On November 16, UH's Fourth Merchandising Star Awards, "A Salute to Retail," will recognize members of the retail community for their contributions to the industry. Presented by the UH Human Development and Consumer Sciences Department (HDCS), doors open for the luncheon at 11 a.m. at River Oaks Country Club (1600 River Oaks Blvd.).
Honorees will include Robert "Bob" K. Devlin, vice president and general manager of Neiman Marcus - Houston Galleria; Scott McClelland, president of H.E.B.'s Houston Division; and Holly Moore, founder and editor-in-chief of PaperCity. In addition to these industry veterans, the event will recognize standout retailing students Calixto Mejia and Camille Simmons, this year's scholarship recipients.
Proceeds from this event will benefit an endowment in HDCS' Retailing and Consumer Sciences (RCS) program that prepares UH College of Technology undergraduates for retail and human resources careers. The event's chair is Dancie Perugini Ware and Paige Fertitta is co-chair. Sheridan Williams serves as honorary chair, and Emmy-award winning news anchor and reporter Dominique Sachse will emcee the event.
"This event provides educational outreach and benefits our students," said Dr. Shirley Ezell, associate professor of HDCS. "All of the proceeds from the event go into our permanent endowment that provides scholarships for Retailing and Consumer Sciences students to complete their undergraduate degrees or to attend graduate school. The event provides an incredible network for our students and showcases those leaders who represent the very best in our industry. That combination is hard to beat."
Sponsors of the 2011 awards event include: Platinum Sponsor H-E-B and Silver Sponsors Rose and Harry Cullen; Paige and Tilman Fertitta; Macy's; Neiman Marcus; PaperCity; Regina Rogers; and Dancie Ware/Sheridan Williams.
The Merchandising Star Award Endowment was established in 2004 to provide funds for RCS undergraduate and graduate scholarships, continuing education programs, program and student enrichment, and the expansion of the first online merchandising degree in the nation. Previous honorees include fashion designer Victor Costa, philanthropist Rose Cullen, Artisan Designs owner Arlene Baranda, television personality Roseann Rogers, Harris County judge Ed Emmett and jewelry designer Emily Armenta.
A multi-faceted department, HDCS offers a unique curriculum focused on merchandising and human resources. Working with professionals in the retail communities has provided the UH program with educational opportunities for students to expand their creative retail intelligence. Students are challenged to reinvent retail processes, to build entirely new markets that meet untapped customer needs and to execute the right ideas and bring them to market in record time.