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SHSU Update For Week Of Aug. 14
- Patio Party To Welcome New, Returning Employees
- Fifth ‘Chalk Talk’ To Let Women In The Huddle
- ROTC Sends Four Into The Ranks
- Williams Named President-Elect Of International Group
- Program Seeks Employee Mentors For New Students
- ASIS Houston Welcomes Scholarship Winners
- Today@Sam Seeks Calendar Info
- Send Update Items Here
Patio Party To Welcome New, Returning Employees
Faculty and staff at Sam Houston State University are invited to join the Alumni Association for their annual Party on the Patio celebration on Aug. 31.
The luau-themed event will be from 4-6 p.m. on the second level patio of the John R. Ragsdale Visitor and Alumni Center.
Party on the Patio provides an opportunity for faculty and staff on campus to mingle, as well as meet new colleagues on campus before the semester starts, according to Charlie Vienne, executive director for Alumni Relations.
“It is a really fun event, and we encourage all faculty and staff to attend,” Vienne said.
The reception also provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to demonstrate their Bearkat pride and join the Alumni Association at a discounted rate of $25.
Payroll deduction is also available for those interested in life membership.
“The Sam Houston State University Alumni Association is committed to supporting the heritage and future of our institution by serving the interests of alumni, current students, and friends of the university,” Vienne said. “Membership is one of the most affordable ways for faculty and staff to demonstrate their Bearkat pride.”
For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 800.283.7478.
Fifth ‘Chalk Talk’ To Let Women In The Huddle
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| Defensive coordinator Scott Stoker shows women the Xs and Os of football during last year's Football 101. |
Women who want to learn the “X’s and O’s” of the game of football, as well as the meaning behind those hand signals given by the referees, will be taught all of that and more during the fifth annual State Farm Football 101: Chalk Talk for Women on Aug. 22.
The clinic will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Ron Randleman Strength and Fitness Center, located next to Don Sanders Stadium.
The clinic will feature football lessons from the SHSU coaching staff, including head coach Willie Fritz, a tour of the facilities and hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Participants will learn the different responsibilities of the offense, defense and special teams; have an opportunity to run out on the field just like the football team does on game day; and obtain instruction from coaches on throwing, catching and other elements of the game, as well as meet some of the Bearkat football players.
The event is a partnership with State Farm designed to teach women the basics of the game of football in a fun, social environment.
Registration is $20 per person or $140 for a table of eight. On the day of the event, a single registration is $25.
To make a reservation, call the Bearkat Athletics Office at 936.294.4205.
ROTC Sends Four Into The Ranks
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| The newly-commissioned second lieutenants include Robert Stoermer, Jo Karge, A.J. Harms, and Nicholas Seaman. |
Four recent SHSU graduates, including one with a more than 114-year family history of military service, were recently promoted from “cadet” to “second lieutenant” during the summer Bearkat Battalion Commissioning Ceremony.
They include A.J. Harms, Jo Karge, Nicholas Seaman, and Robert Stoermer.
A Bloomington, Ill., native, Harms was a part of the simultaneous membership program with the Texas Army National Guard with the 3/144th Infantry Regiment in Kilgore, when he came to SHSU.
During his time in ROTC, he was a member of the Schuder’s Ranger Company; the Ranger Challenge Team, serving as the assistant team coach his senior year; and in the color guard. He also served in several leadership positions for the Ranger Company.
Harms graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and a minor in Military Science.
He was selected for active duty service and will serve as an infantry officer at his first duty assignment at Fort Carson, Colo.
A Prattville, Ala., native Karge was a four-year Army ROTC scholarship recipient, who went on to serve various leadership positions with ROTC.
While in ROTC, she also was a member of the color guard, the cannon crew and the March to the Grave rifle squad.
Karge graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a minor in military science.
Coming from a family tradition of military service, she received a reserve duty commission as a signal corps officer and will serve her first duty assignment with the 368th Engineer Detachment in Decatur, Ga.
A native Houstonian, Seaman served as a simultaneous membership program cadet in the Texas Army National Guard with the 3/144th Infantry Regiment in Kilgore, while at SHSU.
During his time in ROTC, he participated in the color guard, the March to the Grave rifle squad, was a member of the Schuder’s Ranger Company, and served in multiple Ranger Company leadership roles.
Seaman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a minor in military science.
He received a reserve duty commission in the Texas Army National Guard as an infantry officer, serving his first duty assignment with Alpha Company 3/144th Infantry Regiment in Greenville. He is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan at the end of 2012.
A San Antonio native, Stoermer received a four-year Army ROTC scholarship to SHSU.
During his participation in the Bearkat Battalion, Stoermer was a member of the Ranger Challenge Team, serving as the Team Leader during the fall of 2010; of the March to the Grave rifle squad; and served in various leadership positions within the battalion.
Stoermer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial technology in construction management and a minor in military science.
Continuing in a family tradition of military service that spans 114 years and includes eight officers, Stoermer received an active duty commission as a field artillery officer and will attend Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla., before reporting to his first duty assignment.
Williams Named President-Elect Of International Group
Patricia Williams, professor of education, has been selected as president-elect of the Phi Delta Kappa International organization, the premier professional association for educators.
With the election Williams will serve as president-elect for two years, through July 2013, before serving as president for two years and then past president for two years.
“I see this honor as one of my major career highlights,” Williams said. “Phi Delta Kappa International is known throughout the world, and I am deeply grateful to be selected as president-elect.
“I want to serve all our members, including those in Phi Lambda Theta and the Future Educators Association, and help make a difference in the lives of educators and students on a global scale,” she said.
Williams has been a member of the organization for more than 30 years, when she joined SHSU’s chapter. She is now a lifetime member.
“Phi Delta Kappa has been a tremendous influence in my professional life, and I want others to reap the same benefits,” she said. “As an executive board officer, I want to serve our members and live the motto of SHSU through my actions.”
Williams began teaching in SHSU’s College of Education in 1979. She was promoted to full professor in 1992.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 and her Master of Arts degree in 1974, both from SHSU; and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in English education from the University of Houston in 1979.
Among her accolades was being named in 2009 as Self Magazine’s “Women Doing Good Award” runner-up.
“Beyonce Knowles won it for 2010, so I felt that I was in pretty good company,” she said.
The premier professional association for educators, Phi Delta Kappa International is one of the largest education associations in the world and has thousands of members dedicated to improving education, including teachers, principals, superintendents, and higher education faculty and administrators.
“PDK’s mission is to support education, particularly public education, as the cornerstone of democracy,” Williams said. “Its vision is to be the experts in cultivating great educators for tomorrow while continuing to ensure high-quality education for today.”
Program Seeks Employee Mentors For New Students
SHSU faculty, staff and administrators can help new students transition from high school to college and encourage academic success and social exploration through the Dean of Students’ Office’s Freshman Learning About Sam Houston Mentoring Program.
The office is currently seeking mentors for the fall and spring semester.
“The program primarily serves first-time Sam Houston State University students by pairing them with a caring faculty/staff member and a program of services designed to sustain their educational success at SHSU,” said Chelsea Smith, parent relations and programming coordinator for the Dean of Students’ Office.
“Mentors create nurturing and personalized university experiences for new students, thus easing the transition from high school to college and assisting in the retention and graduation of college students,” she said. “Ideally, friendships will develop in such a way that students feel comfortable in approaching their mentors for help or referral with academic, social, and personal adjustment concerns.”
The FLASH program matches mentors at random, though in some cases pairs are matched by special skills, needs, major, hobbies or interests.
An orientation workshop is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m., during which participants can get information about the mentor relationship, resources on campus, how to assist new students, and ask questions.
Mentors are expected to actively participate in events and programs sponsored by the FLASH Mentoring Program; keep in regular contact or schedule appointments with mentees during the academic year, suggested at least once very two weeks; and notify the Dean of Students’ Office if you are not satisfied with your mentoring relationship, according to Smith.
FLASH will host a number of opportunities for mentors to meet one-on-one with their student throughout the year, including a kickoff luncheon, holiday mixer, and end of the year banquet.
Applications are available online at http://www.shsu.edu/~slo_www/programs/mentor.html.
For more information, contact Smith at 936.294.1785 or doso@shsu.edu.
ASIS Houston Welcomes Scholarship Winners
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| SHSU scholarship winners and their guests were recently honored by the Houston Chapter of ASIS. They include (from left) Cody Wortham, Garrett Samples, Craig Furrow, Lauren Smith, Jim Dozier and Jennifer Shearer. |
SHSU security studies graduate students were recently honored during a monthly meeting of the Houston Chapter of the American Society of Industrial Security.
Cody Wortham, Lauren Smith and Jennifer Shearer received scholarships from the organization, which represents more than 37,000 security professionals worldwide.
The students plan to use the scholarship funds to continue their studies. Wortham said he would like to pursue a career in the intelligence field in a collection or analyst position. Smith said she would like to work in national security, but is keeping her career options open.
“ASIS has given us the opportunity to begin the transition from our academic pursuits to the real-world of security professionals,” Smith said. “To that end, ASIS continues to provide us with useful mentorship and helpful professional networking.”
During the meeting, the scholarship winners and their guests learned more about geospatial analysis in a lecture by U.S. Marshal Frank Weber, who demonstrated how open sources information, along with GIS programs like Google Earth, could be a helpful tool for public and private security professionals alike.
As an example, Weber showed how Google Earth could have been used in the case of Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped in 1991 when she was 11 years old and forced to live in a series of sheds behind Phillip Garrido’s home in Antioch, Calif. Dugard was discovered two decade later, in 2009, after she had two children by Garrido. Garrido and his wife, Nancy, were sentenced in May.
“Because of its wide applicability, gaining knowledge about geospatial systems would be beneficial to anyone seeking a future in security,” Smith said.
The American Society of Industrial Security is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests as well as specific security topics.
“The members of ASIS Houston consider it an honor and privilege to welcome these young professionals to our community,” said Mike Mallon, local chapter president. “The importance of mentorship to outstanding students by our members cannot be understated.”
Today@Sam Seeks Calendar Info
The University Communications Office is now collecting information on campus events for its fall calendar pages.
Departmental calendars or events can be sent to today@sam.edu or jenniferg@shsu.edu or faxed to 294.1834. Please include the date, location and time of the event, as well as a brief description and a contact person.
Information collected for the Today@Sam calendar pages, at /calendars/, is used by various media outlets, as well as the Communications Office for news stories and releases.
All information, including story ideas and update items for Today@Sam, should be sent a minimum of a week in advance of the event in order to make necessary contacts and write a story.
For more information, call 936.294.1836.
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.
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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Aug. 12, 2011
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Director: TBD
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.
