SHSU Update for Week of Nov. 29

• Tree of Light
• Arts and exhibits
• Strandberg work debuts
• Student broadcasters win big
• Alum named among top principals
• Author to read
• Theatre arts outreach auditions
  

Tree of Light

"The Tree of Light ceremony is a great opportunity for students, faculty, administrators and community members to join in celebrating this time of year," said Lance Kelly, of the SHSU Program Council's Tree of Light committee.

"In keeping with the holiday spirit of giving to others, individuals and organizations are encouraged to bring canned goods and clothing to the ceremony."

All goods will be donated to the Good Shepherd Mission. Also, the organization giving the most canned goods will receive a special trophy.

For more information, call Kelly or Linda Gorski at 409-294-3861.

Arts and exhibits

The SHSU Clay Club will have a pottery show and sale Monday-Thursday (Nov. 30-Dec. 2). The show will be held in the SOFA gallery in the Art Department's Building A, with an opening reception scheduled there for 5-7 p.m. Monday (Nov. 30).

The sale will be held from 9-5 on Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 2 and 3) on the mall in front of the Lowman Student Center.

For information, call the ceramics department at 409-294-1322.

David Smith-Barry will give a tuba performance at 7:30 p.m. Monday (Nov. 30) at the Music Recital Hall. For ticket information call 409-294-1360.

A Festival of Piñatas exhibit from the Institute of Texan Cultures will be held Dec. 1 through Jan. 4 at the Walker Education Center in the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Complex. For additional information contact the Museum at 409-294-1832.

Dance Spectrum in Concert performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 3-5) in the University Theatre Center Mainstage Theatre with a special Saturday matinee. Ticket information is available at 409-294-1339 or 409-294-1329.

Strandberg work debuts

Strandberg will attend the performance by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Vladimir Valek, in Boston's Symphony Hall.

The festival program will be performed in its entirety throughout 1999/2000 in Prague as part of the Millennium Celebration of the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra concert season and then recorded for worldwide distribution.

Strandberg, who taught music at SHSU from 1967 until his retirement in 1997, said he named his composition after an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled about 1400 years before the birth of Christ, and about whom he knows very little.

He said that about the time he finished his 29-minute work in 1971 he read a Life Magazine article that said Amenhotep III was one of the Egyptian pharaohs most interested in technology.

"They were quite amazing with their pyramids," Strandberg said. "I didn't know anything about him, but I liked the name."

Student broadcasters win big

Seth Conway won three firsts, for Instructional/Promotional Video, for Experimental Video, and for Audio Promo/Public Service Announcement.

Other winners were Matt Jolley for TV Sports Feature Story, Joe Abercrombie and Marty Reeder for Video Drama, Jennifer Cavazos and Anissa Boyd for TV Newscast, Tessa Rhodes for Music Video and Kelly Scott for TV News Story. Winners will advance to the national competition in New York in March.

Jeff Spurlock, instructor in the radio-TV department, is the chapter adviser.

Alum named among top principals

Williams, principal of Montgomery Intermediate School in the Montgomery school district west of Conroe, was among three principals named as finalists in the middle/intermediate school category. Other categories are high school and elementary.

One winner from each of the three categories will receive a Compaq Computer for his/her school. This is the second year for the program sponsored by MacGregor Medical Centers, the Houston Chronicle, Mix 96.5, and Compaq.

Williams said she was both honored and concerned. She was honored, she said, because the nomination came from children in her school. She was a bit concerned because she had not known they were planning to nominate her.

"That honor is so important because it comes from the kids," she said.

A panel of judges will make the final selection after reading essays submitted by one student from each of the finalists' schools.

Williams, the wife of SHSU athletic director Bobby Williams, is in her fifth year as a principal in Montgomery. She has also taught in Temple and Trinity, and worked as a counselor and assistant principal.

Author to read

Rozelle's appearance at the Walker Education Center in the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Complex is sponsored by the "Texas Review" Press. Profits will go into the Friends of the "Texas Review" Fund. There will be no admission charge, although donations will be accepted.

Rozelle's book is the story of his childhood in East Texas and the painful process of witnessing his father's decline from the complications of Alzheimer's disease.

"I've been amazed at how many people, all unknown to me, have called and written to tell me that I hadn't written my father's and my story at all, but theirs," Rozelle wrote in explanation of his reason for writing "Into That Good Night."

"It's a common story, about common people, and I'm so glad that it's found a receptive audience."

Current and planned "Texas Review" Press books will also be available.

Theatre arts outreach program

The program provides volunteers with an opportunity to develop their professional skills while teaching middle and junior high students to express themselves through script writing, acting and participation in theatrical productions.

Volunteers benefit from the program by working with a variety of children from diverse backgrounds and learning leadership and communications skills valuable in their own career development.

Shona Strauser, who graduated from SHSU last May, said her work with the program helped land her a job with the Missoula Children's Theater Company. She now travels across several states performing theater for school children.

The auditions are scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the University Theatre Center's Showcase Theatre. The program's founder and adviser is Penny Hasekoester, assistant professor in theatre and dance.

"This program is one of Sam Houston's well kept secrets, although it is not intended to be," said Hasekoester. "Auditions are held each semester and all Sam Houston students are welcome to audition."

For details call Hasekoeseter at 409-294-1330.

Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Nov. 29, 1998
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