West Texas A&M NewsWire

WTAMU Student Named Future Leaders Forum Scholarship Winner

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 22, 2013

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

WTAMU Student Named Future Leaders Forum Scholarship Winner

CANYON, Texas—Sushil Thapa, a doctoral student in the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering at West Texas A&M University, is one of 12 students from across the United States selected as a 2013 Future Leaders Forum Scholarship winner by the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD)

Thapa and the other 11 Future Leaders will participate in the 2013 AIARD Annual Conference and Future Leaders Forum June 2-5 in Washington, D.C. The students were selected from a field of 68 applicants nationwide, and the scholarships will help fund their participation at the annual event.

Selection was based on academic merit, international experience, goals and interests. The scholarships are available to enhance and encourage a student’s understanding and appreciation of issues and opportunities in international agriculture and rural development. The 12 students will participate in the AIARD annual conference and the Future Leaders Forum as well as visits to various companies, agencies and organizations involved in international agriculture and rural development.

Of the 12 winners, Thapa and Christopher Bielecki of Texas A&M University, are the only two representing Texas universities. Other schools represented include Washington State University, University of Georgia, Penn State, Purdue University, Virginia Tech, University of Wisconsin Ohio State and UC Davis.

—WTAMU—

Best-Selling Author to Speak at WTAMU Writers' Roundup

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 22, 2013

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

Best-Selling Author to Speak at WTAMU Writers’ Roundup

CANYON, Texas—New York Times best-selling author Linda Castillo will share her insights and experiences in fiction writing as the featured speaker at West Texas A&M University’s Writers’ Roundup on Monday, June 10 in the Alumni Banquet Facility on campus.

The Writers’ Roundup is a dinner and book signing event sponsored by the WTAMU Office of Continuing Education in conjunction with its annual West Texas Writers’ Academy (WTWA). In years past, the Roundup has been open only to those attending WTWA, but organizers are inviting community members to come and meet the academy’s full slate of well-known authors. Castillo and seven other authors will participate in the book signing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dinner follows at 7 p.m. and will feature the keynote address by Castillo.

Authors participating in the weeklong writers’ academy and the Writers’ Roundup include Castillo as well as Jodi Thomas, WTAMU’s writer in residence and New York Times and USA Today best-selling author; Alexandra Sokoloff, Mike Bellah, Margie Lawson, Tim Lewis, A. G. Howard and Jennifer Archer. For more information about the West Texas Writers’ Academy, visit wtamu.edu/oce.

Castillo is an award-winning, best-selling author with more than 25 books to her credit. Her work falls under the romantic suspense genre, and fans have enjoyed such titles as A Cry in the Night, Depth Perception and A Whisper in the Dark as well as her Kate Burkholder series which includes Sworn to Silence, Gone Missing and Her Last Breath among others. The movie An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell was based on her book .

She is rhe recipient of many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Holt Medallion and the Golden Heart. She also has been nominated for a coveted RITA.

Tickets for the Writers’ Roundup are $35 per person and can be purchased at the WTAMU Office of Continuing Education. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 806-651-2037.

—WTAMU—

Ed Wright to Receive WTAMU Distinguished Alumnus Award

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 21, 2013

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

Ed Wright to Receive WTAMU Distinguished Alumnus Award

Second article in a series of three on WTAMU’s 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients

CANYON, Texas—He’s a leader in the cattle industry and well known for his ethics, strong moral values and knowledge. And when it comes to helping others, he has a heart as big as the state of Texas although he often prefers to remain anonymous when it comes to supporting a worthy cause. Ed Wright is the epitome of a generous, thoughtful man and 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. Wright is one of three recipients who will be recognized June 8 at the University’s 50th annual Phoenix Banquet.

Friends, colleagues in the cattle business and faculty members at WTAMU all sent in letters of nomination for the award, praising Wright for his integrity, success and leadership in the business sector as well as in the classroom and the humanitarian arena. Wright, always the first to offer a helping hand, is modest about the praise but pleased to be recognized by his beloved alma mater.

“I’m a little bit embarrassed and shocked by the award,” Wright said. “It’s an honor though, and I’m proud to be part of WT. It’s a fabulous school with a fabulous faculty. I wear WT everything, and I bleed maroon and white.”

Wright has a long history with WTAMU. He graduated in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, but his ties to the University go back even farther than that. His siblings are graduates as well as his mother. Plus, his uncle, Joe Fortenberry, was the WTAMU’s first All-American in basketball and captain of the 1936 Olympic team. That’s a pretty impressive history, and one that Wright is proud to claim.

While at WTAMU, Wright was an active member of Block n’ Bridle, Alpha Zeta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Rodeo Club, Livestock Judging Team and Dairy Cattle Judging Team. Between these activities and a busy class schedule, Wright also was a honor student. His college career provided the foundation for success in the cattle industry. He worked his way to head buyer for a national corporation in the cattle buying business when he decided to strike out on his own and return to the Texas Panhandle. He wanted to be closer to family, friends and West Texas A&M University. The decision proved to be a good one and today, he is a known leader in this highly competitive industry.

“Ed has laid the foundation for our next generation to succeed in the beef industry,” Ed Wortham, executive vice president of the Texas Beef Council, said. “He is one of our strongest leaders in the area of beef promotion, research and education.”

When he’s not working at his desk at home, Wright finds time to support various causes. He was one of the first financial sponsors for a 4-H club for youth who had previously been incarcerated. He continues to be a big supporter of 4-H and FFA students from across the Panhandle as well as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Eveline Rivers and his church. Anyone who knows Wright also knows he is proud of his alma mater and supports the University in countless ways.

He gives guest lectures each year at WTAMU, where he has donated both his time and money to alumni efforts in the Department of Agricultural Sciences. Wright and his wife Patrecia have established the Ed and Patrecia Wright Agriculture Support Fund, and he is an active member of the Agriculture Development Association and the Buffalo Club. And when it comes to athletics, count Wright one of WTAMU’s biggest fans. He is a season ticket holder and attends most University sporting events. He has donated money to WTAMU athletics to help with scholarships, team operating expenses and facility improvements. He’s also responsible for the volunteer efforts each year to feed the basketball teams during Christmas breaks.

“Ed has a big heart and is always willing to support a worthy cause, whether it is youth at risk or food for the elderly that can’t afford to eat,” Dr. Don Topliff, dean of the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering, said. “Many of his donations are anonymous because he doesn’t do it for the recognition. Ed Wright Cattle Company is one of the major buyers and sellers of cattle in the United States. His reputation is spotless, and he is one of the few people left that can do business on a handshake.”

Wright and fellow award recipients Cody Myers 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—

WTAMU Department of Communications Seeking Nominations for Hall of Fame

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

May 21, 2013

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

WTAMU Department of Communications Seeking Nominations for Hall of Fame

CANYON, Texas—The Department of Communication at West Texas A&M University is accepting nominations for its Communication Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding alumni who graduated no later than 2008 from the WTAMU Communication Studies, Speech Communication or Mass Communication programs. The deadline for nominations is July 15.

Nominees will be recognized at the Communication Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. Claire Shipman, ABC news correspondent, will be the keynote speaker.

The inaugural inductees of the Communication Hall of Fame will be selected by a committee of communication professionals. Committee members include Keith Brown, Opportunity Plan; Mary Coyne, McCormick Advertising; Ryan Hazelwood, KVII; Brent McClure, KFDA; Jackie Kingston, KAMR; Krissy Mailman, Sweester Healthcare; and Leslie Richardson, communication consultant.

The Department of Communication will host a reception as part of the WTAMU Alumni Summer Reunion (wtamu.edu/reunion) from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8 in the AT&T HD TV Studio in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex. Additional information about the Hall of Fame Banquet and the nomination process will be available during the reception.

Nomination criteria and forms can be found on the Communication Hall of Fame website at wtamu.edu/communication-hall-of-fame.aspx. All nomination forms should be emailed to Dr. Trudy Hanson at thanson@wtamu.edu by the July 15 deadline.

—WTAMU—

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—

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—

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—

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—