Alumni of South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL Houston) recently answered a challenge by the Beaumont Foundation, matching its $100,000 gift, to establish the T. Gerald Treece Endowed Scholarship at the law school.
This scholarship – to be granted annually in honor of T. Gerald Treece, STCL Houston vice president, associate dean, and director of the school’s renowned Advocacy program since 1978 – will benefit exceptional student advocates who have demonstrated a significant financial need.
“During December 2017, the Beaumont Foundation of America awarded a $100,000 challenge grant to South Texas College of Law Houston,” said C. Edward Keller, president and CEO of the organization. “We are pleased to learn the T. Gerald Treece Endowed Scholarship at South Texas now is fully funded. This scholarship will assist many underserved students in the future to achieve goals that may not have otherwise been attainable.”
This year marks Treece’s 40th anniversary as a full-time faculty member and head of the STCL Houston student advocates, who recently earned the school’s unprecedented 130th national advocacy championship. No other law school in the United States can claim even half as many wins. As a result, the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center recently ranked South Texas College of Law Houston No. 1 in the nation for moot court.
“For the past 40 years, it has been my honor to teach students how to practice law in a courtroom,” said Treece. “I truly appreciate the great generosity of my former advocates and the Beaumont Foundation of America. This honorary scholarship means a great deal to me.”
Upon the Beaumont Foundation’s $100,000 challenge to STCL Houston, the law school formed a dedicated alumni fundraising initiative called the “Coach’s Circle,” spearheaded by alumnus and chair David V. Wilson ’93, former South Texas national advocacy champion. STCL Houston alumni who contributed $2,500 or more to the T. Gerald Treece Endowed Scholarship through the Beaumont Foundation challenge joined the Coach’s Circle, named in honor of their respected advocacy coach and mentor.
“Dean Treece, or ‘Coach’ to most of us, was not just our personal mentor,” said Wilson. “He has impacted countless lives and impacted thousands of students. I know I speak for my fellow donors when I say that his impact upon the law school and the greater legal community, in addition to his impact upon our own lives, motivated our giving.”
At the conclusion of the fundraising challenge, 38 Coach’s Circle members contributed more than $100,000 in gifts toward the scholarship. These funds will be added to the generous Beaumont Foundation grant, totaling $204,108 to support the endowed scholarship.
Along with their gifts, many alumni provided messages of gratitude to Treece for his years of mentorship, teaching, and support.
Brad Gilde ’04 noted, “I owe all that I am as a lawyer to you and your program. Thank you, Coach.”
And Kyrie Cameron ’15 said, “I will forever be thankful for Dean Treece’s dedication to the success of his Advocacy students, and his ability to make us laugh and smile even amidst the stress of law school!”
To thank Treece for his four decades of service to South Texas College of Law Houston, the law school will host a reception in his honor on Sept. 17 and then provide shuttles to the Houston Astros / Seattle Mariners game for alumni and friends to celebrate their mentor while sharing his favorite pastime.
