AUSTIN, Texas—President Larry R. Faulkner of The University of Texas at Austin and UT System Chancellor William H. Cunningham on Wednesday (Nov. 17) will attend the 1999 Valley Honors Banquet in Roma honoring the academic excellence of about 400 star students from Hidalgo, Starr and Jim Hogg counties.
The 7 p.m. banquet in the Roma High School Cafeteria is in recognition of the special efforts and outstanding achievements of these students, said Dr. Mario Ramirez, who initiated the first such banquet about 40 years ago and has helped to organize these banquets for each of the past 20 years.
Motivational speaker and stand-up comedian Alex Valdez of Brea, Calif., will present the keynote address. The blind entertainer will talk about laughter as one of the ultimate tools for overcoming life’s difficulties.
Faulkner and his wife, Mary Ann Faulkner, will be among about a dozen representatives from UT Austin and the UT System attending the banquet, which also will be attended by representatives from the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, UT Brownsville, UT Pan American, the Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M University.
“We look forward to honoring the outstanding students of South Texas and to invite them to take advantage of the vast educational opportunities available at The University of Texas at Austin. The Rio Grande Valley is an important region for UT Austin. Every year some of our brightest students come from South Texas,” said Faulkner.
A special tribute during the evening will recognize Cunningham and his wife, Dr. Isabella Cunningham, for their loyal support of Valley Honors Banquets.
“They have attended every single banquet since Bill became president of UT Austin 14 years ago,” said Ramirez. “They have come under adverse weather circumstances on some occasions, but they have been here diligently every single year. They have expressed and shown a commitment to encourage high schools students from South Texas to continue with their education.”
For additional information, contact Augustine Garza, deputy director, Office of Admissions, (512) 475-7454.
