Award Recipients

Announcing the
2026 Future Texas Business Legend
Award Recipients

Kyle Hieu Luong

University of Houston

T.T. & W.F. Chao Chairman’s Award

Ky Stephens

Texas Christian University

AT&T Future Executive Leader of Distinction Award in honor of Randall Stephenson

Sarah Prescott

The University of Texas at Austin

AT&T Future Executive Leader of Distinction Award in honor of Edward E. Whitacre, Jr.

Ivan “Sutton” Smith

Texas Christian University

Future Texas Business Legend Directors’ Award supported by Amanda and Robert Brock

Trenee-Elaine Bailey

University of Incarnate Word

The Zorich Family Foundation Future Texas Business Legend First in Family Award

Jacob “Cole” Posey

Baylor University

The Paul Foster Future Texas Business Legend Award

Dallas Baptist University

The Mitchell Family Foundation Award

Faustino Aguilera

Lamar University

The Ben J. Rogers Award

Barclay Jumet

Rice University

T.T. & W.F. Chao Award

Tim Douga

Sam Houston State University

The SWBC Foundation Award

Oscar Orduno

Southern Methodist University

The Robert H. Dedman Award

Dashia Miles

St. Mary’s University

The William E. “Bill” Greehey Award

Stephen F. Austin State University

Greg Arnold Entrepreneurship
Legend Award

Akshaj “Akku” Kumar

Texas A&M University

The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship
Future Texas Business Legend Award in honor of James Galloway ’29

Joseph “Joe” Ceasar

Texas State University

The Alan and Barbara Dreeben Future Texas Business Legend Award

Evan Adams

Texas Tech University

Gary R. Petersen Future Texas Business Legend Award

University of Dallas

The Mitchell Family Foundation Award

Isabella Mixon

University of Houston

T.T. & W.F. Chao Award

Stephen Herrera

The University of Texas at Austin

The Morton H. Meyerson Future Texas Business Legend Award

Bryant “Griff” Griffin IV

The University of Texas at Arlington

The Mitchell Family Foundation Award

Joshua “Josh” Call

The University of Texas at Dallas

The Mitchell Family Foundation Award

Abraham Haro

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

James and Kathleen Collins & Vantage Bank Texas Future Texas Business Legend Award

D’vonne Hmielewski

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Harvey Najim Future Texas Business Legend Award

Vincent Pham

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Carlos & Malú Alvarez Award

The Texas Business Hall of Fame Teacher of Excellence Award supported by Alan & Barbara Dreeben (San Antonio Area)

Richardson High School

The Texas Business Hall of Fame Teacher of Excellence Award supported by Jean & Jason Signor (Dallas-Fort Worth Area)

TBHF Alumni Association Outstanding High School Entrepreneur Award in honor of Coulter & Lily Rush Hoppess

Ishaan Thakur Outstanding High School Entrepreneur Award

2026 Award Finalists

Baylor University

Craig Brentlinger
Frank Ledwell
Tiffani Martin
Aaron Rivera

Dallas Baptist University

Josue Duarte
Benjamin Huteson
Cora Moncibaiz

Lamar University

Candace D. Jones
Madeline Le

Rice University

Luis Montero
Pranal Reddy
Tyler Strothman

San Antonio College

Jose Elizondo

Sam Houston State University

Skyyler Allred
Jennifer Brown
Ashlee Sawtell

Southern Methodist University

Margaret Chesnut
Caroline Luther
Panashé Siachitema

St. Mary’s University

Clara Guerrero
Victoria Olguin

Texas A&M University

Joseph Cotie
Christopher Encinia
Jayce Glenn
Diana Salha

Texas Christian University

Tad Boyd III
Ally Okonski
Forrest Williams

Texas State University

Amber Brashears
Amber Friedeck
Graham Preston

Texas Tech University

Pranathi Bingi
Breshon Butler
Marcus Pauda

Trinity University

Elias Hansen
Samantha Lin
Sophie Radi
Reece Rojas

The University of Dallas

Enrico Garza
Arsalan Monshizadeh
Gabriel “Gabe” Ross

University of Houston

Jhostin Perez
Valeria Serenil
Zach Traylor

University of North Texas

Davian Serna

The University of Texas at Arlington

Ahmed Mehrez
Scott Ludwig

The University of Texas at Austin

Madalyn Rosenthal
Kaelin Nguyen Rubenzer
Iman Salafian
Samuel Stein

The University of Texas at Dallas

Jasmine Curnel
Jared Heymann
Ivan Tong

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Theodore Carpenter
Emiliana M. Escobar
Alexandra Garcia
Raul Torres

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Reese Bookout
Sarah Lyons
Miguel Salinas, MA, LPC

Veteran Award Finalists

John Albers
Paul Carroll
Andrew Duggleby
John Elmore
Sean Finney
Patrick Flood
Brad Harrison
Matthew Kemp
Joseph Kopser
Jake Newbold
Tyrell Patton
Chris Thompson

Teacher of Excellence Finalists

Outstanding High School Entrepreneur Finalists