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SHSU Update For Week Of June 9, 2013
- Hanel Receives ‘New Professionals’ Award
- Sanchez Recognized By Academic Advising Association
- Museum To Sponsor Fourth Annual Amateur Photo Contest
- Repertory To Present Four Productions In First Summer Session
- Planetarium Series To Highlight Galaxy For All Ages
- Museum To Demonstrate Pioneer Practices With Hands-On Events
- CJ Undergrads Win First Summer Research Award
- College Hosts Summit For CJ Programs Nationwide
- Today@Sam Seeks Summer, Fall Calendar Info
- Submit Update Items Here
Hanel Receives ‘New Professionals’ Award
Sarah Hanel, director of the Sam Houston State University Student Health Center, was recognized with the New Affiliate Professionals Award by the American College Health Association on May 30 during the association’s annual conference in Boston.
The New Affiliate Professionals Award is presented to ACHA members who have provided service to the field of college health for five years or less and who have made significant contributions to their institutions and/or affiliate.
“This award is held to a high standard because it recognizes new professionals who are developing college health,” Hanel said. “The award brings attention to the university that you are representing and brings new ideas to the table. It will allow SHSU to represent Texas and to have a voice in how college health operates.”
Among Hanel’s contributions during her two-and-a-half years as SHC director are implementing a practice management system and electronic health system; advocating for increased employee growth to keep up with the student demand; and successfully securing funding for and the integration of a new Student Health and Counseling Center, “with the help of the clinical and counseling team,” Hanel said.
She also has overseen the reaccreditation of the SHC through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Care and partnered with the SHSU nursing program to develop a preceptorship rotation through the clinic.
Hanel was nominated by Drew Miller, executive director for Counseling and Health Services at SHSU, and two other college health directors from out of state and was selected as the winner by a committee from the AHCA’s Southwest College Health Association.
After receiving the award, Hanel also was elected to serve as the ACHA representative for the state of Texas for a two-year term.
“I was honored to receive this award and represent SHSU and our outstanding medical team,” Hanel said.
“Our students deserve the best in college health care. To fulfill this mission, our clinic is moving forward and working on being progressive and innovative with the services and quality care that we provide,” she said. “It is my hope that this award represents the steps that we are taking to accomplish these goals and standards that we set for our clinic.”
Sanchez Recognized By Academic Advising Association
Edgard Sanchez, assistant academic adviser for Sam Houston State University’s Student Advising and Mentoring Center, has been selected to receive the National Academic Advising Association’s Certificate of Merit in recognition of being an “Outstanding New Adviser-Primary Role.”
The award is given to individuals whose primary role at an institution is the direct delivery of advising services to students and have been employed in that role for three or fewer years.
Sanchez’s main area of responsibility is providing advisement for students who are a part of the ELITE program, a program dedicated to promoting academic development and encouraging civic engagement among incoming minority males.
Sanchez said he tried to emulate the qualities of an outstanding adviser—someone who is efficient and effective, but truly cares about the future of students, as well as their overall well being, whether it be mental, physical or emotional.
Since 1983, NACADA has honored individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising.
Museum To Sponsor Fourth Annual Amateur Photo Contest
For the fourth year, the Sam Houston Memorial Museum is offering amateur photographers the opportunity to get exposure for their work and compete for cash prizes as part of their fourth annual photography contest.
The contest will recognize non-professional photographers in eight categories, including “Travel,” “Old,” “Food,” “Faces,” “Action,” “Flora and Fauna,” “New” and “Black and White.
Prizes will include $200 for “Best in Show,” $100 for Reserve Best in Show, and $20 for first, $15 for second, and $10 for third place in each of the categories.
Submissions will be accepted until Sept. 6 and must be postmarked or delivered to the museum by 4 p.m. that day.
There is a $5 cost per entry, and photographers may enter as many categories as they wish, but no more than two photographs per contestant per category,” according to Megan Buro, museum marketing coordinator.
Entries will be judged in a private session by a panel of independent judges, and winners will be contacted by phone.
There are no residency requirements to enter the contest, which is “open to anyone and everyone who is an avid amateur photographer,” Buro said.
Participating entries in the 2013 Amateur Photo Contest and the winning photographs will be displayed in the Katy and E. Don Walker Sr. Walker Education Center Exhibit Gallery from Oct. 15 to Dec. 22. Awards will be presented and participants will be recognized during the exhibit’s opening reception on Oct. 14.
Application forms, along with information about and rules for the contest, are available at the museum during business hours or online at samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/photography-contest.
“Any violation of the contest rules will result in disqualification, so it is important for contestants to read the rules and regulations for the contest,” Buro said.
The Sam Houston Memorial Museum is open from Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Sundays, from noon to 4:30 p.m.
For more information, contact museum exhibits curator Casey Roon at 936.294.3292 or Buro at 936.294.3839.
Repertory To Present Four Productions In First Summer Session
The Sam Houston State University Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre will present four productions in June as part of its Summer I Repertory Theatre.
The series of productions will open with “The Zoo Story,” written by Edward Albee and directed by senior musical theatre major Garrett Reeves, on June 20-21. Performances for all of the summer repertory productions will begin at 8 p.m. in the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center Dance Theater.
"The Zoo Story" is Albee's first piece of dramatic literature and is considered a milestone for American theatre and playwrights.
"The show is a long one-act that takes place on a bench in Central Park, New York, as we watch the chance encounter of two men, Peter, a mild mannered publisher in the upper-middle class, and his erratic counterpart Jerry, an eccentric and somewhat ungroomed loner," Reeves said. "Peter and Jerry couldn't be more opposite, but through the circumstance of the play they form an odd connection that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
"I love the theme of the show—it deals with man and his struggle to repress his animal instinct in order to live in a modern society," he said. "Probably what's most unique about this production is the location. The play takes place on a park bench outdoors, and we happen to have a beautiful campus with several great locations, so the play will be performed outdoors under the shade of trees on a parkbench near the Old Main Pit.
"I believe that doing this production outside will keep it very authentic to what the play is meant to accomplish."
An original script entitled “A Dime a Dozen,” written by SHSU theatre alumnus Richard McKinney and directed by theatre manager Katie Stefaniak, will be presented on June 22-23.
“A Dime a Dozen” focuses on the emotional struggle a family that is suffering the loss of a loved one, and how they keep hope alive by putting their trust, and their imagination, into the meaning of all the lost dimes the family begins to collect.
The play is based loosely on a true story and will be presented as a staged reading, according to Stefaniak.
“A staged reading means the actors will have the scripts with them on stage and will just sit and read the play out loud to the audience,” she said. “It is a great way to workshop the piece and is a great benefit to the playwright.
“We usually will have a ‘talk-back’ session with the audience which gives them an opportunity to ask questions to the cast or of the director/playwright,” she said.
On June 24-25, Neil LaBute’s story of the hopelessness of love and the "(often ridiculous) feelings of what beauty is" will take the stage, directed by senior theatre major Emily Mansfield.
“Reasons to be Pretty” follows Greg after a thoughtless comment about his girlfriend's face proves to end their four-year relationship.
"As a freshman in college I fell in love with this show because it one of the more realistic pieces I have come across," Mansfield said. "LaBute does not sugar coat the ugliness of people, but he does so without alienating us from the characters.
"There are pieces in all four characters people can relate to or understand, even if we do not admit it," she said. "The characters are honest and, in general, it allows strong acting with minimal technical requirements, which is ideal for summer rep."
Finally, the first summer session will close with “ Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls,” written by Naomi Iizuka and directed by GPAC ticket office manager Calvin Hudson, on June 27-28.
Tickets for each performance is $5.
All shows contain adult themes.
Parking for performances is available behind the Newton Gresham Library, and a complimentary golf cart will be in the parking lot to assist patrons to the theatre door for free.
For more information on any of the Summer I Repertory performances, contact Stefaniak at 936.294.3968.
Planetarium Series To Highlight Galaxy For All Ages
The SHSU physics department will travel to outer space with a teddy bear, highlight ‘colorful’ constellations and introduce the “nature of science,” giving Bearkats and the local community a “cool” place to escape the summer heat through its planetarium series program.
The summer series will kick off with an educational opportunity for children with “Wilbear’s Adventure,” on Wednesday (June 12) at 4 p.m. in SHSU’s Planetarium, in Farrington Building Room 102.
“Wilbear’s Adventure,” for children ages 5 and up, is about a teddy bear who wants to fly and includes the story of the Wright brothers and finding constellations.
Michael Prokosch, physics department staff laboratory assistant, said that programs such as this one are a great way to introduce youth to science during a time when that age group is out of school.
“Our children's programs have been very popular in the past,” he said.
Also during the program, Prokosch will point out the major constellations that can be viewed during the summertime, including Hercules, Coma Berenices, Bootes, Ursa Major, Draco, Scorpius and the Summer Triangle.
“The planet Saturn also rules this summer,” he said.
Finally, the event will include a “sneak peak” of a new show the planetarium will debut in the fall, “Chaos and Order,” which promises to be “fun,” Prokosch said.
On June 19, the planetarium will present “The Nature of Science” and “The Colors of Summer,” also beginning at 4 p.m.
“The Nature of Science” is a 22-minute program intended to communicate what science is and how scientists work, according to Prokosch.
“The show features interviews with university science faculty as they discuss their work,’ he said.
“The Colors of Summer” highlights “the summer constellations and all their splendor: more colors than you can imagine,” according to Prokosch.
Repeat presentations scheduled for the summer include “Wilbear’s Adventure” on June 26, July 17 and July 31; and “The Nature of Science” and “The Colors of Summer,” on July 10, July 24 and Aug. 7.
For more information, contact Prokosch at 936.294.3664 or visit the Planetarium WikiPage at shsu-planetarium.wikispaces.com.
Museum To Demonstrate Pioneer Practices With Hands-On Events
This summer, guests visiting the Sam Houston Memorial Museum to learn about the life of Gen. Sam Houston and his family will also have the opportunity to learn some of the skills and trades of some of Texas’s early settlers through a series of interactive demonstrations.
On Wednesday (June 12), the first of two summer presentations on log cabin construction will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Bear Bend Cabin, on the museum grounds.
“From Ax and Tree to Pioneer Home” will explore the techniques of pioneer architecture and the tools they used in erecting a cabin such as Bear Bend, which is a classic double pen, two-story log cabin with a central dogtrot and features two differing notching styles.
On June 19, the museum staff will highlight the “king” agricultural product of Texas during the 1800s—cotton—during a carding, cleaning, spinning and weaving presentation from 9 a.m. to noon at Bear Bend Cabin.
“We’ll pick cotton bolls, clean them, card them, spin them and weave them at this all-ages-welcome event,” said Danielle Brissette, museum historical interpreter.
On June 26, the “Tin Punch” demonstration will allow both children and adults the opportunity to create their own hand-made crafts from 9 a.m. to noon at Bear Bend Cabin, with hands-on activities beginning each hour.
“After Texas pioneers settled into their new homes, they began to make them beautiful. Tin was readily available in the form of cans and sheets which settlers would poke holes into to make designs,” Brissette said. “This decorated tin could be used to make candle holders, pie safes and more.”
All ages are welcome, although children must be accompanied by an attentive adult, and attendees are encouraged to bring a hammer or mallet, if one is available.
Finally, museum staff will explore your “John Hancock” on July 3 during a presentation on the “Signatures of our Forefathers: Quill, Ink, and the Declaration of Independence.
During the event, from 9 a.m. to noon at Bear Bend Cabin, participants can learn how “a signature is more than simply writing one’s name” by examining famous autographs, including those on the Declaration of Independence, and making their own mark using a quill pen.
These demonstrations provide the opportunity for the museum staff to supplement the educational aspect of the museum’s holdings by allowing visitors to take an active role in learning about 1800s Texas, according to Megan Buro, museum marketing coordinator.
“We have a wonderful education department that enjoys their job of educating visitors to the museum, young or old, about the life and times of Sam Houston,” she said.
“Last year was our first year to offer the summer demonstrations. We were happy with the response they received, and our education team wanted to do it again this summer,” she said. “The schedule for this summer is packed full with a variety of demonstrations; some we had last year, but we have added several new ones, like King Cotton on June 19.
“Not only are these demonstrations an educational tool, but they are good way for families to spend time together.”
For each event, a $5 donation is recommended per person.
For more information on these, or other Sam Houston Memorial Museum events, call 936.294.4895 or 936.294.3936.
CJ Undergrads Win First Summer Research Award
Three undergraduate students from the College of Criminal Justice will spend the summer researching a new “three-strikes” law half a world away.
Sara Winbigler, Kevin Madden and Kelsie Newman were among three teams awarded the first Undergraduate Research Summer Stipend at Sam Houston State University.
Along with faculty adviser Matt Nobles, assistant professor of criminal justice, the students will study the impact of a new three-strikes law enacted in New Zealand in 2010, which imposes harsher sentences on people convicted of three or more serious criminal offenses. The students will travel to Brisbane in October to present their findings at the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology’s 26th annual conference.
Winbigler, a junior in the Elliott T. Bowers Honors College, developed the proposal after completing an evaluation of the American three-strikes law for a class. She soon learned that New Zealand was the most recent country in the world to adopt the crime-fighting strategy.
“I am really interested in the law and policy analysis and the Honors College has helped me to branch out and given me new ways to do things,” Winbigler said. “I am very excited about this opportunity, and so grateful that Dr. Nobles is mentoring me.
“It is very important to build these relationships in an undergrad career, and it can be difficult when the faculty is overwhelmed with other obligations,” she said. “Dr. Nobles has really gone above and beyond to help me, and my undergrad career would be nothing special if not for him."
Nobles obtained official statistics on crime from the New Zealand police, and the student awardees will evaluate the changes in crime rates before and after the new law was enacted in several different crime categories, including violent and non-violent offenses.
The study also will examine the social and political context of the law, which inspired considerable debate. Published studies evaluating the American three-strikes law have generally concluded that the policy does not have a measurable effect on crime rates, Nobles said.
Nobles said the summer stipend is part of the university’s overall research mission and provides an opportunity for students to pursue graduate studies. It also will allow students to network with faculty and other researchers in the field.
“These are among our very best and brightest students,” he said.
The study also will be presented at SHSU’s Seventh Annual Graduate Research Symposium in April 2014.
“The project is a great opportunity to expand as a student and prepare for further education in the CJ field,” said Newman, a fellow Honors College student.
The SHSU Ad Hoc Undergraduate Research Committee reviewed 43 applications, including four from the College of Criminal Justice, before selecting the proposed project along with two others.
“The committee believes most of the submissions were of exceptional quality and that they represented an ongoing commitment from faculty, departments and colleges, to undergraduate research experiences already taking place on our campus,” the winner announcement said.
College Hosts Summit For CJ Programs Nationwide
Academic leaders in criminal justice and criminology recently gathered at Sam Houston State University for a Graduate Director Summit to share information to improve programs in the discipline across the country.
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| SHSU College of Criminal Justice Dean Vincent Webb leads a discussion among top criminal justice program representatives from across the country. —Submitted photo |
The summit was sponsored by the Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice, an organization comprising 39 universities and colleges offering or planning to offer a doctorate in criminal justice, criminology, and related areas of study.
The two-day program included such topics such as recruiting, mentoring, publishing, and preparing students for the job search as well as how to groom associate professors for leadership roles in graduate programs.
“I think people came away with information on the best practices in doctoral education, and departments shared current data and experiences that they can bring back to their programs and faculty,” said Beth Huebner, ADPCCJ president and graduate program director of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Missouri—St. Louis. “If we can augment our doctoral education, we can strengthen our field.”
The summit was attended by a “Who’s Who” from top criminal justice programs across the country and allows directors to share ideas on how to operate effective programs to advance the study of crime and justice. It also allowed those in the discipline to discuss key issues common to graduate studies in all the institutions.
Among the topics addressed were student recruitment and enhancing diversity in the discipline; student mentoring and professional development; comprehensive exams; curriculum, statistics and methods sequences; strategies for hiring and preparing students for the job search; publishing in the discipline; and the dissertation process.
SHSU serves the secretariat for the ADPCCJ.
During the meeting at the College of Criminal Justice, graduate directors also got an overview of the college and the Criminal Justice Center from Vincent Webb, dean of the college and director of the center.
The number and diversity of institutes on campus provide a wealth of opportunities for graduate students to pursue research in the field, Webb said.
Today@Sam Seeks Summer, Fall Calendar Info
The university Communications Office is now collecting information on campus events for its summer and 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.
To see a full list of the Today@Sam submission guidelines, or to access submission forms for news or feature stories, calendar submissions, or hometown releases, visit /guidelines.html.
For more information, call 936.294.1836.
Submit Update Items Here
In order to assist members of the Sam Houston State University community in publicizing events, the SHSU Communications Office (Today@Sam) is now requesting that students, faculty and staff submit information about events, accomplishments or ideas for feature stories online.
Submission criteria and guidelines, including deadlines, have now been placed online, at /guidelines.html. This information is also accessible through the “Submissions” link in the right-hand navigation on Today@Sam.
From there, those submitting ideas can access forms that will allow them to provide detailed information about their idea, as well as attach event calendars, vitas/resumes or photos, depending on the type of submission.
Ideas submitted to the SHSU Communications Office are directly utilized in several ways: as news stories, “slider” or SHSU home page stories, hometown releases, and on the Today@Sam calendar.
If your submission qualifies for distribution, we will either contact you for more detailed information, or we will edit the information using SHSU/journalistic style and forward the final release to the appropriate media.
All information is verified before release, so please provide complete, accurate and timely information. Please type all responses in appropriate upper and lower cases.
For more information, contact the Communications Office at 936.294.1836 or today@sam.edu.
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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
June 7, 2013
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: 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.
