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All over the world, Longhorns are leading the way. They are making the change they want to see and driving innovation across every field. It’s an exciting time to be a Texas Ex.

At your alumni association, we are proud to connect 570,000 Longhorns and help them be a force for good. The following is an overview of the impact the Texas Exes has made over the past year. Among the many highlights, we held the inaugural Longhorn 100 event (with a sold-out crowd!), awarded a record number of scholarships, and saw the legendary Flying Longhorns program rebound to pre-pandemic levels. As always, we helped Longhorns support the University that changed their lives forever.

We've known it since the very beginning, and it's truer every year:

It wouldn’t be Texas without the Exes.
 

Chuck Harris

BBA ’86, Life Member

Executive Director & CEO

Membership powers the programs that strengthen UT, enhance the student experience, and keep alumni connected. Thank you to everyone who answered the call by joining the Texas Exes this year or upgrading to Life Membership! 

CHAPTERS

Texas Exes chapters are located across the globe and serve the needs of more than 570,000 alumni. Each year, they provide scholarship support to hundreds of the best and brightest students from their local areas.

NETWORKS

Texas Exes networks are made up of Longhorns who share a common bond. These volunteer-led groups create a way for alumni to connect around shared interests, UT experiences, or affiliations. Each year, they provide scholarship support to deserving students who share those same bonds.

In 1899, the Texas Exes awarded the University’s first scholarship of $100. Today, the association awards approximately $4.3 million annually to more than 774 students.

CLASS RINGS

In 1996, the Texas Exes launched the Official University of Texas Class Ring. More than a piece of jewelry—the ring is a physical reminder of a Longhorn’s time on campus, the hard work put in to earning a degree, and the indelible impact UT has made on their life. To date more than 55,000 Longhorns have participated in the class ring tradition making it one of the larges programs in the nation.

TILES & PLAQUES

The Etter-Harbin Alumni Center is home on campus for alumni of The University of Texas at Austin. The surrounding tile and plaque pavilion is a picturesque, on-campus testament to the proud legacy of the University’s alumni. In 2022-23, more than 419 alumni and friends took part in the tradition.

TEXAS FIGHT TOUR

The Texas Exes and Texas Athletics hosted the 2023 Texas Fight Tour, traveling across the state with Texas Longhorns Head Football Coach Steve Sarkisian, Men's Head Basketball Coach Rodney Terry, Women's Head Basketball Coach Vic Schaefer, Athletic Director Chris Del Conte and others to share the future of the Texas Longhorns athletics programs.

In 1917, Governor Jim Ferguson vetoed the University’s appropriation fund, cutting off the very lifeline that funded the young university. The Texas Exes led the charge in opposing the governor and, as a result, Ferguson was impeached. Since then, the association has protected UT’s interests at the state and federal levels through the UT Advocates for Higher Education program. UT Advocates volunteers stay well-informed on higher education issues and work to make sure our alma mater is strongly represented by lawmakers and key decision-makers in Texas and Washington. 

Since our founding in 1885, we’ve told the UT story. Today we continue to bring the most compelling news about alumni and the University to an even broader audience through the Alcalde magazine, video storytelling through Alcalde Docs, TexasExes.org, and our social media presence on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.

CAMP TEXAS

Each fall semester, the Texas Exes transforms the lives of incoming students through experiences like Camp Texas, fostering connections with other students, professors, administrators, and UT traditions. After two years of not having been able to hold in-person camp due to the pandemic, Camp Texas returned in August 2022 to host new Longhorns and reignite our beloved camp and campus traditions.

FLYING LONGHORNS

Since 1961, our Flying Longhorns program has taken more than 25,000 Texas Exes (and their friends and family) all over the world. Our renowned trips set the stage for travelers to deepen their relationship with Texas Exes, make lasting friendships, and continue learning. The fact that our alumni have been traveling the world together for over 70 years is just another thing that should make you incredibly proud to be a Longhorn.

HOOKEDIN

HookedIn is the official career networking platform for UT Austin alumni and students. Texas Exes and Texas Career Engagement partnered with UT Austin colleges and schools to offer alumni, students, faculty, and staff this powerful online networking and career-boosting community. This robust, burnt-orange networking platform currently has over 26,000 users in 60 countries.

DONORS

Every year thousands of alumni make an additional contribution beyond membership to the Texas Exes. Their gifts are put to good use and further our efforts to strengthen UT. Together we positively impact the University and its community.

LONGHORN BUSINESS NETWORK
Sponsored by Texas Mutual 

The Longhorn Business Network started to take shape this year. We discovered retailers and providers through the Business Directory, we connected and amplified Longhorn Businesses through the Longhorn Business Network membership and we celebrated the fastest growing Longhorns in the Longhorn 100.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD

The Texas Exes created the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1958 to honor alumni who have distinguished themselves in their profession, community, and through service to the University. Through a commitment to excellence, our Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients truly exemplify the phrase, “What starts here, changes the world.” Each year, the Texas Exes honor as many as six alumni who have made significant achievements in their careers and service to the University.

Read: Meet the Newest Class of Outstanding Young Texas Exes

OUTSTANDING YOUNG TEXAS EXES AWARD

The Outstanding Young Texas Exes 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.

Read: Meet the Newest Class of Outstanding Young Texas Exes

LONGHORN 100
Presenting Sponsor: Netspend
Independent Accounting Firm: Whitley Penn
Also sponsored by: Giant Noise and AMBA

Alumni from The University of Texas have created and guided some of the fastest growing businesses in the world. The Texas Exes is proud to recognize these amazing business owners and entrepreneurs through the Longhorn 100. The inaugural year was wildly successful and set the stage for the program to grow into a campus-wide effort to champion and celebrate longhorn businesses and entrepreneurship on the 40 acres. See a list of the 2023 winners

Read: A Moment in the Sun

More about Texas Exes leadership
Learn more

President and Chair
Courtney Jeans

Executive Director & CEO
Chuck Harris

Immediate Past President
Patty Huffines

President-Elect
Gay Gaddis

Treasurer & Finance Chair
Lee Beckelman

Secretary
Coley Clark

Past President
Robert Estrada

Past President
Del Williams

Audit Committee
Kathleen Farlow

Investments Committee Chair
Brien Smith

Chapters Representative
Neal Makkar

Scholarship Advisory Committee Chair
David Jones

UT Faculty Representative
Jay Bernhardt

UT Executive Officer
Sharon Wood

Directors
Lynn Davis
June Deadrick
Randy Erben
Letty Fernandez
Elaine Garza
Cynthia Gonzalez
Brian Haley
Arleas Kea
Julie Kleburg
Amy Marcus
Nancy Seliger
Steve Stodghill
Arthur Uhl