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

News Release for Oct. 20, 2009

"LOBOS: THE NEXT GENERATION" SUL ROSS HOMECOMING THEME NOV. 2-8

Sul Ross alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends will celebrate "Lobos: The Next Generation" during Homecoming 2009, scheduled Nov. 2-8.

The annual celebration includes the parade, daily student events, induction of four new members into the athletic Hall of Honor and presentation of two Distinguished Alumni Awards and the Slingin' Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service.

Candidates will be introduced and finalists announced Monday, Nov. 2 during a performance by comedian Pete Lee. The 8 p.m. event will be held in the Espino Conference Center of the Morgan University Center. Reigning Queen Celina Candelaria andKing James Aldridge, both of El Paso, will crown their successors during halftime of the Sul Ross-Mississippi College football game Saturday, Nov. 7.

Brothers Dr. Bryan Hobson Wildenthal, chief academic officer of the University of Texas at Dallas, and Dr. Kern Wildenthal, recently retired as President of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, have been selected as 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. R. Keith Martin, chief executive officer of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition (SALE), will receive the Slingin' Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service to Sul Ross during Homecoming festivities.

The Hall of Honor/Distinguished Alumni banquet will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. in the University Center. Tickets for Distinguished Alumni/Hall of Honor Banquet will cost $20 per person.

Joining the Athletic Hall of Honor will be former tennis All-American Janna McHazlett, LaGrange; women's basketball star April Ramirez, Corpus Christi; and former football standout Maurice Stephens, Liberty Hill.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, a student organization Homecoming derby starts at 5:30 p.m. on the Mall, with students competing in various obstacle challenges.

Student organizations will paint the Bar-SR-Bar Wednesday, Nov. 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., Sul Ross hosts Hardin-Simmons University in American Southwest Conference volleyball.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, the annual pep rally and bonfire activities start at 7:30 p.m. at the field adjacent to Kokernot Park.

On Friday, Nov. 6, Homecoming registration will be open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on the Morgan UC first floor. The $40 per person packet includes a commemorative T-shirt, admission to the Homecoming luncheon, Welcome Social, pre-game lunch, football game, President's reception and Sunday farewell brunch. A Homecoming lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Morgan UC Dining Services. Cost is $6.50 per person.

The Sul Ross Alumni Association will hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m. in the UC, Room 210. A campus tour will begin at 3 p.m. at the Morgan UC. A Lobo Burger-Off showdown will be held on the Mall, with the time to be announced. A Homecoming Welcome social begins at 7 p.m. in the Morgan UC second floor foyer. At 9 p.m., the lighting of the Bar-SR-Bar will be held.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the annual Homecoming parade will be held at 10:30 a.m., proceeding from the Alpine Civic Center, east on Holland Ave. to Jackson Field. Bryan and Kern Wildenthal will serve as Grand Marshals. A pre-game barbeque will be held on the Mall starting at 11 a.m.

At 1 p.m., the Lobos will battle Mississippi College in an American Southwest Conference football game. Coronation of the 2008 Homecoming Queen and King will be held at halftime. A 6:30 p.m. reception at the Museum of the Big Bend will precede the 7:30 p.m. Hall of Honor/Distinguished Alumni banquet.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, a farewell brunch buffet is scheduled from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the UC Dining Services.

For more information, contact Saul Garza, (432) 837-8697 or visit www.sulross.edu/homecoming

19 SUL ROSS 2009 HOMECOMING QUEEN, KING CANDIDATES

Nineteen candidates -- 12 women and seven men -- will seek Sul Ross State University's 2009 Homecoming Queen and King crowns.

Theme of Homecoming 2009 is "Lobos: The Next Generation." Homecoming will be celebrated Nov. 2-8.

Voting by the student body will be conducted Thursday-Friday, Oct. 29-30. Candidates will be introduced and finalists announced Monday, Nov. 2 during a performance by comedian Pete Lee. The 8 p.m. event will be held in the Espino Conference Center of the Morgan University Center.

Final voting will be conducted Thursday-Friday, Nov. 5-6. Reigning Queen Celina Candelaria andKing James Aldridge, both of El Paso, will crown their successors during halftime of the Sul Ross-Mississippi College football game Saturday, Nov. 7.

Queen candidates, their hometowns and sponsors are: April Arellano, Fabens, Extreme Rebels; Addie Bencomo, Fort Davis, Independent; Mia Bonin, Katy, Independent; Priscilla Frausto, El Paso, Sully Productions; Jessica Lien, Midland, Independent; Samantha Medina, San Antonio, Students Recycling and Serving Society; Lizbeth Pereyra, El Paso, Independent; Janet Perez, Odessa, Baptist Student Ministry; Clariza Pina, Presidio, Newman Club; Melissa Ramirez, Presidio, Student Development; Anya Reyes, Austin, Sul Ross Theatrical Society and Sandra Torres, Castroville, Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

King candidates include: Christian Celis, Marfa/Guanajuato, Mexico, Student Government Association; James Gude, Temple, Student Development; Rolando Hernandez, Presidio, Lobo Legacy; Andy Hulsey, El Paso, Independent; Robert Powell, Houston, Sul Ross Theatrical Society; Ricardo Vera, Hebbronville, Newman Club; and Mitchell Waechter, Devine, Baptist Student Ministry.

SUL ROSS HOSTS FALL CARNIVAL OCT. 29

Sul Ross State University Campus Activities will host the annual Fall Carnival on the Mall, Thursday, Oct. 29, 4:30-7 p.m.

The student organization fund raiser will feature food, prizes, games and a costume contest. The event is open to the public.

Costume contest categories include: Sul Ross students, community members and children fourth grade and younger.

For more information, contact Campus Activities, (432) 837-8191.

SUL ROSS' RUBENSER ELECTED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION POST

Dr. Lorie Rubenser, Sul Ross State University associate professor and graduate coordinator of Criminal Justice, was elected second vice president of the Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice.

Rubenser attended the SACJ annual meeting, held Oct. 7-10 in Laredo. Rubenser, who previously served two years as association secretary, will be automatically promoted to one-year terms as first vice president and president. SACJ is the regional association of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

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

SUL ROSS STUDENTS TO PRESENT AT OCT. 28 MCNAIR©TAFOYA SYMPOSIUM

By Jason Hennington, News Writer

After a summer of research, SuL Ross State University students are preparing to present their work at the second Annual McNair©Tafoya Symposium, scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 28.

This year's symposium will be recognizing excellence in undergraduate research in the school of Arts and Sciences. Oral and poster presentations will be held in the Espino Conference Center of the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center, beginning at 3 p.m.

Five students involved in The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program will give oral presentations on their findings, Sheryl Bitner, Alvin,"Ectoparasites of Mus musculus around Alpine, TX with Notes on the Ectoparasites Associated with Other Rodent Species", Madeleine Cantu, Deer Park,"Comparison of Habitat Use and Species Diversity Surrounding Earthen Tanks in the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas"; Lucia De La Rosa, San Antonio, "A Demographic Study of the Yellow mud Turtle Kinosternon flavescens in West Texas"; Joan King, Taylor; "Mathematical Analysis of Musical Notes"; and Mark Tyson, Alpine,"Comparison of Population Estimators for Desert Mule Deer in West Texas."

Poster presentations include Lorenzo Barcena, Alpine; Bitner; Joey Cabezuela, Van Horn; Cantu; Karen Chavira, Alpine; De La Rosa; Bryan Dominguez, El Paso; Rafi Guillen, Alpine; Dauna Hodnett, Fort Davis; King, Victoria Mancha, Alpine; Angela Muniz, Marfa; RoseAnn Rodriguez, Waxahachie; and Tyson.

The symposium is dedicated to Dr. Jesus Tafoya, a Sul Ross professor who died in 2008 and was a mentor to students involved in the program.

The McNair Program, named after Ronald E. McNair, the first African American astronaut is designed to assist low income, first generation, and/or under represented students earn doctoral degrees. The program assists students to prepare for and pass the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT tests, as well as apply for doctoral programs at other institutions. The McNair program also sponsors travel to graduate fairs and symposiums, along with periodic workshops on how to find and secure graduate funding for involved students. Each student will receive free tuition, room and board, and a stipend for summer research.

Each student is mentored by a faculty member appointed depending on field of choice. Recipients will receive three hours of college credit, and will engage in an intense research project in their field of interest.

For more information the McNair Program, contact Mary Bennett, program director, (432) 837-9054 or mbennett@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS MCNAIR SCHOLAR INVITED TO HARVARD DIVERSITY CONFERENCE

by Jason Hennington, News Writer

Research by Sul Ross State University student RoseAnn Rodriguez, Waxahachie, has gained national attention.

Rodriguez, an Education and Counseling major and McNair Program Scholar, has been invited to present her research at a diversity conference at Harvard University Nov. 8-10.

Her project, titled \"Self-Esteem among Development Education Students at Sul Ross State University,"w as submitted to a national McNair clearinghouse that sends names of McNair students to graduate school deans around the country.

"I participated in the McNair scholars program this summer. My research was on 'The Relationship of Self-Esteem to GPA of First Generation College Students," she said. "McNair submitted all my work and research to other universities."

The invitation came as a surprise to Rodriguez, who almost bypassed the opportunity.

"I thought it was something a lot of people got, so I just kind of skimmed over it," she said. "I re-read it and saw it did have information regarding me specifically."

Rodriguez took the information to Mary Bennett, director of the Sul Ross McNair Program, for her input on the invitation.

"Mary was excited and thought it would be a good experience," Rodriguez said.

Bennett was elated, and believes this will be a great experience for Rodriguez and other students at Sul Ross.

"I'm really excited she was picked to attend the conference. This is a wonderful opportunity for her," Bennett said. "Not only can she benefit, but she can come back and share what she learned about what Ivy League schools look for in applicants."

Rodriguez is hoping to see what Harvard has to offer, although it might not be her final choice for graduate school.

"I'm going to find out the different programs Harvard offers," she said. "I'll meet people from different departments, and get familiar with their school and see the master's programs."

The McNair Program will be funding the trip, and Rodriguez will be representing Sul Ross at the prestigious university. She is happy to be going for her own experience, but also to be representing the university.

"Knowing they'll meet me and know what university I'm from is great. I'm privileged to be the one to represent Sul Ross at such a prestigious university," she said. "McNair is paying for everything which is really awesome."

Although she is ready and qualified to attend the conference, Rodriguez is still in "awe" about the situation.

"It's kind of not real. Why would Harvard send me something? I thought they sent the invitation to the wrong person," she laughed. "I'll believe it when I get there."

Rodriguez is excited about going and the experience she will gain from this trip. She feels she is taking full advantage of this opportunity.

"I'm going for the experience. If I don't go I think I'll regret not going. I want to see what they have to offer me," she said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to go and meet them even if it's not where I end up."

Bennett believes Rodriguez has taken advantage of a great opportunity, and believes she will benefit greatly from it.

"I think she took advantage of her McNair project, and worked hard this summer. I'm tickled that Harvard took notice and invited her," she said. "Kudos to RoseAnn and Dr. Chet Sample for the hard work she did and outstanding faculty mentoring she received from Dr. Sample.".

The McNair Program, named after Ronald E. McNair, the first African American astronaut is designed to assist low income, first generation, and/or under represented students earn doctoral degrees. The program assists students to prepare for and pass the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT tests, as well as apply for doctoral programs at other institutions. The McNair program also sponsors travel to graduate fairs and symposiums, along with periodic workshops on how to find and secure graduate funding for involved students.

Each student will receive free tuition, room and board, and a stipend for summer research. Each student is mentored by a faculty member appointed depending on field of choice. Recipients will receive three hours of college credit, and will engage in an intense research project in their field of interest.

For more information on the McNair Program, contact Mary Bennett, McNair Program director, (432) 837-9053 or mbennett@sulross.edu.