Photography by Vicky Pink - Texas Southern University’s inaugural Maroon and Gray Affair exceeded all expectations raising $800,000 in scholarship money for TSU students. It was all thanks to the more than 1,100 people in attendance at the affair that featured Judy Smith. Dr. Austin and Loren Lane recognized Brianna Batiste, Anthony Collier, Ashtyn Duncan, and Kaleb Taylor at top students an Alaina Benford and Tony Wyllie as outstanding alumni. Texas Southern’s award-winning Ocean of Soul marching band opened the evening with a thunderous performance with Nephew Tommy and Melinda Spaulding serving as the night’s emcees. Some in attendance were Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S. Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, State Senator Borris Miles, Texas Representatives Alma Allen, Jarvis Johnson, Ron Reynolds, and Shawn Thierry, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, HISD Board President Wanda Adams, HISD Board members Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Jolanda Jones, Texas Southern University Board of Regents members Wesley Terrell, Derrick Mitchell, Glenn Lewis, Marilyn Rose, Samuel Bryant Oliver Bell and Tramauni Brock, and Harris County Justice of the Peace Zinetta Burney.
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