Second Line Band and a $1.4 Million Haul Makes This 69th Mardi Gras Ball Unforgettable

Keeping the Faith With Party Moves

By Shelby Hodge // Mar 6, 2019

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Students Erin Vallagomesa and Richie Nguyenphat at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball 2019.

Philanthropist Trini Mendenhall and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

Gloria Luna Bounds & Jesse Bounds at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

Laurie Davis, Gwen Corrigan, Foster & Tori Harmeye at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

Ryan & Rebecca Reza, Thomas Forster at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

Carl & Lois Davis and the REv. Steven J. Lopes at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

The Bunk Johnson Brazz Band performs at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

Kate Hays, Michele Malloy, Pete Hays at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.

Melynda & Dr. Richard Ludwick at the University of St. Thomas Mardi Gras ball.S

What: The University of St. Thomas 69th annual “Carnival” Mardi Gras Scholarship Gala

Where: The Hilton Americas-Houston

PC Moment: What could deliver more Mardi Gras fun than a Second Line parade, this one led by the Bunk Johnson Brazz Band and accompanied by students waving white hankies and spinning colorful umbrellas. With the band playing “When the Saints Go Marching In,” the entourage led more than 600 guests into the hotel ballroom where Michele Malloy and Raye White reigned as chairs and ruling the mise en scène were student King Richie Nguyenphat and Queen Erin Vallagomesa.

Honorary chairs were Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houstonand the Most Reverend Steven J. Lopes, Bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

It was a most bountiful evening for the faithful with more than $1.4 million (almost double that of 2018) raised for student scholarships and it was a special night for Lois and Carl Davis, who were honored for their bountiful generosity to and support of UST.

The nod to New Orleans continued with the dinner menu which included alligator bites on winter organic salad greens, barbecued shrimp with remoulade cream sauce served over cheese grits, paired with braised beef short-rib, collard greens and roasted yam cube. What else for dessert other than New Orleans style bread pudding with bourbon butter sauce?

It was the perfect fuel for dancing through the night to the sounds of Infinite Groove.

PC Seen: UST president Richard Ludwick and wife Melynda, former KHOU Channel 11 news anchor Steve Smith as emcee, Trini Mendenhall, Gloria Luna Bounds and Jesse Bounds, Laurie Davis, Gwen Corrigan, Foster and Tori Harmeye, Kate Hays, Michele Malloy, Pete Hays, Rebecca and Ryan Reza, and Thomas Forster.