Highland Lakes Texas Exes News/July 2025
Thirsty Thursday
May
The May Thirsty Thursday event was great. Held on May 8 at Frontyard Brewing in Spicewood, the gathering featured the spectacular scenery of the Texas Hill Country, a wonderful setting for talking and drinking and plenty of room for games (pickle ball, corn hole and more).
Thank you to the 14 individuals who attended. We raised $170 for next year’s UT academic scholarships. (Note: See separate story on HLTE awarding the 2025 scholarships to six area high school seniors in a May 14 reception at River City Grill in Marble Falls.)
Also, thank you to staff and hosts at Frontyard Brewing.
June
We held a monthly gathering at Boat Town Burger Bar in Kingsland on June 12. Boat Town provided a relaxed setting for the group, allowing us to visit next to Lake LBJ. Also, the chapter raised $320 for 2026 scholarships.
Thank you to the 14 Exes who attended. It’s always great to see old friends and make new ones at this monthly event. Also, thank you to staff at Boat Town Burger Bar
July
The Highland Lakes Texas Exes group held its monthly gathering at Downtown Beer Hall in Marble Falls on July 10. The relaxed setting gave members an opportunity to chat, discuss the area’s recent flooding and decompress some from the stress of the past few days. (Thanks to all who are volunteering in the cleanup efforts.) The chapter raised $752.00 for 2026 scholarships.
Thank you to the 21 Exes who attended. It’s always great to see old friends and make new ones at this monthly event. Also, thank you to staff at National Beer Hall.
The next Thirsty Thursday will be on August 14. (And don’t forget football season is almost here. Hook ‘em Horns!)
Famished Friday
In June, we began a new tradition for the Highland Lakes Texas Exes—a Famished Friday gathering to work with the schedules of members who cannot attend gatherings on Monday through Thursday (school nights for children). We held the meeting at Old Oak Square on Main Street in Marble Falls on June 13, 2025.
Ten chapter members attended. Thank you to everyone who met on the square. Several contributed to the 2026 scholarship fund. We raised $100 for scholarships.
Also, thank you to staff at Old Oak Square and the various businesses.
Scholarship News
Here’s a look at some of the thank-you notes we received from some scholarship recipients, who thanked the chapter and shared their thoughts on what the scholarships meant to them. Below are a few of their comments:
“I am deeply delighted and grateful to have received a scholarship from your wonderful organization. Next year at UT, I will major in biology on the pre-law track. After this, I will attend law school and become a pharmaceutical lawyer.” — Rice Thomas (Llano High School)
“I truly appreciate your generosity and am honored to be selected to receive this scholarship. Thank you and Hook ‘em!” — Rice Thomas (Llano High School)
“I am attending UT Austin in the fall, where I will major in Kinesiology. This scholarship will help significantly with my college-related expenses.” — Brooklynn Daniel (Burnet High School)
Pictures from all events are posted with their articles.
Read about these events and more at the Highland Lakes Texas Exes Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092619677485556
Chapter Awards Scholarships to 2025 Outstanding High School Seniors
The Highland Lakes Chapter of the Texas Exes held its annual Scholarship Recipient Reception on May 14, 2025, at River City Grille in Marble Falls. This year, the chapter awarded $12,000 to six seniors from four area high schools. They will begin their studies at The University of Texas this fall.
Blanco High School (Awards ceremony on May 9)
Korina Forsberg
Kylie Ridner
Burnet High School (Awards ceremony on May 15)
Brooklynn Daniel (unable to attend reception)
Hailey Trial (unable to attend reception)
Llano High School (Awards ceremony on May 19)
Rice Thomas
Marble Falls High School (Awards ceremony on May 9)
Lilly Parker
In addition, the chapter awarded $1,500 supplemental scholarships to six current UT students who had won scholarships previously and already are attending The University of Texas: Madison Blankenburg (Blanco H.S.); Devin Patterson and Tatum Salinas (Burnet H.S.); Coy Kelso (Llano H.S.); and Elizabeth Busby and Seth Parker (Marble Falls H.S.).
Many thanks to the Scholarship Committee for their tireless energy and commitment to screen and select these outstanding students.
We cannot wait to see this year’s recipients on the 40 Acres and congratulations to the current UT students. Hook ‘em Horns!
Annual Texas Independence Day BBQ Held
On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Highland Lakes Texas Exes held its annual Texas Independence Day Barbecue and Fundraiser at Spicewood Vineyards. This year, we met in the event center. We had a lot more room to enjoy great conversation over drinks before dinner was served! Forty-four members bought tickets and thirty-five attended. The chapter raised $2,098.35 in ticket sales, with members contributing an additional $690 in donations placed in the contribution jar.
The beautiful surroundings of Spicewood Vineyards afforded a great background to relax and raise scholarship money. (And eat barbecue, with great sides and desserts.) Many thanks to Spicewood Vineyards for hosting our event annually, and donating the space!
Shout Outs to those who supplied dinner, desserts and supplies:
Fred Becker, master chef, and his team: John Chumney, Darin McNeils, Ian Parmiter and Jacquelyn Mouton for the BBQ prep and presentation. It takes 24+ hours to cook all this fabulous food!
Jacquelyn Mouton — Chili
Leslie Parmiter — Potato Salad
Tamara Merkel and Carolyn Bates — Desserts
We hope we haven’t missed anyone! Many thanks to all our volunteers.
Thirteen Outstanding Local Students Awarded Scholarships by Highland Lakes Texas Exes
On May 15, 2024, the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Texas Exes awarded thirteen scholarships totaling $26,000 to outstanding local students who will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. At River City Grill in Marble Falls, the Chapter hosted the students, their families, local Texas Exes and scholarship donors with a Meet and Greet event. The students were able to meet each other before heading off to their summer orientations and other activities, and donors were able to meet the incredible young people whom their donations are supporting.
The Scholarship Committee noted that the essays in the scholarship applications were the best yet, and choosing the winners was extremely challenging. That impression was confirmed when meeting the bright, well-spoken, and confident students who were selected. The Chapter wishes these students and all local students the best of luck in their studies!
The Chapter extends many thanks to the Scholarship Committee for their tireless energy and commitment to screen and select these outstanding students. Thanks to all of you who came out to welcome them into the Longhorn family!
Pictured below are a number of the winners. Top row, left to right are scholarship recipients Devin Petterson and Ivan Leon (Burnet High School), Charlie Brantley, Seth Parker and Garrett Goggans (Marble Falls HS), Nancy Etzler (LBJ HS in Johnson City) and Madelyn Stennett (Llano HS). Front row, left to right are Sophie Blankenburg and Faith Tucker (Blanco HS) and Sutton Christopher (Llano HS).
Pictured below left to right are Marble Falls High School recipients Charlie Brantley, Garrett Goggans and Emily Martin. Not pictured are scholarship recipients Sophia Mills (Marble Falls HS) and Tatum Salinas (Burnet HS).
Donate to our Chapter
You can make a significant difference in the life of a local student by donating securely online to our chapter. All donations and profits from each event go directly to the Highland Lakes Chapter Scholarship Fund.
Donate to Texas Exes Highland Lakes Chapter
(Learn more about our scholarship fund and ways to donate)
All donations are tax-deductible, and receipts are provided. Your donations are greatly appreciated!
About our Chapter
Serving alumni and friends of the University of Texas in the Highland Lakes area, including Spicewood, Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, Johnson City, Llano, Lampasas, Kingsland, Burnet, and the surrounding Hill Country.
To get in touch and get involved, please contact the Texas Exes Highland Lakes Chapter President, Larry Merkel, at hltexasex@gmail.com.