Sam Houston 79
SAM HOUSTON 79 AWARDS PROGRAM
Celebrating Entrepreneurship: A Partnership Between the SHSU Alumni Association and the College of Business Administration
This collaboration aims to elevate student engagement, celebrate entrepreneurial success, and strengthen ties between alumni and the next generation of Bearkat business leaders.
Together, we are excited to offer a series of events that spotlight innovation, mentorship, and business growth!
COBA Career Panel
A moderated discussion featuring past SHSU 79 honorees and College of Business Administration who share insights on growth, leadership, and resilience.
Student Entrepreneur Showcase
An interactive networking event where selected student entrepreneurs present their ventures to alumni, sponsors, and business leaders.
Networking Happy Hour
A casual mixer to foster relationships between honorees, alumni, students, and faculty.
Sam Houston 79 Business Awards Dinner
The main event unveiling the top SHSU Bearkat-owned or Bearkat-led businesses of 2025. (Ticketed event)
COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION TODAY!
Application Due: Wednesday, July 31, 2025
Application Form
How to Apply
- Complete the Sam Houston 79 Application.
- Download and complete the Sam Houston 79 Revenue Verification Form.
- Email the completed and signed Sam Houston 79 Revenue Verification Form to SamHouston79@whitleypenn.com.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Support the Sam Houston 79 program while showcasing your business to a broad network of alumni, students, and university partners.
Select sponsorships will help fund scholarships and awards for COBA students, so join us in supporting the next generation of Bearkat business leaders!
Give Back Today!
For sponsorship inquiries and additional information: please email Bailey Bernal, Bbernal@shsu.edu
ABOUT
Sam Houston 79
This SHSU Alumni Association annual program identifies and honors the fastest growing SHSU Bearkat-owned and Bearkat-led businesses.
The nominated businesses that send in their information will be ranked, and the top businesses based on percentage of compound annual growth in sales or revenues (net of returns), over a three-year period will be recognized and celebrated during the annual Sam Houston 79 event.
If you know of a Bearkat Business you would like to nominate, nominations for the Sam Houston 79 event are open now!
Whitley Penn: Official Verification Partner
We are honored to partner with Whitley Penn LLP as the official verification partner of the Sam Houston 79 Awards.
Whitley Penn ensures the credibility of the ranked list by calculating each company’s compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) using confidential revenue data submitted through the Revenue Verification Form.
All financial data is handled solely by Whitley Penn and is not shared with Sam Houston State University, the Alumni Association, or any third parties.
We are grateful for Whitley Penn’s partnership and their commitment to celebrating the success of Bearkat-led businesses with accuracy and integrity.