Harry Gee
Immigration attorney, businessman, and co-owner of the Houston Texans
27 Years of Impact
Former Arrival Award Honorees
Across more than two decades, the Arrival Awards have recognized immigrants whose leadership, service, professional achievement and community contributions have strengthened Houston and beyond.
2027 Arrival Awards
Presented by the University of Houston Law Foundation
Benefiting the University of Houston Law Center
Presented by the University of Houston Law Foundation
Benefiting the University of Houston Law Center
A Legacy of Recognition
Explore the former honorees of the Arrival Awards, organized by award year. The 2027 Arrival Awards celebration builds on this legacy while supporting the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic and its future impact.
2019
3 honoreesSima Ladjevardian
Political activist and member of the MFAH Board of Trustees
Lynden Rose
Former UH basketball player and Consul General of the Bahamas
2017
3 honoreesRoberto Contreras
President and CEO of St. Christopher Holdings, Ltd., and founder of DC Partners
Pershant Mehta
President and CEO of Je Matadi Inc. and Luminess Direct LLC
Manolo Sánchez
Former Chairman, CEO, and U.S. Country Manager of BBVA Compass
2014
4 honoreesSofia Adrogué
Business litigator, Texas Business Court judge, and community leader
Taseer Badar
Chairman and CEO of ZT Corporate
Mary Foreman
Philanthropist
Dr. Adán Rios
Oncologist and professor of medicine
2011
3 honoreesDurga D. Agrawal
Founder and Chairman of Piping Technology & Products, Inc.
Dr. Oscar Castañeda
Community leader
Ana Hernandez Luna
Texas State Representative
2009
3 honoreesDr. Renu Khator
President of the University of Houston and Chancellor of the UH System
Ayaz Nasser
Banker and business leader
Y. Ping Sun
Attorney and former First Lady of Rice University
2007
3 honoreesSamuel Abraham
President of Abraham Oriental Rugs
Leopoldo “Polo” Beccera
Houston chef and restaurateur
Leeshan Birney
President of Stone Mountain Properties
2006
3 honoreesDr. Nancy T. Chang
Biochemist and co-founder of Tanox
Celina Fein
Community honoree
Chris Wilmot
Business leader
2004
4 honoreesAli Saberioon
President and CEO of Sabco Oil and Gas Corporation
Rick Landry
Arrival Award honoree
Farouk Shami
Founder and Chairman of Farouk Systems (CHI Haircare)
Don J. Wang
Founder and Chairman of MetroCorp Bancshares
2003
3 honoreesEduardo Aguirre, Jr.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra and former Director of USCIS
Ghulam Bombaywala
Restaurateur and community philanthropist
Kase L. Lawal
Founder and Chairman of CAMAC Holdings
About this list: Honorees are presented according to the confirmed Arrival Awards recipient record. Current campaign leadership roles are listed separately on the Event Leadership page.
Continue the Arrival Awards story
Learn about the 2027 Arrival Awards campaign, its leadership and ways to support the Immigration Clinic.
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