Add another feather, actually two feathers, to University of Houston System chancellor Renu Khator's cap. On Saturday she was recognized with two Light of India international awards at ceremonies in New York.

The awards, given to Indians living abroad, were sponsored by Remit2India, the flagship brand of TimesofMoney—a part of the Times Group, the largest media company in India.

Khator was one of six global leaders nominated for excellence in education and academics. She was selected to receive the Jury Award by a group of global leaders in the field. The Popular Choice awards were determined by online voting. She was the only honoree among 19 to receive double honors.

In a prepared statement, Khator said, “As I took the blue carpet walk to get to the stage, I was fully aware that I was receiving this recognition for the University of Houston, for it is the university's success that defines my success!
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A bittersweet farewell

Say it isn't so. Community leader extraordinaire, Humana market president for the region and popular friend to many, Pattie Dale Tye is leaving H-Town for Humana corporate headquarters in Louisville, Ky. While we might be weeping at her departure, she and husband Jim Tye have to be celebrating her promotion to president of the company's large-employer business segment, nationally.

It's a bittersweet departure for the Tyes who have been active in the community. Pattie Dale is a founding member of the American Heart Association's Circle of Red Women's Group and serves on the boards of the American Heart Association, American Leadership Forum, Greater Houston Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the Greater Houston Partnership. She has been honored as a Woman on the Move and a Woman of Distinction.

Friends are giving the couple a splashy send-off party on Wednesday at the River Oaks home of Paula and Steve Hinton.

Charitable champions

The Montblanc boutique in the Galleria provided a glittering backdrop for the Celebration of Champions' formal announcement of the Community Champions, who will be honored in September at the annual luncheon benefiting Texas Children's Cancer Center.

Luncheon chairs Sidney Faust, Judi McGee, Elsie Eckert and Scott Basinger announced the 26 honorees who are scheduled to walk the runway with young cancer survivors.

Announced as honorees were well-known community leaders Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Dr. Kelli Cohen-Fein and Martin Fein, Denise and Philip Bahr, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, Elizabeth and Gary Petersen, Lisa and Michael Holthouse, Greggory and Pat Burk, Sybil Roos, Melanie Lawson and John Guess Jr., Cathey Cook, Ginger Bertrand, Betsy Garlinger, Anita and Gerald Smith, Judy and Glenn Smith and Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron.

Tea time at Saks Fifth Avenue

With famed Le Labo perfumer Fabrice Pinot in the store discussing his hand-blended scents, what better time for the ladies and gents to gather for an afternoon break at Saks Fifth Avenue? So it was when Houston Symphony Opening Night chairs Linda and Gene Dewhurst and co-chairs Fran Fawcett Peterson and Gloria Tenenbown welcomed guests for tea time treats compliments of 51 Fifteen Restaurant and for an up-close-and-personal visit with Penot.

Guests went home with enthusiasm for the Sept. 8 opening night concert featuring Ravel's Bolero and the dinner dance that will follow at the Corinthian. They also went home with miniature bottles of Le Labo scents as party favors.

Joining the party were Carol Hunton, Barbara LeGrange, Kathi Rovere, Helen Shaffer, Barbara Van Postman, Jan Barrow, Saks GM Terry Zmyslo and symphony CEO Mark Hanson with wife Christina.

Sight 'ems

Michael Mithoff celebrating his 40th birthday at rocking Katsuya where close to 200 friends gathered to celebrate over a feast of Asian treats, the menu created by chef Katsuya Uechi, including Hamachi jalapeno spoons, mini Kobe burgers, California rolls, spicy yellowtail rolls, shrimp tempura rolls and more.

The birthday boy's wife, Melissa Mithoff, and parents, Ginni and Richard Mithoff, were in the lively summer mix that included Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Raquel Segal, Debbie and Rudy Festari, Sima and Masoud Ladjevardian, Becca Cason Thrash, Don Mafrige and oodles more.