SHSU Update for Week of May 6

• Marks Endowment Established
• Natural History Summer Classes
• Apples and Scantrons
• Student Picked for Musicals
• Bearkats to Converge on Enron Field
• Orchestra To Do 'Town' Benefit
• 'Buyback Blowout'

Marks Endowment Established

Participating in a check presentation to establish the Bobby Kees and Colleen Ann Marks Presidential Scholarship endowment were, from left, Jack Parker, vice president for finance; Sonny Sikes, member of the Sam Houston Foundation; Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president; Charles Davis, chairman of the foundation; Robert Bruner, foundation member; and Gary Bouse, executive director of advancement.

Bobby K. Marks, Sam Houston State University president, got a big surprise last week. Three men showed up and handed him a check for $25,000 to establish a scholarship endowment in his honor.

"We wanted to do something to honor Bobby Marks," said Charles Davis, who chairs the Sam Houston Foundation. "We decided to furnish the seed money for a scholarship program that others may want to contribute to in his honor."

The scholarship will be named the Bobby Kees and Colleen Ann Marks Presidential Scholarship.

"I feel greatly honored by the gift from the Sam Houston Foundation, and I would like to share that honor with my wife, Colleen, for her endless hours of work on behalf of Sam Houston State University," said Marks.

"I would like for the gift to be used as the basis for establishing an endowment fund for a presidential scholarship," he said, "and I hope the establishment of another endowed presidential scholarship will help attract outstanding students to Sam Houston State University."

Marks also said he is contributing $5,000 to the fund from an honorarium for his service on a foundation scholarship board. The American Bank, which also has Marks as a member of its board of directors, is contributing $5,000.

"I've known Bob for a long time, as a teacher and administrator," said Ron Mitchell, president of American Bank. "We think that he's done a fantastic job for the university." Mitchell said that a portion of his bank's contribution will be used to award the program's first scholarship, for the fall 2001 semester, before endowment earnings become available.

Charles Davis, left, chairman of the Sam Houston Foundation, presents a check for $25,000 to Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president, to establish the Bobby Kees and Colleen Ann Marks Presidential Scholarship.

Marks has announced that he plans to retire after six years as president and 41 years at SHSU as a teacher and administrator at the end of August.

Davis said that when Elliott T. Bowers retired as president, the Sam Houston Foundation also made the first gift for a fund that supports the university's Honors Program.

"It was our plan, and Dr. Marks has indicated he supports this approach, to provide a vehicle for people who wanted to make donations to honor his work at the university," said Davis. "We didn't want to create 10 or 15 small programs, each too small to amount to anything."

Making the presentation were foundation members Davis, Sonny Sikes, and Robert Bruner. Sam Houston Foundation members also include Rick Hartley and Frank Dobbs.

Also present were Jack Parker, vice president for finance, and Gary Bouse, executive director for advancement. Additional gifts may be sent to Bouse at SHSU Box 2537; Huntsville TX, 77341-2537.

Natural History Summer Classes

Morning, afternoon and evening classes are being scheduled for June 4-8, June 11-15 and June 18-22. The morning sessions are 9 a.m. to noon, afternoons are from 1-4 p.m., and "Nature at Night" evening sessions are from 8 to 10 p.m. An evening session is not offered June 11-15.

"Class activities will involve taking students to field sites near Huntsville," said William Lutterschmidt, director of the museum's educational programs. "We will visit places like Lake Raven and the Huntsville State Park, the Sam Houston National Forest, and the Biological Field Station of Sam Houston State University.

"Students will gain experience in the outdoors, learn to identify vertebrate species, and recognize the importance of conserving and appreciating local ecosystems."

Lutterschmidt said that in order to give each student as much attention as possible, enrollment will be limited to 12 students per class, or a total of 96 for the summer. Registration fee for the program is $45.

For a registration form or more information contact Lutterschmidt at 936.294.1556.

The Sam Houston State University Vertebrate Museum is being developed in room 113 of the Lee Drain Building, consisting of research collections and display windows.

Apples and Scantrons

Each academic year the Parents' Association hosts two Apple Days giving out more than 1,200 apples and 5,000 Scantrons to Sam Houston students.

"We know how stressful final exams can be, so we like to show our support to the entire student body and hope they each do well on their tests and final projects," said Buddy Moody, president of the association.

The Parents' Association is an organization of Sam Houston parents who actively support the students through awarding scholarships and hosting special events. The association raises funds from member dues and events for its annual scholarships.

The association is also responsible for planning Parents' Weekend each fall semester, conducting parent seminars during summer orientation and for Apple Days each semester. Parents' Weekend 2001 is scheduled for October 6.

Parents, guardians and families of Sam Houston students are encouraged to join the association not only to support students, but also to have a primary link to the university. Through events like Parents' Weekend and a periodically published newsletter, members stay involved and informed about campus issues, events and news.

For more information about membership, volunteering with the association or scholarships, call Vice President-Publicity Donna Jendritza at 713.524.0661, or for general information call Adviser Gayle Bullard at 936.294.1760.

Student Picked For Musicals

Hill auditioned in a nationwide search for the College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod for their 2001 Summer Season and was selected.

The season runs June 11 - Aug. 19, and will consist of eight musicals--South Pacific, The Mikado, 42nd Street, Titanic, The Louisiana Purchase, The Student Prince, Kismet, and Iolanthe.

"They cast the leads out of the company of 32 of us, so we have many opportunities," said Hill. "We perform seven shows a week and rehearse the rest of the time for the next show going up."

Hill is also excited because in the past, Broadway directors, musical directors, and choreographers have come in to direct the productions.

"I've always wanted to have an experience like this," she said, "and I just can't believe what a wonderful opportunity has been given to me."

Bearkats to Converge on Enron Field

"We've reserved up to 500 seats, and plan to fill that section with Bearkat orange," said Kevin Hayes, interim director of Alumni Relations.

Tickets are $12 each plus a $2 handling fee for the mezzanine seats.

Hayes has ticket order forms available at the SHSU Alumni office for those who would like to join the baseball fun, as well as application forms for those who would like to join the Alumni Association.

Hayes is also asking those participating to fill out and bring a personal information sheet, which will be used in a drawing for four free tickets near the Astros dugout.

Orchestra To Do 'Town' Benefit

The Sam Houston State University Chamber Orchestra

The Sam Houston State University Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Carol Smith, will hit the road for concerts Monday (May 14) and Tuesday (May 15) and return for a Town Theatre benefit Tuesday evening.

The Chamber Orchestra will perform at 4 p.m. May 14 for schools in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district, including Newman Smith, R. L. Turner and Creekview high schools.

At 11:30 a.m. May 15 they will perform at Bryan High School, and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Recital Hall on the SHSU campus, where light desserts and punch/coffee will be served, with a minimum admission of $10 per person.

Gene Myrick, Old Town Theatre board president, calls the benefit "Pulling Strings for the Old Town Theatre."

The concerts will feature composers J. S. Bach, Edward Elgar, Francis L. Feese, Vaclav Nelhybel and Ralph Vaughn Williams.

Performers will include Andrew and Veronica Wilson in Bach's "Concerto for Two Violins," Michael Ross on violoncello for Bach's "Arioso," and Melissa Scott, graduate assistant in orchestral studies, conducting Elgar's "Serenade for Strings."

'Buyback Blowout'

There will be music and free food and drink in the Lowman Student Center Mall fountain area from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak, Julia May
May 6, 2001
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