SHSU Update for Week of Nov. 22

• Horn, flute and vocal choirs to perform
• SHSU names new purchasing director
• SHSU thanks livestock show
• Bellaire High wins Academic Challenge
• Residence Hall Association brings home awards
• Brochure answers questions about tax benefits for education.
  

Choirs, Students to Perform

Mezzo-soprano Kristi Savage, assisted by Caryn Rommel on piano and mezzo-soprano Leslie Hurd, will perform a vocal program at 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 22) in the Recital Hall.

On the program are pieces by Antonin Dvorak, Maurice Ravel, Johannes Brahms, Charles Ives, Leonard Bernstein and William Bolcom.

The SHSU Flute Choir will transport its audience from the "Muddy Mississippi" to the "Emerald Isle" in a concert scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday in the Recital Hall.

The program includes William Boyce's "Symphony No. 1," Alan Chapman's "Four Dances," the traditional American hymn "Amazing Grace," Doug Borwick's "Silver Winds," W. H. Krall's "Mississippi Rag," Anne McGinty's "Masques," and the traditional Irish air "The Galway Piper."

The choir conducted by Natalie Syring includes Jessica Alexander, Lerica Behmer, Keri Butcher, Crystle Chambers, Kasey Cole, Barbara Crow, Lisa Rogers, and Melissa Shupak.

On Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall, Peggy DeMers will conduct the Horn Choir, composed of Jennifer Gannon, Eloisa Guzman, Krista Henk, Sandy Nelson, Melissa Scott, Suzanne Scott, and Emily Wood.

The program includes pieces by Samuel Scheidt, Johann Sebastian Bach, Anton Reicha, Gregory Kerkorian, Lowell E. Shaw, and Edward Gogolak.

For details and ticket information on all music events contact the Music Department at 409-294-1360.

Hitzeman Named

'Thank You' to Livestock Show

Marks told the Livestock Show officials and SHSU representatives that a scholarship endowment begun by the Livestock Show in 1978 now totals $450,000. Endowment interest is providing $27,200 in scholarships to 22 agriculture majors this year.

In addition, 30 students at SHSU, not all of whom are agriculture majors, have received four-year, $10,000 scholarships from the Livestock Show. The Livestock Show also funds three graduate assistantships totaling $37,800.

Over the years, the Livestock Show has supported faculty research projects on a number of agricultural topics, and currently provides $14,500 per year for faculty research projects.

Livestock Show officials who attended the luncheon were Jim Bloodworth, president; Mike Wells, 1st Vice President; Dan Gattis, general manager; and Tom Quarles, assistant general manager.

SHSU representatives in addition to Marks included David Payne, vice president for academic affairs; Ken Craycraft, dean of the College of Education and Applied Science; Bobby Lane, who chairs the Department of Agricultural Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences faculty members Billy Harrell and Stanley Kelley.

Academic Challenge Results

Other top high school teams included Langham Creek, St. John's, Klein, Alief Hastings, Westfield and Clear Lake. All qualified for the 1999 Texas Academic Challenge State Championship to be hosted by SHSU April 9 and 10.

Frank Fair, who has coordinated the academic challenge program since its inception in 1991, announced that Tracy Steele, assistant professor of history, will take over as coordinator.

In a letter to the faculty volunteers who conduct the competition, Fair thanked them for their efforts, preparations, and professionalism.

"I have been to a number of other tournaments, and I can say without any exaggeration that you all are the best," he wrote.

Students Win Residence Life Honors

Forty-three student delegates and two residence hall director advisers attended the Southwest Affiliation of College and University Residence Halls annual conference last weekend at the University of Oklahoma.

Kent Chaney of SHSU was named "Volunteer of the Year," and along with Chrissy Wright and Kristen Schaeffer won the case study competition for returning delegates. Amy Bailey won the case study competition for new delegates.

Additional honors won by the SHSU delegation included Best Display and Best Philanthropy. Chaney, Wright and Schaeffer, along with Chris Reyes, Sheila Hopper and Jay Summer received three-year service awards.

E. Thayne King, director of residence life, said that the association also recently organized a clothing drive for Texas flood victims, and gathered so much clothing that the city of Seguin sent a truck to SHSU to pick up the donations.

Tax Benefit Brochure Available

The brochure explains how a family may receive benefits up to $1,500 in tax credit for educational expenses and interest paid on educational loans for the first two years of college or postsecondary education.

Taxpayers with incomes below $40,000, or $60,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, may take the full deduction. The eligible deduction is gradually reduced for taxpayers with incomes between $40,000 and $55,000 or between $60,000 and $75,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly.

The benefits were made possible by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

For a copy of the brochure, write to the Financial Aid Office at SHSU at PO Box 2328; SHSU; Huntsville, TX 77341-2328; or call 409-294-1724.

Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Nov. 22, 1998
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