West Texas A&M NewsWire

Cody Myers to Receive WTAMU Distinguished Alumnus Award

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

Cody Myers to Receive WTAMU Distinguished Alumnus Award

First article in a series of three on WTAMU's 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients

CANYON, Texas—One would be hard pressed to put a figure to the number of students he has influenced and encouraged through the years, but there is no doubt that Cody Myers’ passion for music has touched many lives. That is one of the many reasons why he has been named the recipient of a 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award at West Texas A&M University.

Each year the WTAMU Alumni Association presents its Distinguished Alumnus Award to successful WTAMU graduates who contribute time and support to the University and to humanitarian causes. And Myers is one of three recipients who will be recognized June 8 at the University’s 50th annual Phoenix Banquet.

Myers, director of fine arts for the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD), said he was “floored” by the announcement that he was a recipient. But friends and colleagues knew he was the perfect candidate for the prestigious award. Nominations opened in late October, and letters of recommendation flooded the alumni office. In fact, the WTAMU Alumni Association received almost 40 letters touting the praises of Myers and his impact as a leader in music education.

“Without a doubt, Cody Myers remains a musical benchmark within the Texas educational ranks,” C. Doyle Gammill, retired director of fine arts for the Lubbock Independent School District, said. “He has plowed the fields of knowledge successfully and has assisted hundreds, yea thousands, of students and fine arts instructors. This outstanding individual is well revered by his peers and has held just about every state music office and has received just about every honor and accolade that is available statewide.”

Gammill’s observations are supported by Myers’ recognition as a leader in music education. He shares his expertise as a director, administrator, mentor, educator, contest judge, clinician and motivator locally and across the state and region. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2012 Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award of Outstanding Commitment to Music Education and has proudly served on the boards of several professional organizations including the Texas Bandmasters Association Board of Directors.

Myers came to WTAMU in the mid 70s as a first-generation student. College was a new experience for his family, but he knew the University in Canyon was the place for him. He had attended band camp at WTAMU during the summers and liked what he found here.

“I’m a band nerd,” Myers said, “and the musical experience at WT was incredible. I was sold.”

He graduated from high school with a scholarship and headed to what was then West Texas State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1979 and a master’s in education in 1987. He taught in Tulia, Dimmitt, Dumas and Midland before being named director of fine arts for the Amarillo Independent School District 15 years ago. He has spent his entire career sharing his love and passion for music with students of all ages. He’s known to go above and beyond to help music programs grow and improve.

“I could list numerous examples of the passion Cody bring to this district,” Daniel Coward, AISD assistant superintendent, personnel, said. “However, I will mention just one—his desire for every student to have the opportunity to have a quality experience through fine arts and that no child is without an instrument when participating in a band or orchestra class.”

In fact, one of his many accomplishments at AISD is the “Play Your Way to Success” program. With funding through AISD and local philanthropic organizations, this program has provided more than 900 band and orchestra instruments for students entering the instrumental program with instrument support through the middle school years. It offers increased and equitable opportunities for at-risk students to benefit from instrumental music training.

Colleagues from across the region consider Myers an outstanding clinician and resource for all music teachers. He spends a great deal of time every year working with bands, orchestras and choirs in preparation for UIL competition, and conducts workshops and clinics for music educators as well. He also devotes time to his alma mater, serving as a guest lecturer and clinician while supporting the University’s musical groups by attending concerts and recitals.

“He is a man of profound integrity and character,” Gary Angell, executive director of student performance with AISD, said. “Everything I know about marching band and orchestra performance is a result of his patient teaching and enthusiastic dedication to these endeavors. He is exemplary in every respect.”

Myers and fellow award recipients Ed Wright and J. Evetts Haley Sr. (posthumous) will be honored at the June 8 Phoenix Banquet during the University’s Summer Alumni Reunion (wtamu.edu/reunion). Reservations for the banquet are $40 per person. For more information or to make reservations, call 806-651-2311.

—WTAMU—

Readership Ambassadors Heading to Bolivia

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 9, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

Readership Ambassadors Heading to Bolivia

CANYON, Texas—It will be the trip of a lifetime when 13 West Texas A&M University students travel to Bolivia May 12 as the 2012-2013 Readership WT Ambassadors.

But first, family and friends will join with WTAMU faculty and staff members at 1 p.m. just outside the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport’s security gates to wish the travelers farewell. The group includes the 13 students whose essay-writing skills won them the all-expense paid trip to Bolivia, plus two members of the University faculty and a student peer leader. The 12-day trip will take them to La Paz, El Alto, Isla del Sol and Copacabana.

The trip marks the sixth international sojourn for winners of a Readership WT essay contest. Each of the trips has related to the Readership WT book selection, and this year’s journey to Bolivia is no different. The Heart and the Fist is author Eric Greitens’s account of his growth in leadership through humanitarian efforts and as a Navy SEAL. He takes readers on a journey through slums and war zones and shows what can be accomplished through compassion and courage. His words encourage readers to live a meaningful life by doing good and being strong.

The WTAMU group will start off in La Paz, meeting with Mujeres Creando, a women’s rights organization and visiting the studio of Aymara artist Roberto Mamani. On May 15 the students will travel to El Alto, where they will learn how the Compa Trono organization uses art to help the homeless youth of the area. They also will learn about spirituality from Aymara healers and visit a local university.

Homestay visits begin May 16 in the Challa community of Isla del Sol. Here the students will take on a service projects working with students at Challa schools and also help the community with the construction of its multicultural center. The homestays also will give the WTAMU students an opportunity to learn more about the people of Challa, their culture and the role mysticism and spirituality plays in their everyday lives.

The remainder of the trip will provide opportunities for the students to participate in a multiculturalism and indigenous rights conference in La Paz. The students will attend workshops and seminars and participate in a major cultural celebration to close out the two-day conference.

The trip, originally scheduled for spring break, was postponed because of a personal emergency with the in-country partners. Postponing the trip ended up paying off in expanded opportunities for the group.

“It’s given the students more time than usual to get to know each other and connect as a group,” Kendra Campbell, director of First Year Experience and a trip sponsor, said. “They’ve had double the time this year, and the group is closer and more comfortable as we embark on our journey. Another bonus is that we get to participate in the multiculturalism and indigenous rights conference. It’s a very unique opportunity.”

Joining Campbell on the trip will be Dr. Amy Andersen, head of the Department of Education, and Daniel Zewde, a senior mass communication/public relations major from Amarillo, as peer leader. The 13 freshmen traveling to Bolivia are listed by hometown and major.

Abilene
Emily Lomax, pre-nursing major
Amarillo
Alex Deaton, pre-medicine major
Anton
Cassie Ann Jones, wildlife biology major
Claude
Tessa Davis, mass communication/broadcasting major
Dallas
Eric Casiano, sociology major
Hereford
Mireya Jacuinde, social work major
Lubbock
Davon Harewood, accounting major
Mercedez Hernandez, pre-medicine major
Muleshoe
Justin Schacher, undeclared major
Petersburg
Wade Fullingim, general business major
Stratford
David Acosta, mathematics major
Vernon
Alyssa Hickenbottom, psychology major
Wellington
Silvia Soto, undeclared major

—WTAMU—

University's Social Work Programs Granted Accreditation, Reaffirmation

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 7, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

University’s Social Work Programs Granted Accreditation, Reaffirmation

CANYON, Texas—The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has granted initial accreditation to West Texas A&M University’s Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program and reaffirmed the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program for a full eight-year cycle.

CSWE is the accrediting organization for all social work education programs in the United States. Both the accreditation and reaffirmation processes are lengthy and time consuming and require site visits, self-studies and reviews.

The MSSW accreditation is a major milestone for the young program. The master’s program began in 2010, and WTAMU is now part of a group to finish the normally 4-year accreditation process in just three years. The accreditation designation is retroactive to the first class admitted into the master’s program, and those who earned a MSSW from WTAMU can now say they graduated from an accredited program. Graduating from an accredited program is required for those seeking licensure in the state of Texas.

“We started out as a joint program with the University of Texas at Arlington. Classes were conducted here, but degrees were through UTA,” Dr. Mo Cuevas, associate professor of social work, said. “Now we have our own accredited program and that is a big deal for us. This is something the community needed and wanted, and we are very excited.”

The arduous process focused on developing and refining the graduate curriculum while assessing practice behaviors and preparing for three different site visits. The work paid off when the program was granted an initial accreditation of four years, After the initial four-year accreditation, reaffirmations will be granted in full eight-year cycles.

The program currently has 43 students working toward their MSSW, and officials expect to see an additional 30 students in the fall. Classes are available in the evening and online so students can continue to work full time while earning a MSSW.
WTAMU’s BSW program has been accredited since 1975 and will seek reaffirmation again in 2020. Accreditation for the bachelor’s degree program also is a multi-step process involving site visits, self studies and reviews.

“We have a great program here, and our students work hard to get that degree,” Dr. Melody Loya, assistant professor of social work, said. “We learned that we do a great job on hands-on programs, and give our students lots of experience. Our field agencies are excited about our graduates because they are so well trained.”

During the 2012 calendar year alone, social work students at WTAMU put in a total of 31,650 hours in the Amarillo/Canyon communities through internships and activities ranging from support groups and community needs assessments through West Texas Family and Community Services, a project of WTAMU’s Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work.

The University’s BSW program currently has 165 majors, up from just 90 four years ago. The increase in numbers supports the notion that social work is one of today’s fasted growing professions.

Accreditation and reaffirmation are ongoing processes. The MSSW program will begin collecting data for its reaffirmation process in late 2014, and the BSW program will begin gathering information in approximately six years.

For more information about the social work programs at WTAMU, visit wtamu.edu/academics/psychology-sociology-social-work.aspx or call 806-651-2590.

—WTAMU—

Faculty Members Receive End-of-Year Awards

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 7, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

Faculty Members Receive End-of-Year Awards

CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University closed its spring semester with the presentation of the 2012-2013 Faculty Excellence Awards May 6 at the annual Faculty Meeting on campus. Three faculty members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to higher education, and one faculty member was recognized as a 2013 Piper Professor.

Each of the three Faculty Excellence Award recipients received an engraved plaque and a cash stipend.

Dr. Ashley Campbell, Helen Piehl Professor of Education, received the Instructional Excellence Award, Dr. Bonnie Roos, associate professor of English, the Intellectual Contributions Award, and Lorna Strong, instructor and head of the Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences, received the Professional Service Award.

Campbell is a four time recipient of the Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award. Students consistently give her high evaluations, praising her knowledge, organization and willingness to help them master the material in her courses. Campbell integrates meaningful technology into all of her classes, and her published articles and presentations all relate to her teaching fields of science and educational foundations. One nominator summed it up, writing, “Dr. Campbell is a shining example of what a role model and teacher in an educator preparation program should be.”

Roos, who joined the WTAMU faculty in 2005, keeps very busy. She is the author of seven articles, 10 book chapters, and co-edited a book. In addition to that, she has presented 18 papers at regional, national and international conferences, served as chair of 10 thesis committees and is the recipient of five grants. In 2012-2013, Roos traveled to Ireland for a NEH Summer Seminar on James Joyce, published two articles and four book chapters and gave two international presentations. She currently is working on two book manuscripts and one edited collection and will be a presenter in June at the Space Between International Conference in Chicago. One nominator described her as an “innovative, varied and accomplished scholar.”

Strong wears many hats as head of the Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences. She serves as the program director for the Athletic Training Education Program and oversees its accreditation efforts. She also served on seven department, college and university committees this year and as faculty adviser to a student organization. Strong also was active in raising funds for the Ryan Strong Memorial Scholarship and gave time to community and professional service too., She was named the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer by the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association and by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. A nominator wrote that Strong works “with professionalism, excellence, competence, humility and a servant’s heart.”

Dr. Bruce Brasington, Regents Professor of history, was recognized as one of 10 from across the state named as a 2013 Piper Professor. He is WTAMU’s seventh faculty member honored as a Piper Professor and the first since 2001. Dr. Debbie Davenport, associate professor of nursing, was recognized as a Carnegie U.S. Professor of the Year nominee.

Thirteen faculty members were recognized for tenure and promotion, effective Sept. 1. The faculty members include:
• Dr. Gary Barbee, associate professor of environmental science;
• Dr. Carolyn Bouma, associate professor of biology;
• Dr. Benjamin Brooks, associate professor of music;
• Dr. Matthew Jackson, associate professor of mechanical engineering;
• Dr. Andrew Li, associate professor of management;
• Dr. Melody Loya, associate professor of social work;
• Dr. Choong-ha Nam, associate professor of music;
• Dr. Bin Shao, associate professor of decision management;
• Dr. Shiquan Tao, associate professor of chemistry;
• Dr. Barbara Wang, associate professor of finance;
• Dr. Emily Hunt, professor of mechanical engineering;
• Dr. Alex Hunt, professor of English; and
• Dr. Marty Kuhlman, professor of history.

Two retiring faculty members—Jim Rutledge and Flo Jemes—also were recognized.

—WTAMU—

WTAMU Plans Alumni Summer Reunion June 7-9

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 7, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

WTAMU Plans Alumni Summer Reunion June 7-9

CANYON, Texas—The WT Alumni Association is going to shake things up this summer with an Alumni Summer Reunion right here on the WTAMU campus. There’s no need to wait for Homecoming – join us for some summer fun to reconnect and rediscover WT, June 7-9.

Whether you attended West Texas Normal School, West Texas State University, WTAMU or any of the others in between, you are invited to join in the fun as alumni young and old gather to reminisce about everything from dorm life and hanging out at the Sub to Greek Week and streaker sightings. It will be an activity-filled time with reunions, mixers, banquets and so much more. Out-of-towners can even enjoy a weekend of dorm life again with accommodations at Buff Hall, the University’s only suite-style dorm. Plus, the reunion will give all of our alumni a chance to reunite with old friends and plenty of time to make many more new ones.

“Many of our alumni can’t make it to Homecoming in the fall because of commitments related to their children’s activities or work,” Becky Stogner, executive director of the WT Alumni Association, said. “One of our alumni mentioned that he gets together each year with former fraternity brothers and said we should consider giving everyone the option of making WT their destination. The idea spread and the Summer Reunion was born. It’s going to be a great time to reconnect with friends and see how the campus has changed.”

Plans have been in the making for months, and the weekend agenda has a little bit of something for everyone. For those arriving early, there will be an opportunity to enjoy a Texas chuck wagon dinner and a performance of the outdoor musical TEXAS on Thursday, June 6 in Palo Duro Canyon. On Friday, there is the 10th Annual FORE County Golf Scramble at noon. Buff Courts Alumni Center will host an open house from noon to 6 p.m., and walking and shuttle tours of campus will be available throughout the afternoon. Then from 4-7 p.m. former athletes can share stories of their glory days at a tailgate hosted by the Buffalo Club at the Bain Athletic Center. Things really get rolling with an evening alumni mixer cocktail reception in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, Legacy Hall and those involved in fraternities and sororities can reconnect from 9-11 p.m. at the all-Greek reunions. There also will be affinity group gatherings at various locations and a maroon block party is planned for 8 p.m.-midnight on the Pedestrian Mall.

Saturday’s events will kick off with an alumni breakfast and the introduction of the new national Alumni Association board of directors. A pitchfork fondue lunch will be served on Terrill Lawn, and the afternoon will offer opportunities to visit and reconnect with favorite professors in a variety of mini session offerings including a juried alumni art show in the Mary Moody Northen Hall, Formal Art Gallery. Buff Courts will host an open house, and campus tours will be available during the afternoon.

That evening, the coveted Distinguished Alumnus Award will be presented at the 50th annual Phoenix Banquet. A Phoenix Club cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. and the banquet will be from 7-9 p.m. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will host a Night at the Museum from 9-11 p.m., and the day will close out with a late night movie on the lawn at Cornette Library.

The summer reunion will officially end on Sunday with a farewell send-off breakfast from 9-11 a.m. at the Alumni Banquet Facility. For those couples who met or married on campus, the noon Sweetheart Luncheon will be a highlight of the weekend.

That’s only a brief summary—there will be much more to see and do during the Summer Alumni Reunion. Mark your calendars now and plan to be a part of the fun. Visit wtamu.edu/reunion for more information.

—WTAMU—

Brasington Named Piper Professor

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 6, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

Brasington Named Piper Professor

CANYON, Texas—Dr. Bruce Brasington, Regents professor of history at West Texas A&M University, has been named a 2013 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. He is now part of a distinguished roster of educators recognized for their effectiveness and dedication to teaching. Brasington’s selection as the recipient of the Piper Professor honor was announced today (May 6) at the University’s spring faculty meeting.

The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation has honored faculty members in Texas since 1958, and Brasington is one of 10 awards presented this year for outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievement at the college level. Selection is based on nominations submitted by colleges and universities across the state. Recipients receive a certificate of merit, a gold pen and a $5,000 honorarium. Brasington is the seventh WTAMU faculty member honored as a Piper Professor and the first since 2001.

“Dr. Brasington exemplifies the very definition of a Piper Professor,” Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien, WTAMU president, said. “He is dedicated to his profession as both a teacher and a researcher. He is highly respected by his students and his colleagues and well deserving of this prestigious honor.”

Brasington joined the WTAMU faculty in 1990. His classes run from introductory American history to graduate seminars in medieval and early-modern history. Brasington also has served as a visiting professor at the University of Dresden, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate seminars in medieval law, theology and paleography/codicology. He is the author of numerous articles and two books and is often invited to speak at conferences around the world. He was named a Regents Professor in 2011 by The Texas A&M University System.

He received his bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in German from Oklahoma State University. He earned two master’s degrees—one from Southern Methodist University and another from UCLA, where he also received his Ph.D. with a dissertation on ecclesiastical jurisprudence in the late 11th century. Brasington conducted his dissertation research at the University of Munich from 1985-87 after receiving a fellowship from the Deutscher Akademische Austauschdienst.

—WTAMU—

University's Highest Accolades Presented at Honors Banquet

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

April 30, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

University’s Highest Accolades Presented at Honors Banquet

Goettsche, Kraemer Named Man, Woman of the Year

CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University’s top student accolades were presented during the University Honors Banquet Friday, April 26 at the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, Legacy Hall on campus.

Three prominent campus organizations and one individual were honored by inclusion in the prestigious Presidential Order of the Silver Buffalo, and Nicholas Goettsche and Amanda Kraemer were named WTAMU’s Man and Woman of the Year.

Goettsche, a senior political science major from Waterloo, Iowa, is the president of the WTAMU study body. Kraemer, a history and English double major, is a member of the Catholic Student Association Student Leadership Team and president of PULSE.

Silver Buffalo Awards are reserved for an elite group that includes only individuals and organizations who accomplishments have brought national honor and distinction to the University. Receiving Silver Buffalo recognition at the Honors Banquet were WTAMU Buff offensive lineman Aaron Mullane, who was selected a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete; the 2012-2013 Buff football team, which posted the best season in school history with a fourth-place finish in the American Football Coaches Association’s final poll and a trip to the Division II Semifinals; the WTAMU horse judging team, which captured national and reserve champion titles during the fall; and the Buffalo Advertising team, which for the first time in school history will compete at the national level after winning at the District National Student Advertising Competition.

Man of the Year Goettsche is the son of Steve and Sandy Goettsche of Amarillo. He has been a member of Student Government since 2009, serving on numerous committees and acting as a student senator, student senate parliamentarian pro-temp, student senate president, student body vice president and president. He still finds time for community and volunteer activities as well as Alpha Tau Omega, Student Alumni Board, Alpha Chi Honor Society, College Republicans, Leadership Board, President’s Ambassadors, The Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Advisory Council and the Residence Hall Association. He’s made the Dean’s List and the President’s List and is the recipient of numerous scholarships.

Finalists for the Man of the Year were Goettsche, Edward Akinyemi, a senior pre-medicine major from Canyon, and Tanner Lakey, a senior sports and exercise sciences major from Amarillo.

Woman of the Year Kraemer is the daughter of Michael and Cathy Kraemer of West. She is currently a student senator for the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, chair of the Rules and Appropriations Committee and active on various other student government committees including code of student life, JBK advisory board, honors, distinguished lecture and student fee advisory committee. She serves as president of PULSE, is a certified Peer Educator and a member of the Catholic Student Association Student Leadership Team. Kraemer is active in many community and church activities and the recipient of several scholarships.

Finalists for the Woman of the Year were Kraemer, Brianna Moore, a senior corporate communication major from Canyon, and Jordan Welch, a senior education major from Canyon.

A series of special awards also were presented recognizing top-performing organizations, students and advisers.
Catholic Student Association was named Outstanding Student Organization (not funded), while Outstanding Student Organization (funded) honors went to the Residence Hall Association.

Tanner Lakey, a senior sports and exercise sciences major from Amarillo, was named Outstanding Student Organization President (not compensated) for his role as president of Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity, Texas Theta Chapter. The honor for Outstanding Student Organization President (compensated) went to Man of the Year honoree Goettsche for his work as president of WTAMU’s student body.

Taylor Ritcherson, coordinator for Shirley Hall, was named Outstanding Student Organization Adviser in the not-part-of-job-description category for leadership with WTAMU’s Residence Hall Association.

And Randy Ray, director of broadcast engineering, was named Outstanding Student Organization Adviser in the part-of-the-job-description category for his work presiding over the campus radio station, KWTS: The One 91.1.

—WTAMU—

SSC Takes Over WTAMU Grounds, Custodial Services, Building Maintenance June 1

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

April 30, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

SSC Takes Over WTAMU Grounds, Custodial Services, Building Maintenance June 1

CANYON, Texas—Beginning June 1, SSC Service Solutions, a subsidiary of Compass Group North America, will take over operations of the grounds, custodial services and building maintenance at West Texas A&M University. The Texas A&M University System is using the company at all system campuses and expects to see a combined estimated $92.3 million in cost savings over a 12-year term.

The privatization of services at WTAMU will affect approximately 125 employees involved in the care and upkeep of University grounds and maintenance. As new SSC employees, they will receive a five percent salary increase as well as a benefit package similar to the one provided by WTAMU.

“These employees have been and are an integral part of the University,” Gary Barnes, vice president for business and finance said. “As such, we will extend to them the same employee perks they have enjoyed in the past such as access to sporting events and fine arts performances.”

Barnes said SSC has worked hard to make the benefit packages similar to what employees at WTAMU receive. The company does not have a mandatory retirement plan like WTAMU has in Teacher Retirement System of Texas or a match for retirement savings, but the five percent raise in salary is designed to make up that difference for the employees, with the option to invest their salary increase in the SSC retirement program.

“WTAMU looks forward to a long and productive relationship with SSC,” Dr. J. Pat O’Brien, University president, said. “Whatever savings to WTAMU derived from this relationship will be utilized to enhance the academic experience of our students.”

June 1 is the day operations will change over to SSC with a 120 day transition period to finalize details of the contract.

SSC Service Solutions is a premium provider of cleaning and facilities services in both K-12 schools and higher education institutions. With more than 40 years of industry experience and highly trained skilled professionals, SSC specializes in custodial and campus services, plant operations and maintenance and grounds management. SSC became a member of Compass Group North America in 2010 and earned CIMS distinction with honors from the ISSA, a worldwide cleaning organization.

—WTAMU—

WTAMU's Enactus Team Qualifies for Nationals after Regional Championship

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

April 25, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

WTAMU’s Enactus Team Qualifies for Nationals after Regional Championship

SIFE team takes new name, continues winning tradition

CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University’s Enactus, formerly known as SIFE or Students in Free Enterprise, will advance to national competition after winning a regional championship April 10 at Dallas. The win marks the team’s 19th consecutive regional championship.

SIFE has been a student organization in WTAMU’s College of Business since 1994. The WTAMU team is one of more than 1,600 teams on college campuses in 37 countries around the world. Jean Walker, Miller Professor of Entrepreneurship, has been the organization’s adviser since its 1994 founding on the WTAMU campus.

As the organization has grown worldwide and focused on the empowering force of entrepreneurship to change the world, the name change from Students in Free Enterprise to Enactus embodies that spirit of entrepreneurial action. The free enterprise mission is the same, but the name has been changed.

“The name change has been difficult for those of us, particularly alumni, who have been such an important part of the WT SIFE tradition, but it truly is a change in name only,” Walker said. “The traditions of SIFE will carry on into Enactus.”

The Enactus team will showcase its projects in a multimedia presentation for judges at the Enactus USA National Competition May 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. Speakers on the presentation team include Emilee Cavaness, Justin Lawlis, Laura Beth Hallman, Juan Ramirez, Blake Boone, Manuel Garcia, Angelica Pallares, and Mary Dittfurth.

Enactus team members representing WTAMU at Regional Competition are listed by hometown and major.
Amarillo
John Baker, economics major
Emilee Cavaness, accounting major
Mary Dittfurth, management major
Adriana Gallegos, accounting major
Manuel Garcia, finance major
Justin Lawlis, computer information systems major
Ignacio Mares, psychology major
Angelica Pallares, graduate student in accounting
Ryan Pinkert, economics major
Ana Ramirez, MBA student
Juan Ramirez, engineering major
Luis Rodriguez, management major
Bethany Wilcox, entrepreneurship major
Nathan Woodard, computer information systems major
Childress
Cecelia Dominguez, management major
Cleburne
Laura Beth Hallman, graduate student in finance and economics
Clovis, N.M.
Sarah Sabins, management major
Dimmitt
Cynthia Prieto, management major
Indonesia
Randi Ferdian, computer information systems major
Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Vitaliy Skorodziyevskiy, international business major
Los Angeles, Calif.
Juan Vargas, finance major
Lubbock
Brittany Smith, general business major
Montgomery, Ala.
Dayren Tolliver, finance major
Pampa
Noemi Salazar, finance major
Plainview
Chance Autry, business education major
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dana Versmessen, international business major
Vernon
Blake Boone, communication studies major
Vietnam
Tam Dao, accounting major
Kristen Le, mass communication major
Steve Le, accounting major
Nhan Tran, MBA student
Wellington
Rudy Cantu, management major
Greg Moreno, accounting major
Wheeler
Elizabeth Castillo, accounting major
Wray, Colo.
Ashley Peterson, finance major
Wylie
Caity Kenny, international business major

—WTAMU—

WTAMU Faculty, Alumna Heading to Siberia with Fulbright-Hays Program

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

April 23, 2013

COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

WTAMU Faculty, Alumna Heading to Siberia with Fulbright-Hays Program

CANYON, Texas—It may not be the destination of choice for many travelers, but a West Texas A&M University faculty member and alumna are eagerly counting the days until their departure to southern Siberia as participants in a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program.

Dr. Elizabeth Clark, associate professor of history, and Jan Weston, a world geography teacher at Randall High School in Canyon, will spend four weeks this summer as part of “Siberian Voices: Mapping Culture, Environment and Everyday Life in Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Kyzyl.” The study seminar is hosted by the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin and funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant. Clark is the only post-secondary faculty member not from UT, and Weston will join K-12 teachers from Austin, McKinney and Laredo on the trip.

“I’m a historian of Russia and East Central Europe, and I’ve never been to Russia,” Clark said. “This is a missing piece to my career, and I’m very excited to go and bring the experience back to my students.”

The focus of the trip will be cultural immersion, language study and curriculum development. The participants have each been given a reading list to prepare them for the trip, and lessons in the Russian language will contribute to the group’s cultural immersion. The four-week seminar also will include lectures, field trips and various experiences designed to enhance the group’s exposure to the Siberian culture and its people.

“Being a student again is exciting and intimidating at the same time,” Clark said. “But this has been my dream for a long time. When I think of Russia, the first picture in my mind is of onion domes and palaces—St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow and the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg— and I think of cultural icons of literature and music—Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. “

“I also think of ballet. It’s a good thing WT has Ed Truitt, or I’d know even less about dance and culture in Russia. He’s been a real resource for me. But just like there’s more to America than New York and Los Angeles, there’s more to Russia than big cities. This faculty development project will focus on indigenous groups in Siberia, on religious practice, land use and the historical relationship between Russians and their ‘wild, wild East.’ We’ll be studying about Eurasia, how cultures in Siberia have influenced and been influenced by Russians. It’s exciting and a good reason to study.”

The group of travelers will spend several days in Moscow before heading to Siberian region of the Russian federation. They will have the opportunity to experience a cultural cross section of Siberia with stops in Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Kyzyl. Field trips will include an environmental excursion to Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest lake in the world. The group also will tour Decembrist (exile) houses in Irkutsk, view yurts and even ride the Trans-Siberian Railway. They will visit Orthodox churches, Buddhist temples and Buryat sacred sites.

“I am more than a little apprehensive, but I am traveling with experts in this field,” Weston, a 2009 WTAMU graduate, said. “I have found that when I have travel to a region of the world and have experienced a first-hand opportunity to study it, I come back with a sense of excitement that I could never have received from a book. My goal is to give to my students the love that I have for the course that I teach and help them become better critical thinkers. The heart of geography is that students use concepts they acquire to better understand how people, places and environments are related and connected. Hopefully, this adventure will help me help my students make the connection.”

Another goal of the Siberian seminar is to encourage the participants to gather and learn as much information as possible along with photographs, artifacts, maps and anything else that will contribute to the classroom curriculum. Clark is looking forward to gathering items for a ‘country-in-a-box’ project she is working on with members of the staff at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Her ‘country-in-a-box’ is a project in global international studies with ties to the Panhandle that will travel to area schools. A Russia/East Europe curriculum is being developed to coincide with the traveling box, and Clark hopes it will help area students learn and better understand the world around them.

Clark and Weston will return home mid July. They will work on finalizing curriculum based on their experiences in Siberia and participate in a fall workshop to evaluate the newly developed curriculum units.

“When I return, I hope to be able to contribute to K-12 education as well as other courses at WTAMU like Dr. Paul Clark’s course 'Huns, Turks and Mongols' and Dr. Pearson’s on environmental history,” Clark said. “In fact, Dr. Pearson and I want to team teach a comparative environmental history course on the U.S. West and Siberia. His long interest in Baikal is an environmental one, while mine has been largely political. I’ll be interested to see if I can offer any insights on taiga management or shamanistic practice that would be useful to Dr. Pearson’s work on forestry or his classes on Native Americans.”

The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program provides grants for overseas projects in training, research and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, students and faculty. Project may include short-term seminars, curriculum development, group research or study or advanced intensive language programs.

—WTAMU—