novelist Jesmyn Ward visited the TSU campus in April for a reading hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences. Ward’s first novel, Salvage the Bones, a story about familial love and community, covering the 10 days preceding Hurricane Katrina, was the winner of the 2012 National Book Award. She is currently an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of South Alabama.
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TOP
GAME
Two TSU alumni stole the show at this year’s Spring Commencement, inspiring the next generation of TSU alumni to follow in their footsteps. Kermit Crawford .
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T
exas Southern University’s H&PE sense that Crawford, who was honored arena overflowed with an impreslast November at Texas Southern’s sive and diverse array of star power on 85th Anniversary President’s Gala, May 11. On hand for the Spring 2013 was tapped to give the commencement Commencement were none other than keynote address. the highly celebrated captains of their “Thirty years ago, I sat right industries, Kermit Crawford, president where you are sitting,” said Crawford, of Pharmacy, Health, Wellness Services who began his career at Walgreens as & Solutions at Walgreens Co.; Super an intern after graduating with a TSU Bowl champion turned pharmacy degree in 1983. national television “While we are all here to personality, Michael celebrate your achieveStrahan; and former ments and possibilities, heavyweight boxing it’s important for you to champion, philanthroremember that especially pist and entrepreneur on your best days none of extraordinaire, George us does anything alone. Foreman. “As you graduate, Each of these you enter into a world nationally and interthat is not perfect, but it is nationally-renowned a world where opportunigentlemen are at the top ties for, and the economic of their game in their power of, minority men George Foreman respective fields. And and women continue to each one is not only intimately congrow and change. Remember that hard nected to Texas Southern University, work beats talent every time when but supports this institution with far talent does not work hard; don’t lose more than kind words. sight of the people along the way; and Still, the words shared by this do what only you can do, do something triumvirate of TSU royalty carry with that you love and find what gives you them the weight of personal success passion.” that they readily attribute to the influCrawford’s words about hard ence of TSU. Thus, it made perfect work trumping talent provided the
perfect segue for Michael Strahan’s remarks, which he shared upon being conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree. “Of all the things I’ve had the opportunity to do in my life, I don’t know if I have been more nervous than to be here and accept this award from my alma mater,” said Strahan, a TSU alumnus, Fox NFL Sunday analyst and Live with Kelly and Michael co-host. “I had one scholarship offer and that was to TSU. Thank God for that scholarship. I was not the biggest, fastest, strongest, or smartest football player, but I always understood that I had more heart than that guy lined up across from me. I had heart; you have heart; we have heart at this school. Push yourself, believe in yourself, represent yourself, make the right decisions and expect to be successful.” Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was on hand to not only honor the graduates, but also to present Congressional certificates of congratulation to Crawford and Strahan and to declare May 11, 2013 as “Michael Strahan Day” in Houston. Sitting next to Strahan on stage was none other than George Foreman. Foreman is no stranger to success achieved through hard work and heart,
as is attested by his 1968 Olympic Gold Medal, winning the World Heavyweight Boxing title twice—the second time as the oldest to do so in history— and being a knock-out in the entrepreneurial arena for his successful George Foreman Grill. Foreman, who received his own Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from TSU in 2010, was in attendance to watch his son George Foreman IV graduate from the School of Communication. The University picked the perfect graduation ceremony to serve as the first one ever simulcast online. For the star power supplied by Crawford, Strahan, and Foreman only added luster to the day’s real stars—the graduating class of 2013. In total, there were 1,014 students who completed their studies—one of the largest graduating classes in school history. “This class is Texas Southern University: honor students, athletes, veterans, international students, African American, White, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, women and men,” said President John Rudley. “To all of our students, the youngest of which is 19 and the oldest 67, I say to you, ‘well done.’”
Michael Strahan
Summer 2013
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STUDENTS & SCHOLARS
Keondra Williams ’11 Clinical Pharmacist
Prescription for Success On May 11, graduates heard a keynote speech designed to inspire them, as they move forward and establish their careers. Keynote speaker TSU alumnus Kermit Crawford, president of Pharmacy, Health, Wellness Services and Solutions for Walgreens Corporation, delivered words of encouragement. Crawford knows first hand what is required to climb the ranks professionally before reaching your final destination: he joined his current company in 1983 as an intern, and climbed the ranks becoming store manager, and district manager in 1989 before becoming Vice President of Store Operations in 2000. He has been in his current position since 2010, sits on several boards, and is the director of three: the American Diabetes Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. Crawford credited TSU with preparing him for his current profession. He is a leader in a longstanding tradition of pharmacists who were educated at TSU. Across the country, 27% of all African American pharmacists have received degrees from the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS). By standing before more than 1,000 graduates and their families at this year’s commencement, Crawford was living proof that COPHS provides future pharmacists with the right prescription for success. He especially motivated COPHS graduates who want to follow in his footsteps. Here, meet several aspiring pharmacists who began the path toward their careers at TSU. Chinonso Ezeudu and Jenay Bailey
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Quinn Branch: A recent graduate, Branch was president of the COPHS Class of 2013. A member of the pharmacy Honor Society, she was also vice president of Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society and the SNPhA Point Coordinator. Chinonso Ezeudu: This graduate of COPHS had a 3.7 GPA, plans to earn a Ph.D. in pharmacology, and head a research team. At TSU, Ezuedu was a member of the debate team, the TSU Honors College, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society, the Pharmacy Health Club and Golden Key International Honors Society. Enryka Payton: A 2015 class representative, Payton recently won first prize at the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) Regions III, IV and V Clinical Skills Competition held on March 15th in Denver, Colorado. She is also a student delegate for the TSU Title IX Committee, and vice president and membership chair of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Jenay Bailey: Janay Bailey is a PharmD Candidate, class of 2016. She is active with the The Collegiate 100 Black Women of Texas Southern University and currently serves as Board Member at Large 6.
White House Intern Eyes Future in Politics Shekira Dennis, former TSU student government president and 2012 graduate, recently completed a spring semester internship in the White House’s Office of Presidential Personnel. Dennis had previously been selected for a fellowship with President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, where she spent last summer mobilizing young voters in economically disadvantaged areas in Charlotte, North Carolina.
sports notes
Proud of Our Impact Recently, members of the TSU Debate Team were featured in the TSU annual report for their commitment to community service. The individual members discussed the many ways they volunteer while managing academic careers and debate team tournaments. The debate team brought home a first place victory at the Fiesta Swings Hastings tournament held in Cheyenne, Wyoming, last February, and first place at the international competition in Belgium. They competed against more than 12 colleges and received 35 trophies overall during the Wyoming event. To read more about TSU’s impact, legends and leaders, please visit www.tsu.edu/impact for a full copy of the 2012 President’s Annual Report.
Newly Crowned The lights were bright and the competition fierce on April 5th as ten talented TSU young ladies and four of TSU’s young gentlemen competed for the titles of Miss and Mr. TSU 20132014. Marinda Frugé, a junior accounting student from Houston, and Nathaniel Harris III, a senior Spanish major from Jacksonville, FL., walked away with the crowns. Frugé’s platform as queen is titled, “S.O.S.” which stands for “Sustaining Our Successors.” Through this initiative she plans to inspire younger urban generations through mentoring and instilling the values of leadership, scholarship and giving back.
Dennis says her time at the White House and in Obama’s campaign gave her a broader view of the inner workings of the political system. She recalls meeting the President and his inspiring words to her. “He was calm and engaging as we discussed my future aspirations,” Dennis says. “He encouraged me to stay the path, and in moments when I find myself being discouraged, to always ask myself, why am I choosing to serve? It was truly great to have that affirmation from President Obama and to see and feel in our interaction that he genuinely cared about my future endeavors.” Dennis plans to stay involved in the political process by opening a campaign consulting firm one day. For now though, she’s weighing job prospects from advocacy groups in Washington, D.C.
Houston native Johnetta Hayes-Perry has been named the next head women’s basketball coach at Texas Southern. She previously served as an assistant coach and helped lead the 2012-13 Lady Tigers to their first SWAC regular season title in school history. They also set school records for consecutive wins (15) and overall wins during the regular season (20). The men’s basketball team also won the SWAC regular season title, led by senior guard Omar Strong (left), who was named SWAC Player of the Year. In addition, senior forward Fred Sturdivant was selected SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and firstyear Coach Mike Davis was voted Co-Coach of the Year. The TSU softball duo of Thomasina Garza and Rebecca Villarreal topped the list of selections for the 2013 All-SWAC Softball teams. Garza, a sophomore second baseman, was named SWAC Player of the Year, while Villarreal, a senior, captured Pitcher of the Year honors. On the links, TSU’s Kassandra Rivera has taken the NCAA by storm. The junior reached 6th in the nation last fall among NCAA Division I females, the highest ranking ever for a TSU golfer. This spring, despite a cracked fibula, she earned SWAC individual co-champion honors.
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SCENE & HEARD
(L-R) Eileen Lawal, Deborah Duncan, Viola Davis, Anita Smith and TSU First Lady Docia Rudley
mped TSU
Miss TSU Marinda Frugé at the newly reva entrance on Ennis Street.
In March, the 62nd Annual TSU Relays drew a crowd of over 10,000 visitors to the campus to watch the nation’s best in college and high school competition.
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Prior to Viola Davis’ public lecture and interview with Houston television personality Deborah Duncan, a reception hosted by Dr. Docia Rudley, Anita Smith and Eileen Lawal was held in the Barbara Jordan Archives.
Andrea Young, attorney, author and executive director of the Andrew Young Foundation, visited the campus on March 8th to speak to the TSU community on “Lessons from the Making of Modern Atlanta.” (L-R: Ben Mendez, Tilisia Toliver, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Young, Dean Robert Bullard, President John Rudley)
Dr. Danille Ta ylor, dean of the College of Behavioral Sc Liberal Arts an iences, addre d sses the crow celebration of d at the openin the TSU Confu g cius Institute.
GIVING BACK
TSU’s Faculty and Staff are
“PROUD TO GIVE BACK” The generous support of Texas Southern University’s employees made the 2013 Faculty & Staff Annual Fund Campaign: Proud to Give Back a tremendous success, raising $177,000. More than 76% of the university participated in this year’s fundraising initiative, which exceeded the goal set by the campaign’s steering committee. Half of those who gave are also TSU alumni. The national average participation rate for all universities, regardless of size, is between 30-50%, which sets TSU far above the norm. “We began the Faculty & Staff Annual Fund Campaign in 2010,” says Carolyne Oliver, executive director in the Office of Development. “Each year the giving amounts and the participation rates have grown. We are especially proud of the support and enthusiasm that was shown this year by our faculty and staff and the fact that we continue to soar above the national participation average. I trust that our commitment will continue to grow as we strive to meet the needs of our students and programs at TSU.” From start to finish, the four-week campaign sparked plenty of friendly competition among administrative departments and colleges and schools across campus. “I am so proud of the performance of the ambassadors and the steering committee led by LaRence Snowden. They helped to create a culture of giving this year that surpassed all previous years,” says Jeff Shaw, associate director in the Office of Development. From the campaign’s launch to the victory celebration, the spirit of giving energized the campus. The praiseworthy support of TSU’s dedicated faculty and staff made this year’s fundraising success a reality.
Double Your Donation! There has never been a better time for you to make a permanent statement of your support for students at Texas Southern University through an Endowed Scholarship. Your gift of $10,000 or more to create a new scholarship endowment will be matched dollar for dollar by the University. For instance, a $10,000 gift for endowed scholarships will immediately become a $20,000 endowment, and if your company matches your gift, the endowment will grow even faster. An endowed scholarship will generate tuition and fee support for today’s students and for future generations. Your endowment can be named for you, your company, or in honor/memory of a loved one. You can pay the $10,000 up front or over a four-year period, although it will
not be established as a permanent endowment or matched with special funds until the full $10,000 has been paid. Our matching fund is limited, and this special program will expire once all the matching monies are distributed. Do not miss out on this rare opportunity to double your money and change lives. For information on funding your endowed scholarship, contact Mrs. Carolyne Oliver, executive director of Development, at 713-313-4276. Office of Development 3100 Cleburne St., 206 Hannah Hall, Houston, TX 77004 www.tsu.edu/giving
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GIVING BACK
Inaugural Class of President’s Leadership Scholars Leave Their Legacy This spring’s commencement ceremony marked an important milestone for the President’s Leadership Scholarship (PLS) Program. Many TSU students who were the first to be awarded the four-year scholarship as incoming freshmen have now graduated, paving the way for the next generation of outstanding student leaders. The PLS program is designed to allow Texas Southern University donors to have a direct impact on the lives of our best and brightest students. Donors to the PLS program are able to sponsor a single student by making a $10,000 commitment that can be paid in installments over the course of four years, which the University will match with an additional $4,000. This guarantees the student $3,500 each year for academic expenses. The PLS program has had a major impact on the lives and success of our Texas Southern University students, including:
CORIE PHILLIPS, Class of ’13, Public Relations/Advertising
“My college education has been expensive, and a scholarship of any amount goes a long way towards alleviating some of the financial burdens placed on my family.”
DAMILOLA OLIYIDE, Class of ’12, Accounting
“Being a scholarship recipient was a tremendous blessing! I was able to focus on my academics without any financial hindrance and this culminated in my graduating in three years as class salutatorian and getting a job as a financial analyst with an oil and gas company.”
CAMELLIA PARHAM, Class of ’13, Political Science
“I realize that if it were not for my scholarship, I would not have experienced the transformative events that have influenced my character today. If I was not a scholarship recipient, I would be a student experiencing consistent financial difficulty and would not have been allotted the many opportunities that Texas Southern University has offered.”
If you are interested in becoming a President’s Leadership Scholarship Donor, you can visit us online at
Give Back!
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www.tsu.edu/giving You can also email Jeff Shaw, Associate Director of Development, at shawjl@tsu.edu or call 713-313-4257.
PRIDE
Giving Back!
As a supporter of Texas Southern University, we know that you understand the great challenges we face each year to meet the needs of our students. This is why our fundraising efforts are so important. Preparing our students to positively change the world is our mission and available scholarship dollars is one of the life-lines that make this mission possible. With an ever-changing economy, we must securely position ourselves to alleviate some of the financial burdens our students face. We hope that we can count on you to join our family of donors and help us continue our success of developing young minds for the future. To make a donation online please visit www.tsu.edu/giving, or if you would prefer to mail in your gift, complete the form below and mail to (make checks payable to the TSU Foundation): Office of Development 3100 Cleburne St 206 Hannah Hall Houston, TX 77004
Texas souThern universiTy
GifT Card
2013 annual Fund Building Our Legacy, One Gift at a Time
Gift Amount
YES, I want to help Texas Southern University raise critical funds for the University’s Scholarship Program. Please accept my tax-deductible gift in the amount of: q $2,500 President’s Leadership Scholarship q $1,000
q $500
q $250
q $185
q $85
$___________
q Other _______
Please credit my gift to: q Athletics q College/School _________________________ q Greatest Need of the University q Alumni Relations Programing q Other ___________________________
q General University Scholarships q Mural Preservation
or
Name: (Please print) ___________________________________________Email: __________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________City: _____________________________________ State: ______________Employer: ____________________________ Zip: _______________Phone: _________________________ q My employer will match my gift (Please refer to www.tsu.edu/giving for details). q Enclosed is a check for my gift. (Make check payable to Texas Southern University) q Mastercard q Visa q AmEx
I am an Alumnus: q Yes q No Year(s) Attended: ____________ College/School: _____________________________________
+ Lifetime Membership $455 qYes qNo Total Amount
Card No._________________________________________________Exp. Date_____________
Signature: ______________________________________Date: _________________________
+Alumni Annual Membership $50 qYes qNo
$___________
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Gala
2013 PRESIDENT’S
Now.
INSIDE SUMMER 2013
2012 Alumni Honoree
BERNADINE OLIPHINT
Opera singer, former professor and founder of the TSU Opera Workshop
Honoring Outstanding TSU Alumni, Community Leaders, and Corporate and Philanthropic Partners
This year’s Philanthropic Honoree will be Houston Endowment
Sponsorship opportunities are available! For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Special Events at 713-313-1363 or email events@tsu.edu.