Today@Sam Article

Bay Area Alumni Club Gives Gift To Food Pantry

Nov. 18, 2018
SHSU Media Contact: Carla Clark

Pictured from left to right:  Dr. Ryan Zapalac, College of Health Sciences Associate Dean, Erika Brown, Food Pantry Graduate Assistant, Jay Bain, Former Bay Area SHSU Alumni Club President, and Retired Judge Jimmy Dinkins and SHSU Alumni Club Current President.

The Bay Area Sam Houston State University Alumni Club presented a token of their appreciation in President Dana G. Hoyt’s name to the SHSU Food Pantry. The generous gift, presented at the Alumni Club’s Presidential Dinner hosted by Space Center Houston, was a part of their annual contribution back to campus. 

Erika Brown, Food Pantry graduate assistant and dietetic intern received the honorary check along with College of Health Sciences Associate Dean Ryan Zapalac.

“The Alumni Club chose the Food Pantry after learning about the high percentage of food insecure students on our campus, which is 46 percent,” Brown said. “They deeply sympathized for the students and agreed that they have a lot on their shoulders already in college, and should not have to worry about going hungry. Many could not wrap their mind around the fact that some of our students go hungry, and expressed real concern on the situation.”

The initial $2,000 check was donated by H-E-B to the Bay Area Alumni Club, but an additional $3,030 was raised in donations at the organization’s annual dinner celebrating its ties to SHSU. 

President Hoyt, Vice President for University Advancement Frank Holmes, Dean for the College of Criminal Justice Phillip Lyons, Associate Dean for the Honors College Maria Holmes, the past and present Bay Area Alumni Executive Board and Platinum Sponsor, Joe Amato, SHSU Class of ’72 were all present for the annual dinner.

Additional sponsors included:  Gold level – Budweiser Mont Belvieu - Jim and Tonya Ferris, Ann Wismer and Mike Landolt, Katie West, Class of ’10, Robert and Stella Koryciak (Stella, Class of ’71); Silver Level – Jay and Bobbie Bain (Jay, Class of ’62), Bob and Judy Fuller (Bob, Class of ’63), Retired Judge Jimmy W. Dinkins and Linda Calvey (Judge Dinkins, Class of ’68), Byron and Ellen Mosher (Byron, Class of ’75).

The SHSU Food Pantry is operated by the Food Pantry @ SHSU student organization and is supported under the umbrella of the SHSU College of Health Sciences.

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