Scholarship Breakfast

About the Breakfast

Established in 2009, the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Annual Scholarship Breakfast offers a forum for discussing relevant business issues and to support the educational goals of Jindal School students — the next generation of business leaders. The event has raised over $1,035,000 and funded many new scholarship awards for Jindal School students. Each year the breakfast draws more than 400 attendees, including:

  • Business professionals and civic leaders from the North Texas region
  • Guests from the Dallas and area independent school districts
  • UT Dallas students, alumni, faculty, and staff

Your philanthropic support can have meaningful impact on the higher education journey of deserving Jindal School students.

Scholarship Breakfast

The Jindal School’s Scholarship Breakfast offers a forum for discussing current business issues and supports the educational goals of UT Dallas students – the next generation of business leaders. Join us for a conversation with our 2023 keynote speaker, David L. Holmberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Highmark Health, titled: ‘The State of The Healthcare Industry’.

David L. Holmberg

David L. Holmberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Highmark Health

David L. Holmberg is president and chief executive officer of Highmark Health, a $26 billion blended health organization that includes one of America’s largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional hospital and physician network. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Highmark Health’s 42,000 employees serve millions of customers nationwide through the nonprofit organization’s affiliated businesses, including Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental and enGen.

One of the nation’s most influential and transformative health care executives, Holmberg is helping to shape the future of this fast-evolving industry. He has proactively and regularly engaged with trade associations, regulators, peer organizations, strategic partners, and government entities — both regional and national — to resolve critical health care issues and ensure the equitable treatment of Highmark Health’s patients, policyholders and business customers.

Holmberg joined Highmark Inc. in 2007 and served in a series of executive positions, including president of its Diversified Businesses, where he was responsible for businesses representing more than $3.5 billion in revenue. Holmberg previously served as chief executive officer for HVHC Inc. and chief executive officer and chairman for HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental and San Antonio, Texas-based Visionworks. Under Holmberg’s leadership, Highmark Health successfully navigated the tumultuous post-ACA years and the COVID19 pandemic. Highmark Health’s financial strength and stability has enabled the implementation of a bold transformation strategy designed to lead the change in the health care experience for consumers by providing affordable, accessible, high-quality, community-based medicine and coverage options.

2023 Scholarship Breakfast Fast Facts:

  • The Event: The Scholarship Breakfast is the signature fundraising event for the Naveen Jindal School of Management. It is an opportunity for executives in and around Dallas to come together in support of educating tomorrow’s leaders.
  • Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
  • Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
  • Location: The Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center at The University of Texas at Dallas

Past Speakers

Dr. Michael Hinojosa

Dr. Michael Hinojosa, former superintendent of Dallas Independent School District

Dr. Michael Hinojosa has served for over 25 years as a superintendent/CEO of six public education systems, including two of the 25 largest school systems in America, Dallas ISD in Texas and the Cobb County School District in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. His career in public education, from teacher and coach to superintendent/CEO, spans more than four decades.

With a firm belief that education, and not environment, is the key to a student’s success, he has led several school districts to improved student achievement. Dr. Hinojosa’s recognitions include being named 2002 Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards and 2005 Superintendent of the Year by the University of Texas at Austin. He was honored as Distinguished Alumnus by the College of Education at Texas Tech University and as the Outstanding Latino Educator by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents in 2014. In 2019, D Magazine named him the "Best Public Official" in Dallas. He is a past president of the Texas Association of School Administrators.

A proud graduate of Dallas ISD, Dr. Hinojosa holds a doctorate in education from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Kitty, have two sons, graduates of Princeton University and Harvard University. He has a son from a previous marriage who graduated from Texas Tech University. All three attended Dallas ISD for a significant portion of their K-12 careers.

Lori J. Ryerkerk

Lori J. Ryerkerk, Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Celanese Corporation

Lori J. Ryerkerk is the Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, and President of the Celanese Corporation, a Fortune 500 global chemical and special materials company based in Dallas, Texas. Celanese is a leader in the development and production of materials used in most major industrial and consumer applications. Ryerkerk was named CEO in May of 2019.

Ryerkerk’s expertise in the energy industry spans three- plus decades. She combines deep technical and commercial skills with a passion for the manufacturing business. Her unwavering focus on safety, environmental, and social performance is the foundation on which she has overseen some of the most technically complex operations in the industry.

Previously, Ryerkerk was the Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing, the largest business in Shell Downstream Inc. She led a team of 30,000 employees and contractors at refineries and chemical sites worldwide. Before joining Shell in 2010, she was Senior Vice President of Refining, Supply, and Terminals at Hess Corporation, where she was responsible for two refineries, 21 terminals (and distribution network) and supply and trading. Prior to that, Ryerkerk spent 24 years with Exxon Mobil where she started her career as a process technologist at a refinery and took a variety of operational and senior leadership roles around the globe.

Ryerkerk is a graduate of Iowa State University where she completed her chemical engineering degree. She actively supports various organizations in her hometown of Beaumont, Texas.

Fred Perpall

Fred Perpall, Chief Executive Officer, The Beck Group

Fred Perpall is the Chief Executive Officer of The Beck Group. He focuses on driving firm strategy, communicating their vision to clients, selecting, and developing the management team, allocating capital, and managing growth. He began his career in the design and construction industry in 1996. In 2016, he joined the prestigious American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.

Known for his creative mind and innovative thinking, Perpall brings a highly energetic and communicative style to all he does. His leadership is shaped by his experiences in athletics. “Early in my career, I learned to ask many questions and to be interested. I am curious about what clients want, open-minded, and sometimes, amnesic with the past.”

Perpall was elected President of the United States Golf Association Executive Committee in 2023. He is the first African American and Texan to serve in that role. He joined the Board of Directors of the FedEx Corporation in 2021 and is part of the Dallas Citizens Council, serving as Chairperson from 2019-2020. Perpall also serves on the Board of Directors of Starwood Property Trust.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. Perpall is also an alumnus of the 183rd class of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. A Native of Nassau, Bahamas, Fred played on the 1994 Bahamian National Basketball Team. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Abi, and daughters, Ava, and Ali.

Michael S. Rawlings

Michael S. Rawlings, Vice Chairperson of CIC

Michael S. Rawlings is a founding partner of CIC, its current Vice Chairperson, and has been with the firm since its inception in 2004. From 2011 to 2019, Rawlings was also the Mayor of the City of Dallas, the ninth largest city in the U.S., when it saw more growth than any time in its history. Early in his career from 1997 to 2003, Rawlings was President of Pizza Hut, leading the brand to record growth as well. Prior to joining Pizza Hut, he was CEO of Tracy Locke, the largest marketing communications agency in the Southwest, whose clients have included Frito-Lay, PepsiCo, Tabasco, and American Airlines. Rawlings currently serves as a director of Willie’s Grill & Icehouse.

He is former Chairperson and CEO of Legends Hospitality Management, a former director of OmniSYS, Buffet Partners, Quiznos, and SignStorey. More recently, Mike served on the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation as Board President, Dallas’ Homeless Czar, and Chairperson for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. Rawlings has been recognized with many national awards and is a graduate of Boston college.

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

  • Andersen LLC
  • Austin Commercial
  • HM&M
  • Jindal School Executive Education
  • Texas Instruments
Many business leaders are where they are today because of access they once had to scholarships. Investing in education means investing in our future.
– Melissa Bettis, Assistant Dean for Development & Alumni Relations

For more information about Scholarship Breakfast or other ways to contribute to the mission of the Jindal School please contact:

Diane McNulty, PhD

Diane McNulty, PhD

Associate Dean for External Relations and Corporate Development

Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas
dmcnulty@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-4489

Melissa Bettis

Melissa Bettis

Assistant Dean, Development & Alumni Relations

Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas
melissa.bettis@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-5128