On Friday, Oct. 20, the Texas Tech Alumni Association (TTAA) will hold its 57th A Matador Evening. The event is a fundraiser, with proceeds supporting academic scholarships, faculty enrichment, local chapter efforts and alumni awards, as well as an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with classmates and friends during Homecoming Week.

The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. in the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center with dinner immediately following at 6:30 p.m. This year, the Lauro F. Cavazos Award will be presented to the Honorable Randy and Mrs. Dana Neugebauer, and the Distinguished Service Award will be given to Wes Kittley, director of Texas Tech’s men’s and women’s track and field and cross country.

Established in honor of the former president of Texas Tech University, the Lauro F. Cavazos Award was designed to recognize and honor those who have made significant contributions to the university through their generosity, professional accomplishments and acts of service.
 
2017 Cavazos award recipients, Randy ’72 and Dana (Collins) Neugebauer ’74, are both West Texas natives who have a history of giving back to the community. Most recently, Randy represented the 19th Congressional District of Texas, which stretches across West Texas and the Big Country, including the cities of Abilene, Big Spring and Lubbock. He served in Congress since 2003, advocating for conservative values, reduced spending, fiscal discipline, and a free and healthy economy. He advocated for the interests of the Texas Tech University System, as well, by influencing legislation on agriculture, energy and environment, and technology and innovation. Additionally, Randy helped lay the foundation for a Veterans Administration clinic near the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. Dana was ever-present in Washington, supporting Randy’s efforts and representing with West Texas and Red Raider pride.
 
Before running for Congress, Randy served the Lubbock community as a city council member from 1992 through 1998. Randy graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in accounting, and went to work in real estate and land development. Dana graduated with a degree in business education and has been an influential educator in the classroom, as well as a respected community volunteer. 
 
The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1977 to recognize outstanding service to Texas Tech University or the Texas Tech Alumni Association. This year’s recipient Wes Kittley completed his 18th season as Texas Tech director of track and field and cross country in 2017. The architect of a track and field dynasty at nearby Abilene Christian, Kittley has built the Texas Tech program into a perennial power on the national and international sports stage throughout the past decade. Under his leadership, Texas Tech has produced 13 Olympic Qualifiers, eight Olympic Medalists, 21 national champions, over 200 All-Americans and 145 Big 12 Champions.
 
Tickets for this event are available to purchase online for $75 for individuals, $1,000 for a table of 10, or $750 for a table of eight. Seating for the evening is limited. Please make reservations  by Oct. 11. Purchase tickets at TexasTechAlumni.org/matador-evening.
 
CONTACT: Britta Tye, special events coordinator, Texas Tech Alumni Association, (806) 834-2933 or britta.tye@ttu.edu.

(News release from Texas Tech University)