NEWS - Texas Southern University

influence in community development; TobyMattox, executive director of the Society ofPerforming Arts, for his instrumental rolein bringing over 700 diverse artists and performancetroupes to Houston; TSU RegentWillard L. Jackson Jr., for his leadership infounding and directing Metroplex Core, a civiland environmental engineering firm; TSU professorArbolina Jennings, considered an expertin various aspects of higher education, such asEnglish Fundamentalsfor TASP responsiblestudents; Gasper MirIII, the executive advisorto HISD’s superintendent,for his leadershiprole in publiceducation as a recentgraduate of the BoardFoundation’s UrbanSchool SuperintendentAcademy; and RichardWainerdi, president,CEO and COO of theTexas Medical Centerand adjunct professorat the Baylor Collegeof Medicine.Each recipientwas escorted to theballroom floor by a student host and presentedwith an engraved silver platter. After a whirlwindof activity and music provided by YvonneWashington and the Mix – as well as the TSUJazz Ensemble – Kathy Taylor Brown and theWindsor Village United Methodist ChurchChoir offered a moving tribute to the “TSUHeroes.”Tables at the event were named for a bevyof outstanding individuals affiliated with TexasSouthern, including former U.S. Congressmembers Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland,former Supreme Court Justice ThurgoodMarshall, and Heaman Sweatt, an African-American postal worker whose race-baseddenial-of-entry to the University of TexasSchool of Law was the catalyst for the creationof TSU. The Houston Chronicle and KTRKTV 13 were two major players at the black tieaffair, each securing $50,000 Thurgood Marshallsponsorships. Additionally, representativesfrom Fannie Mae, Halliburton, Wheeler Ave.Baptist Church, ChevronTexaco and MemorialHermann Healthcare were in attendance.Perhaps most noticeable, however, was theglut of support from TSU faculty, staff andadministration. Allnine academic schoolswere represented anddozens of administrativeoffices securedtables as well, suchas Athletics, theOffice of AlumniDevelopment, theOffice of StudentServices and theOffice of EnrollmentManagement. Whilethose charged withacademic enrichmentand individualsresponsible for directingthe UniversityAn overview of the ballroom at the Hilton Americas.came together tocelebrate black history,their donations worked toward a loftiergoal: supporting the Texas Southern UniversityFoundation, which provides scholarships andgeneral University support.“There are real needs of our students thatare not currently being addressed by financialaid or merit scholarships,” Nina WilsonJones said. “We would like to establish greaterresources to meet those needs.”Just before handing the night over to dancing,Mistress of Ceremonies Melanie Lawsonsummed up the evening’s significance with onephrase. “Texas Southern University is a sourceof bright minds for the future and a light ofopportunity for our community.”28 Summer 2004 • GENERATIONS OF PRIDE