We — the Friends of The Daily Texan — gathered for a special celebration: to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of The Daily Texan.
But there was more, much more:
- to hear directly of the success of the student paper from the two senior editors
- to hear words of encouragement fund support from Interim Moody College of Communication Dean Anita Vangelisti
- to celebrate a Lifetime Achievement Award to Gerald A. Johnson for leading Texas Student Media to profitability for the past 11 years
- and we recognized eight new Hall of Fame members and three new Rising Star award winners (short bios posted at bottom of this article)
- and to award 13 scholarship grants to Daily Texan staffers, totaling. $23,500
- we viewed a trailer of the documentary film marking the 125th anniversary of The Texan (film coming later this year)
- and we traveled the United States via a video of photo journalist and longtime UT instructor Frank Armstrong, a recipient of a Hall of Fame award.
“One highlight of the gathering is always the connection factor: meeting up with friends of earlier years, and making new friends,” said Friends president John Reetz. “Journalists love to talk and visit and celebrate the success of the many talented alums who have passed through The Texan.”
The event is used primarily to bring Texan alums back together, but it also serves as a fund-raiser to support the Texan’s needs. The Friends group is currently raising money to assist in purchasing photo and video equipment, has recently helped fund travel for Texan journalists to SEC title women’s title game and funded additional initiatives
In addition the Friends group is pushing to raise an additional $75,000 between now and October, the end of The Texan’s 125th anniversary celebration.
The funds will go to an endowment which funds the 13 scholarships each year.
“This year we had 45 students apply for grants, and we had 13 we could fund,” Reetz said. “ We’d like to hit at least $500,000 in endowment funds by October so we can continue, for perpetuity, the existing scholarships, and also to provide occasional increases and fund more awards each year.”
To donate, please go here, and earmark use of your donation: endowment, technology, photo/video, event coverage, or another other item you would like to help fund.
Bios of the Hall of Fame and Rising Star Award winners may be found here.