Quick Search

Active Bloggers

Will Moss Will Moss
Hampton University class of 1995
Yazmín Müller Yazmín Müller
class of
Randi Payton Randi Payton
University of the District of Columbia class of 1982
HBCU CONNECT HBCU CONNECT
Central State University class of 1995
How May I Help You NC How May I Help You NC
Bellarmine University class of 2021
Rashon Forrest Rashon Forrest
Howard University class of 2009
Jordan Davis Jordan Davis
University of the District of Columbia class of 2025
Shykeria Lifleur Shykeria Lifleur
Other College... class of
LaMarr Blackmon LaMarr Blackmon
Cal St Univ, Long Beach class of 1992

Texas Southern Univeristy's Maroon and Gray Affair raises over $1 million to bolster students

Texas Southern Univeristy
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on May 02, 2018


Sold-out event featured journalist Tamron Hall and musical guest En Vogue

Texas Southern University (TSU) held its The Maroon and Gray Affair on Saturday, April 28 at the Marriott Marquis Houston and raised in $1 million in funding for deserving TSU students. More than 1,500 patrons were in attendance. Award-winning journalist Tamron Hall was the keynote speaker, entertainment was provided by R&B group En Vogue and comedian Billy Sorrells, a TSU alumnus, who served as the master of ceremonies along with KHOU-TV’s Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan. The Maroon & Gray Affair, a black-tie event in its second year, recognized two top students and two outstanding alumni. The gala was created by TSU President Austin A. Lane and TSU First Lady Loren Lane.

“The Texas Southern family joined together to salute our fantastic students and accomplished alumni. Our stakeholders and friends have partnered with TSU to meet our mission of standing as a comprehensive academic institution to guide our students in obtaining their degree of choice,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane.

TSU students Aaron Dallas and Camille Mills were honored for their academic and leadership. The Honorable Senfronia Thompson, State Representative D-141, and the Honorable Rodney Ellis, Harris County Commissioner for Precinct One, were recognized as this year’s alumni honorees.
“What a lovely evening as we gathered to support higher education,” said Mrs. Lane. “We know that the generosity of our guests will help TSU support these deserving students on their path to a better life.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner welcomed gala guests at the top of the evening.



Tamron Hall, an Emmy-nominated journalist, former national news anchor for NBC News and current host of Deadline: Crime on the Investigation Discovery channel delivered keynote remarks. En Vogue, featuring Houston native Terry Ellis, performed a set of their R&B hits, including “Hold On,” “Free Your Mind,” “My Lovin’,” “Give Him Something He Can Feel” and their new Top 10 hit, “Rocket.”
“Our alumni, donors and major stakeholders delivered excellent support to the mission of our gala. All showed their complete dedication to assisting Texas Southern in closing the financial gap for our students,” said Melinda Spaulding, vice president for University Advancement.

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.

Photo: (l-r) Loren Lane, Camille Mills, President Austin A. Lane. Mills was honored for her academic and athletic achievement at TSU’s 2018 Maroon & Gray Affairs.
If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!
Comments
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
More From This Author
The Jennifer Hudson Show Partners with the Student Freedom Initiative for a Special Episode Kicking Off HBCU Aware Fest 2026
Alabama State University to Host Open House for Montgomery Interpretive Center
From the Hill to Hollywood: FAMU Drum Major Dupe Oloyede Takes the Oscar Stage
NIST Awards Nearly $9M to Advance Morgan State Microelectronics and Microbiology Research
HBCU AWAREFEST Week 2026: Impact Fest, Comedy, VIP Access & More
Go Beyond the Bottle: Explore Careers Through the STEPUP Spirits Externship Program
Latest News
URGENT: Kentucky State University Faces Legislative Threat - NAACP Emergency Zoom Meeting Tonight

URGENT: Kentucky State University Faces Legislative Threat - NAACP Emergency Zoom Meeting Tonight

Kentucky State University is facing an unprecedented legislative threat that could set a dangerous precedent for HBCUs across the nation. The NAACP is calling an emergency meeting TONIGHT at 7:00 PM f ...more
Will Moss • 97 Views • March 30th, 2026
N.C. A&T Doubles Academic Advising Staff, Boosts Retention Rate to 81%

N.C. A&T Doubles Academic Advising Staff, Boosts Retention Rate to 81%

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has achieved a remarkable 8% increase in student retention by doubling its professional academic advising staff, demonstrating the transforma ...more
Will Moss • 45 Views • March 30th, 2026
Jill Scott Honors HBCU Culture in Upcycled Fashion at Inaugural Aware Fest

Jill Scott Honors HBCU Culture in Upcycled Fashion at Inaugural Aware Fest

Grammy Award-winning artist Jill Scott paid tribute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities through her fashion choices at the inaugural Aware Fest, showcasing an upcycled look that celebrated ...more
Will Moss • 81 Views • March 29th, 2026
Benedict College Celebrates Success with 37th Annual Harambee Festival

Benedict College Celebrates Success with 37th Annual Harambee Festival

Benedict College continues to make waves in higher education excellence while preparing for their beloved annual community celebration. The historic HBCU in Columbia, South Carolina, is proud to annou ...more
Will Moss • 548 Views • March 26th, 2026
Popular News
Louisiana Upholds Life Sentence to Black Man For Stealing Hedge Trimmers in 1997

Louisiana Upholds Life Sentence to Black Man For Stealing Hedge Trimmers in 1997

While 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
Will Moss • 402,680 Views • August 6th, 2020
Blonde Instagram Model Goes Viral for Graduating from HBCU and Pledging Delta Sigma Theta!

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
Will Moss • 186,752 Views • November 30th, 2020
Apple to Invest over $40 Million Dollars into HBCUs - Time to major in Computer Science!!!

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
Will Moss • 128,573 Views • March 11th, 2015
North Carolina HBCU Unity Day

North Carolina HBCU Unity Day

Shaw 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 Culpepper • 106,222 Views • August 8th, 2016
Black Billionaire Robert F. Smith to  Donate $50 Million to Support STEM Students at HBCUs

Black Billionaire Robert F. Smith to Donate $50 Million to Support STEM Students at HBCUs

The 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
Will Moss • 83,916 Views • October 22nd, 2020
Please Give Us a Like on Facebook!
Featured Members