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Alumni Awards Presented During Homecoming Week
By Jared Solis

During the 2003 Homecoming and Parents Weekend, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi National Alumni Association hosted the Islander Parents & Alumni Awards Brunch in the University Center Ballroom. The Alumni Association, President Robert R. Furgason and other University administration honored an accomplished faculty member and outstanding alumni, students and former athletes.

The 2003 Distinguished Faculty Award was presented to Dr. Moustafa H. Abdelsamad, Dean of the College of Business and a professor of finance. He is the international president of the Society for Advancement of Management and editor-in-chief of SAM Advanced Management Journal. He also has received various prestigious awards from SAM, including The Taylor Key, the Phil Carroll Advancement of Management Award in Finance, Fellow of the Society, and Professional Management Award.

 


Award Recipents

The 2003 Homecoming week drew more participation this year from students on campus as well as University alumni. In addition to the esteemed Distinguished Faculty Award, five alumni and three current students were honored. Shown left to right, top row, are: Kellie Lashua, Legacy of Rings recipient; Dr. Moustafa H. Abdelsamad, Distinguished Faculty Award; Melissa Licona and Amy Guerrero, Legacy of Rings recipients. Alumni honored were, bottom row: Billy D. Causey, Distinguished Alumni Award; Jesse Lee “Jess” Richardson, Athletic Hall of Honor inductee represented by Debbie Horton; Mary C. McQueen, Outstanding Alumni Award; and Stephanie Clark, Young Alumni Award, represented by Dean of Students Ann Degaish.

The 2003 Young Alumni Award was presented to Stephanie Clark. Clark graduated from A&M-Corpus Christi with honors in 1998, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History, and went on to earn her Master of Arts in Public Administration in 2002. As a full-time Program Coordinator for Student Activities at A&M-Corpus Christi, Clark works with the University Council of Student Organizations (UCSO), helps organize Aloha Days freshman camp, and continues to direct the Excellence through Development Growth and Experience (EDGE) leadership program.

Alumnus Billy D. Causey was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Causey is currently the Superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary where he has managed the 2,900 square nautical mile sanctuary since 1990. Causey also has been the lead National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official in the development of the management plan for the Keys Sanctuary, which is the second largest marine protected area in the United States.

This year’s Outstanding Alumni Award recipient was Mary C. McQueen. McQueen graduated in 1991 with highest honors earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. Currently as Deputy Director for External Affairs at the Texas State Aquarium, she is successfully wrapping up her first development project, a $14 million capital campaign. McQueen served as Homecoming Chair for A&M-Corpus Christi in 2001, and just completed her term as President of the A&M-Corpus Christi National Alumni Association for 2002-2003.

Intercollegiate Athletics also announced at the Awards Brunch the induction of Jesse Lee “Jess” Richardson into the Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Honor as the 2003 honoree. Richardson was born and raised in Livingston, Texas, but spent the last eight years of his life in Tyler before passing away on June 27, 1993 at the age of 71. He was part of the 1949-50 University of Corpus Christi Tarpon basketball team which ended the season with an incredible 25-1 record. After graduating from UCC in 1952, Richardson enjoyed a long, successful coaching career, retiring from the George West Independent School District in 1983.

 

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