By Sheri Alzeerah

For Jim Boon, newly appointed executive director of the Texas Exes Scholarship Foundation, life has always been viewed through a burnt-orange looking glass.

Photo by Danielle Villasana

Boon earned his undergraduate degree from UT in 1969, received his master’s degree from UT in 1972 and served as executive director of UT’s alumni association Texas Exes for the past 16 years.

“When I say the University of Texas, I don’t bother to say ‘at Austin.’ To me, it’s just the University,” Boon said.

His unrelenting Longhorn passion mirrors his longtime affiliation with the University and Texas Exes. Boon joined the 125-year-old ex-student organization as a Life member soon after he graduated.

“It was a validation. To me, it was almost as important as getting my degree,” Boon said.

While working with insurance management in Chicago, Boon served as a volunteer reader for Texas Exes scholarship applications. In January of 1994, life took an unexpected turn when the Texas Exes executive director at the time announced his retirement.

“During my insurance career in Chicago, I had the opportunity to work with alumni associations, and I thought I had a pretty good appreciation of what they did,” Boon said. “It seemed like an intriguing opportunity, so I threw my hat in the ring.”

That summer, Boon began his memorable term as executive director of Texas Exes — the fifth executive director in Texas Exes history. Together with a dedicated staff, Boon transformed the organization into the renowned association it is today.

“We’re here for one reason — to support the University of Texas any way that we can,” Boon said.

In 1994, Hopwood v. Texas challenged UT’s affirmative action policy, determining race as a factor in considering college admission and financial aid. In response, Boon, together with his Texas Exes teammates, raised scholarship money for minority students who aspired to attend UT.

Under Boon’s administration, Texas Exes implemented programs such as the UT Heritage Society to maintain the University’s history and traditions. In 2006, Texas Exes introduced the Texas Fans Make Us Proud campaign to promote safer, more positive sportsmanship among athletes, coaches, media, alumni and fans.

“The most successful alumni associations are those that are able to take advantage of the culture on their campus, and I think we do an excellent job at that,” Boon said.

Texas Exes Career Services also took flight during Boon’s career. The service provides members with job consultation, assessments and coaching, and welcomes them into a network of professionals, connecting UT grads to prospective employers.

Under Boon’s direction, the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center underwent extensive renovations thanks to a $2-million contribution, and the organization’s publication, The Alcalde, benefited from a $1-million endowment.

Photo by Danielle Villasana

Despite his remarkable list of achievements as Texas Exes executive director, Boon said his coworkers, colleagues and everyone else along the way characterize his career.

Leticia Acosta, director of public policy and deputy to the executive director, has worked for Boon for the past five years.

“He has a way of working with people and really bringing out the best of what they do,” Acosta said. “He’s very personable, down-to-earth and just great to work with.”

Serving as a moral, political and social compass, Boon molded Texas Exes into one of the largest alumni associations in the country, connecting more than 91,000 members. Boon said almost 70 percent of current members are Life members, a huge leap from 30 percent in 1994.

As Boon’s career as executive director of Texas Exes ends, a new chapter in his life begins. Spearheading the newly established Texas Exes Scholarship Foundation, Boon plans to further the association’s interest in helping students experience UT the best way they can by taking the current program and “putting it on steroids.”

Texas Exes currently awards $2 million in scholarship money per year to nearly 800 students. The foundation’s latest project, 40 Acres Scholars, takes the financial award far beyond this figure.

“It’s a merit-based, experiential program,” Boon said. “By that, I mean it’s more than a check. The students that receive this scholarship are going to be getting an experience like nobody else.”

The scholarship includes typical out-of-pocket expenses, including four years of tuition, living expenses and fees. What sets this scholarship apart, however, are its “summer enrichment activities.” The scholarship offers a service learning opportunity after the student’s first year, a summer abroad after the second year and an internship or research project after the third year. Boon said distinguished alumni serve as mentors for these students as well.

“We’ve lost a lot of top students out of state to other universities that have a really strong financial package, and this [scholarship] is going to eliminate that excuse,” Boon said.

The foundation hopes to raise $150 million to endow the 40 Acres Scholars Program to support 300 scholarships, granting 75 each year starting in the fall of 2011. Applications are online at http://40acresscholars.org.

As a search committee works to find someone to fill the executive director’s shoes, Boon’s new coworkers are ready to join him on his latest endeavor. Eleanor Moore, director of scholarships and donor relations for Texas Exes, is joining  Boon to send the foundation into full swing.

“The 40 Acres Scholars program is going to be very transformative for the University and for the Texas Exes,” Moore said. “If anyone can make it happen, Jim can.”

After all, Boon has a true passion for scholarship.

“His heart is definitely there,” Acosta said. “We’re going to lose him to the best place for him to go.”

Although Boon is leaving as executive director of Texas Exes, his legacy is here to stay.

“This place means a lot to me and even more so as a result of having been executive director of the association,” Boon said. “It’s been very fulfilling, and I will be around here ’til Gabriel blows his horn.”