The 2026 Build The Village Luncheon brought together more than 400 community leaders, partners, and champions committed to expanding opportunity for EMERGE scholars.
Together, we raised over $760,000 to support high-achieving students from low-income communities as they pursue and graduate from the nation’s most selective colleges.
The afternoon featured a powerful keynote from Diana Villatoro Sorto, a senior at Klein Collins High School who will attend Princeton University this fall. We recognized Marlee Morgan, a graduate of the University of Virginia, and her family for their resilience and success in college. The Honoree Award was presented to Mia Mends, Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield Services and former EMERGE Board Chair, by EMERGE alumna Ruth Beaubrun — a full-circle moment reflecting the lasting impact of mentorship and leadership.
Thank you for building the village.
Watch highlights from the 2026 Build The Village Luncheon
Watch the full program on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bKOiGT11oGY?si=r6b-O2pxesJXakp0
Photo Gallery
Co-Chairs
Kate Schilling Kelm
Long-time friends from their Tulane days, Kate Dearing Fowler and Kate Schilling Kelm proudly co-chair the 2026 Build the Village Luncheon. Fowler, Executive Director of The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation and founder of the Houston Improvement Project, brings philanthropic leadership, while Kelm, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Barvin, contributes financial and strategic expertise. Together, they pair friendship with a shared commitment to education and community impact.
HONOREE
We are proud to honor Mia Mends, Chief Executive Officer of C&W Services and former EMERGE board member, at the 2026 Build the Village Luncheon. An immigrant who came to the United States as a child, Mia earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Her leadership and commitment to expanding opportunity embody the values of EMERGE and inspire the next generation of students.
Valedictorian
Laura & John Arnold
The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation
Salutatorian
Janet F. Clark/Virginia (Ginger) A. Clark
Summa Cum Laude
Hillary Holmes Archer & Matthew Archer
Katie & Nick Johnson
Magna Cum Laude
Pedro Caruso
Claire & Joe Greenberg
Twana Griffith-Faykus & Chadwick Faykus
H-E-B
Carla Knobloch
Liz & Andy Stepanian
Maria & John Zerr
Cum Laude
Anonymous
Marci & Mark Arnold/Ruth & Ken Arnold
DFIN
Kate & Steve Fowler
Debra & Mark Gregg
Monica & Vik Kalra
Ann Kennedy & Geoffrey Walker
Mends-Akalou Family
Louise Wiggins Rios & Luis Rios
Marci Rosenberg & Ben Samuels
JJ & Gerry Spedale
Kelley & Harper Trammell
Melanie Trent & Bob Edwards
Randa & K. C. Weiner
Dean’s List
Edward Allen & Chinhui Juhn
Maire & David Baldwin
Judy & David Bell/Barbara Segal Goldfield
Jessica Bresler & Anish Hariharan
Amanda & Robert Brock
Karen & James Chenoweth
Jennifer & Gregg Costa
Kimberly & Bradley Dennison
Becky & Phil Eisenberg/Kari Findley & Ken Sill
Annie & Bob Graham
Kristen Habich
Lauren & Zach Harris
Jill & Dunham Jewett
Chinhui Juhn & Edward Allen
Diane S. Kaplan/Virginia (Ginger) A. Clark
Kate & Chris Kelm
Judy Le, TakeRoot LLC
Kim & Scott Martin
Sara & Bill Morgan
Ann Stern
Denise & Elliott Smith
Jennifer & John Vogel
Claudia Zettner
Ann & Ben Ziker
Honor Roll
Newie & Mark Brinker
Sally Cummins
Suratha Elango
Karen Fowler
Gretchen Himsl
Jennifer & Kyle Hawes
Sis Johnson
Leah Barton & David Kim
Kathryn Rabinow
Len Slusser
Jacquelene Smith
Claudia & David Vassar
Polly & Jeffrey Whittle
Claudia Zettner