On October 30, 2024, TMI Episcopal hosted its 5th Annual Entrepreneur & Innovation Award Luncheon honoring the late Marshall T. Steves class of 1940 (posthumously) and the Steves Family. Close to 300 guests attended the celebration held at The Witte Museum Mays Family Center – San Antonio, TX. Members of the TMI Family and business community came together to recognize the outstanding achievements of this year’s honoree and to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation at TMI.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted by student ambassadors Ryan Shaw ’25 and Alex Lambert ’25, and by members of our Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets. Attendees were guided into the beautiful venue decorated with custom centerpieces including fresh orange and white flowers, each created by Botanika.
Highlighting TMI’s academic approach to innovation and design thinking, exhibits were on display, as student and faculty representatives, from a variety of TMI programs, including Fine Arts with Henry Burgos ’26, Isabella Lopez ’25, and Christian Rasor ’25, Humanities with Divya Beeram ’27 and Bella Patel ‘27, Business & Entrepreneurship with Walker Allen ’25, Kiara Dwivedi ’25, and Luke Tucker ‘25, Robotics and Innovation & Design Thinking with Ankith Padala ’25, Lucas Senecal ’27, Breana Toohey ’25, AC Walker ’25, Grayson Weekley ’25, and Kevin Yang ’25. Students who represented our TMI Color Guard included Madi Hokenson ‘26, Audrey Hudson ’26, Frankie Santon ’27, Jackson Uhr ’25, John Whittaker ’26, and Peyton Turnbow ‘26. Guests were delighted to interact with, and view student projects and displays.
Emcee Robert Price, TMI alumnus of the class of 2002, began the program by welcoming guests. In keeping with TMI tradition, the luncheon opened with the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets presentation of colors, followed by the national anthem performed by Brandee Glass, TMI alumna of the class of 2003, and invocation led by TMI’s Chaplain, The. Rev. Dr. Benjamin H. Nelson III.
Event Co-Chairs, Liz Shaw and Sharon Walls took the stage expressing their honor to be part of this special event. They shared how proud they are that their children attend TMI and how much they believe in Episcopal education and expressed their gratitude for the influential leadership of TMI’s President, and for the generosity and impact of all TMI supporters. “We love TMI because of its strong foundation of love and commitment to making sure every student is heard and seen,” said Liz Shaw, TMI parent of Reagan ‘23 and Ryan ‘25.
While guests enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by Absolutely Delicious, a TMI family-owned business, The Rev. Scott J. Brown, TMI President, spoke about TMI’s commitment to ensuring that our students are equipped with wisdom, integrity, service, excellence, and reverence. He spoke about TMI’s history and commitment to academics, character, and faith. He went on to share about the legacy that TMI is building the people who have helped to build it up over the years. TMI alumni and families such as the Steves family, Steve and Debra Walker, Chuck and Lisa Harthan, Eleanor and Scott Petty ’55, Denise and Don Elliott ’63, Leighton and the late James Donnell ‘54 and so many others. Father Scott said “I’m struck by the legacy of our TMI Community, the continual thread of leadership and love that has been passed down from generation to generation…Our students understand the legacy of TMI and they will be stronger tomorrow than they are today. Daily growth is in the DNA of TMI.” Following his remarks, Father Scott shared a video capturing a little piece of the TMI story of how we prepare students for success in life.
Moments later, Emcee Robert Price ‘02 returned to the stage to talk about this year’s award and honoree, the late Marshall T. Steves ’40 and the Steves family. Each year this prestigious award is presented to a member of the TMI community who demonstrates TMI’s core values of Wisdom, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Reverence, paired with success in entrepreneurship or innovation, and positive impact in the greater community. Robert shared about Marshall Steves Sr.’s life-long personal and business accomplishments.
Then, he called to the stage David Oppenheimer TMI Alumnus of the class of 1967 and close friend to the Steves family to share special remarks that celebrate their impact and legacy. He highlighted the strong presence of Marshall Sr. and his entrepreneurial spirit and success. He went on to discuss the true measurement of a TMI servant leader. David said “Maybe one answer to the riddle is generational, Marshall Sr. was a servant leader, as are his sons. That status may be tied directly to modeling what they saw in their father.”
After all the heartwarming words shared about Marshall Steves Sr. and the Steves family’s legacy, through hard work, dedication, and innovation, it was time for Marshall Steves Jr. ’68 and his brothers Edward Steves and Sam Bell Steves to come to the stage to accept the 2024 TMI Entrepreneur & Innovation Award on behalf of their father and the rest of the Steves family.
Marshall stood at the podium and shared a little bit more about his father with a quote he remembered often by Elbert Hubbard. He stated, “responsibilities gravitate to the person who can shoulder them; power flows to the person who knows how.” He went on to give more context on his father and many other members of the Steves Family who have continued the legacy as well as shouldering responsibilities for the family and the community.
On behalf of the students, faculty, staff, and TMI Board of Governors, thank you so much to all the many sponsors and attendees who supported the award luncheon. Proceeds raised at this important event netted $50,000 toward TMI’s annual giving program that supports our school’s mission, students and programs. If you were unable to attend the event and would like to help support TMI, you can make a gift at the link provided here. Thank you for your generosity. Every Panther, every year, makes a difference!
Special thanks to our…
VISIONARY SPONSORS
Christina & Will Steele
Dorado Development
The Gloria Galt Fund- San Antonio Area Foundation
The Marshall Steves Foundation
INNOVATOR SPONSORS
Eleanor & Scott Petty Jr. ’55 and Sarah & David Barlow
Ford, Powell & Carson
Frost Bank
Golden, Steves & Gordon LLP
Nathan & Jill Clark
TRAILBLAZER SPONSORS
Back Office Risk
Big Sun Solar
George Spencer, Class of 1969
Lacey & Ryan Kohnen ‘98
Lissa & Paul Allen
Roxanne & Alan Bond
Sharon & Buddy Walls
Steve & Debra Walker
Texas Regional Bank
The Vaughan Brothers
EVENT UNDERWRITING
Denny’s Restaurant (The Lafreeda Family)- Party Favor Sponsor
Knight Office Solutions – Program Sponsor
To view more photos from the event please click on the button below.