Carol and John Garrison Leadership Award

Applications open March 1 - 29, 2025.

Award Amount: $5,000

HISTORY OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

In 1978, Dr. John Garrison, then Dean of Students, established Student Foundation at Southwest Texas State. His vision was to assemble a group of high-achieving student leaders to serve as ambassadors for the university. Over four decades later, more than 1,100 amazing students have had the privilege to serve as members of Student Foundation and represent the university at hundreds of events.

Carol Garrison encouraged great student leaders as well during her 37-year teaching a counseling career. As a faculty member at Texas State University, she worked with a generation of student teachers and developed the successful concept of bringing Texas State fraternity members onto the elementary school campuses to serve as Big Brothers to youngsters from the local community. This unique program was recognized by the George and Barbara Bush Foundation as one of the nation's best community volunteer programs and made the 1000 points of light list.

Student Foundation is still going strong at Texas State. Under the leadership of new university president, Dr. Kelly Damphousse, the organization has been rebranded as the “Gold Star Society” with the same mission and charter. Dr. Damphousse has been an incredible advocate for fully realizing Dr. Garrison’s original vision and has dedicated significant resources to attract the best student leaders on campus.

To bridge the generations and to honor Dr. G’s and Carol’s service to the university, the Stelos Alliance established the Carol and John Garrison Leadership Award which will be presented each year to a member of the Gold Star Society.

The Garrison’s specific contributions to the university are too numerous to list. While we believe that they belong on the Mount Rushmore of Texas State leaders, their true legacy is the thousands of grateful students and alumni that they positively impacted by being mentors, counselors, cheerleaders, and friends. This award is an attempt to recognize their life’s work and influence on campus and in the community.

A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

We are thrilled to present this award each spring to the one member of the Gold Star Society that best demonstrates the highest qualities of honor, leadership, sacrifice, and courage in their support of the university. We can think of no better way to honor Dr. G’s legacy at Texas State!

Please let everyone know how much he and Student Foundation means to you by generously supporting this scholarship.