The Past Presidents of the Engineering Alumni Association is determined that the Cullen College of Engineering will be appropriately represented when the Houston Cougars face the Rice Owls on Aug. 30 in the first game of the 2003 football season.
This new partnership of seventeen former presidents of the EAA are raising $15,000 to build a pavilion on the College of Engineering’s designated slab of concrete outside the Northwest entrance of Robertson Stadium.
After Robertson Stadium underwent massive renovation in 1999, colleges and organizations were able to obtain spaces for tailgate parties and several groups have already constructed pavilions.
“Right now it is just a concrete slab where the Engineering Alumni and friends congregate,” says Tom Sofka, the Logistics Manager of the Past Presidents of the UHEAA. “We need to go the next step and erect a pavilion.”
Groups and colleges who have already been successful in building pavilions have drawn funds from their constituent groups. The simple structures are generally open on the sides, but protect groups from excessive amounts of sun or rain that might blow through on game days.
The Houston Alumni Organization has recognized the Engineering Alumni group for four consecutive years with the Banner Year Award. This award recognizes the outstanding constituent association of the year. “This makes our need for a Pavilion a glaring oversight,” comments Sofka.
Since its inception in 1983, the Engineering Alumni Association has excelled in initiating events to strengthen relationships between the college and its alumni. The EAA is responsible for the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Awards Dinner, Homecoming BBQ festivities, the Cajun Crawfish Boil, and the Engineering Golf tournament, as well as various collaborations with alumni and students in fundraising, student recruitment, outreach to the engineering community and programming to high school students.
“As Past Presidents, the members of our group have a lot of contacts, a lot of experience, and a lot of history,” says Sofka. “We hope to serve as a sort of SWAT team for information, networking and resources. This first project should be a good test of our group’s effectiveness.”
To participate, contact Tom Sofka at 713-827-7273.
The Past Presidents of the Engineering Alumni Association will gladly accept donations of any size, but there are three special categories:
- For a donation of $7,000, the naming rights for the EAA pavilion are available.
- A donation of $500 will be recognized by a 12 x 12 red and white recognition plaque to be placed on the inside of the pavilion.
- A donation of $100 will be recognized by a 6 x 12 red and white recognition plaque in the pavilion.