Well, it looks like Old Man Winter took his best shot in January, and now we are getting ready for what I think is actually the busiest month of the year, not only for UHAA for but for the entire city of Houston.

Take a look at your own calendar right now, and if it looks like mine, you are asking yourself “what am I thinking?” Sporting Events, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Rodeo Houston, Rodeo Cook-off, basketball season winding down while baseball/softball are ramping up. If you can find an extra day, let me know, and I’ll find you something to do! Look at it this way! It’s going to be fun, and it’s going to go by really fast, so enjoy it!

Here at UHAA, I will point out just a couple of highlights that you can get more info on in our website at  houstonalumni.com or coogsconnect.com. Of course, we have a great basketball season going for the men and women, and baseball and softball are gearing up; uhcougars.com is your place for all that. Actually, do yourself a favor and come watch our incredible track & field teams in February. If you want to watch a world-class operation, that’s the spot.

Business leaders can join us for the 8^th Annual Cougar 100 on February 22^nd, when we welcome new TIAA CEO, Thasunda Duckett (’96) as our featured keynote speaker and recognize the 100 fastest growing Cougar alumni owned or operated businesses in the world! It’s a wonderful time for networking, so please join us.

And finally, we have announced an incredible lineup of honorees for our 67^th Annual Alumni Awards Gala on April 30 at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. An incredible list of accomplished Cougars will once again grace the stage. 

Someone once said “when you get a groove going, time really flies.” Well, UHAA is about to get our “groove going” so join us for the dance and watch how much fun we will have and how rewarding it will be to connect with your alma mater!

True We’ll Ever Be,

Mike Pede (’89)