Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

News Release for Sept 27, 2011

MISS RODEO SUL ROSS 2011 TO BE CROWNED OCT. 1

Three candidates are seeking the title of Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2011, with the new queen to be crowned Saturday, Oct. 1.

Coronation will take place during the Saturday edition of the 66th annual Sul Ross NIRA Rodeo, beginning at 7 pm in the SALE Arena, Turner Range Animal Science Center. Reigning Queen is Ashley Buffington, Carlsbad, N.M., a senior Animal Science major.

Candidates are Molly Jo Collins, Balmorhea; Amanda Tenery, Kerrville; and Nikki Woodward, Alpine.

Collins, Miss Art Walk, is the daughter of Laura and Larry Collins and a Sul Ross freshman. She is majoring in Animal Science, is a member of the rodeo team and competes in goat tying and breakaway roping.

Tenery, Miss Big Bend Saddlery, is the daughter of Tammy Tenery and a Sul Ross sophomore majoring in Animal Science. After graduation she plans on traveling to Ireland, then returning to study veterinary medicine. She enjoys barrel racing and training horses.

Woodward, Miss Woodward Aviation, is the daughter of Lowell and Carol Woodward. She is an Alpine High School graduate and a Sul Ross freshman, majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Communication. After graduation, she plans a career in mass communications, preferably television.

Competition begins Friday, Sept. 30, with a horsemanship event in the Muench Arena. The horsemanship competition is open to the public at no charge.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, candidates will be tested on their rodeo, equine and current event knowledge, beginning at 8 am. Following the test each contestant will interview with the panel of judges.

A fashion show, impromptu questions and speeches will begin at 1 pm Saturday in the Turner Range Animal Science Center, Room 130. This event is also open to the public at no charge.

Photo: 2011 Miss Rodeo Sul Ross candidates
Front to Back: Amanda Tenery, Kerrville; Nikki Woodward, Alpine; Molly Jo Collins, Balmorhea. Photo by Jason Hennington.

AUTHOR, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER KEVIN CARROLL TO SPEAK OCT. 3

Author and motivational speaker Kevin Carroll will address “Dream Big” at Sul Ross State University Monday, Oct. 3.

Carroll is the founder of Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC and the author of three highly successful books published by ESPN, Disney Press and McGraw-Hill. He will speak in Marshall Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge and the public is invited. A reception will follow the address.

Carroll’s appearance is sponsored by the School of Professional Studies John B. Poindexter Speakers Series. The series highlights outstanding individuals who have been successful in their respective professions and allows them to share their stories with the students, faculty and staff at Sul Ross and the community at large.

As an author, speaker and agent for social change (a.k.a. the Katalyst), it is Carroll’s “job” to inspire businesses, organizations and individuals - from CEOs and employees of Fortune 500 companies to schoolchildren - to embrace their spirit of play and creativity to maximize their human potential and sustain more meaningful business and personal growth.

With his consulting endeavors, Carroll has helped turn creative ideas into reality for organizations such as The National Hockey League, ESPN, Nike, Starbucks (his words appeared on 17 million Grande cups), The National Basketball Association, The Walt Disney Company, Mattel, Hasbro, Procter & Gamble, The Discovery Channel, Capital One, and many others.

Raised by his grandparents in Philadelphia, Carroll spent endless hours at the neighborhood playground where he found his calling: a red rubber ball. His subsequent pursuit of play and his “red rubber ball” took him overseas with the Air Force, where he served as a language interpreter and translator, gaining fluency in Croatian, Czech, Serbian, and German.

After serving in the Air Force for ten years and earning his college degree, he became an athletic trainer at the high school and collegiate levels in Philadelphia. His expertise in sport performance recognized by the 76ers organization and led to his job as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1995. While at the 76ers, Nike tapped Carroll to bring his unique experiences to the sneaker giant in 1997.

Although no job “officially” existed at the time, he was directed to create a position at the company that would add value to the overall mission of the brand. Carroll accepted the challenge and stayed for seven years as “Katalyst” (the ‘K’ is for Kevin) - a creative change agent. At Nike, he was instrumental in helping the company develop a deeper understanding of athletic product performance, team dynamics and interpersonal communication. He left Nike in 2004 to create his own company, Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC, committed to elevating the power of sport and play around the world.

In May of 2005, a notable moment occurred when Carroll addressed dignitaries from 31 nations at the United Nations about the importance of play in their developing countries. He is also heavily involved with many social entrepreneur organizations that use sports as a catalyst to change lives.

He holds a M.S. in Health Education from St. Joseph’s University, a B.A. in Speech Communication with a minor in Physical Education from Angelo State University, and an Associates Degree in Interpreting and Translating from the Community College of The Air Force. Carroll is also a frequent visiting adjunct lecturer across the U.S.

For more information, contact Dr. Melanie Croy, (432) 837-8134 or macroy@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS BUSINESS DEPARTMENT DONATES T-SHIRTS TO AMARILLO FOURTH-GRADERS

A gift of Sul Ross State University t-shirts may be returned with interest about a decade later - in the form of incoming students.

Within thenext few days, a fourth grade class at Margaret Wills Elementary School in Amarillo will be receiving Sul Ross t-shirts from the Department of Business Administration and the Office of the Dean of the School of Professional Studies. In return, according to NEU Campus team member Jennifer Villalpando, Sul Ross may count on a host of new students within 10 years.

“These kids are so excited about the Sul Ross t-shirts; all of them plan to attend Sul Ross when they graduate,” said Villalpando.

A letter sent in June from Wills Elementary principal Karen Atkinson, along with Villalpando and Sheila Barton, members of the “No Excuses University” team, sought items that represented Sul Ross, including t-shirts, pennants and banners.

Sul Ross was contacted by Villalpando, who is the niece of Linda McAnally, a lecturer in Business. Jessica Winks is the teacher for Sul Ross’ adopted class.

Now in its second year, the No Excuses University concept “provides a comprehensive approach to ensure that all students are college ready,” according to the letter.

Margaret Wills student population includes 90 percent from homes with incomes below the poverty level and 13 different countries are represented on the campus.

“That means that 25 percent of our population is limited English speaking and have been in the United States less than three years,” the letter stated. “We believe that every one of our students has the ability to learn, go to college and break the cycle of poverty for their families.”

No Excuses University (NEU) seeks to expose students to the sights and sounds of college, including wearing NEU t-shirts each Monday, displaying university flags outside each classroom as each class has adopted a different university, and learning history and traditions about the respective adopted universities. In additions, students and staff will wear their adopted college t-shirts each Friday and parents, students and staff will sign a three-way contract to ensure success.

“The faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Business Administration are excited to adopt the students in Ms. Winks’ fourth grade class. We hope they will enjoy wearing these t-shirts that represent a great university and that they will attend Sul Ross ‘to become who they want to be,’” said Mazie Will, interim chair of Business Administration..

For more information, contact Will, (432) 837-8072 or mwill@sulross.edu.

Photo: Sul Ross State University Business administration faculty, business majors from Robert Matthews' Accounting for Managers course and graduate assistants display T-shirts to be delivered to Jessica Winks' fourth grade class at Margaret Wills Elementary School, Amarillo. Photo by Steve Lang.

SUL ROSS’ RUBENSER PUBLISHES BOOK ON “FORGOTTEN” LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES

A book written by Sul Ross State University faculty member Dr. Lorie Rubenser describes the history, duties and qualifications of lesser-known law enforcement positions in Texas.

“Constables, Marshals, and More: Forgotten Offices in Texas Law Enforcement,” by Rubenser and Gloria Priddy, San Angelo, was released last week by the University of North Texas Press, Denton.

Rubenser, an associate professor of Criminal Justice, and Priddy, an adjunct instructor, spent about two years writing the book after several years of defining the concept. They spent hundreds of hours interviewing law enforcement officers from constables and marshals to bailiffs, game wardens, brand inspectors, fire marshals, railroad and university police, district and county attorney investigators and other lesser-known positions.

“We’re very excited. We had a lot of help from a number of officers,” said Rubenser, a Sul Ross faculty member since 1999. “There was little or nothing written about these positions in criminal justice academia. This book can be used as a supplemental text for police courses.”

“Although this book is state-specific (to Texas), I see this as a beginning in looking at these positions in other states,” she said.

Rubenser and Priddy’s 2004 conference presentation on “Constables in Historical and Modern Perspective” attracted the attention of the publishers. The book is now part of the North Texas Crime and Criminal Justice Series.

“Constables, Marshals, and More” includes a chapter on legal issues written by Sul Ross Criminal Justice professor Ray Kessler. In addition, Jason Hennington, a news writer/photographer for News and Publications, provided photo assistance.

The book is being featured at the Southwest Association of Criminal Justice conference in College Station, scheduled Sept. 28-Oct 1. Rubenser, who has served as secretary and vice president of the organization for the past four years, will also take office as the association’s new president.

Rubenser and Priddy will be feted at a book signing at Hastings Book Store in San Angelo Nov. 5.

For more information, contact Rubenser, (432) 837-8166 or rubenser@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS RECEIVES $21,691 IN IME-BECAS FUNDS FOR MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS

A $21,691 award from the Mexican Consulate and Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME) will assist Mexican national students pursuing degrees at Sul Ross State University.

Hector Raul Acosta-Flores, Consul Titular and Erick Hernandez Rodriguez, Promotor del IME, representing the Consulado De Mexico (Consulate of Mexico) En Presidio, made the awards to Sul Ross President Dr. Ricardo Maestas on Friday, Sept. 23. The grant was one of three presented in the region, with funding also made to the University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa; and Casa de Amigos, Midland.

Purpose of the grant is to provide and improve access opportunities for adult Mexican immigrants and students from immigrant families to adult education programs and universities in the U.S. Since the IME scholarship program was established in 2005, over $4.3 million have been awarded through 386 grants to educational nonprofits.

Sul Ross received its second grant under the program. Eligible students will receive their scholarship awards effective spring semester 2012. The award provides funding to qualified Mexican nationals or descendants of Mexican immigrants for in-state tuition for spring semester and the first summer session.

The scholarship recipients will also be required to successfully complete COMM 1101: IME-Becas leadership class during spring semester. The class will culminate in a service learning project centered on the migrant population of the Big Bend. Sul Ross participates in the state of Texas’ Programa de Asistencia Estudiantil (PASE) Program which allows Mexican nationals who have financial need to pay in-state tuition.

“We are grateful to the IME-Becas program for this generous grant,” said Maestas. “As a Rio Grande border institution with a long history as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Sul Ross has served Mexican students for many decades. This grant will allow Sul Ross to continue providing tuition assistance to deserving students.”

Photo: IME-Becas grant
Hector Acosta-Flores, Consul Titular, representing the Consulado De Mexico (Consulate of Mexico), Presidio, signs a giant copy of the IME-Becas grant check as Sul Ross State University President Dr. Ricardo Maestas observes. The award provides over $21,000 to qualified Mexican nationals or descendants of Mexican immigrants for in-state tuition for spring semester and the first summer session. Photo by Steve Lang.

SUL ROSS RECEIVES $772,000 GEAR UP GRANT

Sul Ross State University has been selected to receive funding under the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Partnership program.

The discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The grant will provide $772,000 for the first year (Sept. 26, 2011 through Sept. 25, 2012). It is anticipated the grant will be for a total of seven years.

Sul Ross was first funded for the GEAR UP Project ReACH program in 2005 and received a renewal grant this year.  U.S. Senator John Cornyn was informed of Sul Ross’ selection Sept. 23 by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs.

Under the grant provisions, Sul Ross’ GEAR UP Project ReACH program will serve 965 seventh graders in Alpine, Terlingua, Del Rio and Presidio school districts and provide academic-based services through their first year of college.

Program participants will receive tutoring, mentoring, individual education career plans, academic and personal counseling, parent and student financial aid and economic literary workshops, intensive academic monitoring, as well as college visits, educational/cultural trips an on-campus experiences to gain a head start on college. GEAR UP also provides training tools for teachers, workshops and supplies.

For more information, contact: Aster Trevino, GEAR UP director, (432) 837-8807 or atrevino@sulross.edu.

ADULT ART CLASSES OCT. 1-2, OCT. 22 AT MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND

The Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University will host a two-day oil painting workshop Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 1-2.

Local and award winning artisit, Deborah Allison will be teaching this first-time oil painting workshop. The class will cover the basice elements of color mixing, value and some drawing, as well as specific skills and techniques for painting in oil. The class fee has been reduced to $200 and will include all supplies. Class will meet on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct.2 from 1-4 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break on your own.

Allison will return later in the month to teach Beginning Portraiture in Graphite in a one-day workshop, scheduled Saturday, Oct. 22, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Allison will teach the basic elements of drawing the face using a live model. The workshop will include live demonstration and participant time to work from life.

To register or for more information, call (432) 837-8143. Cash, Checks, Mastercard and Visa are accepted.

SUL ROSS HOSTS 66TH ANNUAL NIRA RODEO SEPT. 29-OCT. 1

Sul Ross State University - where intercollegiate rodeo began - will host the 66th annual National Intercollegiate Rodeo (NIRA) event Thursday-Saturday Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the SALE (San Antonio Livestock Exposition) Arena.

Competition begins at 7 p.m. each evening General Admission is $5. Children under 12 and Sul Ross faculty, staff, and students with ID will be admitted free of charge. Slacks will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, beginning at 9 a.m. each day. There is no charge for the slack.

Teams competing include: Angelo State University, San Angelo; Clarendon College; Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, N.M.; Frank Phillips College, Borger; Howard College, Big Spring; New Mexico Jr. College, Hobbs, N.M.; Odessa College; Ranger Junior College; South Plains College, Levelland; Tarleton State University, Stephenville; Texas Tech University, Lubbock; Vernon Junior Regional College; Weatherford College; West Texas A&M University, Canyon; and Western Texas College, Snyder.

Saturday evening one of three co-eds will be crowned Miss Rodeo 2011. The reigning Queen is Ashley Buffington, Carlsbad, N.M.

Rodeo Queen 2011 candidates are Molly Jo Collins, Balmorhea; Amanda Tenery, Kerrville; and Nikki Woodward, Alpine.

Sul Ross boasts nine national team championship teams, seven men’s and two women’s; and 24 individual event titles. The rodeo team won men’s championships in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1962, 1982, and 1983 and women’s crowns in 1962 and 1985. Only Southeastern Oklahoma State University claims as many national team championships, five men’s and four women’s.

Harley May, a member of the first three national championship teams, won eight national collegiate titles, three world championships in steer wrestling on the professional circuit and was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. He returned to coach the Sul Ross rodeo teams from 1994-1998.

May won the all-around men’s championship from 1949-51; bareback riding in 1949; bull riding in 1949-50; and saddle bronc riding in 1950-51. Tex Martin (1953) and Cody Lambert (1982) also won men’s all-around titles, while Jo Gregory Knox, (1951), Elisabeth Prude Longbotham (1953), and Donna Saul (1962) claimed all-around women’s crowns.

Other Sul Ross national individual champions are: bull riders Johnny Ackel (1952), Ira Akers (1953), Tex Martin (1954), and George Eads (1962); saddle bronc rider Don Lee Smith (1958) and Bill James, who tied for first in calf roping in 1961 and won team roping in 1962.

In women’s competition, Charlotte Martin (1954) and Saul (1962) won goat tying championships; Saul won calf tying in 1961; and Jayne Gentry won breakaway roping in 1985.

NEW OFFICER

Photo: Dr. Ricardo Maestas swears in new Sul Ross UDPS officer Aaron Fierro on Friday, Sept. 23 in the President’s conference room. Also pictured are Johnnie Holbrooks, UDPS director; and UDPS Lt. Drew Powell (right). Photo by Steve Lang.