Texas Blazers
The Texas Blazers is an honorary service organization at The University of Texas at Austin that started in 1994. Its members are selected from the UT Student Body based on criteria including leadership, commitment to service, and academic achievement.
The Texas Blazers act as official hosts of the university, engage in community service, and volunteer in a variety of roles at Eastside Memorial High School in Austin, Texas. The organization is led by an elected Chairman and ten other executive board members.
Purpose
The Texas Blazers have stated that the purpose of the organization is to:
- Support the greater Austin community through service.
- Uphold and promote the spirit and traditions of The University of Texas.
- Serve The University of Texas by exhibiting campus leadership while maintaining high standards of academic excellence.
History
The Texas Blazers was founded September 7, 1994, on the patio of the Texas Union by a group of male students. They came from several student organizations that performed service for the UT and Austin communities.
The founders of the Texas Blazers wanted to create an organization that was committed to a more “hands-on” approach to service. This organization would also maintain high standards of academics, leadership, and spirited support of UT. They wanted the organization to be a strong representation of the student body in order to better serve UT.
That same year, the Texas Blazers began volunteering their time at Johnston High School in East Austin. The Blazers started by mentoring students; currently, the Blazers mentor, tutor, and empower students.
Awards
In 1994, UT recognized the Texas Blazers with the “Most Outstanding Service Organization” award at the UT Swing-Out Awards. In 2003, the Texas Blazers were named the “Most Outstanding Organization” at the UT Swing-Out Awards.
In 2007, the Texas Blazers created the “Texas Blazers Endowed Scholarship” at The University of Texas. The endowment allows for an annual scholarship for a graduating student from Eastside.
Honors and awards
- 1994 Swing Out award as UT's “Best Service Organization"
- 2003 Swing Out award as UT's “Best Service Organization"
- 2009 Swing Out Award as UT's "Best Service Organization"
- 2014 Swing Out award as UT's “Best Service Organization"
- 2014 Tower Award for "Outstanding Student Organization"
- 2014 Eastside Memorial High School’s Official Business Partner of the year
- 2015 Tower Award for "Most Outstanding Student Organization"
- 2015 Tower Award for "Outstanding Service Project"
- 2015 Swing Out Award as UT's "Best Spirit Organization"
- 2015 Swing Out Award as UT's "Best Organizational Ethics"
- 2015 Swing Out Award as UT's "Most Outstanding Organization"
- 2016 Swing Out Award as UT's "Best Service Organization"
- 2016 Swing Out Award as UT's "Best Organizational Ethics"
- 2017 Swing Out Award as UT's "Best Spirit Organization"
Past Texas Blazers Chairs
| Year | Chair |
|---|---|
| 1994–1995 | Paul Massingill and Robert Bleaker |
| 1995–1996 | Paul Massingill and Robert Bleaker |
| 1996–1997 | Shaarik "Rik" Zafar and Michael Danziger |
| 1997–1998 | Jeff Rouse and Chris Crear |
| 1998–1999 | |
| 1999–2000 | Landon Duyka |
| 2000–2001 | Tim Rybacki |
| 2001–2002 | Brian Wisnoski |
| 2002–2003 | Nolan Fields |
| 2003–2004 | Tommy Vanelli |
| 2004–2005 | Chaitanya Indukuri |
| 2005–2006 | Matthew Tabbert |
| 2006–2007 | Andrew Limmer |
| 2007–2008 | David Yount |
| 2008–2009 | Cody Cheek |
| 2009–2010 | Reese Mathieu |
| 2010–2011 | Christopher Fox |
| 2011–2012 | James Limmer |
| 2012–2013 | Jake Alford |
| 2013-2014 | Thomas Pigeon |
| 2014-2015 | Neal Makkar |
| 2015-2016 | Lee Alford |
| 2016-2017 | Sam Karnes |
| 2017-2018 | Gregory Ross |
| 2018-2019 | Seth Krasne |
| 2019-2020 | Alan Shaw |
| 2020-2021 | Billy Li |