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

News Release for Aug. 20, 2009

SUL ROSS STUDENTS RECEIVE DEGREES AT SPRING COMMENCEMENT

A total of 136 students, 84 from the Alpine Campus and 52 from Rio Grande College, were candidates for degrees during summer commencement exercises at Sul Ross State University.

Ceremonies were held Saturday, Aug. 8 in the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Alpine Campus.

Alpine campus graduates, their degrees and hometowns are listed below. Degree codes are as follows: AA-Associate of Applied Science; BA - Bachelor of Arts; BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration; BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts; BS - Bachelor of Science; Cert. - Certificate; MA - Master of Arts; MAg. - Master of Agriculture;

MBA - Master of Business Administration; MEd - Master of Education; MS - Master of Science; VN - Vocational Nursing Certificate; cum laude, 3.5-3.69 grade point average; magna cum laude, 3.7-3.89; summa cum laude, 3.9-4.0.

OJINAGA, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO: Ysla Castro, BA, Spanish

CUIDAD ACUNA, COAHUILA, MEXICO: Angel Chacon-Rangel, MBA, Management

BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.: Michael W. Rasmussen, MBA, Management

ALAMOGORDO, N.M.: Rebecca Kimberly Schreck, AA, Veterinary Technology

FARMINGTON, N.M.: Price Nathanael Williams, BS, Animal Science

MCMINNVILLE, ORE.: Peggy L. Berry Benard, MEd, Educational Diagnostician

HOLLAND, VT.: Ashlee Heather Petell, MS, Biology

SNOHOMISH, WASH.: Melissa Harmon-Jeffs, MEd, Education-General

ABILENE: Erin Michelle Cogburn, MEd, School Administration; Jamie Gail Collins, MEd, School Administration; Lee Thomas Hatch, MEd, School Administration; Vicki Ann Hayhurst, MEd, School Administration

ALPINE: Lindsey Michelle Anstine, BBA, Business Administration; Olga Lidia Armendariz, MS, Criminal Justice;Kimberly A. Baker, BA, General Studies; Olivia Gallegos, MA, Liberal Arts; Leslie Ellen Hopper, MA, Political Science-Public Administration; Nicole C. Teague, BA, General Studies, summa cum laude; Richard C. Villanueva, II, BA, General Studies

ARLINGTON: Dominic S. Leal, BA, Political Science

BAIRD: Richard Travis Payne, MEd, School Administration

BALLINGER: Linda Villarreal, MEd, School Administration

BIG LAKE: Cody John Watkins, MAg, Animal Science

BRONTE: Terri Rowan Frazee, MEd, School Administration

BURKBURNETT: Brady Allen Huston, MEd, Physical Education

BURNET: Robert A. Sager II, MAg, Animal Science

CANYON: Kent Ira Colley, MEd, School Administration

CISCO: Cindy Lynn Underwood, MEd, School Administration

CLINT: Francisco Michael Ortega, MEd, Physical Education

COMANCHE: Jason Neal Henry, MEd, School Administration; Anita Leanne Ingram, MEd, School Administration

COMFORT: Carrie Lynn Koennecke, MMS, Range and Wildlife Management

COPPERAS COVE: Cori Renee Hancock, MEd, School Administration

COVINGTON: Darrian L. Dover, MEd, School Administration

CRYSTAL CITY: Ernesto Rivera, MEd, School Administration

DALLAS: Michele Wright Davis, AA, Veterinary Technology, BA, General Studies; Julie Webb, MA, Psychology

DEL RIO: Josephine E. Ortiz, MEd, Educational Diagnostician

EL PASO: Angelique M. Benton, BFA, Art; Celina Candelaria, BA, Administrative Systems and Business Technology; Robert Arthur Corral, BBA, Business Administration; Luis Andres Martinez, BS, Criminal Justice; Rosemary Madriles, MEd, Counseling; David Nathan Thomas, BFA, Art; Darlene L. Vasquez, MEd, School Administration

FABENS: Sonia Luna, MA, Political Science-Public Administration

FORT DAVIS: Sara B. Adams, BA, English; Ashley D. Nunnelee, BA, General Studies; Audra S. Williams, MA, English

FORT HANCOCK: Gabriela P. Henderson, BS, Kinesiology and Sports Science

GARLAND: Elizabeth L. Scarborough, BA, General Studies

HASKELL: Teresa St. Jane Martinez, MEd, School Administration

HOUSTON: Stephen D. Armstrong, MBA, Management

JUNCTION: Debra Kathleen Allison, BS, Interdisciplinary Studies

KNIPPA: Rita Cordova Verstuyft, MS, Criminal Justice

LUBBOCK: Pervis Dewayne Evans, MEd, Counseling; Kelli Foster, MEd, School Administration; Daniel J. Sharp, MEd, School Administration

MADISONVILLE: Kristen L. Tyson, MA, History

MERTZON: Shannon Chapman, MEd, School Administration

MESQUITE: Kyle L. Turner, BS, Natural Resource Management

MIDLAND: Morgan Dulin, BS, Industrial Technology; Steven Lee Heryford, Jr., MEd, School Administration

ODESSA: Travis B. Fletcher, BA, History, cum laude

PECOS: Christopher B. Henson, MEd, School Administration; Kimberly Ann Juarez, BA, English

PRESIDIO: Adriana Santillan Galindo, BA, Psychology, magna cum laude; Jesus Usbaldo Valeriano, Jr., BS, Biology

POST: Clay Ken Williams, MEd, School Administration

RANKIN: Patrick Potts, MEd, School Administration

RIO GRANDE CITY: Roman F. Villarreal, Jr., MA, History

ROBY: Karen Beth Counts, MEd, School Administration

ROSHARON: Eldon Kirk Martin, MEd, School Administration

ROUND ROCK: Luis Becerra, MEd, Physical Education

SAN ANGELO: Robert Paul Gibson, MEd, School Administration

SAN ANTONIO: Jennifer Lynn Poulsen, MEd, School Administration; John S. Wassermann, BS, Industrial Technology, summa cum laude

SANDERSON: Rebecca A. Wallace, BBA, Management

TAHOKA: Stephen S. Rodriguez, BA, General Studies

TAYLOR: Casey Stuart Burkhart, MEd, School Administration

TORNILLO: Rogelio Rocha, Jr., BS, Kinesiology and Sports Science

VERNON: Jeremy Del West, MEd, School Administration

WAYSIDE: Daniel Andrew Ferris, MS, Range and Wildlife Management

WINK: Lacy Shackelford, BA, General Studies

RIO GRANDE COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVE DEGREES AT FALL COMMENCEMENT

A total of 136 students, 84 from the Alpine Campus and 52 from Rio Grande College, were candidates for degrees during summer commencement exercises at Sul Ross State University

Ceremonies were held Saturday, Aug. 8 in the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Alpine Campus.

Rio Grande College graduates, their degrees and hometowns are listed below. Degree codes are as follows: AA-Associate of Applied Science; BA - Bachelor of Arts; BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration; BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts; BS - Bachelor of Science; Cert. - Certificate; MA - Master of Arts; MAg. - Master of Agriculture; MBA - Master of Business Administration; MEd - Master of Education; MS - Master of Science; VN - Vocational Nursing Certificate; cum laude, 3.5-3.69 grade point average; magna cum laude, 3.7-3.89; summa cum laude, 3.9-4.0.

BARKSDALE: Shena Thompson Stotts, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies

BRACKETVILLE: Andres Rodriguez, BS, Criminal Justice

CARRIZO SPRINGS: Tadeo Antonio Martinez, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Judy C. Valdez, MEd, School Administration

CONCAN: Albert G. Hernandez, Jr., MEd, School Administration

CRYSTAL CITY: Leticia E. Alday, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Nora Flores Guerrero, BA, History; Stephanie L. Ramirez, BBA, General Business; Carlos Roiz, BA, History

DEL RIO: Kristi Kay Burough, BA, English; Reynaldo A. De Los Santos, BS, Criminal Justice; Elsa M. Favila-Morales, MEd, General Education; Amanda Nicole Garza, BS, Mathematics; Petra Maria Garza, MEd, School Administration; Michelle Lee Guajardo, MEd, Reading Specialist; Cherrill A. Peterson, BS, Criminal Justice; Carissa Eli Abrego Zavala, BA, English, cum laude

DILLEY: Christina Mia Autrey, MEd, School Administration; Jay Earl Autrey, MEd, School Administration

EAGLE PASS: Joseph Aguaristi, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Jose Carlos Almaguer, BS, Mathematics, magna cum laude; Scott D. Caballero, BA, Psychology; Cecilia Castillo, BBA, General Busines; Laura Chacon, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Rosa T. De La Garza, BA, History; Christian Jesus Diaz, BS, Criminal Justice; Alicia Esparza, MEd, General Education; Ana Elizabeth Gonzalez, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Gladys Gutierrez, BA, Psychology; Juan Pedro Leija, MEd, School Administration; Rebeca Luna, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Sylvia P. Luna, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Juan A. Mascorro, BA, History; Israel Perales, Jr., BA, History; Martha Ramirez, MEd, General Education; Nadia M. Rodriguez, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Ricardo Rodriguez, MEd, School Administration; Mary Ann Valdez, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Luis A. Velez, BBA, General Business; Hector Villanueva, BBA, Business Administration; Keila Canedo Westrup, BBA, General Business; Veronica Yzquierdo, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies

PEARSALL: Roselle Adriann Lozano Ramirez, BA, English

PLEASANTON: Maria Elena Gonzalez, BS, Criminal Justice

UTOPIA: Lory Jean Ellis, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies

UVALDE: Sara Jane Atkinson, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies, cum laude; Juan Ramon Avila, BA, Spanish; Rachel Jordan, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Adryanna C. Ramirez, BS, Criminal Justice; Jennifer Nicole Roman, BA, Interdisciplinary Studies; Valerie Risa Roman, BA, Psychology

AUG. 20 UNIVERSITY CENTER DEDICATION TO HONOR MORGANS

The University Center at Sul Ross State University will be renamed in honor of retiring President R. Vic Morgan and his wife, Mary Jane.

A Thursday, Aug. 20 dedication ceremony will officially change the name to the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center. The 4 p.m. ceremony will be held on the University Mall, with a reception to follow at the Museum of the Big Bend.

Morgan will retire Aug. 31 after serving 19 years as Sul Ross' 10 th president, and a total of 34 years on the faculty. On June 5, the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System voted unanimously to name the UC in the Morgans' honor.

The University Center was the first major construction project during Morgan's tenure, and opened in January 2000. Constructed on the site of an earlier Student Center, the University Center houses the University Post Office, the Bookstore, Dining Services, Student Life and other offices and the Conference Center.

On Feb. 8, 2001, the Conference Center was named in honor Becky Ramos Espino, the first Sul Ross graduate to serve as a member of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System.

MORGAN RETIREMENT RECEPTION AUG. 22 AT GALLEGO CENTER

Retiring Sul Ross State University President R. Vic Morgan and his wife, Mary Jane, will be recognized for their years of service to university and community during a reception Saturday, Aug. 22.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center. A dinner and program is scheduled.

Tickets may be purchased at $25 per person. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan Mathematics Endowment at Sul Ross.

In lieu of traditional retirement gifts, guests may also contribute to the Morgans' endowment or any other existing endowment or scholarship fund at Sul Ross.

To purchase tickets or for more information, go online at www.sulross.edu/mybarsrbar or contact Saul Garza, Office of Alumni Affairs, (432) 837-8697; sgarza@sulross.edu.

BEING THERE: SUL ROSS FACULTY MEMBER RECALLS WOODSTOCK EVENTS, SIGNIFICANCE

by Steve Lang, News and Publications

Happiness, said Peanuts' creator Charles Schulz, is a warm puppy.

Happiness at the massive, rain-soaked, muddy 1969 Woodstock music festival was a waterproof tent, said Alpine resident Matt Walter.

Walter was a 17-year-old living on his grandfather's dairy farm in upstate New York when he attended Woodstock's opening day, Aug. 15, 1969. Forty years later, as a Museum of the Big Bend curator and a lecturer in history at Sul Ross State University, he has fond memories. He also defies Robin Williams' quote, "if you remember the 60s, you weren't there."

"It was an eye-opener," he said. "I didn't know what 'acid' (LSD) was.... I had never seen drugs in the open....My life was not dedicated to music. I just wanted to go and see what was happening."

He went. He saw. He remembers.

Walter was a friend of Carl Jung -- not the psychologist -- whose family owned a farm adjacent to Max Yasgur's acreage, where the festival was held. Familiar with the area, Walter entered the festival by an alternate route, avoiding the massive traffic jams.

He pitched his tent about noon on the opening day, several hours before the music -- and the rain -- started.

"I was one of the lucky ones," he said. "It was dry inside and there were a lot of drunks outside relieving themselves on it."

He remembers the performers and some of their songs: Richie Havens singing "Freedom"; Sweetwater's "Motherless Child," Tim Hardin's rendition of "If I had a Hammer" and sitar music by Ravi Shankar, the father of contemporary music idol Nora Jones.

"The day ended with two of my favorite singers," Walter said. "Arlo Guthrie sang 'Amazing Grace' and 'Every Hand in the Land' and Joan Baez followed with 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' 'Oh, Happy Day,' 'We Shall Overcome' and 'Sweet Sir Galahad.'"

Walter also remembers some interesting announcements.

"At one point, an announcer asked if there was anybody in the house who can help. There was a lady giving birth. Later, I remember hearing a warning for people to stay away from the pink acid."

Walter left on the second day after hearing Country Joe McDonald.

"By then, the rain was incredible. There was mud like you couldn't believe. It was a mass of wet humanity," he said. "Everything was drenched and there was no place to go to the bathroom, except probably where you were standing."

Or on Walter's tent.

"I look back at Woodstock more fondly than I did at the time. I did not like crowds, but I loved the music. I wish I would have stayed and listened to the Jefferson Airplane, the Who and Jimi (Hendrix)."

Walter said Woodstock "showed Americans there was a whole different culture coming out of the youth of America. So much was influenced by the Vietnam war that was happening at the same time.

"There was a new generation that questioned authority; a generation that would not only be followers, but leaders in their own right," he said. "I think Woodstock also served to not just showcase this new generation and its way of thinking, but to let the current leadership know, 'hey, we're going to stand up and be heard.'"

Even so, Woodstock and its followers were not monolithic, Walter contends.

"I didn't smoke pot, I wasn't a giant music fan. I worked on a farm, hunted, fished and joined the military. But even if you were serving in the military at that time, you wanted to understand why you were there."

He said Woodstock helped to raise an awareness that "America was a much more multi-cultural place. There was more than one way to live, where you don't have to be like everybody else; you can live your own life."

Walter, who was born in Pennsylvania, moved frequently with his family, and lived in Brazil from the time he was seven until two days before his 17 th birthday. He left the country abruptly when he learned -- that as a dual citizen -- he would be required to serve six years in the Brazilian military if he was not enrolled in college. He returned to the U.S. and lived with his grandfather until graduating from high school.

Walter attended college briefly, worked as a carpenter for several years, then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1976, where he served 20 years. He spent 14 of the 20 years at sea, from above the Arctic Circle to the Caribbean. One of his service highlights was towing singer Jimmy Buffett's disabled yacht to safety in Key West, Fla. A grateful Buffett invited Walter and his crew to visit his Key West club, where he entertained them as guests of honor.

Upon retirement, he moved to Alpine, an area he had visited a number of times in previous years. He enrolled at Sul Ross, where he received both B.A. and M.A. degrees in history. He has worked at the Museum of the Big Bend and served as a lecturer in history for the past six years.

SUL ROSS' MAZIE WILL MICROSOFT CERTIFIED APPLICATION SPECIALIST

Mazie Will, associate professor of Business Administration at Sul Ross State University, has earned certification as a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist in Word 2007.

Microsoft certifications are based on globally recognized standards and demonstrate competency in the use of Microsoft Office applications. Willalso holds the Certified Professional Secretary and Certified Administrative Professional (CPS/CAP) titles. A Sul Ross faculty member since 1979, she teaches courses in Administrative Systems & Business Technology and Business Administration.

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

ANNUAL STUDENT CONVOCATION AUG. 27 IN MARSHALL AUDITORIUM

The 11th annual Sul Ross State University new student convocation will be held Thursday, Aug. 27, 10:15 a.m. in Marshall Auditorium.

Convocation 2013 welcomes all new Sul Ross students and acquaints them with the history and traditions of Sul Ross. Among the events will be the traditional passing of the Spirit Stick from Class of 2012 representative Amber Rodriguez, El Paso, to the incoming Class of 2013. Payton Shipley, Witharral, will represent the incoming class.

Classes for Thursday, Aug. 27, will be on an altered schedule in order to accommodate the event. Following the convocation, the annual Fall on the Mall club fair will be held , starting at 11:30 a.m. Student clubs and organizations will be present on the mall to recruit new members.

For more information on the convocation, contact Gregory Schwab, (432) 837-8432. For information on the Student Organization Recruitment Fair, contact Jeffrey Blake, (432) 837-8191.

SUL ROSS HOSTS BELL SYSTEM DEDICATION AUG. 29

Sul Ross State University will host a dedication of a new bell system Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. on the University Mall. A reception will follow in the Museum of the Big Bend.

The Sul Ross State University Bells are a gift from 1974 graduate Roy Cantu, Kingsville.

For more information, contact Judy Parsons, (432) 837-8148 or jparsons@sulross.edu.

PERSONNEL CHANGES, ADDITIONAL ROOM RATES AMONG SUL ROSS REGENTAL ITEMS

Personnel changes, setting room rates for overflow student housing and acknowledgment of gifts and donations are among Sul Ross State University agaenda items at the upcoming meeting of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System.

The Regents will meet Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 19-21 at Sul Ross. They will also participate in a Thursday, Aug. 20 dedication renaming the University Center in honor of retiring President R. Vic Morgan and his wife, Mary Jane. The dedication will be held at 4 p.m. on the University Mall.

Due to a housing shortage because of increased enrollment Sul Ross seeks approval to set room rates for Fletcher Hall. Proposed rates for Fletcher Hall, beginning Fall 2009 semester are $1,015 for double occupancy, up from the current rate of $950; and $1,525 per fall/spring semester, an increase from $1,425. Summer session rates would increase from $315 to $335 for double occupancy and from $470 to $500 for private rooms.

The rates have not changed since Fiscal Year 2006, when the new Lobo Village housing complex came online. The requested rate increase of about 6.8 percent reflects current costs of operating Fletcher Hall.

Personnel changes include resignations from Dr. Justin Badgerow, assistant professor of Music and Dr. Keith West, assistant professor of Communication, both effective July 15. The contract for Blaine Hall, lecturer in the Academic Center for Excellence, ended May 31.

Status changes include Dr. Clay Rasmussen, from assistant professor of Animal Science to assistant professor of Education; and Dr. Paul Province, from assistant professor of Education at Sul Ross-Alpine to assistant professor of Education at Rio Grande College, both effective at the beginning of Fall 2009 semester.

Faculty appointments at Sul Ross-Alpine are: Dr. Rayford Ball, associate professor of Physics; Dr. Eric Holt, assistant professor of Mathematics; Dr. Erin Lippard, assistant professor of Music; and Dr. Filemon Zamora, assistant professor of Spanish.

RGC appointments are: Dr. Tiffany Culver, assistant professor of Psychology; Dr. Michael Ortiz, assistant professor of Mathematics; and Dr. Martin Urbina, associate professor of Criminal Justice.

Gifts and donations totaling $131,000 will be acknowledged, including: $5,000 from Humanities Texas, Austin, supporting special projects and programs of the Museum of the Big Bend; $6,000 form the Dallas Safari Club to the Apache Mountains Mule Deer Research Project; $30,000 from Celso M. Torres, San Antonio, to the Praxedis Mata Torres Teacher Education Scholarship Endowment; $5,000 from Clayton Williams and Modesta Williams, Midland, to the Museum of the Big Bend Education Program; $5,000 from the Eugene McDermott Foundation, Dallas, to the Musuem of the Big Bend Education Program; $25,000 from Dr. and Mrs. Charles Matthews, Austin, for a detailed utility audit; $20,000 from the Welch Foundation, Houston, as the first installment on a three-year Chemistry Department research grant; $5,000 from the Houston Safari Club to the Apache Mountains Mule Deer Research Project; and $25,000 from the Brown Foundation, Inc, Houston, to the Friends of the Center for Big Bend Studies.

Other Sul Ross agenda items include:

• Fourth day class reports for summer session enrollments at the Alpine Campus and RGC.

• Fund balance report and related adjustments to the 2008-2009 operating budget.

• Approval for renewal of a vending services contract with Big Bend Coca Cola Bottling Co. for a two-year period, beginning June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2011.

• Approval of the 2009-2010 holiday schedule for Sul Ross and RGC. Recommended holidays include: Labor Day, Sept. 7; Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-27; Christmas, Dec. 23-Jan. 1 (energy conservation day Dec. 23 for administrative and classified staff); Martin Luther King Birthday, Jan. 18, 2010; Spring Break -- Alpine, March 10-12 (including two energy conservation days for administrative and classified staff); Spring Break -- RGC, March 17-19 (including two energy conservation days for administrative and classified staff); Memorial Day, May 31.