SHSU
Update For Week Of April 20
Rec Sports To Make
Strides With First Triathlon
The Recreational Sports department is encouraging the Bearkat
and Huntsville communities to "Just TRI-IT" during
its inaugural sprint distance triathlon on May 3.
The event, including a 300-meter swim, a 10-mile bike ride
and a two-mile run, all on and around campus, will kick off
at 7:30 a.m. at the Health and Kinesiology Center.
“You don't have to be a highly-trained athlete to participate,”
said Dustin Joubert, Rec Sports graduate assistant. “The
goal is for everyone to ‘Just Tri-It!’
Participants will compete in eight age groups, ranging from
under 17 to over 70, individually or in a relay, where each
team member will complete a leg, in all-male, all-female or
co-ed teams.
Prizes will be awarded for the overall male and female performance
and for first place in all age groups and relays.
Participants will check in at the transition area, in the
HKC faculty and staff parking lot, between 6:30-7 a.m. on
the day of the race.
The pool will also be open from 7-7:15 a.m. for a warm-up,
and the race will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the awards
ceremony at 11 a.m.
Registration is $20 for students, $25 for faculty and staff
members and $30 for community members participating individually.
Registration for the three-person relay teams is $50 for students,
$60 for faculty and staff members and $70 for community members.
Participants will be responsible for providing their own bikes.
“Any bike will do; no need for fancy racing bikes,”
Joubert said.
The registration deadline is at 5 p.m. on April 30 in HKC
162. There will be no race-day registrations.
Registration will be capped at 100 participants.
For more information, or to access the registration forms,
visit the Recreational Sports wellness program events page
at http://www.shsu.edu/~rca_www/wellness/events.html
or contact Joubert at stddpj14@shsu.edu
or 936.294.3335.
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Panel To Discuss Roots For
Speaker Series
Three successful minority college graduates will field questions
and discuss their roots on Wednesday (April 23).
The young leaders panel, part of the Student Advising and
Mentoring Center’s Grassroots Speaker Series, will be
held at 5 p.m. in Academic Building IV's Olson Auditorium.
The panel will include San Juanita Garcia, who received her
Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in criminal justice
and Spanish and a minor in sociology from SHSU; Bryce Kennard,
who graduated Cum Laude from Morehouse College in Atlanta,
Ga., with a master’s degree in community development;
and Tiffany Thomas, who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts
and Humanities degree in public relations from SHSU.
Following the discussion, a meet-and-greet with refreshments
will be held in the SAM Center, located in AB IV Room 210.
The event is sponsored by the academic support programs of
the Student Advising and Mentoring Center; the Elliott T.
Bowers Honors Program; Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority,
Inc.; and the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement
Program.
For more information, contact Bernice
Strauss, director of academic support programs
for the SAM
Center, at 936.294.4455.
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Foreign Languages Faculty
Scholar Series
Alejandro Latínez, assistant professor of Spanish,
will explore the “symbolic relationship” in two
Latin American cultural structures on Monday (April 21).
"Relationships between the Development Discourse and
Hispanic/Latin American Narrative of the Adolescent: The Construction
of an Identity," part of the Foreign Languages Faculty
Scholar Series, will be held from 3-4 p.m. in Evans Building
Room 317.
“The development discourse has dominated Latin American
political and economic projects after World War II, mainly
during the 50s and 60s, associated with ideas of progress
and maturity,” Latínez said.
“This discussion attempts to give our students/attendees
a new breath to the reading and teaching of Latin American
and Hispanic culture from an interdisciplinary approach.”
Latínez has been teaching Spanish at SHSU since the
fall 2006 semester.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Pontificia
Universidad Católica del Perú and his master’s
and doctorates in Spanish and Portuguese from Vanderbilt University.
In addition to English, Spanish and Portuguese, Latínez
is knowledgeable in reading French and Italian, according
to his vita.
The lecture is free and open to faculty, staff and students
For more information, call the foreign
languages department at 936.294.1441.
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iRecycle Drive To Honor
Earth, Arbor Days
In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, SHSU’s
Circle K International will host a recycled goods drive from
Monday (April 21) through Friday (April 25).
iRecycle will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the
Lowman Student Center Mall Area.
Circle K International will collect paper, metal and plastic
items, including newspapers, magazines, shredded paper, cardboard
boxes, aluminum cans, tin food cans, milk jugs, water and
soda bottles, detergent containers, plastic bags, car and
truck batteries and ink cartridges, among other items.
Those who donate recyclable materials will be entered for
a chance to win an iPod Nano.
This year’s Earth Day is April 22, and Arbor Day is
April 25.
For more information, contact Jasmin Galarza at jlg029@shsu.edu
or 832.541.6673.
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Center Seeks Demonstrations
Of ‘Excellence in Writing’
Each year, the Sam Houston Writing Center, along with the
Student Government Association, the Writing in the Disciplines
Program and Sigma Tau Delta, recognizes the accomplishments
of outstanding students through the Sam Houston State University
Excellence in Writing Award.
Nominations for “stellar” graduate and undergraduate
writers are being accepted through April 29.
Nominators may submit as many students as he or she wishes
from the summer and fall 2007 semesters, as well as from the
current spring semester, for recognition of their outstanding
writing, according to Diane Dowdey, director of the Sam Houston
Writing Center and associate professor of English.
To nominate, participants should send students' names and
Sam ID numbers, as well as e-mail and mailing addresses if
possible, to wctr@shsu.edu.
The annual Excellence in Writing Reception will be held from
2-4 p.m. on May 6 in Austin Hall.
Richard Eglsaer, associate vice president for Academic Affairs,
will be the speaker for the awards ceremony.
Nominees will be notified and invited to attend the awards
ceremony. All faculty and staff are invited to attend as well.
For more information, call the Sam
Houston Writing Center at 936.294.3680 or e-mail
wctr@shsu.edu.
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Symposium To Showcase
Student Research
The Elliott T. Bowers Honors Ambassadors will showcase student
research from across campus on April 26.
As many as 28 students will present their findings during
the first annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center.
Students who have been conducting research throughout the
past year will present their findings in a professional environment
during several sessions throughout the day, all of which will
have a faculty moderator to critique the presenter.
There will also be an open poster session in the lobby.
The symposium's goal is to allow undergraduate students from
all colleges and departments to practice presenting their
research, according to event coordinator Nicole Lozano.
“Students normally don't get a chance to practice presenting
their research, so we're giving them a free opportunity to
do so,” she said. “The symposium allows students
in all disciplines to recognize and appreciate each other's
work.”
The event is free and open to the public.
“This is a great way to develop and promote undergraduate
research at SHSU while helping students gain public speaking
skills and gather feedback from other students and faculty
across the campus,” said Honors Ambassador adviser Maria
Holmes. “It provides an opportunity for students and
faculty to interact and share ideas.
“It helps to bridge disciplines by exposing students
to the wide variety of research occurring at Sam Houston State
University," she said.
For more information, contact Lozano at SHSUSymposium@gmail.com
or Holmes at maholmes@shsu.edu
or 936.294.1477.
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Theatre Bares It All With
‘The Full Monty’
 |
| Alumnus Greg Graham, who has worked
in various capacities on numerous Broadway shows, will
return to campus April 23-26 as guest choreographer for
"The Full Monty." |
The SHSU theatre and dance department will visit a group
of unemployed steel workers, in Buffalo, N.Y., who decide
that the best way to pay their bills and regain their pride
is by becoming male strippers for a night with “The
Full Monty” Wednesday through Saturday (April 23-26).
Show times are at 8 p.m. each day, with a 2 p.m. Saturday
matinee in the University Theater Center’s Mainstage
Theatre.
Led by ringleader Jerry Lukowski (Adam Gibbs) and his best
friend Dave Bukatinski (Cameron Worthen), the story tells
of how the men find renewed self-esteem, the importance of
friendship and discover the courage to face their personal
demons through their one-night engagement.
The show features theatre and musical theatre majors Chelsea
McCurdy, Larry Lozier, Sarah Reindhardt, Mark Capalbo, Rachel
Logue, Justin Finch, Megan Blackmon, Tony Johnson, Kristopher
Ward, Susannah Mauro, William Dehorney, Robert Evans, Christina
Stroup, Adrianna Jones, Nikki Anthony, and Josh Ferhmann,
as well as special guest Matthew Bittara.
The ensemble includes Eric Aultman, Richard Keck, Mitchell
Greco, Eboni Bell, Monica Bradley, Brittni Merritt and Kristina
Kee.
“The Full Monty” is directed by Theatre faculty
Penelope Hasekoester and choreographed by SHSU alumnus Greg
Graham.
Graham, who was personally-selected by Gwen Verdon for the
Broadway company Fosse, has served as dance captain, company
member or a choreographer for a number of Broadway shows,
including Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, Chicago and Dirty
Rotten Scoundrels.
He has taught and worked with many stars, including John Lithgow,
Harvey Fierstein, Keith Carradine, Bruce Vilanch, Lucy Arnez,
Richard Kind and Jonathan Pryce, among others.
The musical director and conductor is Laura Avery, the technical
director is Larry Routh and the stage manager is theatre major
Sara Hodgin.
Designers include theatre faculty members Eric Marsh (lights),
Gregg Buck (set) and Kristina Hanssen (costumes), as well
as theatre majors Teruhisa Uchiyama and Aly Alexander (sound).
Tickets are $12 general admission or $10 with SHSU or senior
citizen I.D.
The show contains adult content, adult language and nudity.
For more information call the UTC box office at 936.294.1339.
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Orchestra, Chorus To Celebrate
Music, Smith
The SHSU Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Choir will “celebrate
music” as conductor Carol Smith gives her finale performance
at SHSU during a concert on Friday (April 25).
The groups will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the University Heights
Baptist Church in Huntsville.
The concert will include works of late SHSU music chair Fisher
Tull and Giacomo Puccini, as well as several selections from
Carl Orff's “Camina Burana” and selections from
Gabriel Fauré's “Requiem Mass,” according
to director of choral activities Allen Hightower.
It will also feature music faculty members Christopher Michel
and Kristin Hightower as soloists.
In addition, “this concert will mark the completion
of the distinguished teaching career of Dr. Carol Smith who
has given close to 30 years of service to Sam Houston,”
Hightower said.
Smith, professor of music and director of orchestral studies,
is retiring this year but will teach other coursework half
time beginning in the fall, she said.
While at SHSU, she served as an associate dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences for approximately five years and as associate
chair of the School of Music for eight years.
In addition to her duties in orchestral studies, she is the
Artistic Director of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra and was
musical adviser of the International Conductors' Institute
for 10 years.
During her career, she has made guest conducting appearances
in nine European countries, including with the Vienna Academy
of Music orchestra at the International Festival of Music
in Feldkirch, Austria, and festivals in Germany and Switzerland,
as well as 27 states throughout America.
Tickets are $10 for adults and children over seven, $5 for
senior citizens and SHSU students with an ID and free for
children under six.
For more information, call the School
of Music at 936.294.1360.
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Planetarium Tours Spring
Constellations
The physics department will continue its tour of the “Spring
Skies and Hubble Vision” on Friday (April 25).
The planetarium series program, which shows attendees which
constellations, stars and planets they can expect to see in
the upcoming weeks, will be held at 7 p.m. in the planetarium,
located in Farrington Building Room F102.
These constellations include Gemini, Cancer, and "what
I call 'galaxy country' with the constellations of Virgo,
Coma Bernices, Leo and Ursa Major," said Michael Prokosch,
staff aid for the physics department.
The program will also explore “all things Hubble,”
from its launch, discoveries, and famous images taken, such
as the Hubble Deep Field, Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the Pillars
of Creation and more with “Hubble Vision,” according
to Prokosch.
“The Hubble Space Telescope is expected to receive a
final service mission from the space shuttle in summer of
2008 to extend its life well into the next decade,”
he said. “Space will never again look the same.”
The planetarium seats up to 29 visitors and includes a dome
that is approximately 18 feet in diameter and more than 20
feet high in the center.
“Essentially a time machine, the planetarium's projector
can show how the night sky appears to an observer at any point
in time from any place on the earth, from 100,000 years in
the past, to 100,000 years into the future,” he said.
The program will last approximately one hour, and admission
is free.
Other show dates for the semester include May 9 and May 23.
For more information or current show times for the
planetarium or the observatory, call 936.294.3664
or e-mail Prokosch at vis_mwp@shsu.edu.
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Students Advocate Counseling
Initiatives To Brady
 |
| Graduate students in the school counseling
program (from left) Donnie Pittman, Genette Stanton, Barbara
Gagliano and Carrie Shields met with Congressman Kevin
Brady (center) to discuss the field and legislation as
an assignment in March. |
Four graduate students from Judy Nelson's school counseling
course recently visited with Congressman Kevin Brady to discuss
the profession and lobby for potential legislation being looked
at in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Donnie Pittman, Genette Stanton, Barbara Gagliano and Carrie
Shields met with Brady on March 25 as an assignment for the
class.
“The purpose was to promote legislation that positively
impacts professional school counselors,” said Nelson,
an assistant professor of counselor education. “For
example, smaller student to counselor ratios and fewer clerical
duties in order to spend more time on direct services for
children.”
Among the topics the students addressed were the qualifications
for professional school counselors and the increasing need
for them, and the various roles counselors play in the schools,
as well as several specific acts of legislation Brady might
directly support.
“He did tell us that the vast amount of public education
funding is provided at the state level,” Nelson said.
“The federal budget only provides a very small amount
(below 10 percent) of the total, and most federal dollars
go to fund specialized programs.”
In addition, the group reviewed the overall counseling program
at SHSU and the department's CACREP accreditation.
“He appeared quite pleased with the university's continued
advancements,” Nelson said.
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Send Update Items Here
Information for the SHSU Update can be sent to the Office
of Public Relations electronically at Today@Sam.edu
or to any of the media contacts listed below.
Please include the date, location and time of the event,
as well as a brief description and a contact person.
All information for news stories should be sent to the office
at least a week in advance to give the PR staff ample time
to make necessary contacts and write the story.
For electronic access to SHSU news see the Public Relations
Web page Today@Sam.
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- END -
SHSU Media Contacts: Frank
Krystyniak, Julia May,
Jennifer Gauntt
April 18, 2008
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
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