TWU Founders’ Day

The Founders’ Awards Scholarship Luncheon provides an opportunity to reflect on the history of Texas Woman’s University and on the contributions of those visionaries who set TWU on a solid foundation for success. The Founders’ Awards were established in 1998 to recognize support for the educational mission of Texas Woman’s University. The Founders’ Award is one of the most prestigious honors presented annually by TWU. The award is presented jointly by the University, the TWU Foundation and the Former Students Association. It is a requirement that someone must be physically present to receive the award at the Awards Luncheon.

In 2006, current Chancellor and President Ann Stuart made the decision to move the celebration to a date in early April to coincide with the date legislation was signed creating what is now Texas Woman’s University – April 6, 1901.

The Founders’ Awards:

There are three categories for Founders’ Awards:

• Non-graduate Individual/Family – recognizes either an individual OR family with a long history of support for and service to TWU. The first award in this category was presented in 2002 to Margaret V. and Gus W. Davis.
• Business or Corporation – This award may be bestowed upon a business or corporation that has demonstrated a long history of support for TWU. Examples include Texas Instruments and GTE (now Verizon).
• Foundation or Organization – This award may be represented to a foundation or organization that has demonstrated a long history of support for the University. Examples in this category include The Ariel and Women’s Shakespeare Clubs of Denton who spent their treasuries entertaining the Site Selection Committee for what became Texas Woman’s University.

Brief History of the Event:

In 1924, the Ex-Students Association chose January 10 as the College of Industrial Arts Pancake Night. The date was selected to honor the laying of the corner stone of the Administration Building on January 10, 1903. A pancake carrying twenty-one birthday candles was a special feature at the occasion.

In 1936, about the same time CIA became Texas State College for Women, the name Pancake Night was changed to Founders’ Day. Students provided the programs and sponsored fund-raising projects in honor of the event.

The observance of Founders’ Day was discontinued in 1955, but was revived on February 24, 1978, by president Mary Evelyn Blagg Huey, who asked the National Alumnae Association (now known as the Former Students Association) to assist in planning the event. The pancake buffet tradition was continued, but the occasion was delayed twice that year by ice storms.

The pancake tradition came from a legend that in the Middle Ages monks returning from a long journey would be served a cake baked in a pan – a real luxury since most cakes were baked in the ashes – while they told their fellow monks, gathered about them in the warmth of the fire, of their travels.

Event Highlights Over the Last Ten Years:

The following distinctions and changes took place during Chancellor and President Ann Stuart’s first ten years in office:

2000 – Founders’ Award presentation became a luncheon event—on a Friday. First year that table sales were attempted.

2002 – This Founders’ Awards Luncheon is significant because the first individuals - Margaret and Gus Davis were honored with one of the Founders’ Awards. Mrs. Davis is a former Foundation Board Member and former member and Chair of the Board of Regents of the University. The Davises funded the fountain in front of the Blagg-Huey Library among other generous philanthropy to the University.

2007 – Chancellor Ann Stuart made the decision to move the Founders’ Awards Luncheon from the month of February to a date in April closest to the date the legislation was signed that created what is now Texas Woman’s University (April 6, 1901).

Established by Chancellor Ann Stuart, this Advisory Committee will assist in planning future Founders' Award Scholarship Luncheons.

Seated:  Ellen M. Painter, June Berry, Judy Willis, Patricia Sherman, Maurine Le Beau
Standing left to right: Carrell Ann Simmons, Nancy King, Roni Beasley, Linda Jackson, Patrice Frisby, Lilia Bynum, Betty Roy, Betty Alford, Eva Poole, Madge Boynton.

2008 – Several changes were made to enhance the event. First, the name of the event was changed to the Founders’ Awards Scholarship Luncheon to clarify that the event was a fund-raiser in support of Chancellor’s Endowed Scholarship Funds. Chancellor’s Endowed Scholarships, which are the most prestigious scholarships awarded by the University, were established by Chancellor Ann Stuart and other donors in 2000. These scholarships are the largest awarded by TWU, and the only academic scholarships offering a stipend to recipients in addition to paying tuition are fees. They are awarded to TWU students on the basis of outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service in school and community activities. Secondly, Chancellor Stuart established an Advisory Committee composed of women leaders in the Denton area. The third significant change was the addition of a Keynote Speaker. Shirley Cothran Barret, Ph.D., a TWU alumna and former Miss America was the first keynote speaker for the event.

2009 – Two Founders’ Awards were presented. Betty and Joe Alford were honored recipients in the Individual/Family category. In the corporate category, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton received the award. The speaker was Nancy DiMarco, PhD.