Shine Bright!

Outgrowing a venue is a good problem to have.

In just a few years, the Stelos Alliance Awards Banquet has moved from a private room in a San Marcos restaurant to the football stadium pavilion and now to the end zone complex.

After last Sunday, one thing is clear: we are not done growing.

More than 100 people came together to celebrate leadership and excellence as we awarded scholarships to 33 individuals, recognized four outstanding student groups, and honored dozens of program participants. In total, Stelos invested $302,000 in the next generation of leaders at Texas State and in the community.

This organization has come a long way since its inception in 2008, when Melinda Keller and I just showed up at other events to recognize the recipients of our two scholarship awards.

What has happened since is far more meaningful.

Friends have stepped forward to build scholarship programs of their own. This is an all-star group of leaders that includes Jordan Johnson, Michael Flowers, Cortney Lebens, Kailey Leske, Ken Hewitt, Brad & Patty Nations, Carrie Angell, Andrae Turner, Patrick Samuels, David Worley, Clint Morris, Michal Waechter, Vido Reid, and Linda and Marcelus Alexander. We are honored to have such amazing people in our lives.

Melinda and I were especially proud to honor Mike Duboise with the Stelos Star Award for his sustained commitment and for establishing the Mason Hunt Memorial Scholarship.

But the most powerful moment? Seeing former recipients step up to give back.

Former scholarship winners and alumni of the Housley Principled Leadership Program are now creating opportunities for others. Shelby Galvin, Jennifer Lirrette, Matt Priest, Susan Dembickie, Thibault Gehin, Nathan McDaniel, Lauren Darby, and Sheila Bustillos live by the mandate that to whom much is given, much is required.

That’s how this grows. Their generosity is an inspiration to others.

A special thank you to Texas State President Kelly Damphousse for setting the tone, and to our friend and mentor John Garrison, without whom Stelos would not exist (and I might not have even graduated).

We are also grateful to Peter Tschirhart, Claudia Roeschmann, John Fleming, and Alanna Sarabia for their commitment to sustaining Stelos programs on campus.

They say that leaders create leaders and that success breeds success. At this rate, we won’t just need a bigger room; we may need the whole stadium!

Congratulations to all the recipients. Keep shining bright!