Texas Southern University first to receive $1 Million in apparel, scholarships and internships
February 23, 2023 (Houston, TX) – Black History Month marks an exciting new chapter for Texas Southern University (TSU) with the announcement of a groundbreaking collaboration with PING x HIDEOKI that will secure custom gear and apparel for TSU’s men’s and women’s golf programs and several student-centered initiatives through 2028.
Through this collaboration, PING x HIDEOKI looks forward to complementing TSU’s commitment to innovation and transformation with thoughtfully-engineered design and luxury fashion. The first collection of PING x HIDEOKI apparel and gear made exclusively for TSU’s golf program will be unveiled in Fall 2023.
PING x HIDEOKI is a relationship that is one of the first of its kind. By combining each brand’s high regard for the intersection of engineering, thoughtful design and premier performance, PING x HIDEOKI looks forward to bringing years of expertise producing the best in golf gear and bespoke luxury to Historically Black institutions across the country, with TSU kicking off the collaboration as the initial HBCU to benefit from the PING x HIDEOKI partnership.
“Texas Southern University is excited to embark upon this transformative collaboration,” said TSU President Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young. “This relationship furthers our commitment to the golf program at TSU by providing our student golfers the highest quality custom products available. It also furthers our commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities for all of our students. PING x HIDEOKI share our passion for approaching every opportunity with innovation in mind. We look forward to the growth our students will experience through this collaboration.”
The collaboration provides up to $1 million over the next five years through a comprehensive set of opportunities available to members of the golf program and other TSU students. In addition to providing upscale, exclusively-designed golf attire including outerwear, pants, shirts, footwear, bags and accessories, PING x HIDEOKI will also embark on collaborative opportunities with TSU’s fashion, engineering and art programs by way of internships, scholarships and unique enrichment projects.
“The student-athletes at Texas Southern University, much like the craftsmen at HIDEOKI, are no strangers to the ever-present but inspiring challenge of continuously honing their skills to achieve more each day,” says Dedrick Thomas, Founder and CEO of HIDEOKI, “In this spirit, HIDEOKI is proud to collaborate with TSU as part of our PING x HIDEOKI initiative to support the collegiate journey of these athletes with high-end bespoke apparel, travel gear, travel equipment, scholarships and internships.”
Currently, TSU’s golf program is experiencing what many would call a renaissance. Both the men’s and women’s golf teams at TSU won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship in 2022–the first time in the program’s history that both teams have secured conference victories in the same year. Looking forward to TSU’s next chapter of athletic excellence, President Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young is eager to continue the enrichment of student-athletes through unique collaborations such as PING x HIDEOKI.
“We’re excited to collaborate with HIDEOKI in supporting Texas Southern University’s students and student-athletes through this multi-layered program,” said PING Executive Vice President Andy Solheim. “PING has a long history of supporting college golf teams on the course, but this marks the first time we’re providing scholarship and internship opportunities for an HBCU institution. Along with equipping the men’s and women’s golf teams to compete at the highest level, we look forward to helping prepare students for the next chapter in their lives through financial support and career-advancing work experiences.”
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 8,500 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
ABOUT PING
PING designs, manufactures and markets a complete line of golf equipment, including metal woods, irons, putters and golf bags. PING’s game-improvement products can be found in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.ping.com.
ABOUT HIDEOKI
HIDEOKI is a luxury apparel company providing high quality, bespoke and custom clothing, footwear, leather goods, and related products to valued clients while focusing on their individual lifestyles, needs, and style preferences. The company blends traditional construction methods with personalized services and specifications in order to provide distinctive and highly desirable products to its clients while creating a one-of-a-kind experience. Visit www.MaisonHideoki.com.
