$400,000 Graduation Dinner Takes Over River Oaks Country Club

What: Chinquapin Prep “Flashback ’75” gala

Where: River Oaks Country Club

PC: It was 1975 all over again, the year that honoree David Medina, director of Multicultural Community Relations at Rice University, was among the school’s first graduating class. Not only did Medina receive two standing ovations as his accomplishments were detailed by renowned sociologist Stephen Klineberg, but the 2017 senior class also received a standing ovation as they walked the stage and their colleges were announced. (Chinquapin has an 85 percent college graduation rate among its students that go on to higher learning.) Chaired by Francie Willis, who has supported the school for more than two decades, the dinner event brought in a record $400,000 for the school. 

Who: Emcee Khambrel Marshall, school director Laura Henry, development director Marilu Garza, Charity Yarborough, Blanca Medina, Pattie and David Tomaszek, Chinhui and Eddie Allen, Theresa and Evans Atwell, Haley and Barrett Webster, Warner Roberts, Ann and George McDaniel, and Mike Willis.