Join us in Celebrating the Living Legacyof Ann Richards by Attending
Honoring Maryana IskanderAnn Richards Legacy Award Recipient
A global leader with experience as CEO of Wikipedia and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Maryana Iskander has led large-scale change to expand access to learning and opportunity in Texas and around the world.
Recognized as a Rhodes Scholar and Yale Law School Distinguished Alumna, Maryana serves on multiple boards and is the former COO of Planned Parenthood. She is a past advisor to the President of Rice University, where she was the only person to serve as student body president for two terms.
Maryana is also a Truman Scholar and Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute. She was elected Girls State Governor of Texas as a senior from Round Rock High School and worked as an intern for Texas Governor Ann Richards during the summers of 1992 and 1993.
Reach for the Stars is the Ann Richards School Foundation’s annual fundraising gala to recognize the graduating class of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders and celebrate their bright futures.
April 17, 2026
6:00-9:00 p.m.
JW Marriott Austin
Cocktail attire
Sponsor a Table or Get Your Ticket to Reach for the Stars
Premier Sponsorship Opportunities
Table Sponsorship Opportunities
Host Committee Chairs
Hon. Randi Shade
Shamina Singh
Hon. Mark Strama
Host Committee Members
Cathy Bonner
Ben and Becky Bui
Caroline Burruss
Elma Cantú Aldrete
Barbara Clemenhagen
Hon. Delia Garza
Peggy Hanley
Stacey Hadash and Terry McDonell
Georgia Hernandez
Commissioner Ann Howard
Amy Jones
Jennifer and Nathan Koppel
Jenny Lloyd and Jeff Miller
Elena Marks
Valerie McCarthy
Carol McGarah
Kate and Matt Norman
Lucy Oglesby
Yael Ouzillou
Ellen Richards
Brenda Salazar
Katie and Andy Schonert
Hon. Bea Ann Smith
Sarah and Rich Stasica
Dr. Melissa Taylor
Snow White
Leslie Wingo
Thank You to our 2026 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Jeanne Goka Alumni of the Year Award Sponsor
Beverly Dale
Graduate Sponsor
Shamina Singh
Living Legacy Sponsor
Matt Oppenheimer
Scholar Sponsor
Antoinette Delruelle and Joshua L. Steiner
Wine Sponsor
Valedictorian Sponsor
Rakesh and Shonali Agrawal
Elena Marks and Valerie McCarthy
Salutatorian Sponsors
Elma Cantú Aldrete
Kathy Collins
Susan and Bill Crews
Stacey Hadash and Terry McDonell
Pat Herron
The Kennedy Family
Phyllis Lockett
Janet McClurg
Carol McGarah
Yael Ouzillou and Richard Merren
Rice Alumni and Friends
Marci Rosenberg and Ben Samuels
Sonal Shah
Mary and Jeff Zients
Honors Sponsors
Bob and Minda Anderson
Katy Bacon
Black Barn Financial
Cathy Bonner
Ben and Becky Bui
Caroline and Jefferson Burruss
Melissa and Karl Cates
Monica and John Crowley
Aimee and Ed Cunningham
DPR Construction
Hon. Delia Garza
Girl Scout Troop 773
Jackie Hawkins
Georgia Hernandez and Family
Commissioner Ann Howard
Vivian Iskander Porter and Rudy Porter
Susan Johnson
Kendra Scott
Robert Kilgore
The Kokenhagens
Koppel Family Fund at
Shalom Austin Jewish Foundation
Robin Lerner
Jenny Lloyd and Jeff Miller
Bobby and Heather McBride
Nickel Hayden
Kate and Matt Norman
O’Connell Robertson
Lucy and Ellis Oglesby
Cynthea Rhodes-Patterson
Ellen Richards and Greg Johnson
Rogers-O’Brien Construction
Brenda Salazar
Ricardo and Kara Sanchez
Sanders\Wingo
Katie and Andy Schonert
Hon. Randi Shade and Kayla Shell
Dawn L. Smalls and Brannen McElmurray
Hon. Bea Ann Smith
Sarah and Rich Stasica
Mark Strama and Crystal Cotti
Dr. Melissa Taylor
Kristen Vassallo and John Fitzpatrick
Bryan and Parisa Fatehi Weeks
Snow White and Friends
Thank You Reach for the Stars Donors
Clark L. Carrol and Bradford W. Duncan Endowment
Ellen Chesler
Annette Cumming
Mark Davis
Jim Edwards
Ehrlich Elcott Family Giving Fund
Marion Greenup
Bryan Howard
Jessye Lapenn
Corrie MacLaggan and Oliver Bernstein
Donna McKay
Jethro Miller
Bob and Ellen Peck
Diane Quest
Rebecca Richards-Kortum
Lillian Tamayo
Sujata Tejwani
Donate to Support the Stars
Event proceeds support the Ann Richards School Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that ensures Ann Richards School students gain the confidence and skills to apply, attend, and graduate from college.
About the Ann Richards Legacy Award
Ann Willis Richards, the 45th Governor of Texas, remains one of the most distinctive and inspiring women in American history. A public servant throughout her life, Ann dedicated herself to breaking down barriers that prevented women from fully participating in their careers and communities. She used her own successes to open doors for others and encouraged women everywhere to step into leadership.
Her legacy lives on through the students, faculty, and staff of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, where her vision of empowering girls and women continues to thrive.
The Ann Richards Legacy Award honors individuals who serve as role models for the young women of the Ann Richards School and for women across the nation and the world. Presented annually, the award recognizes a person of exceptional achievement who embodies Ann’s enduring qualities of grit, leadership, and generosity to others.
Reach for the Stars Honorees and Interviews
2025
Dr. Ruth Simmons – Ann Richards Legacy Award
Program Feature – Profiles of Opportunity
2024
Jody Conradt – Ann Richards Legacy Award
Program Feature – Pathway to the Stars
2023
Vanessa Wyche – Ann Richards Legacy Award
Program Feature – Empower the Stars
2022
Elizabeth Avellán – Ann Richards Legacy Award
Alumni Feature with Lupita G. and Fatima G.
2021
Faculty and Staff – Ann Richards Legacy Award
Yamiche Alcindor
Dr. Jewel Mullen
Reshma Saujani
2020
Jean and Dan Rather – Ann Richards Legacy Award
2019
Dr. Brené Brown – Ann Richards Legacy Award
2018
Gayle King
Sylvia Acevedo
Jeanne Goka – Ann Richards Legacy Award
2017
Ann Rubenstein Tisch
Melinda Gates
Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager
Anna Deavere Smith – Ann Richards Legacy Award
2016
Dolly Parton
Pattie Sellers – Ann Richards Legacy Award
2015
Norah O’Donnell
Lily Tomlin – Ann Richards Legacy Award
2014
Cecile Richards
Holland Taylor – Ann Richards Legacy Award
About the Jeanne Goka Alumni of the Award
Named in honor of beloved founding principal Jeanne Goka, the Jeanne Goka Alumni of the Year Award celebrates an outstanding alum who exemplifies the mission and values of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.
Honorees are recognized for distinguishing themselves in college or in their professional field, giving back to their communities through meaningful service, and demonstrating a continued commitment to the mission of the Ann Richards School through volunteering or support.
Jeanne Goka Alumni of the Year Award Honorees
2025
LaRessa Quintana, Class of 2013
2024
Libertad Escobar, Class of 2015
Thank You to our 2025 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Jeanne Goka Alumni of the Year Award Sponsor
Beverly Dale
Alumni Sponsor
Nona Niland
Profiles of Opportunity Video Sponsor
Wine Sponsor
Valedictorian Sponsors
The Law Office of Becky Beaver
Janet Walkow and Irl Barg
Salutatorian Sponsors
Austin Woman Magazine
Susan and Bill Crews
Jill DiCuffa and Robert Kilgore
Mindy Ellmer
Regan Ellmer and JoAnn Dalrymple
HEB
Insperity
The Kennedy Family
Barbara and Jeff Kokenhagen
Kelly and JB Kolodzey
Carol McGarah
Lucy and Ellis Oglesby
Honors Sponsors
Akins Family
Bryan Ashton and Hema Mullur
BGE
Black Barn Financial
Travis County Judge Andy Brown
Ben and Becky Bui
Karen and Brian Burgess
Kathy Burrell
DPR Construction
Travis County Attorney Delia Garza
Halff
Peggy Hanley
Jackie and Albert Hawkins
Allie and John Hewlett
Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard
Susan and Luther Johnson
The Family of Lily Lindsey, Class of 2025
Bobby and Heather McBride
Jamila S. Mensah
Miller Lloyd P.C.
The Nowicki Family
O’Connell Robertson
Yael Ouzillou and Richard Merren
Liliana and Luis Patino
Cynthea and Scott Rhodes-Patterson
Rogers O’Brien
Brenda Salazar
Anna Sanchez
Randi Shade and Kayla Shell
Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea
Sam and Diane Smith Family
Dr. Melissa Taylor
Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion
Truist
Whitney W. Warmack
Andrea Yz and Jarod Neece
Thank You to the Reach for the Stars Committee
Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard, Co-Chair
Lucy Oglesby, Co-Chair
Becky Beaver
Barbara Clemenhagen
Georgia Hernandez
John Hewlett
Jenny Lloyd
Jarod Neece
Randi Shade
HonoringAnn Richards Legacy Award RecipientDr. Ruth Simmons
Dr. Ruth Simmons has spent 50 years in higher education and served as president of Brown University, Smith College, and Prairie View A&M University, an Historically Black College and University (HBCU). After completing her Ph.D. in romance languages and literatures at Harvard, she served in various faculty and administrative roles at the University of Southern California, Princeton University, and Spelman College before becoming president of Smith College, the largest women’s college in the United States. At Smith, she launched a number of important academic initiatives, including an engineering program, the first at an American women’s college.
Dr. Ruth J. Simmons recently published her memoir, Up Home: One Girl’s Journey. The recounting of her life’s journey in the page turning, 204-page memoir was written, she says, to “help young people understand that whatever the circumstances of their lives, they are born not to be the person that history, limited resources, and others dictate but, rather, the person they are willing to pour their heart and soul into becoming.”
2024 Reach for the Stars Invitation
Event proceeds support the Ann Richards School Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that ensures Ann Richards School students gain the confidence and skills to apply, attend, and graduate from college.
Thank You to our 2024 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Jeanne Goka Alumni of the Year Award Sponsor
Beverly Dale
Pathway to the Stars Video Sponsor
VIP Reception Sponsor
Valedictorian Sponsors
Cheryl Allen and Carol Polumbo
The Law Office of Becky Beaver
The Kennedy Family
Janet Walkow and Irl Barg
Salutatorian Sponsors
Friends of Coach Conradt
Susan Crews and Kelly Kolodzey
Mindy Ellmer
Insperity
Carol McGarah
O’Connell Robertson
Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company
STG Design
Young Women’s Preparatory Network
Honors Sponsors
Brooke and Lance Akins
Ted and Katharine Barnhill
BGE
Black Barn Financial
Sharon Blythe
Travis County Judge Andy Brown
Karen and Brian Burgess
Dennis and Kathy Burrell
Jill DiCuffa and Robert Kilgore
DPR Construction
Drs. Kaye and Pat Forgione
The Garcia Family
Travis County Attorney Delia Garza
Idona and Harry Griffith
Halff
Peggy Hanley
Jackie and Albert Hawkins
H-E-B
Don and Pat Herron
Commissioner Ann Howard
Karen and Wade Howard
Susan and Luther Johnson
Kimley-Horn
McBride Family
Miller Lloyd P.C.
Lucy and Ellis Oglesby
Yael Ouzillou and Richard Merren
Pape-Dawson Engineers
Candace and Michael Partridge
Cynthea Rhodes-Patterson
Janis and Joe Pinnelli
PMI Austin Experts
Mark and Angela Pringle
Lynda Rife and Wally Vog
Sanchez Law
Randi Shade and Kayla Shell
Commissioner Brigid Shea
Sam and Diane Smith Family
Texas International Education Consortium
Tobi Taub Personal Fitness Training
Commissioner Jeff Travillion
Truist
Kristen Vassallo and John Fitzpatrick
Snow White
Special Thanks
Austin Beerworks
Franklin BBQ
JW Marriott Austin
Will Klemm
McGuire Moorman Hospitality
Tecovas
Rina VonFrisch and Kendra Scott, LLC
Thank You Reach for the Stars Donors
Jim Edwards
Val and Jeff Newberg
Marci Rosenberg
Marc Winkelman
Thank You to the Reach for the Stars Committee
Commissioner Ann Howard, Chair
Ted Barnhill
Becky Beaver
Julie Choyce
Karen Howard
Jennifer Koppel
Maile Molin
Lucy Oglesby
Randi Shade
Rina vonFrisch
2023 Reach for the Stars Recap
HonoringAnn Richards Legacy Award RecipientVanessa Wyche
Learn more about Vanessa Wyche
Featuring a Student-led Panel with the 19th News
Our Ann Richards School students will be joined on a panel with 19th News co-founders Emily Ramshaw and Amanda Zamora. The 19th News is an independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on gender, politics, and policy.
Learn more about the 19th News
Thank You to our 2023 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Ann Richards Legacy Award Sponsor
Graduate Sponsor
Shamina Singh
Valedictorian Sponsors
Janet Walkow and Irl Barg
Salutatorian Sponsors
Sally Clark-Raphael
Susan and Bill Crews
Insperity
Kelly and J.B. Kolodzey
The Kennedy Family
Law Office of Becky Beaver
O’Connell Robertson
Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company
Young Women’s Preparatory Network
Kristen Vassallo and John Fitzpatrick
Honors Sponsors
1990 Campaign
Austin Asset
Ted and Katharine Barnhill
Sharon Blythe
Karen and Brian Burgess
Kathy Burrell
DPR Construction
Mindy Ellmer
Jehmu Greene
Jackie and Albert Hawkins
Friends of Eric Heineman
Susan and Luther Johnson
Robert Kilgore
Miller Lloyd P.C.
Yael Ouzillou and Richard Merren
Chris Plonsky and Friends of the Ann Richards School
Texas International Education Consortium, Robin Lerner, President & CEO
Truist | Anna Sanchez
The University of Texas at Austin
Marissa and Brian Vogel
Special Thanks
Rina VonFrisch and Kendra Scott, LLC
2022 Reach for the Stars Recap
Please enjoy a virtual presentation of Reach for the Stars where we celebrated the Class of 2022, our college-bound program success, and the Ann Richards Legacy Award recipient.
Elizabeth Avellán has produced groundbreaking genre and family films that have collectively grossed over a billion dollars. Avellán began her producing career with Robert Rodriguez on their first legendary indie film El Mariachi, a winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. She has produced such films as the Spy Kids franchise, Frank Miller’s Sin City, Predators, Machete, Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, and Grindhouse.
Thank You to our 2022 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Ann Richards Legacy Award Sponsor
Graduate Sponsor
Shamina Singh
Valedictorian Sponsors
Cirrus Logic
Janet Walkow and Irl Barg
Salutatorian Sponsors
Ted and Katharine Barnhill
Rebecca Contreras, President & CEO of AG – Author Lost Girl
H-E-B
Insperity
The Kennedy Family
Carol McGarah
Candace and Michael Partridge | Brooke Ornelas-Flanagan
The Sam and Diane Smith Family
Virtus Real Estate Capital
Young Women’s Preparatory Network
Honors Sponsors
Theresa and Raul Alvarez
Austin Asset
BB Imaging – TeleScan
Law Office of Becky Beaver
Karen and Brian Burgess
Kathy Burrell
Sally Clark-Raphael | Nicole Willis
Susan and Bill Crews
Velma Cruz
DPR Construction
Lynne Dobson
Jehmu Greene
Sara and Rusty Hruby
John and Leslie Hunt, Bill and Rosemary Moore, and Trevor and Courtney Moore
Susan and Luther Johnson | Jackie and Albert Hawkins
Robert Kilgore
Kelly and J.B. Kolodzey
Manuel Martin and Lori McClure
O’Connell Robertson | Rogers-O’Brien Construction Company
Yael Ouzillou and Richard Merren
Chris Plonsky
The University of Texas at Austin
Kristen Vassallo and John Fitzpatrick
2021 Reach for the Stars Recap
Please enjoy Reach for the Stars as we feature student-led video interviews with inspiring notables who represent the core values of the Ann Richards School within the school’s academic pathways.
View the 2021 Reach for the Stars event program.
Support the Ann Richards School Foundation and Reach for the Stars with a donation today.
2021 Reach for the Stars Featuring
An interview with Yamiche Alcindor
White House correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a political contributor for NBC News and MSNBC
An interview with Dr. Jewel Mullen
Associate Dean for Health Equity at the Dell Medical School, an internist, epidemiologist, public health physician leader and the former principal deputy assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
An interview with Reshma Saujani
Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code
Meet your 2021 Reach for the Stars Emcees
The Starlight News Crew
Lizbeth
Annalissa
Sukeji
Emme
Reach for the Stars is the Ann Richards School Foundation’s annual fundraising gala to recognize the graduating class of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders and celebrate their bright futures.
