The Texas A&M Foundation’s Board of Trustees has recognized the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Sterling C. Evans Medal. The honor was officially presented March 21 during the Rodeo’s Aggie Night.
Selected by the Foundation’s trustees, Evans Medal recipients have a celebrated history of championing Texas A&M University through philanthropy, service and leadership. This distinguished honor salutes individuals and organizations whose support of scholarships, student development and academic innovation preserves Texas A&M’s reputation as one of the world’s top public higher education institutions. Established in 1998 and named in memory of renowned former university regent and philanthropist Sterling C. Evans ’21, the award underscores the kind of transformational impact made by longtime philanthropic partners of the university.
As the 36th recipient of the Evans Medal—and only the fourth organization to receive this distinction—the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has demonstrated a deep commitment to Texas A&M. With philanthropic contributions approaching $100 million, the visionary organization has uplifted countless Aggies through robust scholarship and programmatic support. “The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is an organization that embodies the true spirit of philanthropy and belief in the power of higher education, and our team is honored to recognize its longstanding partnership and impact with this prestigious award,” said Tyson Voelkel ’96, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “By providing opportunities for students from all walks of life to pursue their passions at Texas A&M, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo helps build a brighter future for our state, nation and world. Its generosity not only changes lives today but also inspires tomorrow’s leaders who will make an even greater difference in the years ahead.”
Founded in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has contributed over $630 million statewide to support Texas youth and education. “This award reflects the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s support of Texas A&M through millions of dollars in scholarships, grants and graduate assistantships over the past 70 years, beginning with our first rodeo scholarship awarded to Aggie student Ben Dickerson ’61 in 1957,” said Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Chairman Pat Mann Phillips.
Approximately $87 million of the Rodeo’s gifts to the university are earmarked for scholarships. More than 10,000 Aggies—from those pursuing careers in agriculture and veterinary medicine to students studying engineering, business or public service—have received financial support from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo since the program’s earliest days, both from its four-year scholarships and endowments held at the Texas A&M Foundation. During the current academic year, 833 Aggies are benefiting from these scholarship funds.
Beyond scholarships, proceeds from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have enriched a range of student-centered initiatives, including academic programs, facilities, research projects and traditions. Beneficiaries encompass the Aggie Wranglers, the Department of Animal Science judging teams, the Beef Cattle Short Course, the Department of Horticultural Sciences, and the Reynolds and Reynolds Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, among others.
As the world’s largest livestock show and rodeo, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo plans to deepen its relationship with Texas A&M in the years to come. “We’ve always had a very special relationship with Texas A&M, and the university’s values align closely with ours. Both entities are deeply committed to service, respect, the military, patriotism and giving back,” said Chris Boleman ’96 ’00 ’03, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “As I often say, there are two places where you can say ‘Howdy’ and it hits different—that’s the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Texas A&M”
About the Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aspires to be among the most trusted philanthropies in higher education. It builds a brighter future for Texas A&M University, one relationship at a time, by helping donors create endowments for scholarships, faculty and research, academic programs, and student activities. To learn more, visit txamfoundation.com.
About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $630 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2025 Rodeo is scheduled for March 4 – 23. The 2025 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com or the RODEOHOUSTON app and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.