—
The Graduate College at Texas State University-San Marcos will pay tribute to one of its supporters —John Navarrette of San Marcos — by establishing a Celebrity Classic scholarship in his honor.
Navarrette, who has served on the Chartwells CenturyLink Celebrity Classic executive committee ever since the fundraiser moved to the Graduate College, is the South Texas District operations manager for the Celebrity Classic's name sponsor CenturyLink.
He was responsible for the original name sponsor, then known as CenturyTel.
Mike Willoughby, dean of the Graduate College at Texas State, said Navarrette's scholarship will be one of three named for individuals for their work on behalf of the Celebrity Classic, which has raised more than one million dollars in scholarship funds for graduate students.
Existing scholarships recognize the contributions made by former Texas State President Jerome Supple and retired Chartwells resident manager Charles Blackwell.
Navarrette joined San Marcos Telephone Company, the forerunner of CenturyLink, as an installer/repairman in 1975.
He was promoted to supervisor of the installation and maintenance department in 1979 and to director of operations in 1987 after receiving his degree from what is now Texas State University.
He was promoted to regional manager in 1994 and to district manager for Texas properties in 1998 and area operations manager for Texas markets in 1999 and acting general manager for Texas and Louisiana from 2000 to 2002 and again from May 2004 until May 2006.
“John Navarrette is most deserving of having a scholarship named in his honor,” Willoughby said.
“In addition to his many outstanding contributions to the Classic, he has given so much to Texas State and the San Marcos community. He exemplifies an extraordinary work ethic and impeccable character. I am confident he will be an inspiration to all students fortunate enough to receive the Navarrette Scholarship.”
The first Navarrette Scholarship will be awarded for this fall, according to Willoughby.
