CENTEX ASPA Conducts its Public Service Recognition Week Awards Luncheon on  May 18, 2024

By Howard Balanoff, William P. Hobby Professor of Public Service

On Saturday May 18, 2024, CENTEX ASPA conducted an in-person Awards Luncheon in honor of Public Service Recognition Week. The Luncheon was held from 12:00 Noon – 2:00 pm on Saturday May 18, 2024, at Palmer’s Restaurant in San Marcos, Texas.

At the Luncheon, recognition and awards were presented to faculty and students at Texas State University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA Program), Texas A&M University’s George Bush School of Government and Public Service and the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs. At the Luncheon, Amy Ledbetter Parham, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Habitat for Humanity received the 2024 William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award which was created and named to honor former Texas Lt. Governor, who had dedicated his career to public service.

The CENTEX ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Awards Luncheon was sponsored by Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service. Participating academic programs from CENTEX ASPA’s Region included Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs and Texas State University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program.

The Luncheon program began at about 12:00 Noon with a meet and greet reception which was followed by a plated lunch for the approximately 70 attendees. The awards program ended about 2:00 pm and was followed by a brief meeting of CENTEX ASPA’s Officers and Governing Board Members to discuss selection of program events and activities for the future.

The featured speaker at the Awards Luncheon was Dr. Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs & Professor of Public Affairs and History. The title of his presentation was What Does Public Service Mean in 2024?

At the luncheon, distinguished service awards were presented to outstanding faculty and staff. Students and faculty from the Texas State University’s MPA Program, UT’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service were recognized for their outstanding research and received McGrew Outstanding Research Awards.

In addition, students from Texas State University’s MPA Program were recognized for their scholarly achievements and were inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. Recent inductees into Pi Alpha Alpha from the Bush School were also recognized for their scholarly achievements.

For additional information about CENTEX ASPA’s activities and events please contact Fred Bell, CENTEX ASPA President at fred_bell@sbcglobal.net

For additional information about the activities and programs of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service contact Dr. Howard Balanoff at hb02@txstate.edu

See Award Recipients Below
Click here for the Luncheon Program including list of honorees and distinguished guests.

Public Service Recognition Week Award Recipients

Dr. Jerimi Suri, Professor, UT’s LBJ School (left) receives a plaque of appreciation from Fred Bell, CENTEX ASPA President, for delivering the keynote address at the CENTEX ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Luncheon.

Dr. Jerimi Suri & Fred Bell

Dr. Jerimi Suri, Professor, UT’s LBJ School (left) receives a plaque of appreciation from Fred Bell, CENTEX ASPA President, for delivering the keynote address at the CENTEX ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Luncheon.

Amy Ledbetter Parham (left), Chief Executive Officer of Texas Habitat for Humanity receives the William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award from Laura Beckworth, daughter of former Texas Lt. Governor William P. Hobby Jr.

Amy Ledbetter Parham & Laura Beckworth

Amy Ledbetter Parham (left), Chief Executive Officer of Texas Habitat for Humanity receives the William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award from Laura Beckworth, daughter of former Texas Lt. Governor William P. Hobby Jr.

Dr. Miha Vindis, Professor, Texas State University (right) receives the Distinguished Faculty Award from Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Director of the Texas State University MPA Program.

Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan & Dr. Miha Vindis

Dr. Miha Vindis, Professor, Texas State University (right) receives the Distinguished Faculty Award from Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Director of the Texas State University MPA Program.

Betty Springer (left), Texas State University Professor (Retired) presents the Distinguished Faculty Award for Dr. Steve Springer, Professor, (Retired) to Dr. Steve Springers sons, Mark Springer & Steve Springer Jr.

Betty Springer & Dr. Steve Springers sons

Betty Springer (left), Texas State University Professor (Retired) presents the Distinguished Faculty Award for Dr. Steve Springer, Professor, (Retired) to Dr. Steve Springers sons, Mark Springer & Steve Springer Jr.

Denise Bjerke, Office Manager of the Texas State University Political Science Department receives the Distinguished Staff Service Award from Dr. Ken Grasso, Chair of the Political Science Department.

Dr. Ken Grasso & Denise Bjerke

Denise Bjerke, Office Manager of the Texas State University Political Science Department receives the Distinguished Staff Service Award from Dr. Ken Grasso, Chair of the Political Science Department.

Crossville Williams, Texas State University MPA student receives a McGrew Outstanding Research Award from Dr. Sherri Mora, Professor & Chair of his Thesis Committee.

Dr. Sherri Mora & Crossville Williams

Crossville Williams, Texas State University MPA student receives a McGrew Outstanding Research Award from Dr. Sherri Mora, Professor & Chair of his Thesis Committee.

Naisargi Jaiswal (right), Texas State University MPA student receives a McGrew Outstanding Research Award from Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Director of the MPA Program.

Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan & Naisargi Jaiswal

Naisargi Jaiswal (right), Texas State University MPA student receives a McGrew Outstanding Research Award from Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Director of the MPA Program.

Haley Noah (center), a graduate from UT’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and Dr. J. Paul Pope (right), LBJ School Professor receive a McGrew Outstanding Research Award from LBJ School Professor, Dr. Jeremi Suri.

Dr. Jeremi Suri, Haley Noah & Dr. J. Paul Pope

Haley Noah (center), a graduate from UT’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and Dr. J. Paul Pope (right), LBJ School Professor receive a McGrew Outstanding Research Award from LBJ School Professor, Dr. Jeremi Suri.

Dr. Robbie Robichau (rear left), Professor, Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service and students in her class receive a McGrew Outstanding Research Award.

Dr. Robbie Robichau & Students

Dr. Robbie Robichau (rear left), Professor, Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service and students in her class receive a McGrew Outstanding Research Award.

Dr. Howard Balanoff with Balanoff Family Scholarship Recipient Kamryn Hannigan.

Dr. Howard Balanoff & Kamryn Hannigan

Dr. Howard Balanoff with Balanoff Family Scholarship Recipient Kamryn Hannigan.

Barney Knight Scholarship Recipients with Linda & Barney Knight (right).

Kaden Tucker & Daphine Wiliams

Barney Knight Scholarship Recipients with Linda & Barney Knight (right).

Laura Beckworth with William P. Hobby Family Scholarship Recipients, Mostafa Jalal, and Asha Akar.

Laura Beckworth, Asha Akar & Mostafa Jalal

Laura Beckworth with William P. Hobby Family Scholarship Recipients, Mostafa Jalal, and Asha Akar.

Donors and Scholarship Recipients at Texas State University Donors are Linda & Barney Knight (right) and Laura Beckworth & Howard Balanoff (left). Students (middle left to middle right) are Asha Aktar, Mostafa Jalal, Kamryn Hannigan, Daphine Williams & Brianna Kerns.

Donors & Scholarship Recipients

Donors and Scholarship Recipients at Texas State University Donors are Linda & Barney Knight (right) and Laura Beckworth & Howard Balanoff (left). Students (middle left to middle right) are Asha Aktar, Mostafa Jalal, Kamryn Hannigan, Daphine Williams & Brianna Kerns.

Spring 2024 Texas State University Inductees into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs & Administration are left to right Jamie Jobs, Crosville Williams, and Amy Ledbetter Parham (Honorary) with Dr Howard Balanoff, Pi Alpha Alpha Faculty Advisor (right).

Spring 2024 Pi Alpha Alpha Inductees

Spring 2024 Texas State University Inductees into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs & Administration are left to right Jamie Jobs, Crosville Williams, and Amy Ledbetter Parham (Honorary) with Dr Howard Balanoff, Pi Alpha Alpha Faculty Advisor (right).

Dr. Lori Bush, Professor of Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service with Pi Alpha Alpha Public Administration Honor Society Students from the Bush School.

Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society Students

Dr. Lori Bush, Professor of Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service with Pi Alpha Alpha Public Administration Honor Society Students from the Bush School.

Attendees at the 2024 CENTEX ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Luncheon at Palmers Restaurant in San Marcos, Texas.

Luncheon Guests

Attendees at the 2024 CENTEX ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Luncheon at Palmers Restaurant in San Marcos, Texas.