Step Up for State brings in more than $1 million in donations

The 2022 Step Up for State campaign brought in $1.09 million in donations Oct. 12-13, supporting scholarships, academics, athletics, and campus initiatives.

A total of 1,760 donors participated in the 1,899-minute online fundraising event. The 1,899 minutes of giving corresponds with the year the university was founded, 1899, and reflects the dedication of students and alumni to continue the legacy of Texas State.

Celebrating Step Up for State Leading Donors

Kevin and Heather Blewett, owners of the Buena Vida Cattle Company, committed $523,000 to support agricultural science research. Their gift will fund research on the Santa Gertrudis cattle breed at Texas State’s renowned Freeman Center. The Blewetts said they hope their gift will inspire others to invest in industry-shaping research at Texas State.

The Stelos Alliance, along with Bill Poston, committed $100,000 to fund scholarships for future Stelos Scholars. Poston, a 1988 alumnus, co-founded the Stelos Alliance with a mission of helping extraordinary young leaders reach their potential.

Rebecca Mehrwerth, a 1988 alumna, committed $100,000 to student scholarships. Originally from Lockhart, she said she is proud to endow a scholarship for students from rural communities.

“I’m incredibly proud of the time that I spent learning and growing at Texas State,” Mehrwerth said. “As I have navigated the business world, from meeting rooms to board rooms, one thing I know to be true is that when faced with a problem that demands integrity, intellect and a strong work ethic, sometimes you need a Bobcat in the room. The reason I’m endowing a scholarship is to ensure future generations have the same opportunities that I had to become a proud Texas State graduate and Bobcat.”

For more information on Step Up for State, visit https://stepup.txstate.edu/