2020 College Report

` - ‘ ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` “ ” ` our alumni Texas State University’s Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have made a signifcant impact through their profession, afliations, and service to society and the university. It was frst awarded in 1959 to Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, former editor of Te University Star and 36th president of the United States. First awarded in 2016, the Young Alumni Rising Star Award honors Texas State alumni under the age of 40 that demonstrate a level of excellence that positively represents the university. Not Pictured: Powers Boothe (1988) and Mary-Agnes Taylor (1997). 54 . COLLEGE REPORT 2020 GLORIA CAMPOS BROWN Journalism and Mass Communication 76 Retired award-winning news anchor for WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth. After her 40-year career, she remains a sought-after speaker and moderator, having moderated discussions with Sonia Sotomayor, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Jill Biden, Cynthia Nixon, and others. CARRIE A. HURT Mass Communication Electronic Media, 87 President/CEO Better Business Bureau, Austin. Named the 2016 Best Small Business CEO by Austin Business Journal and was named a 2011 Woman of Infuence by the Austin Business Journal . RON MITCHELL Fine Arts and Communication `72 Ron served as Vice Chair of the Texas State System Board of Regents, a board member and Vice Chair of the Texas State System Foundation, and is a Past President of the Alumni Association . MARY ROSE BROWN Minor in Journalism `79 Mary is a board member of the Center for Health Care Services, the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Women’s Leadership Council of United Way of San Antonio, and the San Antonio Parks Foundation. KURO TAWIL Communication Studies 12 Founder of KUROS, an Austin- based online retailer with a nonproft component to provide pepper spray to women living in at-risk communities. KUROS trademarks have been licensed on more than one million products. VERONICA MUZQUIZ EDWARDS Journalism and Mass Communication 86 Founder and CEO of InGenesis a San Antonio-based company. She is a member of the Texas State University Board of Regents, World Afairs Council, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. VIRGINIA ANN STEVENS Journalism and Mass Communication 72 Founding President of BioMed SA. Plays a key role in recruiting biomedical companies to San Antonio. WAYNE OQUIN Music 99 Internationally recognized musician, composer and professor at Te Juilliard School; has premiered original compositions in London, Moscow, Toronto, Tokyo, Vienna and Warsaw. - 2019 - BHARATI G. NAIK, CNN London Producer - 2018 - POLO SANDOVAL, CNN Correspondent - 2017 - RANDY ROGERS, Country Music Star - 2017 - CHRIS ELLEY, Winner of 4 Emmy Awards PREVIOUS YOUNG ALUMNI RISING STAR AWARDS: - 2020 - 2019 - 2016 - 2015 - 2020 - YOUNG ALUMNI RISING STAR AWARD - 2014 - 2013 - 2009 NINA VACA Communication Studies 94 National Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year; Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year; German Marshall Memorial Fellow, World Afairs Council. TONY DIESTE Journalism and Mass Communication 88 Chairman and Co-founder of Dieste, Inc. Named one of the 100 most infuential Latinos in the US by the American Advertising Federation, he is in their Hall of Achievement. JAMES E. POLK Music `91 Austin Music Hall of Fame; known for his collaboration with Ray Charles for 10 years as an orchestra director and arranger. EUGENE LEE Theatre `74 Stage, flm and television actor; producer; playwright; plays produced at theaters throughout the United States and London. MARCELLUS W. ALEXANDER, JR. Communication Studies 73 Executive Vice President, Television for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and President, NAB Education Foundation; involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations. CHELCIE ROSS Theatre/English 64 Character actor with 85+ movie/TV credits. His stage career spans 45 years on three continents. He is a recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Award. THOMAS CARTER Theatre `74 Tree-time Emmy-winning director, actor and producer; received Directors’ Guild Award and George Foster Peabody Award. DON RAINS Communication Studies 66 Served as a Texas State Representative for District 45; served in leadership roles in numerous civic organizations. STEVEN KEMBLE Journalism and Mass Communication 82 Solutions magazine Event Planner of the Year; International Special Event Society International Volunteer of the Year; Event Planners Hall of Fame. DIONICIO DON FLORES Journalism and Mass Communication 73 One of the nation’s most respected Hispanic journalists; President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. - 1994 - 1993 - 1992 - 1981 - 1994 - 2005 - 2003 - 2000 - 1997 - 2007 F i r s t gen / N e x t gen . 55