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News Release for Nov. 10, 2009NOTED SPEAKERS AT CENTER FOR BIG BEND STUDIES' 16TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NOV. 13-14 More than 30 speakers are scheduled to discuss aspects of research during the 16th annual Center for Big Bend Studies conference, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 13-14 at Sul Ross State University. The two-day conference, to be held in the Morgan University Center, focuses on the history, culture, and archaeology of the borderlands region of the United States and Mexico, with an emphasis on the Trans-Pecos and north-central Mexico. The event offers expert presentations on topics ranging from recent Big Bend archaeological investigations to exploration of historical figures from the region. Registration begins at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 on the Morgan University Center second floor. Following a welcome by CBBS director William A. Cloud, sessions will begin at 2 p.m. in the Espino Conference Center rooms. An evening banquet, starting at 6:30 p.m., will feature guest speaker Dr. Mason Hart, addressing "Quest for Silver in the Sierra Madre." Banquet attendance is by reservation. Conference registration resumes at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Sul Ross faculty, staff, and students may attend free of charge. To register or for more information, contact (432) 837-8179, or cbbs@sulross.edu. Registration forms are also available from the CBBS website, www.sulross.edu/cbbs/. MELISSA RAMIREZ, ROLANDO HERNANDEZ CROWNED 2009 HOMECOMING QUEEN, KING
Melissa Ramirez and Rolando Hernandez, both of Presidio, were crowned Sul Ross State University's 2009 Homecoming Queen and King. Coronation took place at halftime of Saturday's American Southwest Conference football game between the Lobos and Mississippi College. Reigning royalty Celina Candelaria and James Aldridge, both of El Paso, crowned their successors. Theme of this year's Homecoming is "Lobos: The Next Generation." Ramirez was sponsored by Student Development and Hernandez by Lobo Legacy. Named first runners-up were Addie Bencomo, Fort Davis, Independent; and Christian Celis, Marfa/Guanajuato, Mexico, Students Recycling and Serving Society. Second runners-up were Lizbeth Pereyra, El Paso, Women's Basketball; and Mitchell Waechter, Devine, Baptist Student Ministry. April Arellano, Fabens, Extreme Rebels; and Ricardo Vera, Hebbronville, Newman Club, were third runners-up in campus-wide balloting. Fourth runners-up were Priscilla Frausto, El Paso, Sully Productions; and Robert Powell, Houston, Sul Ross Theatrical Society. Photo, left: Melissa Ramirez and Rolando Hernandez, both of Presidio, were crowned Sul Ross State University’s 2009 Homecoming Queen and King Saturday (Nov. 7) at halftime of Saturday’s American Southwest Conference football game between the Lobos and Mississippi College. Reigning royalty Celina Candelaria and James Aldridge, both of El Paso, crowned their successors. Ramirez was sponsored by Student Development and Hernandez by Lobo Legacy. Photo by Jason Hennington. Photo, right: 2009 Sul Ross State University Homecoming King Rolando Hernandez and Queen Melissa Ramirez, both of Presidio, are flanked by their court following Saturday’s coronation. From left are: Christian Celis, Marfa/Guanajuato, Mexico, sponsored by Students Recycling and Serving Society; Mitchell Waechter, Devine, Baptist Student Ministry; Ricardo Vera, Hebbronville, Newman Club; Robert Powell, Houston, Sul Ross Theatrical Society; Hernandez, Lobo Legacy; Ramirez, Student Development; Lizbeth Pereya, El Paso, Women’s Basketball; Addie Bencomo, Fort Davis, Independent; Priscilla Frausto, El Paso, Sully Productions; and April Arellano, Fabens, Extreme Rebels. Photo by Jason Hennington. MCHAZLETT, RAMIREZ, STEPHENS ENTER SUL ROSS HALL OF HONOR
They were honored at the annual induction banquet during Homecoming. This year's class increases Hall of Honor membership to 112. McHazlett, a Crystal City native and 1994 graduate, played tennis for Sul Ross in 1991 and 1992 after transferring from Incarnate Word. She was a cornerstone of the 1992 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) championship team and posted an overall 24-2 singles won-lost record while at Sul Ross. She won the NAIA District 8 singles championship and qualified for the NAIA National Tennis Tournament. At that tournament she made it to the round of 16, earning her All-American honors. McHazlett was twice named academic all-conference and is the only Sul Ross tennis player to attain All-American status. Ramirez graduated in 2005 with a B.S. in Kinesiology. She set and holds nine all-time Lady Lobo basketball records and one American Southwest Conference standard. She was named ASC Freshman of the Year, was named to three ASC All-West Division first teams, was twice named an All-ASC first team selection and during her senior season, was the ASC West Division Most Valuable Player. During her career she received ASC Player of the Week honors six times and was an Academic All-Conference choice. She holds the ASC career mark of 42 double-doubles (points and rebounds), is third in career rebounds and ninth in points scored. She holds Sul Ross career records in points (1,526); rebounds (871); and steals (328); rebound average (9.36); field goals attempted (1,380); and field goals made (582). She ranks fourth in career assists. As a Lady Lobo, Ramirez also won three team MVP awards and two defensive player honors. During her senior season, she led the Lady Lobos to a 15-9 won-lost record. Stephens, a Liberty Hill native, returned to Sul Ross to earn a B.A. in General Studies in May 2009. He was a standout on two TIAA champion Lobo football teams, playing in 1981-82 and 1984-85. He earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in 1982 and was an All-TIAA running back in 1982, 1984 and 1985. He joined Larry and Andrew Hill in the first-team All-TIAA backfield in 1982 and shares Andrew Hill's record of four touchdowns in one game. He still holds the mark of 205 kickoff return yards in a single contest, set in 1985 against New Mexico Highlands. His 200 career points and 33 touchdowns from 1981-85 were Lobo records until eclipsed by T.J. Barber in 2007. Stephens' 72 pass receptions are still the single-season record for a Lobo running back, and he has the longest kickoff return (100 yards) for a touchdown. Photo: Five Sul Ross State University graduates and an outstanding contributor were recognized during Saturday evening’s (Nov. 7) Hall of Honor/Distinguished Alumni banquet, part of Homecoming activities. (From left): Janna McHazlett, LaGrange; Maurice Stephens, Denton; and April Ramirez, Corpus Christi, were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor. Brothers Kern Wildenthal, Dallas; and Hobson Wildenthal, Garland, received Distinguished Alumni Awards. Glen Allen Phillips (right), San Antonio, represented R. Keith Martin, San Antonio, executive director and chief executive officer of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc., who received the Slingin’ Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service. Photo by Jason Hennington WILDENTHAL BROTHERS 2009 SUL ROSS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Hobson Wildenthal, Garland, both an Alpine High School (1955) and Sul Ross (1958) graduate, presently serves as the chief academic officer -- Executive Vice President and Provost -- for the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Kern Wildenthal, Dallas, who graduated from Alpine High School in 1958 and from Sul Ross in 1960, retired in 2008 after 22 years as President of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. They are the sons of the late Bryan Wildenthal, Sul Ross' fifth President (1952-65). Dr. R. Vic Morgan, who retired Aug. 31 after 19 years as Sul Ross President, presented the awards to the Wildenthals. Both brothers have fond memories of Alpine and Sul Ross. "My father was notoriously tight-mouthed," Hobson Wildenthal recalled. "When we arrived here (from San Angelo), he drove through Limpia Canyon (north of Fort Davis). Everything was green, it was the once-every-10-years wet spell. I was enchanted by the waterfalls cascading down the mountains. My first impression of Alpine was hugely positive because of the beauty. It (the move) was a real happy change for everyone." Hobson Wildenthal completed his B.A. in 1958 in English and Mathematics, just two and a half years after he enrolled. He received a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Kansas in 1964 and specialized in experimental and theoretical nuclear structure physics. His teaching career included stops at Rice University, a postdoctoral fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Michigan State University and Drexel University, where he was head of the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science. In 1987, Wildenthal became Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Mexico. In 1992, he was named chief academic officer at the University of Texas at Dallas. He has served as a consultant and visiting professor/scientist at the University of Munich; Institute for Heavy-ion Research, Darmstadt, Germany; University of Paris, Nuclear Science Advisory Committee, National Science Foundation; Oxford University; University of Pennsylvania; University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Wildenthal has 180 refereed journal publications, 18 review articles and two edited books to his credit. Returns to Alpine were rare, as his research took him across the nation and around the globe. He attended the dedication of the Wildenthal Library (named in honor of his father) renovation in 2002. "My years at Sul Ross provided rich opportunities to discover and enjoy diverse interests and to grow in knowledge of human nature," he said. He spoke fondly of Sul Ross' growth, both academically and physically. "I am at an appropriate stage of life where I think of the past in the whole span," he said. "It is great to see the true progress of the whole university." He also praised Sul Ross' 10 th President, R. Vic Morgan, who retired Aug. 31. "I have great affection for a wonderful leader." Kern Wildenthal's return visits have been more frequent, "every five years or so." In 1987, he delivered a commencement address. He credited Sul Ross' flexibility for allowing him to complete his bachelor's degree in two years. "I wanted to go to medical school, and debated about staying at Sul Ross," he said. "While I was here, I wanted to take as many courses as I could, and as long as I made the grades, Sul Ross was flexible and did not impose any restrictions on the number of credits I could take. "Sul Ross faculty got to know people as individuals, rather than putting you in a niche," he said. He also said of his Sul Ross experience, "When I arrived at medical school, I found I was as well prepared as students from any other college." Kern Wildenthal graduated from Alpine High School in 1958, completed his B.A. in English at Sul Ross in two years (1960) and was accepted at U.T. Southwestern Medical Center at the age of 18, receiving his M.D. in 1964. He earned a Ph.D. in Medicine from the University of Cambridge (England) in 1970. He returned to UT Southwestern Medical Center as an assistant professor in 1970, and was later promoted to associate and full professorships. He was named Dean in 1976 and President in 1986. He retired in 2008, but continues to serve as President of the Southwestern Medical Foundation. During his presidential tenure, UT Southwestern's endowment increased from $40 million to $1.3 billion; the physical size of the medical center more than tripled, to 8 million square feet; and the campus expanded from 65 acres to 231 acres. UT Southwestern's faculty includes four active Nobel laureates, 17 members of the National Academy of Sciences and 19 members of the Institute of Medicine of the NAS, including Wildenthal. Photo: Drs. Kern (left) and Hobson Wildenthal with Sul Ross State University Distinguished Alumni Awards. Photo by Jason Hennington. SUL ROSS MUSIC DEPARTMENT, ALPINE METHODIST CHURCH TO SPONSOR HYMN FESTIVAL The Sul Ross State University Music Department and First United Methodist Church, Alpine, will host a Festival of Hymns Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. at the church, 208 E. Sul Ross Ave. The festival will feature vocal solos, organ and piano duets and original works as well as traditional hymns. The public is invited. Michael Burkhardt, noted organist and composer, will be a featured performer. He will be joined by Dr. Donald Callen Freed, Sul Ross associate professor of Music; Carol Wallace, Sul Ross lecturer in Music, as pianist and choral accompanist; and Rex Wilson, retired Sul Ross professor of Music and FUMC music director; Pastor Jane Vaughn and the assembled congregation. Burkhardt, currently director of Worship and the Arts at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livonia, Mich., has composed two settings of Eucharist liturgy, as well as numerous organ improvisations, choral octavos and handbell compositions. From 2001-2007, he served as director of Choral Activities, college organist and artist-in-residence at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisc. He has also been a faculty associate in organ at Arizona State University, Tempe; and was on the faculty at Christ College Irvine (Calif.) and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. For more information, contact Freed, (432) 837-8216 or dfreed@sulross.edu. "THE 1940'S RADIO HOUR" ON STAGE NOV. 13-15 AT ALPINE'S GRANADA THEATER The highly acclaimed "The 1940's Radio Hour" will be presented Nov. 13-15 at the Granada Theatre in downtown Alpine. Curtain times are 8:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Dr. Michelle Selk, Sul Ross State University assistant professor of Theatre, directs the production, with musical direction by Dr. Erin Lippard, assistant professor of Music. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 12 and under and complimentary to Sul Ross students, faculty and staff with current ID. Full of 1940s music, dancing and old-time sound effects, the play portrays the final holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on the New York radio station WOV in December 1942. Fabled WOV, a seedy little New York radio station, takes to the air at the beginning of World War II, this time to record a broadcast for the troops overseas. The narrative concerns the harassed producer whose leading singer is often drunk, the delivery gal who wants a chance in front of the mic, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpet-playing soldier who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller. Characters include: Musical Numbers include: "I've Got a Gal In Kalamazoo", "Love Is Here to Stay", "That Old Black Magic", "Blue Moon" and others '40s hits. For more information, contact the Theatre Program office, (432) 837-8219. SUL ROSS STUDENT OVERCOMES BARRIERS, HURDLES INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES by Jason Hennington, News Writer
Sul Ross State University Student Government president Christian Celis, Marfa/Guanajuato, Mexico, has hurdled all of these obstacles and continues to pursue his education. Celis graduated from Marfa High School in 2006 after only being in the United States for a year. Prior to coming to the U.S., Celis did not speak any English and was forced to learn the language if he wanted to be successful. "My first big challenge with language was taking the TAKS test three months after being here, which I passed on my first try," Celis said. Celis explained that he was very expressive and used hand signals and body language to communicate when he first arrived in the U.S. "In high school I was very expressive, even though I did not know any English," he said. "Non-verbal communication was the key." He was encouraged by his father not to dodge English conversations, because this was the best way for him to learn the language. "I've been pushed physically and mentally," he said. "I always tried to surround myself with English conversations even if I was not speaking. Listening and observing was a great way of learning." While attending high school, Celis started to volunteer at the Ballroom Marfa. While helping there, he was offered the opportunity to attend college at Sul Ross. Although this was not in his plans, Celis felt it was a great opportunity and took advantage. "I never intended on being in the U.S. longer than a year," he said. "A very dear friend of mine, Virginia, gave me the opportunity to go to Sul Ross. At first I planned to transfer, but I liked it and decided to finish what I started." The choice to attend Sul Ross was an easy one due to the location and the fact that he would still be able to volunteer in Marfa. "This location was very convenient for me to pursue my education and continue to volunteer," he said. "It was the closest thing to what I call home in the United States. The keys for me to stay here were the friendliness of the people and the students. Also I love being so close to Mexico; if I miss my country it is only an hour-and-a-half away." At Sul Ross, Celis was given an opportunity that he could not resist, but he would have to work extremely hard to uphold his part of the bargain. "The deal was that if I made all A's, then I didn't have to pay the money back, but if I didn't get all A's, then I would have to work the money off in volunteering hours, which totaled about 500 work hours per semester," Celis said. In his freshman year, Celis earned four A's and one B. Due to his hard work and seriousness of pursuing a college education, he was given a 100-hour cut but still had to volunteer 400 hours. Celis believes this helped him with his English and his business and leadership skills. The more hours he worked, the more responsibility he was given as a worker. "Being exposed to so many diverse experiences at the Ballroom and the university helped me to learn how to speak properly and professionally," he said. Besides volunteering at the Ballroom Marfa, in his sophomore year, Celis was involved with the soccer and rugby clubs, and bartending gigs. These were highlights for his résumé at that point, but his friend and mentor, John, told him he needed more. "John told me to step it up," he said. "People would look at my résumé and say 'pour yourself another drink and keep kicking the ball.' Afterwards, I pushed myself as hard as I could." Celis has continued to engage himself in numerous activities on campus and has built an amazing résumé of memberships. "Last semester (spring 2009) I took 21 hours, I was an Ambassador, president of the Racquetball Club, representative for the business department, and founded SRSS (Students Recycling and Serving Society)," Celis said. "And I got all A's that semester. I wanted to prove a point." Tramaine Rausaw, director of Residential Living, is the SRSS advisor, and believes that Celis has done an excellent job getting students involved more in the community. "Christian founded SRSS with a few of his close friends, having seen the need for Sul Ross students to be more active in community involvement and environmental sustainability," Rausaw said. "His role as president demands that he steer the organization through infancy and into the forefront of student organizations, which he has done in just one semester. He makes sure the organization is providing a service to the campus and external communities." The club has only been in existence for one semester and has been featured in the Alpine Avalanche, Big Bend Sentinel, Marfa Public Radio, and Sul Ross' own Skyline newspaper. Rausaw believes Celis utilizes his ability to network to help the club grow. "One of Christian's biggest strengths is utilizing his existing network of friends and branching out through those people to increase membership," he said. "This grassroots approach has helped SRSS grow pretty quickly to where we now have enough people to hold two recycling operations a week instead of one. " Now that Celis is preparing to graduate, he has lightened his load but still has an obligation to the students of the university as the President of the Student Government Association. "I have a greater responsibility to the students," Celis said. "That was my reason for leaving some of the other organizations." Celis is now also on the Student Advisory Board at Sul Ross and is working with other universities in the Texas State University System to develop an initiative proposed by him, called the "TSUS Central Placement Office." The basic idea for this proposal is to create a central office interconnected among the universities, in which students from the TSUS could submit their résumés to a central location in which they would be held and distributed to businesses and industry employers for post-graduation job opportunities. This proposal remains under discussion. Celis is looking forward to graduating in December and is already looking for internships and submitting applications for graduate programs. He has a long list of achievements that will accompany him including University Leader of the Year, Student Leader of the Year, Volunteer Ambassador of the Year, Senior Ambassador of the Year, and the Gene and Lucille Hendrix Alpha Chi Scholarship. Celis is also a member of Alpha Chi, Delta Mu Delta, and the National Scholars Honor Society, as well as the lead mentor for the 2009 summer orientations & PASS. "The only thing he needs to watch out for is taking on too much at once, but you can't tell Christian to slow down. I don't think he knows how," Rausaw laughed. "He is a very goal-oriented person with many good ideas on how students can become more involved in campus life, and right now he is leading by example." Photo: Student Government president Christian Celis visits with Dr. Ricardo Maestas, new President of Sul Ross State University. Photo by Cheryl Zinsmeyer. |
Maurice Stephens, Denton; Janna McHazlett, LaGrange; and April Ramirez, Corpus Christi, were inducted into the 2009 Sul Ross State University Athletic Hall of Honor Nov. 7.
Drs. Hobson and Kern Wildenthal, whose impressive higher education careers began with Sul Ross State University degrees, received the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Student leaders face challenges such as balancing studying, social time, and extracurricular activities, among other things. But most students do not have to learn a new language, adapt to the environment of a new country, devote their time to volunteering, or lead a body of students at a state university.