Proposal would set a standard for athletes
A dual mission: Group aids students, touts UH
Children of HI employees receive scholarships from UH endowment
By Audrey Warren
Daily Cougar Staff
The Houston Industries UH Alumni Association awarded a $7,000 check to its endowment fund, which provides annual scholarships to UH students.
The association has contributed more than $100,000 to the Houston Industries UH Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment Fund since its establishment in 1988.
Each year, this money, in the form of four scholarships, is then awarded to full-time students who are both dependent on Houston Industries employees and maintain a 2.0 GPA. The fund is formally called the Albert Valdez Scholarship Fund, in memory of the UH alumnus and Houston Industries employee.
Sam Evetts, president of the association, said that he and the more than 600 alumni who make up the association wanted to do something for their alma mater.
"We wanted to do things for UH, so we put our money where our mouth is," Evetts said.
A golf tournament, held each summer, is one of the association's fund-raisers. Participants generally include Houston Industries employees and vendors of the company, but UH officials like President Arthur K. Smith and head football coach Kim Helton also have participated in the event.
The tournament netted $13,000 in its first year, but usually generates about $10,000 in funds for UH. This year, funds for endowment were smaller than in the past, because the association held back money for other UH activities.
That money will still go to the University, but through events such as Frontier Fiesta and the Red & White Ball, in which the association participates.
Development Director for Donor Relations Nancy Clark explained that when donations are made to the endowment, UH holds on to them for perpetuity. The earnings from the endowment fund provide scholarships to students.
Houston Industries, the parent company of Houston Lighting & Power and Entex, changed its name this month to Reliant Energy, and the fund's name will also be changed to reflect that alteration.
