NIGHT OF MAROON & MAGIC GALA EDITION

TICKET SALES ENDS FRIDAY, MARCH 13th!

A beautiful night. A meaningful cause. Join fellow Aggie Moms, families, & friends for an evening supporting scholarships and university organizations on both Galveston and College Station campuses.

At this year’s, “A Night of Maroon & Magic,” guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, elegant seated dinner, and a distinguished ceremony in a refined atmosphere.

Throughout the night, you’ll have the chance to support Houston Aggie Moms' Club through an exciting paddle raise and our online auction, offering exclusive experiences and one-of-a-kind items.

As the majestic evening unfolds, be mesmerized with a spellbinding performance by renowned Jimmy Fingers. Having performed multiple times for President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, Jimmy brings a level of class, originality, and professionalism that entertains all. His unique style combines cutting-edge magic, mentalism, and razor-sharp wit, earning him rave reviews.

Connect with friends, make new ones, make memories with our 360 Photo Booth, and end the night with music and dancing.

Join us for an extraordinary night of entertainment, enchantment, and philanthropy—all in support of the Houston Aggie Moms' Club's mission to contribute in every way to the welfare of the students at Texas A&M University.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Time: Beer & Wine Cocktail Reception | 6:00 p.m.

Silent Auction Opens | 6:00 p.m.

Dinner & Program | 7:00 p.m.

Live Auction | 8:30 p.m.

Magician | 9:00 p.m.

Location: The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria

2222 W. Loop South, Houston, TX 77027

🎟️ Attend A Night of Maroon & Magic – Get Your Ticket Here

Can't make it to the Gala?

Silent Auction items will be available for online bidding on Clickbid beginning Wednesday, March 25th.

Raise a Glass to our Wine & Spirit Pull

Wine Lovers… We See You.
Spirit Lovers… We Need You.

Our Wine Pull is getting an upgrade!

This year, we’re adding spirits & liquor to the mix—because why should wine have all the fun?

If you have a favorite bourbon, tequila, vodka, whiskey, or any spirited surprise you’d love to share, please consider donating a bottle to our Wine & Spirit Pull at the gala.

It’s a great way to get everyone excited. Yes, dads—we’re looking at you .

Drop off a bottle, spread the cheer, and help us make this year’s gala even more magical!

Please bring your bottle to our next General Meeting this Thursday, February 19thor if you'd rather donate toward the cost of a bottle, please donate on our Gala page under:

Monetary Donations

Continue the Party and Take the Elevator Home

The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria is offering us a special group discounted rate for those who’d like to turn the gala into a full evening out on the town.

We currently have 10 rooms left in our reservation block. If they fill up and you would like to stay, let us know. The hotel will do its best to add more.

If you’re thinking about making it a night of maroon, magic, dancing, drinks, and absolutely no stress about driving home, please take advantage of this great rate while it’s available!

Room Block Link: Reserve a room!

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

Introducing

We are proud to introduce Mari Kottaka & Nishanth Raj ’02 as our 2026 Legacy Sponsor

for the Night of Maroon & Magic Gala.

Their generosity and commitment help strengthen our community and ensure this special evening continues to make a lasting impact.

Thank you, Mari and Nishanth, for believing in the magic and legacy of this event.

Sponsorships

🎤 Fightin' Texas Aggie Leader - $5,000 (Presenting Sponsor)

Cyndi Ruiz-Mansfield and Chad Mansfield '92

🏅 Maroon & White Champion - $2,500

📣 12th Man Sponsor - $1,200

Your name here

🎓Gig 'Em Giver - $500

Victoria Brown-Sobecki '78 and Dan Sobecki

✉️ Friend of the Aggies - $250

Your name here

See more for our Underwriters

Want to Be A Headliner Too??? Sponsorship Opportunities Are Still Available!

Local businesses are invited to sponsor "A Night of Maroon & Magic". Sponsorship opportunities provide visibility with our highly engaged Aggie Network while directly supporting our students and Texas A&M University.

What sponsors receive may include:

Recognition before and during the event
Logo placement on event materials and digital promotions
Tickets or table access, depending on level

🤝 Sponsor or Underwrite the Event – Support the Cause

Some of these are actual attendees' dresses for the evening! Join us to find out who!

Grab your "plus one" or "plus nine" and dress up in your favorite outfit! Maroon is a hit but not a must! Just come ready to have a blast and help us raise scholarship funds for our amazing Aggies!

View Last Year's 2025 Scholarship Video

The Ladies Behind the Magic: The Volunteers Who Make A Night of Maroon & Magic Possible!

Behind every successful gala is an incredible team of dedicated volunteers. These are the faces that make magic happen—giving their time, energy, and heart to change lives. Join us in celebrating the people who make our fundraising possible!

Fundraising Vice-President, Vivian Yeh

A dedicated volunteer and a force to be reckoned with, Vivian has worked tirelessly to organize everything about this event. Vivian is the owner of two Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon locations in the Houston area and has been a business owner for over 31 years. She has spent more than a decade actively volunteering and serving in leadership roles with The Village School Parent Association, nonprofit enrichment organizations, the West Houston Chamber of Commerce, Women Driving Business, SBISD advisory boards, and the American Cancer Society — because staying busy is clearly her love language.

She is the proud mom of three — Preston (Texas A&M Class of 2028), Madeline (Washington University in St. Louis), and Kingston (The Village School). Vivian is deeply involved at The Village School and can usually be found volunteering by day and perfecting her champagne connoisseur skills by night!

Laura Fertak, a proud member of the Texas A&M University Class of ’90, she is honored to serve the Houston Aggie Moms in her first year on the board as 2nd Vice President for Programs. She has previously volunteered with Aggie Moms and is especially excited to help plan meaningful programs that connect and support Aggie families. She is also actively involved in supporting the annual Maroon and Magic Gala as Gala Co-Chair. Her Aggie roots are spreading — her daughter, Madison, is a member of the Class of ’22, and her son, Mason, is a proud member of the Class of ’25.

Professionally, she works as an orthopedic sports medicine Physician Assistant at Houston Methodist, where she is passionate about helping athletes and active individuals return to doing what they love.

In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, reading, playing Mahjong, and spending time on the pickleball court.

Tara C. Wray, originally from Louisville, Kentucky, has been a member of Houston Aggie Moms since 2023 when her youngest, Evan enrolled in Biomedical Engineering/Pre-Med and joined the Texas A&M Rugby Club. Tara has served the club in a few roles: Howdy Party Chair for 2 years, Recording Secretary, and Gala Co-Chair of 2025-2026.

Outside Houston Aggie Moms' Club, Tara is a Nurse Practitioner formerly with MD Anderson and now with the University of Texas Houston McGovern Medical School, specializing in Interventional Gastroenterology (iGUT) and HPB (Hepatobiliary) cancers.

In her free time, she likes sports, adventure, being creative, and learning new skills with her husband, Dr. Curtis Wray; daughter, Tatum (BU ‘22; SMU ‘25); son, Evan (TAMU ‘27).

Volunteer Your Time & Talent

The true magic is made by our incredible volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes. From setup to support, their dedication brings this event to life in the most meaningful ways. We are looking for our volunteers the weekend of the Gala.

If you’re inspired by Vivian, Laura & Tara, and the countless others who make this night happen, here’s how you can step in and make a difference:

❤️ Volunteer – Join the Team That Makes It Happen

Class Baskets- We Need Your Help!

Want an easy way to support scholarships and show class spirit?

Each class is putting together a themed gift basket for our gala.

We need your help to make it a success!

Please make a donation to your class basket by February 28th!

The class baskets are a highlight of the evening and offer opportunity for fun competitive bidding at our gala auction. Please take a minute to donate to your Aggie’s Class Basket.

Donate here!