Mardi Gras 2011
The 2011 “Jazz it Up” Mardi Gras Gala, chaired by Kathy and Dr. Ken Wells, raised nearly $900,000 benefitting the Fr. Francis E. Monaghan Scholarship fund for the education of current and future students. The Fr. Francis E. Monaghan Scholarship Fund, the cornerstone of UST student aid, will award $9.2 million in institutional scholarships to more than 900 UST students in fall 2011.
Joining the crowd of 450 guests at the InterContinental Hotel on March 8, were 12 Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, honorees for the evening. UST students Robert Murillo and Steffani Rush, who won the honor of this year’s student king and queen, greeted attendees and later thanked donors for making a St. Thomas education possible for themselves and others. Numerous other student scholarship recipients lent a hand donning guests with beads and sharing their gratitude for their generous contributions to the university.
A highlight of the evening was an emotional moment between UST sophomore Natasha Alvarez and Trini Mendenhall Sosa. Alvarez encouraged guests to support the program with “paddles up” and shared how support from the Mendenhall Summer Institute enabled her to pursue a private education and take her place as a leader on campus. The Summer Institute and the Mendenhall Achievement Center were in 2008 as the result the largest gift in UST history from Trini Mendenhall Sosa, the former owner of Fiesta Mart, Inc., and a former board member.
Serving as master of ceremonies was Dave Ward, KTRK Channel 13 news anchor. Entertainment was provided by Yvonne Washington and the Mix and the UST Jazz Band under the direction of Dr. Malcolm Rector.
Irish Gala 2010
 The “top 10 in the country-rated” University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies reached milestones and broke records at its annual Irish Gala held Nov. 5 at the Houstonian Hotel. The Gala, chaired by Jes and John Hagale, honored Peg and William J. Flynn, Chairman Emeritus of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, for their role in the development of the Center for Irish Studies, in building peace and prosperity in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and in making life better for many people around the world through their philanthropic and volunteer spirit of giving.
The event set the stage for the University to announce that the Center has surpassed its $1 million initial goal for the William J. Flynn Endowment for Peace and Reconciliation. The University also announced the renaming of the Center as the William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies.
Drawing the largest crowd in its ten-year history, the Irish Gala welcomed 370 guests, grossed over $229,000 in table and tickets sales as well as donations and more than $33,000 for auction items. Guests were generous with their “paddles up,” raising over $53,000 for scholarships for UST students to study in Ireland and students from Ireland and Northern Ireland to study at UST.
Nursing Founder’s Gala 2010
With more than 200 benefactors filling Tony's restaurant for an exclusive nursing benefit, nursing friends and alumni moved the University of St. Thomas’ nursing school plans ahead with announcement of the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Endowed Chair in Nursing thanks to $1 million in gifts. The event, held Nov. 18, honored the John S. Dunn Research foundation for their contributions to the community and the University of St. Thomas.
Nursing Founders Benefit chair Sheridan Williams joined UST President Dr. Robert Ivany and Board Chair Michele Malloy in announcing that the $1 million enables St. Thomas to announce the new Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Endowed Chair in Nursing. Fundraising will continue to fully endow the chair at $2 million. Ivany reported that the University is half way to its goal of six chairs needed to fund the new nursing faculty. The University hopes to open the new nursing school in fall 2012.
Golf Tournament 2010
University of St. Thomas friends and alumni hit the links Wednesday, Sept. 22 to support the UST Scholarship Tee-Up Tournament. The successful event, held at Kingwood Country Club, grossed more than $215,000 for the Fr. Francis E. Monaghan Scholarship Fund.
Joe Cleary, Executive Vice President of Harvey Builders, was the tournament chair. Presenting Sponsor was the Mabee Foundation and underwriters were Marathon Oil Corporation, Harvey Builders, Sterling Bank, Universal Weather & Aviation, Mossy Nissan, Brookfield Properties and Bank of America.
This year, the tournament saw increased participation from Houston area UST alumni who played on teams and joined the tournament committee. A fun new category was created to recognize tournament performance. The “Dead Last” award went to Burney Hebinck ’55, and teammates Woody Lyons, Andrew Wisenbaker, Kent Woodard - scoring a 83 on the Lake Course.
Fashion Show 2010 
A sold out crowd of 375 University of St. Thomas alumni and friends gathered at the Spring Fashion Event and Luncheon held April 29 at the River Oaks Country Club. The event, chaired by Katie Earthman Cullen, combined couture and college and showed how fashion can finance a future, grossing more than $75,000 for the University of St. Thomas Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship fund.
Neiman Marcus-Galleria provided the clothing and models. Mistress-of-ceremonies was Culturemap Editor-at-Large Shelby Hodge. Culturemap was this year’s media sponsor.
During the event, alumnae Saba Abashawl ‘90, Greggory Fields Burk ‘02, Robin Thomas Klaes ‘84, Sandra Pezzetta ’84 were honored for their volunteerism at the University and in the community. Betsy Earthman, UST parent and friend, was the Honoree in Memoriam, and she was represented by her son, Rev. Michael Earthman, Emily Earthman and Richard Earthman.
From left to right: Greggory Fields Burk, Katie Earthman Cullen, Saba Abashawl, Sandra Pezzetta, Robin Thomas Klaes, Richard Earthman, Emily Earthman, Father Michael G. Earthman, UST President Dr. Robert Ivany and Marianne Ivany.
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