Brazosport College dedicates Speaker Dennis H. Bonnen Central Building

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Speaker Dennis Bonnen pose for a photo outside the Dennis H. Bonnen Central Building at Brazosport College during a dedication ceremony on April 28.

Brazosport College dedicated the Speaker Dennis H. Bonnen Central Building during a ceremony on April 28.

The dedication, which acknowledged Speaker Bonnen’s contributions to Brazosport College throughout his 24 years of service to the Texas House of Representatives, was followed by an appreciation luncheon at the Dow Academic Center, co-hosted by the Brazosport-Area Chamber of Commerce and Brazosport College.  

State representatives and special guests attended the event, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and more.

The Bonnen Central Building houses a large portion of College services, including the information desk, student services, counseling and testing, administration, the BC Library, Gator Hall, Community Education, the Commons and much more. The MEGlobal Student Pavilion is also located inside the Bonnen Central Building.

For Speaker Bonnen, Brazosport College has always among his top priorities.

When the state legislature recommended budget cuts in 2011 that called for eliminating all state funding to Brazosport College, Speaker Bonnen led the charge in Austin and ensured this budget recommendation was reversed.

Seven years earlier, Speaker Bonnen was instrumental in helping Brazosport College create a four-year baccalaureate program, and by assisting the College in securing funding for a second baccalaureate program. He’s also been a huge proponent of the college’s workforce and training programs, as well as many other endeavors. Speaker Bonnen helped raise more than $350,000 for Brazosport College scholarships through his 40th Birthday Roast & Toast event.

Through his two decades of service to the Texas House of Representatives, Speaker Bonnen’s leadership has resulted in more than $4.2 million dollars in special support for Brazosport College. He and his wife, Kim, have also contributed personal monetary donations to the Brazosport College Foundation for student scholarships and special programs.

Speaker Bonnen was sworn in as Texas Speaker of the House on January 8, 2019, for his 12th term of office. That day marked the culmination of serving in the Texas House of Representatives for more than 20 years, representing the 25th House District that encompasses southern Brazoria County and the entirety of Matagorda County. Speaker Bonnen was first elected to the Texas Legislature at the age of 24.

During his tenure, Speaker Bonnen served three sessions as Speaker Pro Tempore. He Chaired the House Ways and Means Committee, Environmental Regulation Committee, Sunset Advisory Committee and the House Special Purpose Districts. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee of Oversight of Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency, and as a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Speaker Bonnen is a graduate of Angleton High School and graduated cum laude from St. Edwards University in Austin with a B.A. in Political Science. St. Edward's honored him with its Alumni Achievement Award in 2001 and he was inducted into the Angleton ISD Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2013.

About Brazosport College: Located in Lake Jackson, Texas, Brazosport College offers a broad range of courses and classes to address diverse educational objectives. Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree can enroll in academic classes, as well as courses in major fields of study, which will transfer to four-year schools. Recognized twice by the Aspen Institute as one of the nation’s top 10 community colleges, Brazosport College offers more than 75 degree and certificate programs, as well as a Bachelor Degree in Applied Technology. For more information about Brazosport College, visit www.brazosport.edu.