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

News Release for Sept. 22, 2009

FAIRLIE, HARVESON RECEIVE SUL ROSS OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARDS

Carol Fairlie, professor of Art, and Dr. Louis Harveson, professor of Natural Resource Management, are the most recent recipients of the Sul Ross State University Outstanding Teaching Award.

Fairlie was selected as the 2008 recipient and Harveson for 2009. They were recognized at a ceremony Thursday, Sept. 17 in the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center.

Selection process includes recommendations from the Faculty Assembly, Student Senate and student body. The recognition, which includes a cash award, recognizes exemplary teaching.

Fairlie, a member of the Sul Ross faculty since 1996, earned a four-year certificate in painting (1974) from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia; a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art (1990) from Texas Woman's University, Denton; and a Master's of Fine Arts in studio art (1994) from the University of North Texas, also in Denton.

Harveson, who came to Sul Ross in January 1998, received a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management (1991) from Texas Tech University, Lubbock; a Master's of Science in range and wildlife management (1995) from Texas A&M University-Kingsville; and a joint Ph.D. in wildlife science (1997) from Texas A&M University, College Station; and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

"I am honored that the students and faculty have acknowledged me in this way," said Harveson. "As I review the previous recipients of this award, I can't help but think about the incredibly talented faculty Sul Ross has across the campus.

"Our faculty is what sets Sul Ross apart from other universities," he said. "They are dedicated, passionate, and most importantly they know how to connect with their students. The big universities across the state have lost that connection. The personal/professional connection our faculty forge with their students provides for a very unique and effective learning environment."

Previous recipients of the Outstanding Teaching Award since 1983 include: Metha Sprinkle (Education); Ernest Reesing (Range Animal Science); William L. Beatty (Business Administration); David L. Cockrum (Psychology); Jimmy D. Case (Political Science); Robie Golden (Mathematics); Bob Pannell (Education); Wayne Sheehan (History); Rex Wilson (Music); George Bradley (Communications and Theatre); Greg Schwab (Communications and Theatre); Daniel Vrudny (Industrial Technology); Keith West (Communications and Theatre); Ellen Boyd (Music); Abelardo Baeza (English and Spanish); Ray Beaulieu (Mathematics); Mark Saka (History); Patti Trietsch (Education); Jeff Pendergraft (Animal Science); Barbara Tyler (Education); Jesus Tafoya (Spanish); Dona Roman (Communication/Theatre); Sheehan; and Martin Terry (Biology).

SEPT. 28 MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JOYCE SESTERS

A memorial service for Joyce Sesters, coordinator of Career Services and Testing at Sul Ross State University, will be held Monday, Sept. 28, 3:30 p.m. in the Espino Conference Center of the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center.

Sesters, 56, died Sept. 7 of cancer. Funeral services were held Sept. 17 in San Antonio at St. Joseph South San Catholic Church. Burial took place at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery, Somerset.

She began work at Sul Ross in January 2002. She received a B.S. degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University, San Marcos) and a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Trinity University, San Antonio. She also earned a M.A. in History from Sul Ross in 2007. She previously worked in the psychological health field in both private and public settings.

Survivors include two sisters, Frances E. Rathmann, San Antonio; and Eleanor P. Rathmann (Herbert) Bludeau, Boerne; a niece, Brenda MacGillis, San Antonio; a nephew, Joseph Bludeau, New Braunfels, and their families; and numerous cousins and friends.

SUL ROSS' FREED RECEIVES ASCAP AWARD

Dr. Donald Callen Freed, Sul Ross State University associate professor of Music, has been awarded $1,250 for choral and vocal compositions by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

The award covers compositions written, performed and published for the years 2008-2009. Freed was notified that an ASCAPLUS award will be presented to him in the January 2010 distribution to writers.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that Freed has received an ASCAPLUS award.

ASCAP, headquartered in New York, is an organization founded by Irving Berlin and others. It is one of the largest organizations of composers, authors and publishers in the U.S.

For more information, contact Freed, (432) 837-8216 or dfreed@sulross.edu.

MAESTAS UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED AS SUL ROSS' 11 TH PRESIDENT; TO BEGIN NOV. 9

The Board of Regents of the Texas State University System have unanimously confirmed Dr. Ricardo Maestas as the 11th President of Sul Ross State University.

Confirmation was made at a Sept. 17 meeting.

Maestas, Vice President for Student and University Relations and Dean of Students at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, will begin his new duties Nov. 9. He succeeds Dr. R. Vic Morgan, who retired Aug. 31 after serving 19 years.

Maestas was named the lone finalist for the presidency Aug. 21. A total of 62 candidates applied for the position.

"I am very delighted to be officially appointed by the Board of Regents," Maestas said. "I can't wait to get to Alpine and begin work on behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Sul Ross State University."

Dr. David Cockrum, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, is serving as interim president.

RAKU POTTERY WORKSHOP OCT. 3, 17 AT MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND

The Museum of the Big Bend will host a Raku pottery workshop on Saturdays, Oct. 3 and 17, 9 a.m.-noon in the Education Center.

Raku is a process that uses both smoke and fire to create unique patterns and designs in pottery. Each student will have the opportunity to create three pieces. Students will learn aspects of the Raku process, including sculpting, glazing, and firing.

Students must be at least 12 years of age and adults are welcome. All supplies will be provided and the cost of the workshop will be $30 per person.

For more information or to make a reservation, call (432) 837-8815.

SUL ROSS RECEIVES $574,000 GRANT FOR HISPANIC POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDIES

Sul Ross State University will receive a $574,898 U.S. Department of Education's Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) grant to promote graduate opportunities for Hispanic students.

Congressman Ciro Rodriguez made the announcement Sept. 16. The initial one-year grant will fund the program from Oct. 30, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010, but it is anticipated that a five-year grant period will be approved.

"Puertas Abiertas"(Open Doors) seeks to expand postbaccalautreate educational opportunities for and improve the academic attainment of Hispanic students. As of Fall 2008, Hispanic students comprised over 47 percent of the Sul Ross graduate student body.

" The purpose of 'Open Doors' is to increase Hispanic and other low income students' attainment of graduate degrees and provide new pathways to these degrees for students in our vast region through distance education," said Gregory Schwab, associate vice president for Enrollment Management. "We are excited that the grant will allow us to allot funds for our graduate programs, including the development of web-based graduate programs in agriculture, business, and English/communication. Additionally, we will be able to offer additional graduate fellowships utilizing the Department of Education's PPOHA funds." "The Sul Ross State University administration, faculty, staff and students all want to thank Representative Rodriguez for his outstanding leadership on providing funding for the higher educational needs of residents for west Texas, especially those for whom social and economic barriers exist" Schwab said.

Project goals seek to: expand existing degree programs in four high-demand fields (Education, Agriculture, Business and English/Communication) by offering distance options; update and expand the distance education infrastructure; provide faculty development in distance instructional techniques/ technology; develop a new Graduate Student Center that will provide pro-active graduate support services; and provide direct support to students through fellowships. The project also includes a comprehensive evaluation plan.

For more information, contact Schwab, (432) 837-8039 or gschwab@sulross.edu.

CBBS HOSTS SEPT. 12 ARCHAEOLOGY FUND RAISER AT MACGUIRE RANCH

The Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross State University hosted "An Afternoon of Archaeology" at the MacGuire Ranch Sept. 12.

The event was a fundraiser to benefit the Center's Trans-Pecos Archaeological Program (TAP). The program is a large-scale effort to compile the archaeology of Texas' Trans-Pecos region, an area roughly the size of Maine. TAP is working to synthesize archaeological data from the region, return to more in-depth work at select sites, and incorporate the most recent innovations in archaeological techniques.

Over the last five years, the CBBS has identified over 2,500 archaeological sites and conducted large-scale excavations at more than a dozen of those sites.

The 65 attendees had planned to visit three archaeological sites on the ranch: the David Williams site, San Esteban Rockshelter, and the Chihuahuan Trail archaeological district. Because of inclement weather, they instead attended presentations about each site. Robert Mallouf and Andy Cloud spoke about archaeology in the Trans-Pecos, and John Seebach, Roger Boren, and Reeda Peel discussed sites on the ranch and rock art in the region.

Presentations were followed by a social and dinner. After the meal, CBBS director Andy Cloud presented ranch owner Betty MacGuire of El Paso and Marfa with a plaque and lifetime CBBS membership for her outstanding support of archaeological discovery in the Big Bend.

The Center for Big Bend Studies plans to continue research at the MacGuire Ranch, specifically at the 7,000 year-old David Williams site, one of the oldest buried sites identified in the region.

TAP is possible because of the generosity of ranch owners, individual donors, and foundations. For more information, visit the web site at www.sulross.edu/cbbs/ or call (432) 837-8179.

GUGGENHEIM FELLOW TO DELIVER 21ST MARSHALL LECTURE SEPT. 24 AT SUL ROSS

Jay Dusard, Guggenheim Fellow in Photography, will deliver the 21st Mary Thomas Marshall Lecture Thursday, Sept. 24, at Sul Ross State University.

Dusard will address "La Frontera and the West" at 7:30 p.m. in the Becky Ramos Espino Conference Center of the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center. There is no admission charge and the public is invited. A reception and book signing will follow the lecture.

Dusard has made a name for himself as a photographer of the American West. His large-format black and white photographs of cowboys, border subjects and abstractions have received several awards and many gallery showings. He will be a featured presenter at the "Shooting the West" Photography Symposium, Sept. 25-27 at Sul Ross.

Dusard was born in St. Louis, grew up on a farm in southern Illinois and studied architecture at the University of Florida. During a stint in the army, he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and began cowboying, a career he pursued in Arizona after the army.

In 1965, while living in Tucson, Ariz., and working in architecture and cartography, Dusard started photographing. A year later in Flagstaff he was working in publishing and using his large-format cameras to take landscape photographs. He met photographer Frederick Sommer, who became his mentor and paved the way for him to teach photography for seven years at Prescott College.

When he received a 1981 Guggenheim Fellowship, Dusard photographed working cowboys. The photographs were published in his classic and widely-acclaimed work, The North American Cowboy: A Portrait (1983). His second book, La Frontera: The United States Border with Mexico, with text by Alan Weisman, was published in 1986.

In 1992 he was nominated for the Kodak World Image Award for Fine Art Photography. In 1994 his book, Open Country, was awarded third place in the Photographic Book of the Year competition. His most recent book, Horses, was a 2005 collaboration with writer Thomas McGuane. A limited edition portfolio of 12 digital prints, The California Vaquero, was published by Cattle Track Press (2005). Dusard has established himself not only as a creator of beautiful images, but one of the greatest black & white printmakers. Starting in 2006, monumental-size archival pigment prints as large as 4 by 8 feet have been made in collaboration with Carlos Mandelaveitia of TruRes (Scottsdale).

Jay Dusard: Keeping the West Western, a documentary by Michael Markee, was premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival in 2006. Among numerous venues, his work has been exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum, Glenbow Museum (Calgary), Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Consejo Mexicano de Fotografia (Mexico City), Art Museum of South Texas, International Photography Hall of Fame (Oklahoma City), Cattle Track Gallery (Scottsdale), Booth Museum of Western Art (Cartersville, Ga.), Schenck Southwest Gallery (Santa Fe), and currently at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Most recently, his abstractions were featured in LensWork #78.

He lives with his wife, Kathie, near Douglas, Ariz., where, between trips to photograph and teach workshops, he raises quarter horses, punches cows and plays jazz cornet.

The Sul Ross State University Lecture Series was renamed in 1985 to honor Mary Thomas Marshall, a good friend of the University. On Feb. 21, 1992, the Board of Regents, of the Texas State University System approved renaming the Main Auditorium of Sul Ross to the Marshall Auditorium in recognition of her many contributions to the University.

SUL ROSS HOSTS 64TH NIRA RODEO SEPT. 24-26

Sul Ross State University -- the birthplace of intercollegiate rodeo -- will host the 64th annual National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association event Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 24-26.

Action will begin at 7 p.m. each evening in the SALE (San Antonio Livestock Exposition) Arena. The rodeo has been moved up one week this week, and will likely remain scheduled during the last week in September in the foreseeable future.

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. 25-26, beginning at 9 a.m. each day. There is no charge for the slack.

Teams competing in previous years include: Angelo State University, San Angelo; Clarendon College; Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, N.M.; Frank Phillips College, Borger; Howard College, Big Spring; Mesalands Community College, Tucumcari, N.M.; 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 four co-eds will be crowned Miss Rodeo 2009. Coronation will be held prior to the rodeo. The reigning Queen is Amanda Renfro, Fort Worth.

Candidates include Victoria Raybon, Burleson; Stephanie Rodriguez, Seminole; Hannah Magnuson, Deming, N.M., and Ashley Buffington, Carlsbad, N.M.

Sul Ross boast 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.

Photo: Sul Ross State University’s Rodeo Team will host the 64th NIRA Rodeo Sept. 24-26 at the SALE Arena. This year’s team members include (front row, from left): Laramie Collins, Kaydi Kubala, Ashley Brown, Stephanie Rodriguez, Jessica Moore, Alex Mason; (middle row): David Tilley, Autumn Runser, Kelsea Krenka, Victor Iglesias, Cody Higgins, Clayton Gibson; (back row): Tommy Heck, Russell Garlick, Klay Harris, Trevor Ervin, Justin Smith, Coach Kerry Doster. Photo by Jason Hennington.

PHOTO CONTEST PART OF SEPT. 25-27 "SHOOTING WEST TEXAS" SYMPOSIUM

Ticket holders for the Sept. 25-27 "Shooting West Texas" photography symposium will be displaying their best photographs during the symposium's photo contest.

The display will be open to the public in the upstairs foyer of the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center at Sul Ross State University. Viewers will be encouraged to submit their choice for a "People's Choice" award.

The contest will be judged by symposium presenters. Each of the major speakers will be awarding "Speaker's Choice" Awards, and explaining their choices at an Awards Ceremony and Autograph Party at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Four members from Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine's editorial staff will also be selecting their top picks from the photography contest and awarding certificates to winners.

Entries must be framed and ready to hang. Entries will be accepted at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 and professionally hung by Jim Bob Salazar, Sul Ross associate professor of art. Another "last chance entry" session will be held from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.

Several nationally and internationally known photographers will be presenting their work during the symposium, including David Stoecklein, a "Canon Explorer of Light;" Jay Dusard, former Guggenheim Photography Fellow; Kathy Adams Clark, stock photographer for several books on Texas wildlife; Terry Nathan, professor of atmospheric science at the University of California, Davis; Keith Bowden, author of The Tecate Journals; Diana Doan-Crider, Mexican black bear scientist, and locals Rocky McBride, Jason Hennington, and Dennie Miller.

In addition, Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, Dusard, and Clark will be providing free portfolio reviews to ticket holders only throughout the two-day event. Bob Malish, regional representative for Canon USA will be demonstrating new digital camera equipment, Morrison's True Value will be selling Canon equipment from their new inventory, and Texas Book Company will be selling books produced by the participants and host an autograph signing event.

Tickets for the symposium are $100 per person and available on line or through LeAndra Ramirez in the Sul Ross Cashier's Office (432) 837-8047. For more information, see www.shootingwesttexas.com , or contact Judy Parsons, 837-8148 or Salazar, 837-8405.

Other members of the local committee include David Cockrum, Cesario Valenzuela, Lauren Mendias, Rob Stolz, Tim Parsons, and Barney Nelson.

MISS RODEO SUL ROSS 2009 TO BE CROWNED SEPT. 26

Four students are seeking the 2009 Miss Rodeo Sul Ross title, with the winner to be crowned Saturday, Sept. 26, prior to the final performance of the 64th annual Sul Ross NIRA Rodeo.

Amanda Renfro, Fort Worth, is the reigning Miss Rodeo Sul Ross.

Contestants are: Victoria Raybon, Burleson, freshman equine science major, sponsored by Comet Cleaners; Stephanie Rodriguez, Seminole, senior equine science major and member of the Sul Ross Rodeo Team, sponsored by Big Bend Saddlery; Hannah Magnuson, Deming, N.M, sophomore agricultural business major, sponsored by Hamby Construction; and Ashley Buffington, Carlsbad, N.M., sophomore animal science major, sponsored by B&H Construction.

Events will begin Friday evening, Sept. 25, with horsemanship events. On Saturday morning, the contestants will be tested on their rodeo, equine, and current event knowledge. Following the test each contestant will be interviewed by the panel of judges.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the contestants will be featured in a fashion show, will answer impromptu questions and give short speeches. The fashion show will be held in Turner Range Animal Science Center, Room 130. The event is free and open to the public.

"Everyone is invited to watch the pageant at the Turner Range Animal Science Center," said Renfro. "I have had a wonderful time representing the Sul Ross rodeo team and hope the next Miss Rodeo Sul Ross enjoys it as much as I have."

Photo: Miss Rodeo 2009 candidates pose with Miss Rodeo 2008 Amanda Renfro, Fort Worth (front). (clockwise) Stephanie Rodriguez, Seminole; Hanna Magnuson, Deming, N.M.; Victoria Raybon, Burleson; and Ashley Buffington, Carlsbad, N.M. Sul Ross’ new Rodeo Queen will be crowned Saturday, Sept. 26. Photo by Jason Hennington.

MUSEUM HOSTS LAKEWAY PAINTERS

The Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University recently hosted the Lakeway Painters, a group of painters from the Austin area. specifically Lakeway. 

Painters worked in oils, watercolor and pastels in the Museum’s Education Center. They have been painting together for nearly nine years and are led by instructor, Daniel Jones of Mansfield. Afterwards, the group enjoyed the sites and fine dining of the Big Bend. 

Stops included The Gage Hotel in Marathon and Cochineal and the Chinati in Marfa. A special trip was made to Fort Davis to visit and spend time with pastel and oil painter, Lindy Cook Severns.

The painters also received Museum tours by curators Matt Walter and Mary Bones.  Bones, presented a program on the Sul Ross Art Colony that began in the 1930s and continued through the 1950s.  (Photo Courtesy Liz Jackson)