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Outstanding Tau Chapter Brothers
Recognized for Leadership
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Ryan Jinnette ’21 and Billy Thackston '21 are
Chosen for the
2023 Philip Moore Award
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Ryan Jinnette '21 is a 2023 Philip Moore Award honoree. Ryan is pursuing a management information systems degree with a computer science minor. He is the newly elected Tau Chapter Grand Master and has served as Rush Chair and Assistant Treasurer. He is from Houston.
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Billy Thackston '21 is also a 2023 Philip Moore Award honoree. He is pursuing a petroleum engineering degree with a minor in business. He has served the Tau Chapter as Head of Rush, Grand Scribe, and is now Grand Treasurer. On campus, he has been inducted into the New Man Class of the Texas Cowboys, and is the founder and Chairman of the UT Chapter's Ducks Unlimited. He is from Manakin Sabot, VA.
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Philip Moore was known for his outstanding leadership, service and loyalty to his Tau brothers. A legacy who pledged with the Tau Chapter in 1966, he died in a car accident at age 29. The Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation honors his memory each year by presenting the Philip Moore award to an upper classman who shares the high qualities of leadership, service and brotherhood for which Philip Moore is remembered.
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Dylan Kelly '21 and Omar Colon-Vicenti '20
Awarded Walt Schoenvogel Scholarships
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Dylan Kelly '21 is a 2023 Walt Schoenvogel Scholarship winner. He's pursing an advertising degree with a minor in business. He has served on the Philanthropy and Social Committees for the Tau Chapter for several years. On campus, he served as President of SCORE Athletics, a service organization that brings sports activities to Austin elementary school students living in underprivileged neighborhoods. Dylan's hometown is Shallowater, Texas.
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Omar Colon-Vicenti '20, a corporate finance major, was also selected as a Walt Schoenvogel Scholarship recipient. He was on the Dean's Honor List and graduated Cum Laude December 2023. He has served the Tau Chapter as a Pledge Educator and is from Dallas.
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Walt Schoenvogel passed away in 2017 at the age of 63. Those who live in his hometown of Brenham knew him as a successful businessman, community leader, and philanthropist, but he is remembered by his Kappa Sig brothers as an exceptional athlete whose prowess helped bring intramural glory to Tau Chapter, and a loyal friend whose great sense of humor brought much happiness to those around him. To honor his memory, the Walt Schoenvogel Scholarship has been established to benefit a deserving Tau Chapter active each year who aspires to meet the high standards and principles of brotherhood, community service and philanthropy by which Walt himself lived.
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Ryan Jinnette '21 and Preston Jong '20 Awarded Richard G. Miller Memorial Foundation Scholarships | |
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Ryan Jinnette '21 is one of two honorees awarded a Richard G. Miller Memorial Foundation Scholarship. He is the newly elected Tau Chapter Grand Master and has served as Rush Chair and Assistant Treasurer. Ryan is pursuing a management information systems degree with a computer science minor. He is from Houston.
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Preston Jong '20 is also a Richard G. Miller Memorial Foundation Scholarship winner. He is pursuing business honors, finance, and mathematics degrees, and a minor in entrepreneurship. He has served the Tau Chapter as Grand Treasurer, Grand Scribe, and Head of Rush. On campus, he is a Silver Spur and currently serves as their Treasurer. He is active in the Texas Equity Group, Wall Street for McCombs, and the Financial Analyst Program, among others. His is from Bellaire, Texas.
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Richard Miller recognized the development of leadership skills as the most important ingredient of success for any person or organization. Miller served as Tau Chapter Grand Master in 1939, was decorated for service in two wars, built a distinguished career as a businessman in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, served as Worthy Grand Master of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the national level and was honored as Tau Man of the Year in 1990. In 2006, the Richard G. Miller Memorial Foundation made a commitment to honor his memory each year through a scholarship to benefit outstanding leaders within the Tau Chapter.
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Jack Smith ’19 Chosen for the Michael “Mickey” O’Connor Award | |
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Jack Smith '19 is this year’s recipient of the Michael “Mickey” O’Connor Award, presented in April 2023. Jack served as Tau Chapter Grand Master for 2022 and served as Rush Chair and Social in previous years. A Silver Spur, he served as Chairman of the Spring Jam philanthropy event, raising more than $100,000 for the Neighborhood Longhorns Program. He earned a mechanical engineering degree this year, graduating with honors. Jack has returned to his home city of Houston, where he works as an Investment Banking Analyst for Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank.
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Michael "Mickey" O'Connor was an early 50s Tau Chapter initiate who passed away from an illness during his college years. His contemporaries established The Michael O'Connor Award to honor the senior who has best exemplified Mickey's joy of life and spirit of Kappa Sigma brotherhood throughout his years as a Tau Chapter active. | |
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Tito Beveridge '81 Chosen for Frank Erwin Award
Tau Chapter actives honored Tito Beveridge '81 as this year’s Frank Erwin Award recipient. This award is presented annually to an alumnus who has provided exceptional support and leadership to the Chapter.
Tito has given generously of his time, talents and financial resources to support the Tau Chapter and help fund Warren Residence Hall.
He was chosen Kappa Sigma International man of the Year in 2017, honored not only for building a world-class vodka brand, but also for his generous philanthropic giving and community support.
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He's a popular speaker at the Tau Chapter's Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series where he talks candidly to the actives about overcoming obstacles to success. "You're not a failure until you quit," he often says.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is now sold in 156 countries around the world.
He and his wife, Lori, live in Austin. They have a son and two daughters.
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Frank Erwin, Chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents from 1966 to 1971, was a devoted Kappa Sig who served as an alumnus advisor and a founding trustee of the Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation. He was honored as Tau Man of the Year in 1965 and again in 1980.
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Mike Sharpe ‘79 Recognized for
Outstanding Service as a Tau Trustee
The Tau Trustee Committee of the Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation presented Mike Sharpe '79 with a crystal desk award in recognition of his many years of service as a Tau Trustee, Officer and Director. The award was presented at the TKSEF annual board meeting held November 3. Mike’s daughter, Morgan, and his brother-in-law, Steve Foy ’75, attended the presentation.
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"Mike is an exceptional example of a Kappa Sig alum who has given his time, talent, and treasure to help make our Chapter the best it can be,” said Bill Zwiener, Tau Trustee Committee Chairman.
Mike has been a TKSEF Officer/Director since 2008, serving terms as Secretary, Treasurer, and President of the Tau Trustees. He served as a Tau Chapter alumnus advisor in the '90s and, in 2016, was honored with the Frank Erwin Award for his many years of leadership. In 2020, he was named Tau Man of the Year, the highest honor bestowed on a Tau Chapter alum.
"There's no one more dedicated to protecting Tau Chapter's legacy than Mike," said Danny Grant '79. "His hard work, high standards, and attention to detail have helped us maintain our standing as one of the country's best chapters."
Mike and his wife, Jenny, live in Fort Worth. They have been married 36 years and have two grown daughters, Morgan and Madison.
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