SHSU Giving Day 2026

Thanks to support from Cheryl Peschke-Benton ’77, gifts to the COBA Student Success fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. You can help COBA students prepare with career readiness through core business competencies, day-one professional attire, and access to study abroad. Make your gift to unlock Cheryl’s generous gift today!

Thanks to the generosity of Rob Thompson '99 (football '94-'98), support given to Bearkat Football during Giving Day 2026 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $2,500! Give today to help maximize this match for Bearkat Football!

Thanks to support from Ronny Snow '90, gifts to Football Competitive Excellence will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,500. Make your gift today to unlock Ronny's generous gift!

The Executive Committee Members of the COBA Advisory Board are stepping up in a big way for Giving Day 2026, and they’re calling on YOU to join the momentum! They’ll match every dollar you give — up to an amazing $22,500 — to fuel COBA Enrichment. Give today to help maximize this match!

The Foundation Board is helping make this Giving Day truly special. In a show of dedication to SHSU’s continued growth, they will match every contribution to the Foundation, dollar for dollar, up to $20,500. Your generosity fuels initiatives that enrich the SHSU community and create opportunities for students and faculty. Join Brooke Beierle, Ferne Frosch, John Hoyt, Chuck Jones, Joel Michael, Russell Molina, Brian Starr, Chris Tritico, and Ryan Weber in uplifting SHSU. Give today and double your impact.

Jill Vaughan ’82, Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking (SHECB), is challenging alumni and supporters to give 30 gifts for $30 or more to the Texas Bankers Legacy Endowment, in celebration of 30 years of the SHECB! When 30 gifts are made, it will unlock a generous gift of $3,000 from Jill. Let’s max out this challenge by getting 30 gifts for Giving Day 2026!

Dean Shar Self encourages you to support the College of Business Administration on Giving Day! For every 50 gifts made to COBA, a gift from Dean Self will be unlocked.

A generous donor wants to keep the momentum going on Giving Day. He will give $5,000 when 20 gifts are made to the new Physician Assistant program! Let’s show support for our new PA’s and max out this challenge for Giving Day 2026!

Former museum director, Mac Woodward '70 and his wife, Leanne '74, '78, along with current museum director, Derrick Birdsall '91, '94 and his wife, Leslie '94, are challenging you to join them in supporting the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library on SHSU Giving Day! Your support will help advance the museum’s mission of collecting, preserving and interpreting Sam Houston’s life and times. When 25 people make a gift to the Museum, the Woodwards and Birdsalls will support the museum with $750!

Driven by service and loyalty, Michael ’76 and Rosanne Keathley ’77, ’89 created the Mike and Rosanne Keathley Endowed Pathway Graduate Health Scholarship to support Public Health graduate students. They’re inviting the community to join them, and when 15 gifts are made, they’ll contribute an additional $6,000. Together, we can uplift the next generation of Public Health leaders.

Erica Bumpurs ’21, Asst. VP of Health & Wellbeing for Student Affairs, is stepping up to help future Bearkats—and she’s challenging us to join her. It takes $125 to send one freshman to Bearkat Camp, and for every student sponsored, Erica will match the gift for up to 10 students. Together, we can make sure more Bearkats get the chance to experience camp this summer.

Sigma Chi pride is firing up for SHSU Giving Day! Alumni brothers Jerry Stephenson ’78, Larry Larrison ’77, Jason Hammons ’99, and Shane Sklar ’99 are rallying together to spark a wave of support back to Sam Houston State. When you give $19.61 or more—honoring the year Sigma Chi was founded at SHSU—you’re not just donating… you’re helping unlock a $1,961 challenge gift from these dedicated brothers once 15 gifts roll in. Let’s make it happen and show what Bearkat Sigs can do!

Thanks to the continued support from Cheryl Peschke-Benton '77, she wants to do another match. This time she is encouraging gifts to COBA Enrichment. Gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. Help us max out this match and have an amazingly successful Giving Day!

Thanks to the generosity of Ronny Snow '90, for every dollar given to Men's Basketball Competitive Excellence, it will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. Give today to help maximize this match for Bearkat Men's Basketball!

Michael S. Keathley ’76 and Rosanne S. Keathley ’77, ’89 have built a legacy rooted in service and loyalty. Seeing a critical need for financial support for students pursuing graduate degrees in the Department of Public Health, they created a pipeline to help close that gap. Today, they’re inviting others to join them in supporting the new Mike and Rosanne Keathley Graduate Health Pipeline Scholarship. Thanks to their generosity, gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000.

Thanks to the generosity of Jeanine Bias ’98, AVP for Student Experience and Chief Retention Officer, every dollar donated to the First-Generation Center—up to $500—will be matched by Jeanine. Your gift directly supports the resources, programs, and guidance that help first-generation Bearkats thrive with confidence throughout their academic journey. Join us in uplifting our First-Gen students today.

Geologist Chuck Caughey has issued a special Giving Day challenge in support of future geoscientists at Sam Houston State University. Once 20 gifts are made to the Chuck Caughey Geoscience Scholarship Endowment, it will unlock a generous gift of $12,000 from Mr. Caughey. Every gift made directly to the Chuck Caughey Geoscience Scholarship Endowment helps students from community colleges transfer to SHSU and pursue their BS degree in geoscience. Make your gift today and help us make a lasting impact for future Bearkat geoscientists!

Dr. Pam Laughlin ’21, former SHSU Director of Career Services, and Dr. Keri Rogers Mize, former Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs are challenging Bearkats to join them in supporting the Former Foster Youth Scholarship. This scholarship was established to support our Bearkat students who are former foster youth, orphans, or wards of the state. Pam and Keri have generously made a gift of $1,000 for every 10 gifts made to the scholarship up to $2,000. Let's max out this challenge by getting 20 gifts for Giving Day 2026!

Rob Thompson '99 (football '94-'98) will make a gift of $1,000 when 20 gifts are made to the Bearkat Champions Fund! Let’s max out this challenge by getting 20 gifts for Giving Day 2026!

When 10 gifts are made to the College of Education, a gift of $500 will be unlocked, thanks to the generosity of Ronny Snow '90. Your gift gets us one step closer to unlocking this challenge!

Dr. Janis White ’73, retired Professor for Human Sciences, is challenging Bearkats to join her in supporting the Rick C. White Study Abroad Scholarship in the Sciences. This scholarship was established in memory of Janis' husband Rick ’71 and ‘73, beloved professor of Chemistry and study abroad leader, to support Bearkats who are looking to make an impact in the sciences. Janis will make a $5,000 gift when 10 gifts are made to the scholarship. Let's max out this challenge on Giving Day 2026!

Dr. Dannie Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs, and his wife Renee, are championing the Student Government Association (SGA) with a special Giving Day challenge. When SGA reaches $1,000 in donations, Dr. Moore will unlock an additional $1,000 gift for Giving Day. Your support today helps empower student leadership!

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Mandy Epley ’97, Navarro ISD Superintendent, Dr. LaTonya Goffney ’99, ’03, ’11, Aldine ISD Superintendent, and Dr. Rhonda Mason ’98, ’22, Lamar CISD Area Superintendent, every 10 gifts to the College of Education unlocks an additional $1,000—up to $3,000— to uplift future educators. It’s a reminder, much like the Starfish Story, that even small acts of kindness can spark powerful waves of impact.

For just $18.79, you can give a chicken or duck the greatest gift of all—a name! Once you’ve bestowed their new identity, we’ll send you a digital certificate so you can proudly show off your freshly named feathered companion. But wait—your generosity does double duty. Your gift also helps power the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, a destination that draws curious minds from all over the world. Your support makes a real difference