Texas Southern Univesity's Maroon & Gray Affair raises over $800,000 for scholarships
|
Posted By: Reginald Claremont on May 02, 2017 Texas Southern University held its inaugural Maroon and Gray Affair on April 29 at the Marriott Marquis Houston and raised in excess of $800,000 in scholarship money for deserving TSU students. More than 1,100 people were in attendance. Texas Southern’s award-winning Ocean of Soul marching band opened the evening with a thunderous performance. Nephew Tommy, comedian and radio personality on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and Melinda Spaulding from Fox News Houston served as the masters of ceremonies. The Maroon & Gray Affair was conceived by TSU’s President Dr. Austin A. Lane and First Lady Loren Lane as a means to present an evening of elegance in support of student scholarships and programs. The black-tie event recognized four top students and two outstanding alumni. “It was a dynamic evening to celebrate all of the wonderful aspects of Texas Southern. The gala allowed us to celebrate our best and brightest students and dedicated alumni,” said Mrs. Lane. “We are grateful to all who joined us to support higher education and those who will make a positive contribution to society.” Brianna Batiste, a finance major from Southern California; Anthony Collier, a political science major from Manor, Texas; Ashtyn Duncan, an accounting major from Houston; and Kaleb Taylor, a political science major from Missouri City, Texas, were recognized for their academic and civic accomplishments. Alumni honorees included Alaina Benford, an attorney at Norton Rose Fulbright, who earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from TSU and her Juris Doctorate from the TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law; and Tony Wyllie, vice president of communications for the Washington Redskins, who earned a degree in communication from TSU. “Texas Southern is elated to honor our fantastic students and accomplished alumni. The University family is buoyed by the support of our stakeholders and friends. This gala will allow us to continue the critical work of serving as a special-purpose institution for the most deserving students,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane. Judy Smith, founder and president of Smith & Company and inspiration for the hit television show Scandal who is an acclaimed crisis management expert, recounted her role as a White House advisor in a question-and-answer session with Spaulding. Turner Construction, Challenge Office Products, Marie Bosarge/Music Doing Good, and AL&H Custom Homes/Southwest Wholesale were Presenting and Founder Sponsors. Notable guests at The Maroon & Gray Affair included Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S. Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, State Senator Borris Miles, Texas Representatives Alma Allen, Jarvis Johnson, Ron Reynolds, and Shawn Thierry, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, HISD Board President Wanda Adams, HISD Board members Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Jolanda Jones, Texas Southern University Board of Regents members Wesley Terrell, Derrick Mitchell, Glenn Lewis, Marilyn Rose, Samuel Bryant Oliver Bell and Tramauni Brock, and Harris County Justice of the Peace Zinetta Burney (Precinct 7-2). ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Texas Southern University (TSU) is a comprehensive, metropolitan institution providing academic and research programs that address critical urban issues, and prepares its increasingly diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of 8,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Reginald Claremont
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
Comments
More From This Author
| Register Now For MissionTech: Virtual Hiring Event For Military Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and Military Spouses |
| HBCUConnect Releases Summer/Fall 2026 Alumni Magazine Celebrating HBCU Excellence, Career Opportunities, and Culture |
Latest News
 |
📣 Introducing the MS-CC Student Community of Practice (CoP)!Connect with fellow students, share your ideas, and explore what’s next!
The MS-CC Student CoP brings undergraduate and graduate students together across institutions to explore research, technolog ...more
David Lockett • 109 Views • October 22nd, 2026 |
 |
Virginia State University Breaks All-Time Enrollment Record With Largest Class in Its HistoryVirginia State University has enrolled more than 6,350 students for the 2026-27 academic year, the largest in its documented history, along with the biggest first-time freshman class ever at 1,725 stu ...more
Roger Gates • 168 Views • October 21st, 2026 |
 |
FAMU Rattler Great Andre Dawson Receives Florida Governor's Medal of FreedomToday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis presented the Governor’s Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the Governor can bestow on a Floridian, to Baseball Hall of Famer and proud Florida A&M University (FA ...more
Reginald Claremont • 319 Views • October 19th, 2026 |
 |
STARZ Named Presenting Sponsor as HBCU First LOOK Film & TV Festival Returns to Howard University Nov. 5-7For three days this November, Howard University will transform into the epicenter of Black film. The 4th Annual HBCU First LOOK Film & TV Festival (HBCUFLF) returns to the nation's capital Novembe ...more
Roger Gates • 204 Views • October 19th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
Louisiana Upholds Life Sentence to Black Man For Stealing Hedge Trimmers in 1997While this may not be HBCU related news, as an AFrican American male, I had to share this appalling decision by the Louisiana court system to keep a man in jail with a life sentence for such a petty c ...more
Roger Gates • 406,153 Views • August 6th, 2020 |
 |
Blonde Instagram Model Goes Viral for Graduating from HBCU and Pledging Delta Sigma Theta!A blonde woman is going viral this morning, for graduating from A Historically Black College while pledging a Black sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
@Blonde_HBCU
The woman, an IG ...more
Roger Gates • 190,518 Views • November 30th, 2020 |
 |
Apple to Invest over $40 Million Dollars into HBCUs - Time to major in Computer Science!!!On Tuesday Johnny C. Taylor, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund stopped by “NewsOne Now” to make a major announcement that could literally change the lives of thousands of HBCU st ...more
Roger Gates • 131,220 Views • March 11th, 2015 |
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Claremont • 119,402 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
 |
Black Billionaire Robert F. Smith to Donate $50 Million to Support STEM Students at HBCUsThe Student Freedom Initiative announced today a $50 million personal gift from Robert F. Smith, philanthropist and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. This gift matches the initial fu ...more
Roger Gates • 86,865 Views • October 22nd, 2020 |
