HCC foundation raises $500,000+ for students

More than 600 guests braved the city’s sub-freezing weather to bundle up and attend Houston Community College’s Opportunity Ball Friday, January 8. Proceeds from the biennial event will launch local students on the path to a successful future by providing them scholarships to HCC. The gala raised in excess of $520,000, an amount that will go a remarkably long way at HCC.

More than 600 guests braved the city’s sub-freezing weather to bundle up and attend Houston Community College’s Opportunity Ball Friday, January 8.

Proceeds from the biennial event will launch local students on the path to a successful future by providing them scholarships to HCC. The gala raised in excess of $520,000, an amount that will go a remarkably long way at HCC.

Houston Chronicle president and publisher Jack Sweeney, a past honoree, presented HCC’s Crystal Eagle Award to Mayor Bill and Andrea White. White spoke about his special passion for the work of community colleges and the real opportunities they offer local students to improve their career potential and the lives of their families.


Texas Children's Hospital CEO Mark A. Wallace and Precision Task Group CEO Massey Villarreal, an HCC Foundation board member, chaired the black-tie affair.

“Together the efforts of these two outstanding leaders will allow the HCC Foundation to offer hundreds of additional scholarships that will help local youth go to college,” said HCC Chancellor Dr. Mary S. Spangler.

ARAMARK and Sun Microsystems and Psitechnology were the evening’s lead underwriters and ARAMARK President of Education Dennis Maple spoke at the event.
Community leaders, HCC Administration and members of the HCC Foundation Board and the HCC Board were in attendance. The three newly elected trustees of the HCC Board, Eva Loredo (District VIII), Sandie Meyers (District VI) and Mary Ann Perez (District III), were also present.

Five Southwest College scholarship recipients, Brittany Cardenas, Digital Communication; Chidinma Ike, Mathematics; Yonghui Wang, Teacher Education; Brittaney Wilmore, Communication; and Lei Yang, Engineering, served as HCC Foundation student ambassadors, greeting guests and assisting with the evening’s events.

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