UHV athletic scholarship fundraiser a success
A large and energetic crowd was on hand Friday night to help support the University of Houston-Victoria student-athletes at the “A Night for the Jaguars” fund-raising event at Club Westerner.
Through the support and generosity of those in attendance the UHV athletic department was able to raise around $25,000 for scholarships for UHV student-athletes.
“Thanks to all the sponsors and supporters who turned out for this year’s Night for the Jaguars event,” said UHV athletics director Ashley Walyuchow. “The feedback I’ve receive has been overwhelmingly positive and even those who couldn’t attend have told me they heard great things from their friends that attended and they will not miss next year.”
The Jaguars, beginning their 11th year of athletic competition, have flourished with a very successful program that includes several conference championships and trips to the NAIA Championships in the sports of baseball, softball, golf and soccer.
The UHV men’s soccer team wrapped up the fall with its best season ever winning their first Red River Athletic Conference championship and earning its first berth to the NAIA Opening Round Tournament.
Through the years the Jaguars have received tremendous community support from Victoria and Friday night was another example of that support.
Hollinden marketers + strategists was the Presenting Sponsor for the event, while Stewart Title came on as a Goal Sponsor, and Civil Corp and State Rep. Geanie W. Morrison were Birdie Sponsors to help kickoff the fund-raising efforts.
A large portion of the funding came in a spirited live auction that brought in over $20,000 and included an exciting back-and-forth bidding war for an autographed Nolan Ryan baseball and VIP tickets to a Round Rock Express game that eventually sold for $6,000.
“Because of their generosity, we will be able to offer more scholarships to deserving Jaguars student-athletes,” Walyuchow said. “This support is vital to helping us stay competitive so we can recruit and retain the best student-athletes at UHV.”
Among the other live auction items were autographed baseballs by Craig Biggio, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve, along with University of Houston Cougar football and basketball packages, a Houston Symphony package, a home or business security system from VCS Security Systems and a Fort Worth Rodeo, hotel and airfare package.
Other auction items includes two NASCAR weekend packages, a guided hog hunt, a King Ranch wooden and leather rocking chair donated by First Community Bank, and a guided fishing trip for four at Empire Lodge of Port O’Connor.
The event concluded with a dance featuring music by the Scott Taylor Band.
All monies raised from the event go toward scholarships for the UHV student-athletes.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
