FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2026
Friends of The Daily Texan, Inc.
404-316-4759
Senator Judith Zaffirini, the first woman Dean of the Texas Senate, has established an endowed, perpetual scholarship for Daily Texan staff members.
The first award will be presented at the April 17 Daily Texan Hall of Fame dinner in Austin, sponsored by Friends of The Daily Texan, Inc.
"Senator Zaffirini’s endowed grant for student journalists at The Daily Texan is another example of her dedication and support of the University of Texas, where she worked on The Texan, earned three degrees and held up to 3 jobs to pay her way through school,” said John Reetz, president of Friends of The Daily Texan. Her dedication and support of her constituents and all Texans has been a highlight of her political career, never missing a single vote. We’re honored to have her as a key donor supporting aspiring journalists at UT.”
Legendary UT Coach Darrell Royal paid Sen. Zaffirini the highest compliment a Longhorn can receive: “All I care is, her blood runs burnt orange.”
So very true.
The senator carries many “first” titles in Texas and beyond – first Mexican American woman senator; as the first woman Dean of the Texas Senate; and as the highest bill-passer in Texas history, having passed 1,524 bills.
She also shattered state and national perfect voting records, having cast 76,843 consecutive votes—never having missed a vote in 38 years. As a student at UT, Dean Senator Zaffirini earned B.S., M.A., and PhD degrees from UT-Austin, each with a 3.97 GPA; while married; and while totally self-supporting with no scholarships and holding up to three part-time jobs on campus.
For her contributions to UT, she has been honored with almost every possible award—naming her a Distinguished Alumna, Distinguished Hispanic Alumna, Moody College of Communication Outstanding Alumna, and to The Daily Texan Hall of Fame; and awarding her the Presidential Citation and the Longhorn Citizenship Award.
With creation of the Dean Sen. Judith Zaffirini Excellence in Public Service Reporting Award, she continues to give back to UT and The Daily Texan student journalists.
Her scholarship will serve as a forever reminder of her orange blood.
Photo Credit: Gray Hawn
The Excellence in Public Service Reporting Award is a newly endowed, perpetual scholarship established by Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini for staff members of the “Daily Texan,” the student newspaper at her beloved alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin.
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