ALUMNI AWARDS
Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award
Recognizing alumni under 40 for significant achievements in their careers and service to the university.
Many Longhorns graduate from The University of Texas at Austin and quickly establish themselves as not just a person to watch in their chosen profession—but extraordinary thought leaders and breakout stars. The Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award was created by the Texas Exes in 1979 to recognize the achievements of alumni, age 39 and under, who have made significant achievements in their careers, community, and service to the university. They are proud alumni who inspire students and peers to put their best foot forward and strive for greatness.
To be eligible, a nominee must be 39 or younger on Jan. 1 of the year in which the award is presented.
The nomination deadline for next year's Outstanding Young Texas Ex Awards is October 1 of this calendar year.
2026 Recipients
Kimberly Belflower
MFA ’17; Playwright; Professor, Emory University; Atlanta, GA
Kimberly Belflower is a playwright and professor of playwriting at Emory University in Atlanta. Her play John Proctor Is the Villain earned seven Tony nominations during its 2025 Broadway run, including Best Play, and is set to open on London's West End in 2027. Belflower is adapting the play into a feature film for Universal Pictures, produced by Tina Fey and Marc Platt, and is developing a young adult drama series for 20th Television. She is also developing new work with Lincoln Center Theatre, Ars Nova, and Manhattan Theatre Club. She previously served as a narrative lead for immersive art collective Meow Wolf, where she wrote Marin's Dreams, a short film featuring original music by Beach House.
Kate Biberdorf
PhD ’14; Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, University of Notre Dame; Austin, TX
Kate Biberdorf is a science entertainer and educator known as "Kate the Chemist" for her viral, theatrical science demonstrations. She spent 10 years as a chemistry professor at UT Austin before joining the faculty at the University of Notre Dame. She has appeared on national television, including Today and NBC Nightly News, and hosts Seeking a Scientist, a top-ranked NPR podcast. She reaches millions of students through her bestselling books on chemistry for young readers.
Colt McCoy
BS ’09; Partner, HPI Real Estate; Fort Worth, TX
Colt McCoy grew up in Tuscola, Texas, and played quarterback at UT Austin from 2005 to 2009. A four-year starter with a 45–8 record, he finished as the NCAA's all-time winningest quarterback, led UT to four 10-win seasons, and won the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards. His No. 12 jersey is retired at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. McCoy played 13 NFL seasons before retiring and building a career in business and public service. He serves on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and several university advisory boards. He is the founding partner of HPI Fort Worth, a firm focused on office and industrial real estate investment across Texas.
Megan E. Ortiz
BS ’09, Life Member; Senior Director of External Relations, Axiom Space; Houston, TX
Megan E. Ortiz is senior director of external relations at Axiom Space, one of the world's leading commercial aerospace companies. In that role, she helps advance the successor to the International Space Station, supports development of the next-generation spacesuit designed to return U.S. astronauts to the Moon, and oversees end-to-end commercial human spaceflight missions with crews representing 11 nations. A Houstonian rooted in the Clear Lake aerospace community, Ortiz is active in civic life, serving on the boards of Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Precinct2gether, and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. During her time at UT, she was active in Orange Jackets, Kappa Delta, Camp Texas, Texas Spirits, Student Government, UT Votes and the Daily Texan.
Past Recipients
2020 – Present
2025
Ashley Glazier
BS ’06
Qusay Salih Hussein
BA, BSW ’21, MS ’22, PhD, ’25
Eddie Lopez
BM ’08
Sarafina Nance
BS ’16
2024
Celine Halioua
BSA ’17
Jessica McGehee
BA ’07
Dr. Morgan Micheletti
BS ’10
Korey Pereira
BS ’11
2023
Kovid Gupta
BBA ’10,
Dr. Amy Faith Ho
BS ’10
C.C. Melvin Ike
BS ’07
Glen Powell
’11
2022
Sam Acho
BBA ’10, Life Member
Pamela Martin August
BS ’06
Dr. Colin Muething
PhD ’16
Natasha Verma
BJ ’12, BA ’14, Life Member
2021
Sujata Ajmera
BA ’01, JD ’05
Virginia A. Cumberbatch
MPAFF ’16
Lauren Gardner
BS ’06, MS ’08, PhD ’11
Brian Haley
BA ’04, JD ’09, Life Member
2020
Jeff Butler
BBA 2014, Life Member
Gerardo A. Interiano
BA 2003, JD ’06, Life Member
Dr. Leticia Nogueira
PhD 2010
Melanie Weber
BS 2004
2010 – 2019
2019
Rush Bartlett
BS 2008, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Austin, TX
Kevin Curry
BBA, McCombs School of Business BA 2005, Liberal Arts, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt
JD 2005, School of Law, Life Member, Edinburg, TX
April Underwood
BBA 2001, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, San Anselmo, CA
2018
Michelle Carter
BS 2007, College of Education, Life Member, Ovilla, TX
Leon Chen
BBA 2001, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Austin, TX
Rosa Flores
BBA, MPA 2001, McCombs School of Business, BJ 2005, Moody College of Education, Life Member, Houston, TX
Bryan Jones
BS 2000, Cockrell School of Engineering, JD 2005, School of Law, MBA 2005, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Austin, TX
2017
Amy Chozick
BA 2001, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, New York, NY
Sarang N. Desai
BBA 2001, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, McKinney, TX
Daniel Hodge
JD 2004, School of Law, Austin, TX
The Honorable Oscar Lee Longoria Jr.
BS 2003, Moody College of Communication, JD 2007, School of Law, Life Member
2016
The Honorable George P. Bush
JD 2003, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
Andrea Chavez
BS 2004, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Colleyville, TX
Kevin Durant
2007, Miami, FL
Lisa Falkenberg
BJ 2000, Moody College of Communication, Houston, TX
Dan Graham
BA 2003, College of Liberal Arts, BS 2003, College of Natural Sciences, JD 2005, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
2015
Jamie V. Stockwell
BJ 1999, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, New York, NY
Jake Silverstein
MFA 2006, School of Fine Arts, Montclair, NJ
Kedra Ishop
BA 1997, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, ME 2000, PhD 2008, College of Education, Life Member, Santa Monica, MI
Muhammad Mustafa Hussain
MS 2004, PhD 2005, Cockrell School of Engineering, Austin, TX
2014
Alexander Eastman
BA 1996, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Shea Morenz
BBA 1997, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Houston, TX
Catherine “Cat” Osterman
BA 2007, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, New Braunfels, TX
Jeffrey Tsai
BA 1997, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Tiburon, CA
Carlos Zaffirini, Jr.
BBA 2003, McCombs School of Business, JD 2006, School of Law
2013
Stuart Bernstein
BA 1999, College of Liberal Arts, MBA 2005, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Austin, TX
Madhu Chugh
BA 1998, College of Liberal Arts, BJ 1998, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Washington, D.C.
John B. Connally IV
JD 1997, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
Andrew Phong Vo
BBA 1995, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Houston, TX
2012
Lee Bagan
BA 2005, MA 2007, College of Liberal Arts, Highland Park, IL
Ben De Leon
BA 2001, College of Liberal Arts, BS 2001, Moody College of Communication, JD 2004, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
Richard J. “Rich” Reddick
BA 1995, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Austin, TX
Laura Wilkinson
BS 2001, Moody College of Communication, Spring, TX
2011
Craig Allen
BS 2003, Moody College of Communication, BA 2003, College of Fine Arts, Life Member, Austin, TX
Daron K. Roberts
BA 2001, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Austin, TX
Veronica Vargas Stidvent
BA 1996, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Austin, TX
Shaarik H. Zafar
BA 1997, College of Liberal Arts, JD, 2000, School of Law, Life Member, Arlington, VA
2010
Sarah Aubrey
JD 1998, School of Law, Life Member, Burbank, CA
Robert Hamilton
MPA 2002, McCombs School of Business, JD 2002, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
Jake Margo
BA 1997, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Rio Grande City, TX
Sanya Richards-Ross
2005, Round Rock, TX
2000 – 2009
2009
Israel Hernandez
BA 1998, College of Liberal Arts, San Francisco, CA
Billy Ray Hunter
BM 1997, College of Fine Arts, New York, NY
Aurora Lora
BA 2000, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Spencer Wells IV
BS 1988, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Austin, TX
2008
Christina Joy Allen
BA 1998, College of Liberal Arts, JD 2001, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
Michael G. Appleman
BA 1990 College of Liberal Arts, JD 1993, School of Law, Life Member, Fort Worth, TX
Timothy Price Crain II
BS 1995, MS 1999, PhD 2000, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Seabrook, TX
Betty Nguyen
BJ 1995, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, New York, NY
2007
Dennis L. McWilliams
BS 1993, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Austin, TX
John B. Moore, Jr.
BS 1990, Moody College of Communication, Stamford, CT
Kristen L. Silverberg
JD 1996, School of Law, Washington, D.C.
Gayle Stinson
BS 1991, Moody College of Education, Life Member, Hickory Creek, TX
2006
Mary Dunleavy
MM 1990, College of Fine Arts, Life Member, West Orange, NJ
Alisa Manning Peppers
BA 1990, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Missouri City, TX
Dina Habib Powell
BA 1995, College of Liberal Arts, New York, NY
John Mason Ward
BS 1992, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Spicewood, TX
2005
Ray Almgren
BS 1987, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Austin, TX
Shola Lynch
BA 1992, College of Liberal Arts, New York, NY
Scott McClellan
BA 1991, College of Liberal Arts, Bellevue, WA
Stephanie Wilson
MS 1992, Cockrell School of Engineering, Houston, TX
2004
Jordan Levin
BS 1989, Moody College of Communication, Austin, TX
John Rando
BA 1983, College of Liberal Arts, New York, NY
Lynn Marie Fox Utter
BBA 1984, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Philadelphia, PA
James A Wilson Jr.
BS 1984, College of Education, Life Member, Cypress, TX (Deceased)
2003
Lisa Beyer
BJ 1983, Moody College of Communication, New Rochelle, NY
Jack Furst
MBA 1984, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Bartonville, TX
Duy-Loan T Le
BS 1982, Cockrell School of Engineering, Sugar Land, TX
Arthel Helena Neville
BJ 1986, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, New York, NY
2002
Craig Edward Dykers
BArch 1985, School of Architecture, Life Member, New York NY
Fred Farias III
BS 1980, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, McAllen, TX
Machree Garrett Gibson
BA 1982; College of Liberal Arts, JD 1991, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
Del Williams
BA 1983, McCombs School of Business, JD 1985 School of Law, Life Member, Dallas, T
2001
Hans Butzer
BArch 1990, School of Architecture, Life Member, Norman, OK
Torrey Butzer
BArch 1990, School of Architecture, Life Member, Norman, OK
Ken Capps
BJ 1982, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Austin, TX
Paul Hobby
JD 1985, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
Sonia Perez
BJ 1978, Moody College of Communication, Baton Rouge, LA
2000
Christina Melton Crain
BA 1988, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Pat Frost
MBA 1984, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, San Antonio TX
Justin Leonard
BBA 1994, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Sara Alicia Martinez Tucker
BJ 1976, Moody College of Communication, MBA 1979, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Dallas, TX
1990 – 1999
1999
John B. Beckworth
BA 1980, College of Liberal Arts, JD 1983, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
C. Kim Goodwin
MBA 1987, McCombs School of Business, MPAFF, LBJ School of Public Affairs, Life Member, San Juan PR
Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr.
BA 1980, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Austin, TX
Robert A. Rodriguez
BS 2008, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Austin, TX
1998
William D. Dorland
BS 1988, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Catonsville, MD
Bryan Garner
BA 1980, College of Liberal Arts, JD 1984, School of Law, Life Member, Austin, TX
Jill Ann Sterkel
BS 1984, School of Education, Life Member, Pflugerfille, TX
Darren Walker
BS 1982, Moody College of Communication, BA 1982, College of Liberal Arts, JD 1986, School of Law, Life Member, New York NY
1997
John H. Calhoon
1978, Austin, TX
Josh Davis
BS 1997, Moody College of Communication, Edmond, OK
Captain Jeannie Marie Flynn Leavitt
BS 1990, Cockrell School of Engineering, San Antonio, TX
Matthew D. McConaughey
BA 1993, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Austin, TX
1996
The Honorable Greg Abbott
BBA 1981, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Austin, TX
Marcia Gay Harden
BA 1980, College of Fine Arts, Life Member, Mountain Dale, NY
Jerry Junkin
BM 1978, MM 1979, College of Fine Arts, Life Member, Austin, TX
The Honorable Ron Kirk
JD 1979, School of Law, Dallas, TX
1995
Gary Cunningham
BArch 1976, School of Architecture, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Gilbert A. Herrera
BBA, 1978, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Houston, TX
Terry Huffington Dittman
MA 1981, Jackson School of Geosciences, Life Member, Steamboat Springs, CO
Kara Spears Hultgreen
BS 1987, Cockrell School of Engineering, Solana Beach CA
Michael Pirrung
BA 1975, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Irvine CA
1994
Paul Edward Begala
BA 1983, College of Liberal Arts, JD, 1990, School of Law, Life Member, McLean, VA
Carolyn Frost Keenan
BS 1976, College of Natural Sciences, MA 1978, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Houston, TX
Dr. Dean Ornish
BA 1975, College of Liberal Arts, Sausalito, CA
Rodney F. Witcher
BES 1975, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Teaneck, NJ
1993
Captain Michael A. Baker
BS 1975, Cockrell School of Engineering, Houston, TX
Congressman Henry Bonilla
BJ 1976, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, San Antonio, TX
Margaret Ann Nosek
MA 1982, PHD, 1984, School of Education, Life Member, Houston, TX (Deceased)
Robert Schenkkan
BA 1975, College of Fine Arts, Life Member, New York, NY
1992
Steve N. Barton
Palisades, NY (Deceased)
Lucy Doggett Crow Billingsley
BBA 1971, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Preston “Pete” Geren
BA 1974, College of Liberal Arts, JD 1978, School of Law, Life Member, Fort Worth, TX
Elizabeth Blanton Wareing
BA 1973, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Houston TX
1991
Dr. Robert A. Brown
BS 1973, Cockrell School of Engineering, Brookline, MA
Michael Dell
1983, Life Member, Round Rock, TX
Lena Guerrero
BJ 1993, Moody College of Communication, Austin, TX
Robert A. Mosbacher, Jr., 1971, Houston, TX
1990
J. Tim Arnoult, Jr.
BA 1971, College of Liberal Arts, MBA 1976, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Houston, TX
Catherine J. Crier
BA 1975, College of Liberal Arts, Katonah, NY
Cathy Alleman Mincberg
BS 1974, College of Education, Houston, TX
DeMetris A. Sampson
BBA 1977, McCombs School of Business, JD 1980, School of Law, Life Member, Dallas, TX
1980 – 1989
1989
Scott J. Atlas
JD 1975, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
The Honorable Tony Garza
1980 BBA, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, San Antonio, TX
Ben Sargent
BJ 1970, Moody College of Communication, Austin, TX
Michael S. Sweeney
BA 1973, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Houston, TX
1988
Richard Moore Archer
BArch 1979, School of Architecture, Life Member, San Antonio, TX
Roger Clemens
1981, Houston TX
William John Koros
BS 1969, Cockrell School of Engineering, Atlanta, GA
Jeff B. Love
JD 1976, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
1986
Dr. Betty Sue Flowers
BA 1969, MA 1970, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Austin TX
Juliet Villarreal Garcia
PHD 1976, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Brownsville, TX
Judge Cyndi Taylor Krier
BJ 1971, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, San Antonio, TX
Dr. Richard Warren Smalling
BS 1970, MS 1972, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Houston, TX
1985
John A. Adkins
BA 1974, College of Liberal Arts, JD, 1977, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
The Honorable Steve Bartlett
BA 1971, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Johnson City, TX
Karen Elliott House
BJ 1970, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Princeton, NJ
Trisha Wilson
BS 1969, College of Natural Sciences, Life Member, Dallas, TX
1984
W. Howard Beasley III
MBA 1969 PHD 1971, McCombs School of Business, Dallas, TX (Deceased)
Earl Campbell
BS 1979, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Austin, TX
Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa
BA 1972, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, McAllen, TX
Charles S. Teeple IV
BBA 1966, MBA 1970, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Austin, TX
1983
Peter R. Coneway
BBA 1966, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Houston, TX (Deceased)
Jim N. Heath
BBA 1964, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Longview, TX
Robert F. Parker
BBA 1965, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Houston, TX
Michael A. Zinberg
BS 1977, Moody College of Communication, Life Member, Los Angeles, CA
1981
Bill Heiligbrodt
BBA 1963, McCombs School of Business, Houston, TX
Prudence M. Mackintosh
BA 1966, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Dallas, TX
Patrick C. Oxford
BBA 1966, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, JD 1967, School of Law, Houston, TX
Ronald G. Steinhart
BBA 1962, MBA 1963, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Dallas, TX
1980
Ernest Harris Cockrell
BES 1967, Cockrell School of Engineering, Life Member, Houston, TX
Ben D. Crenshaw
1973, Life Member, Austin, TX
Jon Newton
BA 1963, College of Liberal Arts, LLB 1965, Life Member, Austin, TX
Joe C. Thompson, Jr.
BBA 1962, McCombs School of Business, Life Member, Dallas, TX
1979
1979
Carnegie H. Mims
BA 1968, College of Liberal Arts, JD 1971, School of Law, Life Member, Houston, TX
Margaret Ann Rochs
BA 1970, College of Liberal Arts, Life Member, Houston, TX
Tieman Dippel, Jr.
BBA 1968, McCombs School of Business, JD 1971, School of Law, Life Member, Brenham, TX