Texas State alumnus and recording artist Randy Rogers makes gift to support Texas Music History

Alumni Impact

Texas State University | February 15, 2023

Texas State University alumnus and recording artist Randy Rogers made a $25,000 gift to the Kent Finlay Endowed Scholarship in Texas Music History on Feb. 15 at Cheatham Street Warehouse.

Rogers presented his donation to Mary Brennan, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Jason Mellard, director of the Center for Texas Music History, and Brooks Hull, vice president for University Advancement. Luis Ruiz-Pacheco, this year’s scholarship recipient, was also in attendance.

The endowed scholarship was established in 2018 by Darcy and Rick Hardy, Rogers, the Randy Rogers Band and the Cheatham Street Partners, LLC.

Kent Finlay graduated from then Southwest Texas State College in 1961 with a B.S. in education and then completed his Master’s in 1964. In 1974, he opened Cheatham Street Warehouse, a live music venue in San Marcos, where he nurtured up-and-coming musicians and songwriters for decades. Finlay’s impact on Texas musicians has been far-reaching and impactful for many young people who have become successful in the Texas music industry and beyond.

Finlay died in 2015 leaving behind a far-reaching legacy that donors honor through the endowed scholarship. 

The scholarship is open to students of any major as long as they have a demonstrated interest in the field of Texas music. The scholarship selection committee in the Department of History reviews applications annually and makes recommendations to the director of the Center for Texas Music History, who will make the final recipient selection(s). Students may apply for the scholarship through the Bobcat Online Scholarship System (BOSS).  The scholarship deadline to apply for the scholarship for the 23/24 academic year is March 1, 2023 and will provide a $1,500 scholarship.