Inside UHCL’s 1974 Society Dinner: Where giving becomes opportunity Future Students How to Apply Visit UHCL Admitted Students Tuition, Costs and Aid Degrees and Programs Contact Admissions More Information Current Students Class Schedule Academic Calendar Advising Events Library Academic Resources and Support Student Services and Resources More Information Alumni Lifetime Membership Alumni Events Update Your information Awards and Recognitions Give to UHCL More Information Faculty & Staff Faculty Highlights Administrative Offices Benefits Training Policies Course Development More Information Community Maps and Directions Parking Employment News and Events More Information Newsroom Inside UHCL’s 1974 Society Dinner: Where giving becomes opportunity UHCL 1974 Society Dinner 2026 Download Media Kit Preparing your download... An error occurred while preparing your download 22 April 2026 16:22 PM Europe/Amsterdam Inside UHCL’s 1974 Society Dinner: Where giving becomes opportunity Written by: Lauren Sawyer At the annual 1974 Society Dinner on April 16, the University of Houston-Clear Lake brought its mission into sharp focus. Not through statistics or strategy alone, but through the people whose lives and work are shaped by donor generosity. Members of the 1974 Society support UHCL by establishing or increasing endowments that fund scholarships, professorships, and other programs, helping sustain the university’s future. “This is one of our favorite events,” said UHCL President Richard Walker , addressing a room of dedicated supporters. “Because we get to recognize those who are committed to the institution and hear directly what that support means to our students.” Throughout the evening, Walker outlined a university on the rise. From launching a new aerospace engineering program to fast-tracking the development of specialized labs, UHCL is expanding its academic footprint while deepening its ties to industry. New partnerships, hands-on learning opportunities, and workforce-aligned programs are positioning students for immediate impact in fields that matter, from healthcare to space commercialization. But behind every new initiative is a constant truth. “We could not do all these things without your support,” Walker said. That message was reinforced by Vice President of University Advancement Joe Staley , who framed the evening around the return on donor investment. “What you have invested in is solutions,” he said. “We have problem solvers at this university.” UHCL VP of University Advancement, Joe Staley. Download Media Kit Preparing your download... An error occurred while preparing your download A scholarship to a new path Allyson Simmons, the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship recipient, stood before the room as both a reflection of UHCL’s mission and a testament to donor impact. A former high school English teacher, she described a journey marked by uncertainty, leaving a graduate program that didn’t fit, stepping away from her initial career path, and questioning what came next. Years later, she decided to try again. Returning to the University of Houston System (UHS), Simmons enrolled at UHCL to pursue a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management “I obtained my bachelor's degree in English from the University of Houston-Downtown. My mama graduated from UHCL with her master's in Instructional Technology in 2008,” she said. “The UHS is my home; I wouldn't dream of getting my graduate degree and maybe even my PhD from anywhere other than a UHS campus.” With the support of a donor-funded scholarship, what once felt like a risk became an opportunity. “Your kindness is allowing for a frightening and unfamiliar path to seem just a little brighter,” Simmons added. For Simmons, scholarship support meant more than financial relief. It meant the ability to redefine her future. Today, she is on track to graduate in the fall of 2026 and is equipped to step confidently into a new career. Strategic partnerships that deliver results Adam Moore’s story underscored a different, but equally powerful, dimension of impact. After earning his undergraduate degree, Moore came to UHCL with a clear goal: to return to NASA and build a career in the aerospace industry. He quickly immersed himself in graduate studies while gaining hands-on experience through partnerships with UHCL’s Office of Strategic Partnerships and Boeing. Navigating multiple programs from systems engineering to an MBA focused on the commercialization of space , Moore relied on scholarships to maintain his momentum. The Alumni Association Scholarship , which is not restricted by college, proved especially critical as his academic path evolved. That support delivered immediate results. Today, Moore is already working in mission control at Johnson Space Center, an outcome that reflects the direct pipeline UHCL is building between education and industry. Together, these stories highlight the power of scholarships to expand access, sustain ambition, and accelerate careers. But the evening made clear that donor impact at UHCL extends far beyond individual students. Alumni Association Scholarship recipient, Adam Moore. Download Media Kit Preparing your download... An error occurred while preparing your download High-quality care for families and high-impact research in medical challenges At the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD), Executive Director Dorothea Lerman described how philanthropic support has enabled the center to serve more than 200 families each year at no cost. For many, these services would otherwise be inaccessible. “When we opened our doors, one of our missions was to provide high-quality care at no cost,” she said. “Because of generosity like yours, we have achieved that goal.” Nearby, the work of the Health and Human Performance Institute (HHPI) is advancing another dimension of impact. Through donor funding and strategic partnerships, researchers and students are addressing some of the most complex challenges in healthcare, from traumatic brain injuries to neurodegenerative diseases. For HHPI’s Executive Director William (Bill) Amonette , the significance of this support goes beyond dollars. “Yes, funding fuels research. But more importantly, it creates opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and purpose,” he said. “Our goal is to connect science with clinical care, grounded in compassion. We are deeply grateful not only for your financial support, but for your presence here today, and to be in this fight alongside you.” Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD) Executive Director, Dr. Dorothea Lerman. Dr. Bill Amonette with UHCL 1974 Society donors. Download Media Kit Preparing your download... An error occurred while preparing your download Solutions that affect real lives in real time By connecting science with clinical care and compassion, UHCL is not only improving patient outcomes but also redefining what education looks like. Students are learning and contributing to solutions that affect real lives in real time. It is this intersection of education, purpose, and impact that defines UHCL’s trajectory. As Staley noted, public funding alone cannot sustain that vision. Donor support fills the gap, transforming what is possible for students, faculty, and the broader community. The 1974 Society represents that commitment at its highest level: a group of supporters who believe in the university as it exists today, and in what it can become. And if the evening proved anything, it is that the return on that belief is already visible. It is a teacher finding her way to a new career. It is an engineer stepping into mission control. It is in families receiving life-changing care at no cost. It is in research that restores dignity, function, and hope. These are not isolated outcomes. They are the result of intentional investment. At UHCL, donor support does more than fund education; it expands access, strengthens quality, and connects learning to purpose. It ensures that students are not defined by financial barriers, but by their potential. The stories shared at the 1974 Society Dinner are proof of what that investment makes possible. They are also an invitation to open doors for the next student, to advance research that changes lives, and to be part of a university that is growing, solving, serving, and leading. Because the next story is already waiting. And with continued support, its impact will be even greater. Ready to be part of the difference? Visit www.uhcl.edu/giving to learn more about giving opportunities at UHCL. 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An error occurred while preparing your download Tags Alumni Events News Features Scholarships Students Contacts Lauren Sawyer Coordinator of Media Relations sawyerl@uhcl.edu Newsroom Share this page Inside UHCL’s 1974 Society Dinner: Where giving becomes opportunity Share on: X Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Latest news 23 Apr 2026 Ten UHCL students awarded Bright Futures Intern Scholarship for spring 2026 20 Apr 2026 Making science make sense: UHCL student Sarah Delgado transforms science communication 14 Apr 2026 UHCL Service Week 2026 inspires campus-wide impact 14 Apr 2026 University of Houston-Clear Lake names new Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost 06 Apr 2026 Leading with purpose: UHCL alum earns Young Healthcare Executive of the Year Award 02 Apr 2026 UHCL celebrates a decade of STEM innovation with 10th Annual Conference