Alumni
2015-2016 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by Texas State University and the Texas State Alumni Association. The award recognizes graduates who have achieved prominence and distinction in their chosen business, profession, or life work on a national or international level. The leadership shown by these alumni inspires all members of the Texas State community.
2016 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Scott Emerson ('75)
Founder and CEO of the Emerson Group, a sales management company with partners in Europe, Asia, and North and South America and an active supporter of a multitude of nonprofit, charitable, and educational organizations including Children’s Miracle Network
Ron Lynn Mitchell ('72)
Vice chairman/president and CEO of the Horseshoe Bay Resort, an internationally recognized destination; volunteer endeavors includes co-founding CASA of Burnet County (now CASA of the Highland Lakes Area), which serves abused and neglected children
Ernie W. Sadau ('85)
President and CEO of CHRISTUS Health, overseeing the second- largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas, including more than 50 hospitals and other care facilities across three states, providing more than $250,000,000 in community benefits to the markets they serve
Diana McGinty Schick ('71)
Internationally renowned Christian author, speaker and outreach advocate; founder of Creative Living International, a nonprofit organization through which she’s authored, published and distributed 25 “user- friendly” Bible study books, with translations into nine languages
Jim West ('77)
President of Jet Maintenance, Inc., Capital Star Oil and Gas, AW Trucking, and Modelo Energy, a prolific community volunteer in his hometown of Victoria, Texas, and founder of the Jim West Challenge collegiate golf tournament at Texas State
Marvin Whiteley ('97)
Director of the John R. LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease at the University of Texas; research has been recognized with multiple awards, including being selected as a Burroughs Wellcome Investigator in Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease
2015 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Susan Angell-Gonzalez ('80)
Choreographer, director, entrepreneur, and first member of the Strutters Hall of Fame; recipient of the Texas Dance Educators Association Hall of Fame Award, and the Texas Dance Educators Association Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Rose Brown ('79)
Executive vice president and chief administrative officer for NuStar Energy L.P.; recipient of the Silver Anvil Award; inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame
Ambassador Oliver Del Cid ('95)
Appointed Belize’s ambassador to Mexico in 2011 and non-resident high commissioner to Jamaica in 2014; continues to promote bilateral relations and tourism, trade, and investment across the Americas
Beth Guastella ('84)
After one year as president and COO of upscale baby product retailer, giggle, Inc., rose to chief executive officer, building on 30 years as a leader for international brands like Stuart Weitzman, Kate Spade New York, and Hermes
Rod C. Kellar, Jr. ('81)
President of Segway, Inc., highly regarded in the technology industry for his innovative leadership; received the prestigious Technology Marketer of the Year Award in 2003 from Technology Marketing magazine
The Honorable Nelva Gonzales Ramos ('87)
Appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a judge in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, where she presides over civil and criminal cases in the Corpus Christi division; former state district court judge in Nueces County
*Deceased