Sul Ross State University

April 2008

Francell, Museum to receive THC award

Museum of the Big Bend director Larry Francell will receive a prestigious award from the Texas Historical Commission (THC).

Francell will receive the John L. Nau, III Award of Excellence in Museums, to be presented at the annual Historic Preservation Conference, scheduled May 1-3 in Corpus Christi.

Francell will be recognized for significant achievement in the areas of historical interpretation, museum education, conservation of collections and/or community involvement.

He was nominated by the Texas Mountain Trail Board of Directors.

“The Board...was very happy to nominate Larry for this award and bring statewide recognition to the Museum of the Big Bend,” said Beth Nobles, Texas Mountain Trail coordinator. “Through Larry’s leadership and hard work of the museum’s staff, volunteers and partners, the region now has a strong anchor attraction for tourists.”

Since becoming director in 2000, Francell spearheaded a $4.4 million renovation/relocation campaign that resulted in the return of the Museum to its original location, a building constructed in 1936 during the Texas Centennial.

The renovation also included new and expanded exhibits and a curator of education will be added to the staff.

Francell praised his staff, as well as Sul Ross’ administration and supporters.

“Without the commitment of the staff, the help of Museumscapes and all the people who had a hand in actually fabricating and installing our exhibits, the support of Dr. Morgan and the belief in the importance of preserving the history of the Big Bend expressed by the generous financial support of donors over the years, today’s facilities would still be in the planning stage,” Francell said.

Museum of the Big Bend hosts Congressional District Art Competition

(Pictured left: U.S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and Louisa Mayfield, curator of education at the Museum of the Big Bend, announce winners of the 23rd Congressional District regional art competition, held Saturday (April 12) at the Museum on the Sul Ross State University campus).   High school art students from Van Horn, Alpine and Fort Davis participated. Three entries were chosen for final judging at San Antonio later this month. The winning entry from three regional competitions (Alpine, Eagle Pass and San Antonio) will hang in the U.S. Capitol Building along with works from the other 434 Congressional districts in the U.S. (Photo by Steve Lang)

Three young artists from Alpine and Fort Davis will be judged against other winners from Texas’ 23rd Congressional District are in the running for a Washington, D.C. trip and exhibiting their work in the U.S. Capitol Building.

Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez awarded prizes for the winning entries Saturday (April 12) during a presentation at the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University. A total of 23 high school art students from Alpine, Fort Davis and Van Horn competed. All entrants received a certificate of participation from Rodriguez.

The winners – Frankie Hartnett, Fort Davis, first place; and Brian Bridges, Fort Davis and Ana Martinez, Alpine, tied for second, will compete against winners from competition held in Eagle Pass and San Antonio later this month in San Antonio. The winning entry from the three regional shows will be hung in the U.S. Capitol Building, with the artist and his/her parents flown to Washington, D.C. for the opening ceremony.

Rodriguez said that one artwork from each of the nation’s 435 congressional districts will be displayed. The competition was started in 1982. The Congressman noted that due to the size of his districtt the initial competition was expanded to three sites.

“The art work often reflects what is going on in the country,” Rodgriguez said. “You can also look at the art from the district and region and see how the district is represented.”

Rodriguez said that the competition is handled by volunteers, and he praised the Musuem staff and area art teachers for their efforts.

“Without the teachers who encourage students to participate, this doesn’t happen,” he said.

Museum director Larry Francell and Louisa Mayfield, curator of education, organized the event.

“We look forward to doing this in the future and working with your office,” Francell told Rodriguez. “Next year, we are confident we will be able to include a many more high schools.”

For more information, contact Mayfield, (432) 837-8815 or hmayfield@sulross.edu

Biology students, faculty at Science Academy meet

Sul Ross State University biology graduate students and faculty members presented papers and posters at the March 7-8 meeting of the Texas Academy of Sciences, held on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus..

At the botany session, Dr. James C. Zech, professor of Biology, presented a per, “Zanthoxylum Parvum (Rutaceae): a Rare West Texas Endemic, Safe at Last?”

Justin D. Ceniceros, Alpine, presented the paper, “Seed dispersal by American Black Bears (Urus americanus) in Big Bend National Park, Texas.” The paper was co-authored by Ceniceros, Andrew R. Berezin, Damon; and Dr. Steven G. Platt, assistant professor of Biology.

At the terrestrial ecology and management session, Cynthia G. McAlister, Alpine, presented a paper, “ Comparison of Native Bee Diversity Between a Botanical Garden and Adjacent Grasslands, Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, Jeff Davis County, Texas,” that she co-authored with Dr. Christopher M. Ritzi, assistant professor of Biology.

Traci Gukian, Dale; Rosalva Meraz, Midland; and Ritzi presented a poster, “Endo- and Ecotoparasites of Small Rodents from Brewster County, Texas.”

Miss Texas addresses 2008 W.O.W. banquet

Molly Hazlett, reigning Miss Texas, was the featured speaker at the annual W.O.W. (We’re On Our Way) banquet, Wednesday, April 16 at Sul Ross State University.

Sponsored by the Sul Ross Student Ambassadors, the freshman honoring event was held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Espino Conference Center, University Center. All new Sul Ross freshmen (enrolled from summer 2007 through spring semester 2008) were invited to enjoy a free Italian buffet.

Theme of this year’s event was “Hustle for Success!” Outstanding Freshman awards were presented, along with other special presentations.

Hazlett, Centerville, represented Longview in the 2007 Miss Texas pageant. Her platform is drug and alcohol awareness, and during her reign, she will speak to over 100,000 students through the “Texas Cares for Children” Program.



Ritzi named TAS director

Dr. Christopher M. Ritzi, Sul Ross State University assistant professor of biology, was elected Academic Director at the 111th annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Science.

Ritzi was elected to a three-year term during the annual meeting, held recently at the University of Texas -Corpus Christi.

Ritzi has more than 30 publications, with two more in press, and several in review. He has accumulated $500,000 in grant support as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator over the past eight years, and has authored or co-authored 49 presentations, including multiple presentations at TAS annual meetings.

He has served as both the Terrestrial Ecology and Management Section vice-chair and chair over the last two years, respectively. In 2007, Ritzi was appointed chair of the Sul Ross Biology Department, where he has served on the faculty for the past four years.

Sechrest keynote speaker at Austrian Scholars meet

Dr. Larry Sechrest, Sul Ross State University professor of Economics, was a keynote speaker and panelist at the Austrian Scholars Conference held by the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Ala., March 13-15.

Sechrest was a panelist in the session “The Transition to Sound Money” and also gave the closing address of the conference: the Mises Memorial Lecture. The title of the address was “The Anti-Capitalists: Barbarians at the Gate.” The video of the address can be accessed at http://blog.mises.org/archives/007920.asp

For more information, contact Sechrest, 8069 or larrys@sulross.edu. Information on the Austrian Scholars Conference may be found at: http://mises.org/events/100

Mary Gonzales receives Student Service award
 
Mary Gonzales, a counselor in the financial aid office at Sul Ross State University, received the Stellar Student Service Award at a March 12 ceremony.

Gonzales is the second financial aid counselor to receive the award. Co-worker Carlas Mack was the first recipient. The award is determined from the “60 Second Feedback” program, which includes feedback cards students complete regarding the service of staff members. Once the cards are completed, students deposit them in the suggestion boxes located in the hallways on the first and second floor of the Briscoe Administration Building.

Sul Ross President R Vic Morgan presented the award.

“The choice was not an easy one, there were lots of good comment on the cards about all of you (staff members) and students seemed to be good to fill them out and put them in boxes,” Morgan said.

Some of the comments about Gonzales included:

“Mary helped me a lot in getting financial aid. If it weren’t for her, I would still be struggling with trying to pay for school.”

“She answered my questions and didn’t act like she hated me for being there.”

“She was patient and understanding. She helped me get all my refund. I love her.”

Gonzales received the traveling trophy that will move to the next recipient of the award, and will receive an engraved paperweight as a reminder of her selection as an outstanding supporter of students. Along with the award Gonzales was given her choice of a day off with pay, a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant, a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore, or a parking spot on the circle for a month.

The Stellar Student Service Award will continue for the next several months, and will expand to other departments depending on its success. The next award will be presented at the end of April, and will consist of a different set of comments for the time period.

Teacher job fair April 23

The Sul Ross State University Education Department will host the annual Job Fair for Teachers Wednesday, April 23 in the University Center.

Representatives from school districts around the state will be available to meet with Sul Ross students and area teachers from 9 a.m.-noon in the Espino Conference Center. Anyone interested in teaching opportunities is welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Dr. Tyra Manning, 8170 or tmanning@sulross.edu