Pride and lightheartedness filled the River Oaks Country Club on Wednesday, October 16 as more than 200 guests honored the 2013 Emerging Star scholarship recipients and Merchandising Star Awards honorees. A Salute to Retail is a biennial event that brings together luminaries of the retail industry, business and community leaders and friends of the Retailing and Consumer Science program who support the students with scholarships and academic programs.
Alumna Dominique Sachse from KPRC Local 2 opened the luncheon by welcoming outstanding individuals and organizations that fervently support the Consumer Science and Retail program. President Renu Khator offered heartfelt remarks after fashion blogger and long-time supporter of the program, alumna Roz Pactor, provided words of acknowledgment to platinum sponsors H-E-B and Silver Eagle Distributors, silver sponsors Macy’s and Tootsies and other generous contributors. Funds from sponsors support the retailing and consumer science student scholarships, continuing education programs and expansion of the first online retailing degree in the nation. Guests were offered another opportunity to give with the purchase of a $50 surprise bag, filled with items contributed by more than 20 donors.
This year’s rising star scholarship recipients include retailing and consumer science program graduate Khalid Al-Kalla and current students Kelsey Noble, Andrea Rodriguez and Martha Villegas. To introduce the recipients, guests viewed a six-minute video that contained thoughts of gratitude from the students. After honorees, CultureMap, Silver Eagle Distributors and Tootsies were presented with awards, models showed fashion-forward clothing from Tootsies.