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SHSU Update For Week Of Oct. 10
- Enrollment Reaches Milestone
- German Profs To Examine Part In Revolutionary War
- NPR Contributor, Author To Share Works
- Physics Colloquium To Feature UH Prof
- Health Fair, Football Game To ‘Pink Out’ Campus
- Students To Give Presentation On Summer Study Trip
- Center Collecting Memorabilia For Vet Day Exhibit
- Music Faculty To Jazz Up PAC
- Barnyard To Provide Ag Learning Experience For Kids
- Planetarium Series To Explore Space Program History
- Teacher Job Fair Attracts 65 Schools
- Communication Instructor Honored By State
- Herskowitz Inducted To Media Wall Of Honor
- Rodeo Teams Hit The Ground Running
- Send Update Items Here
Enrollment Reaches Milestone
Sam Houston State University’s enrollment has reached another record high, exceeding even the projected growth.
Official 20th class day figures estimate that 17,214 students are enrolled in SHSU this fall, constituting a 2.8 percent increase over last fall’s enrollment of 16,772.
This breaks down to 14,659 undergraduate students; 2,256 post-baccalaureate and master’s students; and 299 doctoral students.
Enrollment growth this year is based on three areas: new freshmen, with a 4.1 percent increase over last fall; new transfer students, with an 8.1 percent increase; and the graduate student population, which increased by 18.1 percent over last year, according to Heather Thielemann, vice president for Enrollment Management.
The total new undergraduate increase for fall 2010 is 256 students for an increase of 5.7 percent.
“I think new student growth is essential to the university, and these three areas impact not only SHSU, but also help us reach the statewide goals in these target markets,” Thielemann said. “The freshmen growth is important because based on statistics for Texas high school graduates from May of 2009, 75 percent of them attended a community college, so for us to continue to increase in our freshman class is a success.”
Thielemann attributes the growth to focused recruitment efforts and scholarship money available for transfer students.
“Students who transfer in 30 or more hours to SHSU are the most successful at completing a degree, but they can also receive their associate’s degree with our reverse transfer program,” she said. “As for the graduate program, we have targeted different groups of students with marketing and recruitment. They have a full-time graduate admissions counselor for general recruitment, and each college recruits for specific programs.
“I also think the new website has contributed to improvement in communications and current information,” she said.
German Profs To Examine Part In Revolutionary War
Holger Gräf and Christoph Kampmann, two professors from the Universitaet Marburg in Germany, will discuss the American Revolution from a German perspective on Tuesday (Oct. 12).
The 7th Annual Joan Coffey Symposium lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Academic Building IV Olson Auditorium, in Room 220.
“The German Military in the American Revolution: The View from Germany, Then and Now" will provide a viewpoint outside that of an American or from an American Academy, but “of German scholars who've researched and taught on the subject over in Europe,” said David Mayes, SHSU associate professor of history.
This includes German participation in the war, as well as why they got involved, how they were perceived by Americans, the German perception of the war and how those things have shaped German-American relations.
“The two professors are based at a university in the state of Hesse, and it was the Hessians who came over to fight in the American Revolution,” Mayes said. “The two have researched the documents found in their local archives, edited them in published works and are in the process of having them translated into English. They've also published articles on the subject.
“The symposium will offer a unique opportunity for those interested in the subject of American and military history,” he said.
Gräf received his degrees at the Universität Giessen, served four years as an assistant at the Humboldt-Universität in Berlin, and studied in Leicester, England, and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Since 1996 he has been on staff at the office for the historical studies of Hessen in Marburg, and in 2009 was named honorary professor at the Universität Marburg.
Kampmann studied at universities in Bonn and Cologne, Germany, as well as Oxford, England before receiving his doctorate at the Universität Bayreuth.
Since 2002 he has been professor of early modern history at the Universität Marburg in Germany and professor of modern history at the Universität Graz in Austria.
The Joan Coffey Symposium was established in 2003 in honor of a former department colleague, Joan Coffey, who passed away that year after a long battle with an illness.
The symposium was set up to bring speakers to campus annually to discuss any topic pertaining to history, whether American or world history. Previous topics have included Islam in Southeast Asia, the Houston Riots of 1917, Israeli-Palestinian relations and chaplains in the American military.
The lecture is open to the public.
For more information, contact Mayes at 936.294.1485 or his_dcm@shsu.edu.
NPR Contributor, Author To Share Works
Alan Cheuse, a fiction writer of national reputation and contributor to National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” will read from his works on Friday (Oct. 15) at 11 a.m. in Evans Building Room 105.
Cheuse is the author of the novels “The Bohemians,” “The Grandmothers' Club,” “The Light Possessed” and the award-winning “To Catch the Lightning.” He also has written several collections of short fiction, a pair of novellas published as “The Fires,” and the nonfiction work “Fall Out of Heaven: An Autobiographical Journey.”
His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Black Warrior Review, Boston Globe Sunday Magazine and Another Chicago Magazine, among other places.
A collection of his travel writing, “A Trance After Breakfast,” was published in the summer of 2009, and his three-volume introduction to literary study, “Literature: Craft & Voice,” which he wrote with Nicholas Delbanco came out from McGraw-Hill last year. His new novel, “Song of Slaves in the Desert,” will appear this spring.
As a book commentator, Cheuse is a regular contributor to National Public Radio's “All Things Considered.”
“We are happy to have such a distinguished and well known writer and critic come to campus because it gives our students and faculty a chance to meet with a living author of national renown, to enjoy listening to him read his work in person, and to be able to ask questions and learn more about the craft of fiction writing,” said Melissa Morphew, English professor.
“Alan Cheuse is highly respected and beloved not only by his readers but by the listeners of NPR, and we are so lucky to get this opportunity to have him on campus,” she said.
The reading is free and open to the public.
It is sponsored by the English department and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
For more information, contact Morphew at 936.294.1944 or eng_smm@shsu.edu.
Physics Colloquium To Feature UH Prof
Jiming Bao will discuss the research he does on Fano resonances as an assistant professor in the University of Houston’s electrical and computer engineering department on Thursday (Oct. 14).
The physics colloquium lecture will begin at 3 p.m. in Farrington Building Room 209.
Bao joined the University of Houston faculty in 2008.
He obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from in physics from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, in 1992 and 1995 respectively.
From 1996 to 1999, he was a physics graduate student at Wayne State University in Detroit, after which he became a graduate student in the applied physics program at the University of Michigan. He earned his doctorate from the University of Michigan in 2003.
He also served as a post-doctoral fellow, and later a research associate, at Harvard University from 2003-2008.
For more information, call the physics department at 936.294.1601.
Health Fair, Football Game To ‘Pink Out’ Campus
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, SHSU’s Kats for the Cause organization will provide information on multiple forms of cancer for its first “In the Pink” Health Fair on Thursday (Oct. 14).
Booths from various SHSU organizations and departments will be set up in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Among the participants are the SHSU Student Health Center, American Cancer Society, Colleges Against Cancer, Zeta Tau Alpha, Recreational Sports, Colon Cancer Alliance, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative, Student Activities, Livestrong and many others.
“Our mission is to create awareness, change attitudes, and commit others to action,” said Lisa Joyner, Kats for the Cause committee chair and health graduate program assistant.
Organizations involved in the annual Pink Out T-shirt sales will also be selling this year’s Kats for the Cause teaser and pink shirts during the “In the Pink” Health Fair.
The fourth annual Pink Out football game is scheduled for Nov. 6, when the Bearkats will take on McNeese State. Those who purchase the Pink Out shirts are encouraged to wear them to that game.
T-shirts also will be sold in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area. T-shirts will be sold for $10, the proceeds from which will benefit cancer awareness and education organizations.
For more information, contact Joyner at stdlij11@shsu.edu.
Students To Give Presentation On Summer Study Trip
Students who traveled to Japan last summer as part of the College of Business Administration’s study abroad program will discuss their experiences and associate professor of economics Hiranya Nath will introduce plans for a 2011 trip on Thursday (Oct. 14).
Japan Study Abroad Program presentations will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Smith-Hutson Business Building’s Haney Auditorium, in SHB Room 186.
The newly created program took 13 students, including two graduate students, to Osaka, Japan, for four weeks last summer to take classes on comparative economic systems and contemporary international issues in economics, according to Nath.
“As part of the program, we visited historic sites in Kyoto and Nara,” he said. “We also visited Panasonic and Suntory Distillery. We had four guest speakers who were from academics, business and government.”
Nath said the arrangement was set up as part of an exchange agreement with Momoyama Gakuin (St. Andrew's) University.
After the presentation by the students, Nath will provide information about next summer’s program for students interested in visiting Japan. He said he plans to teach the same courses as last summer, which were classified as Economics 335 and Economics 374.
The cost of the trip is estimated to be approximately $3,000, plus tuition for two courses, which includes airfare, home stay with host families for one month, breakfast and dinner, field trips and guest lecture fees.
Refreshment will be served during the event.
For more information, contact Nath at 936.294.4760 or eco_hkn@shsu.edu.
Center Collecting Memorabilia For Vet Day Exhibit
The Veterans Resource Center will pay tribute to “SHSU Heroes” by displaying pictures and biographies of military personnel for a Veterans Day exhibit in the Lowman Student Center.
The center will collect materials on veterans or those who are current soldiers, including SHSU alumni, students or faculty or staff until Nov. 1. Displays of family members who are current soldiers or veterans are also welcome.
The SHSU Heroes exhibit will run in the LSC Art Gallery the week of Veterans Day (Nov. 8).
“Our goal is to fill every inch of that gallery and honor the veterans who sacrifice so much for us,” said Kathy Hudson, VRC coordinator. “We want to honor veterans and bring attention to Veterans Day and remembering what these men and women have done for us.”
Submissions can be mailed to the Veterans Resource Center, Box 2029, Huntsville, Texas, 77341-2029, or e-mailed to k.hudson@shsu.edu. Submissions should include contact information, and mailed submissions should indicate whether the items should be returned.
For more information, contact Hudson at 936.294.2642 or k.hudson@shsu.edu.
Music Faculty To Jazz Up PAC
Four School of Music professors will perform jazz and Latin-inspired music during a faculty recital on Monday (Oct. 11).
The concert—featuring Scott Plugge, playing saxophone; Ilonka Rus, playing piano; John Lane, playing drums; and David Craig, playing bass—will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
The program will include “Fantaisie,” written by French Canadian composer and organist Denis Bedard and “Histoire du Tango for Soprano Saxophone and Piano,” by legendary Latin-American composer Astor Piazzolla.
“The piece (“Histoire”) is in four movements: ‘Bordel 1900,’ ‘Cafe 1930,’ ‘Night-club 1960’ and ‘Concert d'Aujourd'Hui,’” said Ilonka Rus, assistant professor of piano. “It is a delightful reflection of the evolution of the tango.”
The last piece, by French jazz pianist and composer Claude Bolling, is titled “Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano,” for which Plugge transposed the flute part to saxophone.
“It is a fun and entertaining slice of jazz music,” Rus said.
The concert is free.
For more information, call the School of Music at 936.294.1360.
Barnyard To Provide Ag Learning Experience For Kids
Elementary school-aged children will have the opportunity to learn about nutrition and animals during the 15th Annual Block and Bridle Children's Barnyard Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 12-13).
SHSU animal science club members will share their knowledge with more than 1,200 area children, ages 3-8 years old, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Indoor Rodeo Arena Complex, located at the Ag Center, along Interstate Highway 45.
The event includes walkthrough pens, where children can pet docile farm animals, sit on a horse or learn to rope, as well as educational stations that explain the nutritional importance of milk, eggs and meat.
Green Thumb activities will be available for the children to learn about plants and green houses.
SHSU students will also demonstrate agricultural science projects.
"Agriculture has a huge impact on everyone's daily life whether they realize it or not," said Marcy Beverly, associate professor of animal science. "You can't wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, or drive to school in the morning without something agricultural related."
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Beverly at 936.294.1222 or mmbeverly@shsu.edu.
Planetarium Series To Explore Space Program History
The SHSU physics department will take audiences on “The Great Space Race,” highlighting the stories of the United States and Russian space programs with its planetarium series program on Tuesday (Oct. 12).
The show, written by high school students in Utah, will begin at 7 p.m. in Farrington Building Room 102.
“‘The Great Space Race’ tells the story of the U.S. and Russian space programs, from Sputnik to the ISS missions following the Columbia disaster,” said Michael Prokosch, physics department staff laboratory assistant. “Guests get to hear and see more of what the Soviet space program was up to during the Apollo era and before.”
In addition, Prokosch will show participants which constellations they can expect to see in the fall skies—Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, and Andromeda—as well as Jupiter, which is visible for the next six months.
“These are the main characters in the movie ‘Clash of the Titans,’” he said. “I will also show guests how to find Comet 103P/Hartley 2. It will be visible to the naked eye the whole month of October and with binoculars through the end of November. Also, now and for the next six months is the best time to look at Jupiter.
“The Great Space Race” is a family show, with “something for everyone,” Prokosch said, adding that audiences are invited to stay after the hour-long presentation to ask questions or discuss events covered during the program.
Future presentations are scheduled for Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, all at 7 p.m.
Admission is free.
For more information, contact Prokosch at 936.294.3664 or visit the Planetarium WikiPage at http://shsu-planetarium.wikispaces.com/.
Teacher Job Fair Attracts 65 Schools
Representatives from approximately 65 schools and school districts will be talking to potential employees during the Fall Teacher Job Fair on Wednesday (Oct. 13).
The fair, open to all students and alumni, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Recruiters from districts from Texas’ metropolitan areas, as well as smaller school districts and a few private schools, will be available, including Bryan, College Station, Conroe, Galena Park, Garland, Houston and Spring’s The Goodard School, among many others.
In addition, agencies such as the GETCAP Head Start, Harris County Department of Education, Education Service Center Regions 4 and 6 and Teacher Job Network Region 10 will be available to discuss other employment possibilities.
Students are encouraged to bring copies of resumes and dress professionally.
For more information, contact Career Services at 936.294.1713 or careerservices@shsu.edu, or to see a complete list of participating school districts, visit the Jobs 4 Kats Web site at https://www.myinterfase.com/shsu/student/.
Communication Instructor Honored By State
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| Jaggers accepted the 2010 Texas Volunteer of the Year award in Austin on Sept. 9. |
Terri Jaggers, an adjunct instructor in SHSU’s communication studies department was named “Texas Volunteer of the Year” by the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards on Sept. 9.
Jaggers began serving on the Montgomery County CPS/Child Welfare Board in January 2009 but has been no stranger to the foster care system.
As a former Harris County licensed foster parent, she and her husband, Pat, have fostered 25 children and have adopted four children.
As the former Mrs. Texas 2005 and Mrs. US America 2008, she has raised more than $1 million for organizations throughout the U.S. that work with foster children.
Jaggers is recognized as an expert in America’s foster care system, has worked with the Texas Legislature on policies affecting foster families, and is a frequent speaker and educator on foster and adoptive issues.
“This award represents Ms. Jaggers’ spearheaded efforts within this past fiscal year,” said communication studies graduate adviser Frances Brandau-Brown, who also serves on the Montgomery County CPS/Child Welfare Board.
Among her achievements is the coordination of the first adoption fair in which dozens of eligible Texas foster children were featured for adoption. As a result, all but two of the featured children have been placed in permanent adoptive families.
She also organizes all aspects of Montgomery County’s celebrations of National Adoption Month, Montgomery County’s Adoption Day, and Harris County’s Christmas Family Law Adoption Days, which have celebrated nearly 400 foster care adoptions the past two years.
In addition, Jaggers organized several community partnerships with faith-based organizations securing school supplies, backpacks, clothing, shoes, diapers, birthday presents, summer camps, activities, and specific Christmas wishes for children in the state’s conservatorship. The partnerships offer education and training opportunities, as well as needed furnishings and supplies for Texas foster children.
“One of Ms. Jaggers’ greatest strengths is her ability to convince leaders within both the public and private sectors to cooperatively work together, under her guidance and vision,” said former Conroe Mayor and SHSU alumnus Tommy Metcalf.
Jaggers is also a 2010 communication studies master’s program graduate.
Herskowitz Inducted To Media Wall Of Honor
SHSU’s Warner Endowed Chair in Journalism Mickey Herskowitz has been elected by the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor Committee and the Houston Astros as the 2010 inductee into the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor.
The former Houston Chronicle writer is the fourth individual to be inducted into the Wall of Honor, joining media pioneer Anita Martini, the inaugural 2007 inductee; former Astros radio broadcaster Gene Elston, 2008; and former Houston Chronicle writer Neil Hohlfeld, 2009.
Herskowitz was one of Houston’s original beat writers and columnists, having covered the team since its inception in 1962. He wrote for both the Houston Post and Houston Chronicle.
A graduate of the University of Houston, Herskowitz became the nation’s youngest sports editor of a major newspaper at age 26 and later received international recognition for his coverage of the terrorist tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
He was the first writer to win national first place awards in three Associated Press categories in one year, 1968.
Herskowitz also has authored books on historical figures such as Gene Autry, Nolan Ryan, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Prescott Bush and was the ghostwriter of several autobiographies, including those of Dan Rather and Mickey Mantle.
A former Marine, he has been inducted into the Houston Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame, and received the national Headliners Award for excellence in sports writing. Herskowitz is also a former executive with the American Football League, a New York magazine editor, and an original partner in the Houston Rockets. He was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Herskowitz was recognized during a pre-game ceremony on Oct. 1 and was presented with an induction plaque. Another plaque will be installed at the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor display on the broadcast level of the Minute Maid Park press box.
Herskowitz was selected as this year’s inductee by a vote of season-credentialed media that cover Astros baseball.
The Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor each season inducts a current or former Houston media member who has made significant and lasting contributions to the landscape of Houston baseball through their work in journalism or broadcasting. Nominations are solicited from all media members who receive season credentials from the Astros.
Those individuals were placed on the final ballot. Herskowitz received the most votes of the nominees on this year’s ballot.
Rodeo Teams Hit The Ground Running
Sam Houston State University’s women’s rodeo team broke away from the competition, kicking off its season with a win at the North East Texas Community College Rodeo in Mount Pleasant.
The women’s team was led by Victoria Guinn, who ran the fastest time in the goat tying with 7.4 seconds to take first place.
Liz Combs, who finished fifth in goat tying and fourth in barrel racing, won second place in the women’s all-around category, for participants who earn the most points in two or more categories during a rodeo.
Megan Duvall won the barrel-racing event, followed Brit VanWinkle, who finished fifth.
Kaki Herring, the 2010 Southern Region “All-Around Cowgirl,” showed consistency with a second place finish in breakaway roping.
“Our women’s team showed that they have the ability and talent to carry them to a regional championship title,” said Bubba Miller, rodeo coach. “With their hard work and dedication this group of rodeo athletes could definitely be rewarded with a national title this summer in Casper, Wyo., at the College National Finals Rodeo.”
The men’s team was led by a strong group of rough stock riders including Cody Teel who had the highest score in the bull riding with an 87 point ride, leading him to a first place finish. Teammate Justin Thomas earned second place in the bull-riding event with an 85-point ride.
Saddle bronc rider Jeremy Melancon won second place for the event, followed by Derk Robinson in third place and Jake Hebert tied for sixth.
Caleb Smidt, the 2010 Southern Region “All-Around Cowboy,” earned fourth place in team roping; Colby Walkoviak finished seventh in tie down roping, followed by Cade Rice in eighth; and Huntsville Cowboy Tyler Gibson placed fifth in steer wrestling, followed by Cade Rice in eighth place.
In the bareback riding, Tutor finished sixth, while Huntsville cowboy Taylor Price took seventh place and Tyler Morgan finished ninth place.
“Our men’s team is very well rounded. We are strong in every event,” Miller said. “The men’s team should have an extremely successful year both in the regional and national level.”
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southern Region standings after the first rodeo places the women’s team in first with 515 points and the men’s team in fifth with 285 points.
The SHSU Rodeo Team will host its annual college rodeo Nov. 4-6 in Conroe at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The next college rodeo will be at Southwest Texas Junior Community College Oct. 8-9.
Send Update Items Here
Information for the SHSU Update can be sent to the Office of Communications 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 staff ample time to make necessary contacts and write the story.
For electronic access to SHSU news see the Communications Web page Today@Sam.
- END -
SHSU Media Contacts: Bruce Erickson, Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Oct. 7, 2010
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Director: Bruce Erickson
Assistant Director: Julia May
Writer: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.
