It was an elevated burnt orange night time at River Oaks Nation Membership as greater than 300 Longhorn devoted gathered for the Texas Exes Houston Chapter’s Longhorn Legacy Scholarship Gala on April 10. The night’s honorees, Kisha Itkin, Jason Itkin, Tara Arnold, and Kurt Arnold, had been celebrated for his or her generosity and spirited assist of The College of Texas at Austin.
Greeting visitors at valet was none aside from Bevo, the famed Longhorn steer and unofficial mascot. Inside, a sculpted ice bar that includes the honorees’ names and the Longhorn brand in vibrant burnt orange wowed the gang. Underwritten by Mike Lowenberg of Lowenberg Regulation Agency, the frosty centerpiece provided a becoming nod to the honorees’ indelible mark on UT’s legacy. In the meantime, a UT Tower ice sculpture, framed by a festive balloon wall by Topped Off Co., offered yet one more irresistible photograph op.
Main the night’s program was Cyndy Garza Roberts, who kicked off festivities with a stirring video. Athletics director Chris Del Conte praised Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnoldfor his or her invaluable concepts and steadfast assist, reinforcing the honorees’ impression past simply philanthropy. Texas Exes Houston Chapter president Kyle Griffin and occasion chair Tawnya Bell additionally shared private tales, with Bell’s emotional scholarship journey underscoring the night time’s objective.
Private testimonies from UT grads and scholarship recipients Janelle Chavez and Will Florer impressed extra generosity, culminating in a $330,000 fundraising triumph. Houston Metropolis Council Member Sallie Alcorn capped off the tributes with a mayoral proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire, formally declaring April 10 as Kisha and Jason Itkin and Tara and Kurt Arnold Day in Houston.
In true Longhorn custom, the night closed with all visitors standing, horns up, singing “The Eyes of Texas, a becoming finale to an evening brimming with spirit.
Noticed had been Chuck Harris, Brien Smith, Rick Harsch, June Deadrick, Brock Niezgoda and Meg Hayward, Jackie and Scott Freeman, Luisa and Dr. Fortunate Chopra, Ginger Cearley, Erin and Nathan Phelps, Kristen Griffin, Adam Pulaski, Stephanie Wilcox, Catherine Campbell, Al Riddle, Lauren Riddle, Michele Leal and George Farah, Winell and Doug Herron, Kristen Cannon, Niki and James Lassiter, and Amy and Segev Zadok.
