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

News Release for Dec. 12, 2011

SUL ROSS FALL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES DEC. 17 AT ALPINE, UVALDE

Dr. Brian McCall, Chancellor of the Texas State University System, will deliver the address during Sul Ross State University’s fall commencement exercises, Saturday, Dec. 17.

Sul Ross-Alpine Campus ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center.

Rio Grande College exercises will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Uvalde High School Auditorium. Sul Ross graduate Stephanie Rinaldi, founder of QuadRin Land and Energy Services, Inc., will deliver the RGC commencement address.

A total of 262 students are candidates for degrees, 156 at Sul Ross-Alpine and 106 at Rio Grande College.

At Alpine, Steven Bennack, lecturer in Music, will play the processional, “Pomp and Circumstance,” and the recessional, “Postlude in G Major.” Dr. Lorie Rubenser, associate professor of Criminal Justice, will be the mace bearer. Dr. Avinash Rangra, professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Chester Sample, professor of Physical Education, will serve as marshals.

Sul Ross President Dr. Ricardo Maestas will deliver the welcome and confer degrees. Dr. Donald Coers, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, will preside over the ceremonies and announce recognitions and honors. Dr. Donald Freed, associate professor of Music, will lead the singing of “God Bless America” and “Alma Mater.”

As chancellor of the Texas State University System, McCall heads the oldest and third-largest university system in Texas, comprising eight institutions with more than 77,000 students and 15,000 faculty and staff.

He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives, first elected in 1991 to represent the areas of North Dallas, Frisco, Allen, and Plano. As a representative, he served as chairman of the House Calendars Committee and as a member of the Higher Education Committee. Texas Monthly named McCall one of the "10 Best" legislators of the 2009 session.

McCall wrote and passed one of the largest tax-cut bills in the history of Texas and during his last session secured $5 million in funding for The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for Values and Medicine. Other legislative accomplishments include authoring and passing key bills in the areas of health care, biotechnology, high technology, identity theft, and tax and budget policy.

He was President of Westminster Capital Corporation, an investment firm focused on acquisitions primarily in software and technology. He also serves on the board of View Point Bank and, along with his brother David, operates Snow Hill Farm north of Dallas.

McCall holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University, spent a year as a visiting post-graduate student at Oxford University, and earned a doctor of philosophy degree from University of Texas at Dallas.

He wrote  “The Power of the Texas Governor: Connolly to Bush,” published by University of Texas Press, which examines how various governors have overcome the institutional limitations of the office to achieve significant political power.

A long-time civic and community volunteer, McCall is founder and chairman of the board of The Empowerment Project, a non-profit organization which has sent more than $10 million worth of math and science books to disadvantaged schools in the Republic of South Africa, and helped construct a library in Vietnam through the Libraries of Love organization. The Empowerment Project also raised more than $350,000 to provide direct support for the medical needs of children in north Texas.

ONLINE MID-WINTER, SPRING REGISTRATION CONTINUES AT SUL ROSS

Mid-Winter registration at Sul Ross State University continues online through Monday, Jan. 2, with classes and late registration beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3.

New students must report to the Center for Enrollment Services, Lawrence Hall, Room 100, before beginning any part of the registration process.

Mid-Winter classes will be held Jan. 3-Jan. 18. Payment is due Jan. 3. Late registration will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Jan. 3, in Lawrence Hall, Room 100, for all students. Payment is due at the time of registration.

Spring 2012 registration will continue through Wednesday,  Jan. 18, with classes and late registration starting Thursday, Jan. 19. Payment is due Jan. 19.

Late registration will continue through Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. in Lawrence Hall, Room 100. Payment is due at the time of registration.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY GRADUATION

Jesus Valenzuela receives his diploma from Sul Ross Law Enforcement Academy director Lloyd Dragoo (left) during graduation ceremonies Dec. 9. Seventeen members of the Class of 2011 were recognized in ceremonies in the Morgan University Center. Joseph Pasqua, a LEA graduate currently assigned to the McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, was the featured speaker. Photo by Jason Hennington.

Graduation ceremonies were held Friday, Dec. 9 for the 2011 Sul Ross State University Law Enforcement Academy class. The 17 graduates also had a 100 percent pass rate on the state peace officer examination. Graduates include (front row, from left): Ashley Tellez, Jerry Gonzales, Evanjelina Salamanca, Doraly Garcia, Priscilla Pitts, Elias Gomez, Michelle I. Castillo, Lorenzo J. Pantoja; (second row) LEA director Lloyd Dragoo, Iana C. Pantoja, Edward Chavez, Jr., Jorge Arteaga Martinez, Jake Roberts Mullens, Wendell G. Stroup, Jose Gutierrez, Jesus Valenzuela, Kienan Goodnight. Not pictured is Marsia Galindo. Photo by Jason Hennington.