West Texas A&M NewsWire

Founders Day Birthday Party Planned at WTAMU

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Feb. 8, 2010

CONTACT: Kirk Scarbrough, student body president, 806-651-2386, kscarbrough@wtamu.edu

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

Founders Day Birthday Party Planned at WTAMU

CANYON, Texas—The opening of a 25-year-old time capsule will be the kickoff to a Founders Day birthday party on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at West Texas A&M University.

The time capsule will be opened at 9 a.m. in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center (JBK), Commons. It was buried beneath Terrill Lawn in 1985 and designated to be unearthed and opened in 2010. Contents of the capsule will be removed and available for viewing at the Founders Day birthday party that follows from noon-2 p.m. in the JBK.

“It’s going to be a fun event to commemorate the University’s Founders Day,” Kirk Scarbrough, student body president, said. “We hope everyone—students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members—will come and help us celebrate.”

Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien, University president, will offer a few words of welcome, along with Canyon Mayor Quinn Alexander and Scarbrough. A special ‘maroon velvet’ Centennial cake will be served, and commemorative Coca-Cola bottles will be distributed. Special bottles of ‘buffalo milk’ also will be available at the festive occasion.

On Feb. 17, 1910, ground was broken for the first building at West Texas State Normal School. The day has since been designated as the University’s Founders Day.

For more information about Founders Day events, call Scarbrough at 806-651-2386.

—WTAMU—

'Twelfth Night' Brings Laughs to BIT Stage

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Feb. 8, 2010

CONTACT: Perry Crafton 806-292-2813, wcrafton@wtamu.edu

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

Twelfth Night Brings Laughs to BIT Stage

CANYON, Texas—Audience members can expect more than a few laughs when the Branding Iron Theatre at West Texas A&M University opens its spring season with Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night.

The curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-13 and Feb. 17-20 under the direction of Perry Crafton, associate professor of theatre. Twelfth Night is considered one of Shakespeare’s best works and tells a story about love and deception with plenty of humor thrown in.

“I’ve been mindful that for the past couple of years, the production at this time in the season calendar has coincided with Valentine’s Day,” Crafton said. “As a theatre program, we try to offer a Shakespearean production every other year. With Julius Caesar performing two years ago, I decided to select a comedy. Given the highly romantic nature of Twelfth Night, I knew it would be a good choice for this time of year. It has been a nice challenge for the cast and crew.”

The BIT production will add a contemporary twist to the comedy, too. Although the actors will use the play’s original text, costumes will reflect a more modern look, as will the stage setting.

“I’m pleased that we were able to invite a guest designer, Adam Miecielica from the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, to design the scenery for this production,” Crafton said. “It has been a great experience working with him and the artistry he has brought to this production.”

Other members of the production’s design team include Shawn Irish, assistant professor of theatre, light design; Anne Medlock, assistant professor of theatre, costume design; Andrew Donnelly, a senior theatre major from Amarillo, sound design; and Barrett Evans, a senior musical theatre major from Canyon, props design.

Cast members for Twelfth Night are listed by hometown, classification, major and role.
Amarillo
Keith Gamblin, senior theatre major—Andrew
Levi Gore, sophomore theatre major—Valentine/First Officer
Casey Hayes, senior theatre major—Malvolio
Travis Johnson, junior theatre major—Fabian
Kaitlin Jones, senior theatre major—Olivia’s Attendant/Priestess
Bryan Lewis, 2009 graduate in theatre—Orsino
Brandon Wilhelm, senior music theatre major—Curio
Andrews
Kirk Corley, senior theatre major—Toby
Azle
Zeke Lewis, freshman theatre major—Feste
Canyon
Jace Sluder, junior theatre major—Sebastian
Denver City
Halee Howard, freshman theatre major—Maria
El Paso
Ana Cos, freshman music theatre major—Olivia’s Attendant
Lubbock
Nathan Gregory, junior theatre major—Captain/Second Officer
Mt. Enterprise
Emmy Harris, sophomore theatre major—Olivia
San Angelo
Danilo Garcia, senior theatre major—Antonio
Sonora
Kaci Chavarria, junior theatre major—Olivia’s Attendant
Sweetwater
Lars Maurseth, junior theatre major—Musician
Tulia
Terah Zolman, senior theatre major—Viola

Tickets for WTAMU theatre productions are priced at $10 each for reserved seating and $7 each for senior citizens and children 12 and under. For more information, call the BIT box office at 806-651-2804.

—WTAMU—

WTAMU Distinguished Lecture to Focus on Gender Violence

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Feb. 8, 2010

CONTACT: Dr. Trudy Hanson, 806-651-2800, thanson@wtamu.edu

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

WTAMU Distinguished Lecture to Focus on Gender Violence

CANYON, Texas—Dr. Jackson Katz, an expert in gender violence prevention, will present “The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall at West Texas A&M University. His presentation is part of Communication Week activities sponsored by the WTAMU Department of Communication.

Katz is an author, educator and filmmaker as well as one of America’s leading anti-sexist male activists. He is known around the world for his work in the field of gender violence prevention education with men and boys and co-founded the Mentors in Violence Prevention program in professional and college athletics. He also is the director of the first worldwide domestic and sexual violence prevention program in the United States Marine Corps. His lectures have been heard at high school and college campuses around the country, and he has conducted seminars and workshops in the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan.

As a filmmaker, Katz is the creator and co-creator of numerous educational videos for college and high school students including the 2000 film Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity and Spin the Bottle: Sex, Lies and Alcohol in 2004. His book, The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help, was published in 2006 by Sourcebooks. He will be available to sign copies of the book following his lecture.

“WTAMU students are fortunate to have an opportunity to see Dr. Katz’s multimedia presentation,” Dr. Trudy Hanson, head of the Department of Communication, said. “He uses popular culture examples to reinforce his observations about how media representations influence the way we see the world and how we conceptualize violence.”

In addition to his evening presentation at WTAMU, Katz also will speak at a faculty development session at 1 p.m. titled “Taking it Personally: Why Gender Violence is an Issue for Me.”

Katz’s visit to WTAMU is part of the University’s Centennial Distinguished Lecture Series. It is free and open to the public. For information, contact Hanson at 806-651-2800 or thanson@wtamu.edu.

—WTAMU—

WTAMU Alumni Association Seeking Nominations for 2010 Awards

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Feb. 8, 2010

CONTACT: Becky Stogner, 806-651-2311, alumni@wtamu.edu

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

WTAMU Alumni Association Seeking Nominations for 2010 Awards

CANYON, Texas—The Alumni Association at West Texas A&M University is accepting nominations for the annual Distinguished Alumnus Award as well as for the 2010 University Excellence Award.

Award winners will be recognized during the Alumni Association’s annual Phoenix Banquet in the spring.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to WTAMU graduates who hold at least one degree from the University, who are professionally successful and who contribute to the betterment of the University, society and their profession.

The University Excellence Award goes to a WTAMU staff or faculty member with at least three years of outstanding service to WTAMU, students, the community and their profession.

Nominations for both awards will be accepted through Friday, March 5.

“These awards complement the Alumni Association’s mission of recognizing the successes and accomplishments of our graduates as well as acknowledging the hard work and commitment of our faculty and staff,” Becky Stogner, director of WTAMU’s Alumni Association, said. “I encourage anyone connected with the University to nominate individuals for one or both awards.”

Individuals who were nominated in 2008 and 2009, but not selected either year, will automatically be considered for the awards this year.

For an online nomination form, visit buffalum.com. For information about the Phoenix Club Banquet, contact the Alumni Association at 806-651-2311 or alumni@wtamu.edu.

—WTAMU—

Construction Projects Set Stage for University's Second Century

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jan. 27, 2010

CONTACT:   Danny Smith, associate vice president for physical facilities 806-651-2141, dksmith@wtamu.edu
                      Gary Barnes, vice president for business and finance, 806-651-2095, gbarnes@wtamu.edu
COPY BY:   Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu

Construction Projects Set Stage for University's Second Century

CANYON, Texas—Even though the 2010 calendar at West Texas A&M University is filled with Centennial celebrations and events, University officials are already busy planning for WTAMU’s second century with an estimated $71 million worth of construction projects that will enhance the campus and set the stage for future growth.

The construction projects provide an ambitious plan for the University’s next 100 years, and tangible signs of progress soon will be evident all across the campus. Salvage efforts are already under way at both the old Fine Arts Building and Hudspeth Hall, where crews are busy removing furnishings and fixtures that can be recycled for use elsewhere. Items in the old Fine Arts Building are being salvaged for use in third-world classrooms, and fixtures, metal and other materials are being removed from Hudspeth Hall for Habitat for Humanity homes and for recycling.

“We have a lot of students who are concerned about the environment,” Danny Smith, associate vice president for physical facilities, said. “With that in mind, we try do everything good, logical and cost effective to be economically green. We do everything we can to not waste and fill up landfills.”

The old Fine Arts Building will come down in the next 30 to 40 days, according to Smith, and in its place will be a campus parking lot. Abatement of the building will begin once all salvageable materials are removed. The building will then be torn down, and the parking lot is set for a fall 2010 completion.

Hudspeth Hall is coming down to make way for a new four-story residence hall for WTAMU underclassmen. The new facility will house up to 400 beds and will follow the concept of other halls with pods of six to 10 double occupancy rooms sharing one rest room. The estimated $32.5 million project is being designed by West East Design Group of San Antonio, and construction will be by Western Builders of Amarillo. Smith said plans are to have the new hall ready for occupancy by fall 2011.

Another project that will commence this semester is the new recreational sports complex. The project will entail a complete redo of the campus from east of Jarrett Hall and north to the former site of the University’s Wind Test Center. The Office of Residential Living has been relocated to temporary quarters just east of the dining hall, and crews have already started the surface work for the complex. PBK Architects of Houston is designing the multi-field facility, and SpawGlass Construction, also of Houston, is the contractor. The complex is an estimated $21.8 million project and once completed, it will be home to the largest grouping of synthetic athletic fields in the United States. Facilities will include three intramural fields, softball and baseball diamonds, practice fields for soccer, football and the WTAMU marching band, a competitive soccer field inside of a running track, outdoor basketball courts, outdoor sand volleyball courts, outdoor tennis facilities, locker rooms, batting cages, jogging track, concessions, rest rooms and a grand lawn.

Parking lots affected in the construction of the recreational sports complex include a gravel lot east of Jarrett Hall and the old marching band lot located on Russell Long Boulevard. According to Gary Barnes, vice president for business and finance, additional parking is available for students, faculty and staff in the lots between the Virgil Henson Activities Center and the Dining Hall and in a lot between Jones and Cross Halls. Students, staff and faculty can also park in the north parking area of the First United Bank Center (FUBC). A new shuttle will run from 7:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday from the FUB to the Pedestrian Mall. Barnes said parking at the FUBC will not require a WTAMU parking permit at this time.

One campus building will get a much needed update this year, too. Mary Moody Northen Hall, built in the 1970s, will move into the 21st century with updated colors, furnishings and fixtures. And Phase IV of the Virgil Henson Activities Center will begin in March. Much of the work will focus on first-floor office renovations and the building’s west entrance. The plans call for a 40-foot rock climbing wall to greet visitors entering the building, and access to workout areas will be redesigned to monitor use by members and non-members.

Other projects on the table for campus improvements include creating a program of requirements for the new addition to the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, renovation of six to eight laboratories in the Agriculture and Natural Sciences Building and continued work on the old agriculture/nursing building as the future home for WTAMU’s engineering program. Renovations also are ongoing at the Palo Duro Hospital for Research, and an August completion is expected.

Dr. Michael McKinney, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, has commended WTAMU for its continued contributions to the System’s HUB Program through many of its construction projects. The Texas A&M University System is committed to promoting the participation of minority, women-owned and small businesses through the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program, and for fiscal year 2009, WTAMU earned a 39.09 percent on performance and ranked number nine on the state’s Top 25 Agencies Spending More than $5 Million with Largest Percentage Spent with HUBs.

Construction projects on campus pose some inconvenience for students, faculty and staff alike, but the renovations, new construction and improvements reflect a growing, vibrant University that is well prepared to meet the educational needs of a growing student population for years to come.

—WTAMU—

Venue Changed for University's Centennial Gala

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jan. 27, 2010

CONTACT: J.J. Walker, event coordinator, 806-651-2090, jjwalker@wtamu.edu

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

Venue Changed for University's Centennial Gala

CANYON, Texas—An overwhelming response to the Feb. 13 Centennial Gala at West Texas A&M University has prompted University officials to change the event venue from the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum to the First United Bank Center (FUBC).

“Due to the overwhelming response we have had from alumni, supporters and the community, we decided to move to a bigger venue to allow more people to enjoy the event,” J.J. Walker, event coordinator, said.

The event will celebrate the University’s 100th birthday with an evening of music, dining and dancing. Walker said the evening festivities will be moved to the FUBC but a special 4 p.m. Gala reception will remain at the museum. Community members are invited to the hour-long come-and-go reception to honor past University presidents and board of regents members and their families.

The Centennial Gala, black tie optional, will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m. and dancing will close out the evening. The FUBC will be transformed into a beautiful and elegant location for the event, and photos depicting the University’s 100 years will be part of the Gala theme. ARAMARK chefs from across the country will prepare a special meal for the occasion, and local jazz band Pizazz will provide the dance music.

Along with dinner and dancing, those attending will hear a few words from Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien, University president, and Dr. Charles Townsend, professor emeritus of history, will provide an entertaining look at the University’s 100-year history. Two student groups from the Department of Music also will perform.

“It’s going to be a very special, fun evening to mark the University’s 100 years,” Walker said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we are excited about making it a memorable night for everyone.”

Individual tickets for the Gala are priced at $150, and a table for eight can be purchased for $1,200. For more information or to R.S.V.P., contact Walker at 806-651-2990 by Feb. 1.

—WTAMU—

WTAMU Announces Honors Lists for Fall Semester

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jan. 20, 2010

CONTACT: Sue Kile, 806-651-2121, skile@wtamu.edu

WTAMU Announces Honors Lists for Fall Semester

CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University has named more than 1,200 students to honor lists for the fall 2009 semester. Of that total, 498 were named to the President’s List and 739 students were named to the Dean’s List.

Students named to the President’s List must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.00 and carry a minimum class load of 12 undergraduate hours.

Those named to the Dean’s List must have a GPA between 3.50 and 3.99 and carry a minimum of 12 undergraduate hours.

—WTAMU—

WTAMU Awards Diplomas to Fall Graduates

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jan. 20, 2010

CONTACT: Sue Kile, 806-651-2121, skile@wtamu.edu

WTAMU Awards Diplomas to Fall Graduates

CANYON, Texas—Degrees were officially conferred on 486 West Texas A&M University students during fall commencement exercises Dec. 11 at the First United Bank Center. The University awarded 385 baccalaureate degrees, 101 master’s degrees and one doctoral degree.

Graduates with an overall grade point average of 3.50 or higher were recognized as honor graduates and wore gold honor cords. The three levels of honor recognition are Summa Cum Laude (3.90-4.00), Magna Cum Laude (3.75-3.89) and Cum Laude (3.50-3.74). The WTAMU Class of 2009 included 19 graduates with Summa Cum Laude honors, 21 students with Magna Cum Laude honors and 63 with Cum Laude honors. Seven students also were recognized as Attebury Honors graduates.

The graduating class represented 14 states and 90 Texas cities and towns.

—WTAMU—

Note to Media: Students are listed by hometown and include degrees, majors and honors. Abbreviations for honors are S-Summa Cum Laude, M-Magna Cum Laude and C-Cum Laude.

Degree abbreviations are as follows: BA-Bachelor of Arts; BAAS-Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences; BBA-Bachelor of Business Administration; BMA-Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Professional Accounting; BFA-Bachelor of Fine Arts; BGS-Bachelor of General Studies; BM-Bachelor of Music; BS-Bachelor of Science; BSMT-Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology; BSN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing; BMSN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Nursing; MA-Master of Arts; MBA-Master of Business Administration; MED-Master of Education; MFA-Master of Fine Arts; MM-Master of Music; MPA-Master of Professional Accounting; MS-Master of Science; MSN-Master of Science in Nursing and PHD-Doctor of Philosophy.

—WTAMU—