On Saturday, June 7, 2025, CenTex ASPA conducted its annual awards luncheon in honor of Public Service Recognition Week. The luncheon was held at Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar and Courtyard in San Marcos. The featured speakers at the awards luncheon were Dr. Jeremy Suri, the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and Mr. Alan Bojorquez, attorney and CEO of The Bojorquez Law Firm.
At the Luncheon, recognition and awards were presented to faculty and students from Texas State University’s Master of Public Administration Program, Texas A&M University’s George Bush School of Government and Public Service, and the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs. Alan Bojorquez, attorney and CEO of The Bojorquez Law Firm, and his wife Sheila Bojorquez, president and CEO of City Hall Essentials, both received the 2025 William P. Hobby Distinguished Service Award. This award was created and named to honor former Texas Lt. Governor, who had dedicated his career to public service. The LBJ School’s Dr. Jeremi Suri, who serves as the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs and as Professor of Public Affairs and History, received the CenTex ASPA Distinguished Faculty Award for his outstanding service and contributions.
In addition, students from Texas State’s MPA Program were recognized for their scholarly achievements and were inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. Inductees included Laura Salazar-Brown, Nicholas Delaunay, Md Mostafa Jalal, Antonio Mireles, Rachel H. Hoban, Brian Padilla, Mackenzie Rothrock, and Brayden Worley.
The James McGrew Research Award was given to the following students: Ashley Giraud for her Applied Research Project entitled “Post-Adoption Contact Agreement Legislation: A Systematic Assessment of Individual State Legislation,” directed by Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan; Brayden Worley for his Applied Research Project entitled “The Impact of Budget Allocation on Student Performance: A Study of Rural K-12 Public School Districts in Texas,” also directed by Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan; and a group of students from the Bush School of Government & Public Service for their Capstone Project entitled “Data, Disclosure, and Discrepancies: An Analysis of FARA Reporting and Reform.”
Md Mostafa Jalal was recognized for the William P. Hobby Management Fellowship with the City of San Marcos. Scholarships were also presented to a number of Texas State students:
- Mst Thahsina Aktar Asha (William P. Hobby)
- Savanna Batson (William P. Hobby)
- Remigio Casanova (William P. Hobby)
- Dylann Engle (Barney Knight)
- Reagan Haik (William P. Hobby)
- Miguel Perez (William P. Hobby)
- Mackenzie Rothrock (William P. Hobby)
- Sonia Shahsavari (William P. Hobby)
- Kaden Tucker (William P. Hobby)
- Daphne Williams (William P. Hobby)
The faculty that attended included Dean Mary Brennan, Dr. Kenneth Grasso, Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, Dr. Helen Lowman, and Dr. Howard Balanoff. Dr. Balanoff, professor and Director of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service, serves as Editor in Chief of ASPA’s Good Governance Worldwide and Chair of ASPA’s Section for Public Management Practice.
Of the event, Dr. Balanoff said, “Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service is proud to be the sponsor the 2025 Public Service Recognition Awards Ceremony for the CENTEX Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). The 2025 Awards celebration recognized distinguished practicing administrators for their public service. The Awards Luncheon also recognized faculty and students from the participating schools for their outstanding research and scholarly achievements.”
The CenTex ASPA Public Service Recognition Week Awards Luncheon was sponsored by Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service. The Luncheon program began with a meet and greet reception, which was followed by a plated lunch for approximately 50 attendees. The awards program was followed by a brief meeting of CenTex ASPA’s Officers and Governing Board Members to discuss selection of program events and activities for the future.
For additional information about CENTEX ASPA’s activities and events, please contact Fred Bell, CenTex ASPA President at fred_bell@sbcglobal.net. For additional information about the activities and programs of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service, please contact Dr. Howard Balanoff at hb02@txstate.edu.
