By Ben DuBose, News Editor, AMPP Publications

All 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo attendees and their guests are invited to join us on St. Patrick’s Day at House of Blues Houston as we raise funds to support the future of the materials protection industry.

A ticket is required for each attendee (and can be purchased here), though student registrants for the conference will receive a complimentary ticket with their conference registration.

The Scholarship Awards Ceremony takes place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. before transitioning to the EMERGing Leaders Bash from 8:00-10:00 p.m. at the same site. Tickets to the bash also give ticket holders access to the ceremony.

Known as the “Shamrock Social,” the events will celebrate the day’s festive theme while also recognizing the future of our industry. The House of Blues Houston is located in downtown Houston, just a few blocks from the George R. Brown Convention Center (host site of AMPP 2026)

Additional details on each event are as follows.

Scholarship Awards Ceremony

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; House of Blues Houston, Music Hall

Students, event sponsors, and scholarship donorswill come together for an evening of celebration and recognition in support of AMPP’s 2026 scholarship recipients.

Each student registrant for the conference receives a free ticket to attend the event, under-written by the generosity of our signature sponsor, BP. Sponsors and their guests are also invited, along with our scholarship donors.

EMERGing Leaders Bash: Shamrock Social

8 – 10 p.m.; House of Blues Houston, Music Hall

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a hosted bar, dancing, and networking with other conference attendees as we welcome the ultimate Texas experience, Tilluride Band, to the AMPP stage!

This grit-fueled, red-dirt country band is influenced by traditional country, heavy metal, and blues, resulting in a unique country-rock sound.

They are shaking up the music scene with their No. 13 single, “Beer Don’t Care,” on the Billboard Texas Country chart. Meanwhile, their second debut-hit single, “Guitar in my Hand,” was released on all streaming platforms in August 2025.

The Emerging Leaders Bash features Sherwin-Williams as its signature sponsor and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and the AMPP Arizona Chapter as copper sponsors.

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Additional details on AMPP’s EMERG Student Outreach Program are available here.