Thirteenth annual UTSA Alumni Gala Aug. 18 benefits student scholarships

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(Aug. 15, 2012) -- At the 13th annual UTSA Alumni Gala, Loretta Clarke '87, Wayne Terry '85 and Jeanie Wyatt '86 will be honored with Alumnus of the Year awards. Additionally, Doyle N. Beneby, Roger Hemminghaus and Steven Q. Lee will receive Distinguished Service awards.

The UTSA Alumni Association will host the gala at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18 at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa in the Nelson Wolff Ballroom. Proceeds from the annual event benefit student scholarships; this year's fundraising goal is $150,000.

Fundraising for UTSA scholarships is the cornerstone of the Alumni Association. The group has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 500 UTSA students since 1982 and has built an endowed scholarship fund surpassing $1 million.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction. A seated dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a party and dancing accompanied by the Elijah Zane Experience at 9:30 p.m. Special guests will be UTSA President Ricardo Romo and Dr. Harriett Romo, UTSA professor of sociology and director of the Bank of America Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute.

This year's honorary chairs are Ernest Bromley and Aimee Bromley. The gala chair is Lauren Walthour '97 of The Winston School San Antonio. The alumni association president is Randy Vogel '79 of BKD LLP. The gala committee members are Steve Baca '05 (Pedernales Electric Cooperative), Jessica Coke '08 (Legacy Mutual Mortgage), Patty Escobedo '85, '93 (Southwest ISD), Yvonne Fernandez (Security Service Federal Credit Union), Denise Hall '99, '02 (The Winston School San Antonio), Susan Hough '91 (Resources Global Professionals), Charlin Jones '02, '07 (UTSA), DeeAnn McFarline '04 (H-E-B), Nancy Ozuna '93, '95 (BKD LLP), Crystal Ragsdale '97 (KENS-TV), Orlando Rummans '95 (Harris Academy, San Antonio ISD), Alicia Trevino '86 (DHR Architects Inc.) and Samantha Vogel '06.

For more information, to make reservations or to donate to the UTSA Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, visit the UTSA Alumni website or call 210-458-4133.

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Alumnus of the Year honorees

Loretta Clarke '87 has a UTSA B.S. degree in physical education. She is a former board member of the UTSA Alumni Association and a current member of the UTSA Bank of America Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute and Development boards. A San Antonio native and graduate of Samuel Clemens High School, she has a master's degree in education and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas at Austin. She writes and researches in her field. Clarke is married to Jeffrey W. Clarke, vice chairman of global operations for Dell Inc.; he also is a UTSA alumnus with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He is a former board member of the UTSA Alumni Association and a current member of the College of Engineering Advisory Council. Together, they have demonstrated their commitment to UTSA by creating four endowed faculty positions including the Robert E. Clarke Distinguished Professorship in Electrical Engineering and the Loretta J. Lowak Clarke Distinguished Professorship in Health and Kinesiology.

Wayne Terry '85 earned his UTSA degree in political science and lettered in track and field in its inaugural season. The first Mr. UTSA, he helped establish the University Life Awards, now a 30-year tradition. He began his career with H-E-B in 1986 and served his 14th year on the H-E-B Corporate Diversity Leadership Council, recruiting candidates for the company from colleges and universities. As a life member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, he continues to create a legacy of like-minded men who give back to their alma mater financially and in service including presentations to student leaders and alumni volunteer work such as serving on the UTSA Alumni Association board and selling bricks for the Pave the Paseo program. He serves on the board of Family Violence Prevention Services and was selected for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Leadership San Antonio 25th anniversary class.

Jeanie Wyatt '86 earned a UTSA M.B.A. and is founder and CEO of South Texas Money Management, a private investment company with more the $1.8 billion in assets. The organization provides investment services for individuals, trusts, estates, employee benefits plans and endowments. Barron's named her a Top 100 Independent Advisor in 2010 and 2011. The Women's Chamber named her San Antonio's Entrepreneur of the Year 2003. Wyatt served on the State Pension Review Board and the American Red Cross National Endowment Fund Board of Trustees. She serves on the Corporate Council for the Long Center for the Performing Arts and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center board.

Distinguished Service honorees

Doyle N. Beneby has been president and CEO of CPS Energy, the largest municipal electric and gas utility in the nation, for more than two years. Since joining CPS Energy, Beneby has lead the transition to a lower carbon-intense fleet, utilizing clean coal, natural gas and nuclear, combined with targeted renewables such as wind and solar. He has brokered partnerships with seven clean-technology companies bringing thousands of jobs to Greater San Antonio, increasing research and development and enhancing educational investments. UTSA has been a direct beneficiary of some of these contributions in the form of scholarships and endowed professorships. The Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute has benefited from CPS Energy's commitment to invest up to $50 million over 10 years in a research partnership with UTSA.

Roger Hemminghaus is a member of the development board of the UTSA College of Engineering Advisory Council, a board member of the Southwest Research Institute and serves on the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America. He is president of the O'Kelley-Hemminghaus Foundation, a charitable giving organization based in San Antonio. Hemminghaus is the retired chairman and CEO of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock and was named chairman emeritus. He served as CEO of Diamond Shamrock before its merger with Ultramar. He held various management positions in refining, petroleum products and natural gas and is a previous chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Steven Q. Lee is a native of San Antonio and the son of Quincy Lee, a pioneer in the construction of quality, low-cost housing and a leader in commercial and industrial development. President of Lee Partners Inc., a real estate investment company, he began his career in the home building business in Houston. He returned to San Antonio to join his father in the industrial development business. He and his brother Bruce manage the family investment business, focusing on real estate, securities and local business investment. He is a board member of the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation and past board member of the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority. He served on the Mayor's Select Committee for Downtown Development and the Strategic Planning Task Force Vision 2000 committee.

 

 

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