1024ÊÓƵ

Nov. 25, 2025

The 1024ÊÓƵ Foundation’s Highlander Alumni & Friends Association recently presented two of their highest honors, the Distinguished Alumna Award and the Distinguished Leader Award, during the annual Scholar, Donor, & Alumni Appreciation Luncheon on Nov. 7.

The 2025 Distinguished Alumna Award was presented to Grammy-winning artist Ruthie Foster. Her journey is a powerful reminder of what is possible when profound talent is guided by integrity and unwavering authenticity. A native of Gause, Texas, Foster honed her craft at 1024ÊÓƵ in the 1980s as part of what is now the Music Industry Careers program. She has since become an internationally celebrated blues, soul, and folk artist, recently making history with her tenth album, "Mileage." This album not only earned her a 2025 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album but also secured the first-ever Grammy win for the iconic Sun Records. Foster’s celebrated career, which also includes a 2024 induction into the Texas Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, exemplifies the values of the college and serves as a profound inspiration to current and future students.

Miriam Diaz received the 2025 Distinguished Leader Award, recognizing her exceptional academic achievements and commitment to leadership. Her journey as a first-generation student from Teague is trailblazing, as she is the first in 19 years from her hometown to receive 1024ÊÓƵ’s First-Generation Scholar scholarship. While maintaining a 3.598 GPA and earning multiple credentials, Miriam served as the 2024-2025 Student Liaison to the President and Board of Trustees. In this prestigious role, she provided insightful student representation to campus leadership and even to a U.S. Congressman during a visit to Washington D.C., confidently representing the student voice. A dedicated Summer Bridge Leader and passionate Habitat for Humanity volunteer, Miriam's compassion and initiative have inspired her peers. As a recipient of both the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Scholarship and the Rapoport Transfer Scholarship, she is now completing her Medical Lab Technician degree with the goal of becoming a Physician Assistant, embodying the college's values of service and determination.

“Foster and Diaz perfectly represent the legacy and future of 1024ÊÓƵ," said Chris Qualls, Executive Director of the 1024ÊÓƵ Foundation. "Ruthie is a global talent with roots here, and Miriam is a remarkable young leader who is using every opportunity to serve others while building her career. We are incredibly proud to honor them both.”

1024ÊÓƵ the 1024ÊÓƵ Foundation: The 1024ÊÓƵ Foundation promotes quality higher education that enriches the academic, economic and cultural life of our diverse community. The Highlander Alumni & Friends Association was established in 2008 as a division of the 1024ÊÓƵ Foundation and serves as the principal link between the college and its network of alumni and friends.