Maroon & Gray Affair raises over $1 million to bolster students 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

achievement 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.

See Maroon & Gray on page 2

“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.”

President Lane presents State of the University address Faculty and staff honored for service in special ceremony

Dr. Austin A. Lane delivered

the 2018 State of the University

Address in Sawyer Auditorium

on Wednesday, May 2. Members

of the TSU community heard

specific details of the current

status of Texas Southern

University, updates and

advancements that all tie back to

the University's Top Five

Priorities and TSU 2022. The

event was streamed live on

tsu.edu.

Before the address, dedicated

University employees were

recognized for their service to the University in five-year increments with the first-ever TSU

Service Awards. Members of TSU's academic community were recognized with Faculty

Excellence Awards and the inaugural Tiger Spirit Awards were given to members of the TSU

community who demonstrate the University's Top Five Priorities.

Highlights of Dr. Lane’s address included:

Record 2017 enrollment rate of 10,237 students (an increase of 15.6% from 2016)

Expanded partnerships with area high schools, colleges and universities

Comprehensive plan to increase enrollment, academic success, matriculation, transfer

student enrollment and graduation rates

Expansion of the University’s online academic programs

Planned campus renovations

Planned four-day workweek for faculty and staff during the summer

See State on page 2

Dr. Lane introduced the Tiger

Summer Challenge at the end of

the address. Texas Southern

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YOUR WEEKLY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ELECTRONIC NEWS & INFORMATION SOURCE FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS – (713) 313-7933 April 30 – May 6, 2018 1 of 4

TSU Athletics announces

partnership with Under Armour

Texas Southern University and Under Armour, Inc.

announced a new, multi-year partnership agreement.

The Baltimore-based global leader in performance

footwear, apparel and equipment will become the

official outfitter of TSU Athletics beginning July 1,

2018. Under Armour will provide on-field and

training gear for 16 varsity sports, and outfit members

of the athletic department including coaches and staff.

"We're extremely excited to announce our new

partnership with Under Armour to serve as the official

shoe and apparel provider for TSU Athletics," said

Dr. Charles McClelland, TSU vice president of

Intercollegiate Athletics. "We sought to identify a

brand that would help us market our programs in

addition to providing an overall quality product and

Under Armour embodied both of those two attributes

to reach our goals and objectives."

The new agreement includes a marketing

component that will complement Under Armour's

brand marketing campaigns through print and venue

presence at the University.

Texas Southern joins the Under Armour roster of

NCAA partners that includes The University of

California-Los Angeles (UCLA), The University of

California-Berkeley, University of Wisconsin,

University of Notre Dame, Naval Academy Athletic

Association, University of Maryland, Texas Tech

University, Northwestern University, University of

Cincinnati, Boston College, University of Utah,

University of South Carolina and Auburn University.

Register Now

TSU Athlete goes into NFL

Texas Southern University will be represented in the NFL by Darvin Kidsy, Jr., an undrafted

free agent from Missouri City. Kidsy, a graduate student at TSU who stands 6’1” and weighs 183

lbs., will compete for a position at wide receiver with the Cleveland Browns. He played a full

2017 season with the Tigers, scoring three touchdowns and receiving 512 yards. He also was a

returned punts, the longest at 61 yards. #TSUProud

YOUR WEEKLY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ELECTRONIC NEWS &

INFORMATION SOURCE

FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS – (713) 313-7933

April 30 – May 6, 2018 Page 2 of 4

Students host campus symposium on race, gender

TSU students held a campus

symposium on April 24 in SOPA that

explored issues surrounding race, gender

and violence. The theme was Race,

Gender and the Violence of Social Mis-

Identification. Panels included Racism

and the Fight for Positive Identity, Love

and Faith in a Violent Society and

Healing the Person and the Community in

a Fractured Society. Dr. Alexis Brooks

DeVita served as panel chair.

Maroon & Gray … continued from page 1

“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.”

JHJ students awarded PASH scholarships

(l-r) Andrea DePaz, Dr. Richard Pitre,

Sephorah Yandoumal

The JHJ School of Business and The Petroleum

Accountants Society of Houston (PASH) awarded

$750 scholarships to Sephorah YandoumaI (junior,

Accounting major) and Andrea DePaz (graduating

senior, Accounting major and future NASA

employee). DePaz and Yandoumal received their

awards during a dinner meeting on April 19 at The

Whitehall Downtown. Dr. Richard Pitre is their

faculty advisor.

State … continued from page 1

Dr. Lane introduced the Tiger Summer Challenge

at the end of the address. Texas Southern University

pennants were handed out to the campus community

in Sawyer Auditorium and Dr. Lane asked everyone

to use them in creative ways in photos this summer

for a chance at prizes this fall. Pennants are still

available while supplies last through University

Advancement in Hannah Hall, room 211. Pick one up

today!

Click here to read Strategic Plan.

YOUR WEEKLY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ELECTRONIC NEWS &

INFORMATION SOURCE

FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS – (713) 313-7933

April 30 – May 6, 2018 Page 3 of 4

YOUR WEEKLY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ELECTRONIC NEWS &

INFORMATION SOURCE

FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS – (713) 313-7933

April 30 – May 6, 2018 Page 4 of 4