NCTC Foundation Starlite Gala Celebrates Community Impact and Student Success
The North Central Texas College Foundation hosted its annual Starlite Gala on Saturday, April 18, 2026, celebrating the individuals and organizations whose generosity and dedication have strengthened NCTC and its surrounding communities. The evening honored donors, students, and community members who have played a vital role in the College’s continued success.
A welcome addition to this year’s program was the Red River Promise Raffle drawing, which featured 12 exciting prizes, including two Southwest Airlines tickets, hotel stays, Texas Rangers tickets, a Southwest Airlines Flight Simulation Experience, Blake Shelton concert tickets, and gift certificates to several local restaurants, raising $30,000 for the Red River Promise Scholarship program.
Event sponsors for the evening included Mr. Will Presson of Merit Advisors as the Platinum Sponsor. Gold Sponsors included Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Hullett; Enterprise Mobility Foundation; and Dr. Brent Wallace. Silver Sponsors included Trident Process Systems, Great Western Dining, and Christmas Décor of South Denton. Bronze Sponsors included Hellas Construction, North Texas Medical Center, ARMKO Industries, Plyler Construction, Axis Realty, and Barnes & Noble College.
F.M. Hemphill Distinguished Alumni Award
The F.M. Hemphill Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon graduates and former students of North Central Texas College. Established by the NCTC Foundation more than 30 years ago, it honors F.M. Hemphill, a distinguished president of the College’s Class of 1956.
This year’s recipient was Audimarie Keown, a longtime resident of Forestburg, Texas. Keown worked for Cooke County EMS while attending Cooke County College and later earned her nursing degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She began her career at what was then Gainesville Memorial Hospital in 1978, serving as an ambulance attendant, nurse, and emergency room nurse before eventually becoming head of nursing at North Texas Medical Center. She retired in 2018 after a 40-year career in healthcare.
Throughout her career, Keown also dedicated her time to serving her hometown of Forestburg. She served as a 4-H leader for more than 20 years, held multiple terms on the Forestburg ISD Board of Trustees, and currently serves on the Forestburg ISD Education Foundation. She remains actively involved in supporting students and is a dedicated leader at Forestburg Baptist Church. Keown also founded the Forestburg Buyers Group, which raises funds to purchase premiums for local students participating in the Montague County Youth Fair, among many other fundraising efforts.
Ed Wright Community Service Awards
The NCTC Foundation created the Ed Wright Community Service Award to honor individuals, organizations, and businesses for outstanding service to the College and surrounding communities.
Young County: The award was presented to the Graham Community Foundation for its outstanding service and leadership. The organization plays a vital role in strengthening the community by stewarding philanthropic resources and supporting initiatives such as the Old Post Office Museum, Meals on Wheels, and Catholic Charities of Fort Worth. Through grantmaking, community building, and endowment creation, the Foundation preserves Graham’s history, supports local initiatives, and enhances quality of life.
Montague County: The award was presented to Robert H. Fenoglio, a longtime resident of Nocona, Texas, who has dedicated more than six decades to community service. His contributions include leadership roles in the Jaycees and Rotary Club, efforts to establish the local library and museum, and more than 30 years of service on the City Council and as Mayor. His lifelong commitment reflects a deep dedication to preserving and strengthening the Nocona community.
Denton County: The award was presented to Christian Community Action and its leadership team, including Executive Director Sandra Sims, and warehouse staff Trent Smith, Andra Poux, Leslie Morse, Mario Garcia-Gil, and Ryan Cottrell. The organization supports NCTC students by allowing staff to access its pantry warehouse to stock The Giving Shelves on Denton County campuses. This partnership ensures students facing food insecurity have access to nutritious food. The team’s thoughtful support, hands-on assistance, and commitment to service exemplify a strong community partnership that directly impacts student success.
Cooke County: The award was presented to Johnny Leftwich, whose lifelong dedication to service has made a lasting impact on the Gainesville community. Known as “Mr. Kiwanis,” Leftwich has contributed more than 60 years of service to the Gainesville Kiwanis Club and has held numerous leadership roles within the organization and the community. He has supported NCTC through the Athletic Booster Club and has served with the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, the Gainesville Chamber Rodeo, and the Cooke County United Way.
Foundation Honors Circle Inductees
The Foundation recognized donors through its Honors Circle program:
Benefactors Honors Circle – Donors contributing $5,000–$9,999, including 4U Credit Union, A&B Excavation, LLC, ABBA Women’s Center, Charley Lanier, Marvin and Cheryl Furdge (in memory of Mr. L. Furdge and Mr. R. Gary), Christmas Décor of South Denton and Designs by Marilyn, Cooke County Junior Livestock Show, First United Bank, Gainesville ISD, Herr Business Forms, Inc., Jess N. Turner, Kate Richardson, Lewisville ISD, Roxanne Del Rio, Gainesville ISD Education Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Saint Jo Century Club, Slidell Education Foundation, John Dixon Truitt Charitable Foundation, Zach and Jessica Bowman, Melinda Carroll, and Little Elm ISD Education Foundation.
Founders Honors Circle – Donors contributing $10,000–$19,999, including Charles and Linda Draper, Deanna and Damian Hellman, and Sara Flusche, NCTC Dean of Continuing Education.
Bronze Honors Circle – Donors contributing $20,000–$29,999, including NCTC Faculty Senate, Valley View Education Foundation, Callisburg ISD, John and Karla Metzler, Era Education Foundation, and Frank and Mahin Scarlata.
Sterling Silver Honors Circle – Donors contributing $30,000–$39,999, including Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Hullett and Debbie Sharp.
Pure Gold Honors Circle – Donors contributing $40,000–$49,999, including Jacob Bezner and Merit Advisors.
White Diamond Honors Circle – Donors contributing $50,000–$99,999, including Lynn Peters, PenTex Energy, and Pilot Education Foundation.
Blue Chip Honors Circle – Donors contributing $100,000 and above, including Temple Baptist Church and Graham Community Foundation.
The evening concluded with a lively performance by DJ Kai of LeForce Entertainment, bringing music and dancing to the celebration.
To learn more about supporting student scholarships through the NCTC Foundation, contact Debbie Sharp at dsharp@nctc.edu.