You don’t need a million dollars to make a difference. At Trinity University, sometimes all it takes is five, and a community ready to multiply it.
In early December, a conversation began between Trinity Board of Trustees member John Brozovich and University leaders about how to celebrate and motivate philanthropy among the senior class. A short dialogue soon transformed into Trinity’s largest senior event: A Night Out in Vegas at the San Antonio Zoo, held on May 13, 2025.
But how exactly did a casual meeting turn into a groundbreaking new tradition?
Trinity did what it does best: It came together as a community to create something that no person could have done alone.
Brozovich, a dedicated Trinity trustee and CEO of the Gambrinus Group (the parent company of Shiner Beer), envisioned a participation-based challenge: If 300 Trinity seniors gave $5 each, it would unlock $8,000 he pledged for student scholarships on behalf of the Class of 2025. Every quarter of that goal, every 75 seniors, triggered a $2,000 unlock for the class.
This challenge first caught fire during the fall 1869 Challenge, when an impressive outpouring of senior giving unlocked the first $4,000 of Brozovich’s participation gift. In the glow of that success, Brozovich and campus leadership began brainstorming what kind of celebration could honor such generosity. The momentum carried into this spring’s I Heart TU Giving Day, where 453 gifts—averaging $6.44 each—added $23,288 and unlocked an additional $2,000 of Brozovich’s pledge, bringing the running balance to unlock to $6,000. Energized by back-to-back senior-led wins, they committed to creating a large celebration to celebrate this unparalleled moment of philanthropy. To turn that vision into reality, Brozovich’s company, Gambrinus, stepped up to sponsor the event in its entirety. With fresh momentum, Trinity set out to bring this celebration to life.
As news of the record-setting senior challenge reached President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., she saw an opportunity to turn that momentum into a special new tradition—an unforgettable capstone celebrating seniors’ philanthropy and four-year journey. President Beasley turned to her longtime partners at the San Antonio Zoological Society; they then provided Trinity with an exceptional discount on the iconic Zootennial Plaza and even donated the event’s operating costs. One trustee’s pledge quickly became two community gifts, and the broader Trinity family rallied to craft a Vegas-style casino night amid the zoo’s flamingos. The collaboration not only created a memorable finale for the Class of 2025 but also perfectly echoed Ready. Set. Rise., Trinity’s strategic plan, in which one of our goals is to deepen partnerships across the greater San Antonio community.
As the months passed and momentum grew, students didn’t just give their dollars, they gave their time, creativity, and leadership. Trinity University Student Ambassadors, Lauren Moysis ’26 and Sabrina Cinque ’26, stepped up to lead fundraising efforts, rallied their peers, and amplified the challenge. Staff from Student Affairs and Alumni Relations and Development joined forces behind the scenes, weaving logistics and vision into a fun evening.
On the night of the event, Trinity seniors stepped into a dazzling scene complete with casino games, a carousel, a 360-photo booth, and a lavish spread provided by Shiner Beer, courtesy of Brozovich’s generous support. Professional card dealers taught students to play casino games, and students used their winnings to try their luck at various raffle prizes.
President Beasley took the stage to congratulate the Class of 2025 on both their impending graduation and their record-setting philanthropy. She noted that they were the first class to enjoy this new tradition—one she believes will soon rank among Trinity’s most cherished—and highlighted that nearly half of the class chose to give back, the highest senior-giving participation rate in more than a decade. That unprecedented generosity, coupled with Trustee John Brozovich’s support, ensured the seniors left an permanent mark on Trinity history.
A Night Out in Vegas was more than a celebration; it represented the revival of a tradition set to mark the close of Trinity seniors' undergraduate journey. John Brozovich’s challenge and the seniors' enthusiastic response proved that philanthropy is a shared act of love, as well as a demonstration of belief in each other and in the institution. It showcased that at Trinity, any gift, no matter the size, can reverberate through the community, inspiring larger acts of generosity and affirming the University’s ambitious vision for what it can do when we come together.