Gift of blown-glass custom artwork honors Kotby investment in student opportunity
FORT WORTH, Texas — Leaders from Tarrant County College, UT Arlington and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce gathered recently to honor the legacy of the late Francis Kotby and his wife, Amira, owners of Prince Lebanese Grill in Arlington, for their commitment to education and their impact on the community they have served since opening the restaurant in 1989.
TCC Chancellor Elva LeBlanc, UTA President Jennifer Cowley and Arlington Chamber CEO Michael Jacobson presented the Kotby family with a one-of-a-kind blown-glass art piece designed by UTA students.
“At Tarrant County College, we often say we are the bridge between education and employment,” said Chancellor LeBlanc. “The Kotby family has helped us build that bridge, opening doors for students through endowed scholarships and creating pathways from the classroom into meaningful careers.”
Through scholarships at TCC and UTA, the Kotbys made higher education accessible to students who otherwise might not have the opportunity. Their philanthropic reach extends across the Arlington and Mansfield ISDs and includes TCC Southeast’s culinary and hospitality programs.
Thanks to the Kotby family’s investment, numerous TCC Trailblazers and UTA Mavericks can pursue higher education and the careers that follow.
Amira Kotby and the couple’s son, Aziz, accepted the honor on the family’s behalf.
“The Kotby family’s generosity has changed the trajectory of students’ lives here at TCC,” said Andy Bowne, president of TCC Southeast. “Their scholarship support ensures that students in our culinary and hospitality programs can focus on building their futures rather than worrying about how to fund them. We are deeply grateful for their belief in our students and our mission.”
For almost 40 years Prince Lebanese Grill has been a cornerstone of the Arlington dining scene, embodying the same values of neighborliness, generosity and community connection that the Kotbys champion through their philanthropy.