The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication will present the Texas Leadership Award to House Speaker Joe Straus on Tuesday, Feb 26.
Straus will accept the award at a tribute event, which takes place 7-9 p.m. at the ATandT Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave.
The award honors outstanding public service to the State of Texas, and proceeds from the tribute event will benefit the Institute’s Civic Education Fund, which provides resources to develop and expand educational outreach programs that encourage civic participation among high school and college students. The award is presented in memory of Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss, who epitomized civic responsibility and public service.
“The Annette Strauss Institute chose to honor Speaker Straus because of his long commitment to public service and his inclusive style of leadership,” said Regina Lawrence, director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life. “The Institute’s mission is to inspire people to be civically engaged, which can be a tall order in today’s contentious political climate. Speaker Straus stands as a role model of conscientious public service.”
Speakers at the tribute include:
- Gov. Rick Perry
- Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst
- University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers
- College of Communication Dean Roderick P. Hart, founder of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
- Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life Director Regina Lawrence
- Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall
- Theodore H. Strauss, honorary event co-chair and husband of the late Annette Strauss
- Cappy McGarr, Advisory Council co-chair, Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
For more information, visit the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life.
About the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
Created in 2000 to respond to growing political cynicism and disaffection in the United States, the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life is named for Annette Greenfield Strauss: former Dallas mayor, community leader and philanthropist. The Institute envisions a democracy in which all citizens are informed, vote and are actively involved in improving their communities. Through nonpartisan research, education and outreach, the Institute seeks to understand and overcome obstacles to civic engagement. To learn more, visit us online at http://annettestrauss.org.
