Lion Athletics’ Night of Champions a Huge Success, Raises Over $110,000

By Lion Athletics

The 2025 East Texas A&M University Night of Champions, presented by AVSANT, was a resounding success, raising over $110,000 in support of Lion Athletics — a 52% increase from last year’s total of $72,000. All net proceeds will directly benefit student-athlete scholarships at East Texas A&M.

Held on May 16 with scenic views of Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall, the event drew more than 200 enthusiastic supporters and featured silent and live auctions, great food and unforgettable entertainment. One of the evening’s highlights was having each Lion head coach serve as a celebrity casino dealer, adding a unique and personal touch to the festivities.

The 2025 event reached new heights across the board, thanks in part to the addition of AVSANT as title sponsor, who helped enhance the experience with custom video boards. Longtime supporters Ben E. Keith and Atmos Energy renewed their roles as beverage and scholarship match sponsors, while Lime Printing joined as the official printing partner of the evening.

“Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Night of Champions, from our generous sponsors to our silent auction winners. It was a memorable evening filled with fellowship, fun, and support for our Lion student-athletes,” said deputy director of athletics for revenue generation Josiah Castro. “Each year, we continue to raise the bar and surpass our goals, and that is only possible because of the incredible support from our donors and fans. We are already looking forward to hosting an even better event next year.”

You can check out the photos from the event at our online photo gallery.

Featured photo: More than $100,000 was raised during the 2025 Night of Champions | Photo courtesy of Lion Athletics