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

News Release for Sept. 1, 2009

NEW STUDENTS INTRODUCED TO SUL ROSS TRADITIONS AT CONVOCATION

New Sul Ross State University students continued a tradition of learning about traditions.

Nearly 500 new students, joined by faculty and staff, attended the 11th annual new student convocation, held Aug. 27 in Marshall Auditorium. The yearly event is designed to introduce students to the traditions of Sul Ross and encourage commitment and participation in the university community.

President R. Vic Morgan, who retired Aug. 31, addressed his final convocation. He welcomed the Class of 2013 by urging them to become a part of the Sul Ross tradition and serious investors in their education.

"You made the right choice in choosing Sul Ross," said Morgan. "I hope you choose to set as a goal a degree in four years and truly be a member of the Class of 2013."

Student Government Association president Christian Celis, Marfa, also addressed the new students, urging them to make the most of their university experience.

Enrolling in college "represents a new beginning and the opportunity to show what you have to offer," Celis said.

"You will be responsible for your own actions, successes and failures," he said. "You will experience some of the best moments of your life and you will also be faced with difficult decisions." He urged the Class of 2013 to learn from their mistakes, move forward and to be involved in college life.

"Push to the limit; keep challenging yourselves and reaching higher," Celis said. "Keep in mind anything worth having won't come easy....Ultimately, it will be up to you to make a difference."

Morgan emphasized the importance of Sul Ross traditions and academic traditions in general as a means to build continuity, cohesiveness and pride in the culture and heritage of university life. He referred to the new student convocation, painting and lighting the Bar-SR-Bar at Homecoming, singing the "Alma Mater," the W.O.W. (We're on Our Way) banquet, enjoying the Meal on the Mall and hiking to the desk at the top of Hancock Mountain as some of the Sul Ross traditions.

"Traditions are and should be a vital part of an institution and the traditional part of your experience should become a vital part of your memories in the years to come," he said.

"Get involved in campus life. Be a part of the Bar-SR-Bar tradition, and start your own traditions, too," Morgan said. "Start things that are worthwhile."

He closed his remarks to the Class of 2013 with questions:

"Will this be the best year of your life? Will you achieve the goals you set? If you compete in athletics or perform on stage, will you strive to do the best you can in any endeavor? Can you accomplish all your goals? Can you make a difference?" he asked.

"As students, you have the opportunity to succeed or fail. As former Secretary of Education (Richard) Riley said, it is also 'to insist that you become a serious investor in your own education.'" "You made the right choice, and you're about to become part of the tradition and culture that is Sul Ross," he concluded. "You made the right choice and should set your goal to get a degree in four years."

Dr. David Cockrum, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, gave a brief history of Sul Ross and its namesake, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, who was a Texas Ranger, Civil War hero, Governor and Texas A&M University president.

Gregory Schwab, associate vice president of Enrollment Management, welcomed new students to the campus and presented the class to Dr. Morgan. The convocation included a charge to the entering class and the passing of the spirit stick from Amber Rodriguez, El Paso, to Payton Shipley, Whitharral a Class of 2013 member.

The convocation concluded with singing the "Alma Mater," led by Dr. Donald Freed, associate professor of Music. Carol Wallace, visiting lecturer in Music, played the Processional and Recessional. The annual Student Organization Recruitment Fair (formerly Fall on the Mall) followed on the Sul Ross Mall.

Photos: Top, nearly 500 new students were introduced to Sul Ross State University traditions during the 11th annual convocation Aug. 27. Bottom, Amber Rodriguez, El Paso, a member of the Class of 2012, passes the spirit stick to 2013 class member Payton Shipley, Whitharal, during the 11th annual New Student Convocation Aug. 27 at Marshall Auditorium. (Photos by Jason Hennington)

SUL ROSS WELCOMES NEW FACULTY

Seven new faculty members have joined Sul Ross State University for Fall semester 2009.

New faculty include:

School of Arts and Sciences

• Dr. Rayford Ball, associate professor of Physics. Ball received a B.A. in Physics (1968) from the University of Houston; a M.A. in Physics (1972) from the University of Texas at Austin; and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration (1994) from New Mexico State University. Prior to coming to Sul Ross, he taught at Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, since 1994. He previously taught at Dona Ana Branch Community College, Las Cruces, 1991-94; New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, 1990-91; Odessa College, 1978-90; and Permian High School, Odessa, 1972-78.
• Dr. Eric Holt, assistant professor of Mathematics. Holt received a B.S. in Mathematics (2005) from Indiana State University, Terre Haute; and M.S. (2008) and Ph.D. in Mathematics (2009) from Colorado State University, Fort Collins. He was a graduate teaching assistant at Colorado State since 2005 and was an adjunct instructor at the University of Dallas, Mountain View College, Dallas; and North Lake College, Irving in 2008.
• Dr. Erin Lippard, assistant professor of Music. Lippard received a B.M. in Voice Performance (1996) from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.; a M.M. in Voice Performance, Cognate in Choral Conducting (2000) from Indiana University, Bloomington; and a D.M.A. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy (2008) from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She was a part-time faculty member in Music at Sul Ross from 2006-2009. She previously was an adjunct instructor at the University of Colorado, Denver; and Front Range Community College, Westminster, Colo.; a private voice instructor at the Rocky Mountain Center for the Musical Arts, Lafayette, Colo.; and a graduate instructor and teaching assistant at the University of Colorado.
• Dr. Filemon Zamora, assistant professor of Spanish. Zamora received a B.A. (1990) and M.A. (1995) in Spanish from San Diego State University; and Ph.D. (2004) in Spanish from the University of California, San Diego. He was a visiting assistant professor at Saint Michael's College, Cochester, Vt., from 2007-09; and an adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University, Yuma, in the summer of 2007.

Rio Grande College

• Dr. Tiffany Culver, assistant professor of Psychology.
• Dr. Michael Ortiz, assistant professor of Mathematics.
• Dr. Martin Urbina, associate professor of Criminal Justice.

MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND ART CLASSES BEGIN SEPT. 21

The Museum of the Big Bend will kick off its second year of artist fun starting Monday, Sept. 21.Weekly art classes will be offered for children ages 4-14.

Classes will be held weekly based on age from 3:45-5 p.m. Classes are designed to introduce students to several different types of media. Students will work with paints, clay, oil pastels, paper mache, pencil, and ink. Older students will have the opportunity to put together a portfolio of their work and will be submitting work to two art competitions held in the spring.

Once a month, a "Saturday at the Museum" program will be held. These are half-day classes are thematic and jam-packed with fun. Look for information coming soon about special classes for adults and young adults this fall.

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

SUL ROSS OFFICES CLOSED SEPT. 7 FOR LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Sul Ross State University will be closed Monday, Sept. 7 for the Labor Day holiday.

Offices will reopen and classes will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.

SUL ROSS GRADUATE ROY CANTU DONATES BELL SYSTEM TO SUL ROSS

Roy Cantu's love of bells and admiration for a former teacher culminated in the installation of a computer based bell carillon at Sul Ross State University.

The 1974 Sul Ross graduate, now a funeral director at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, Kingsville, dedicated the Sul Ross State University Bells to his former history teacher, Metha Sprinkle, during a ceremony Saturday (Aug. 29) on the University Mall.

"I have enjoyed listening to bells since I was seven or eight years old," Cantu said, and recalled an incident at his Catholic school. He once rang the bells without the priest's permission, pushing aside the appointed altar boy to pull the rope.

"My actions led to a good whipping from Mother Superior," he said. "Since then, my love of bells ceased until later in life."

The Sul Ross Bells are a computer based church bell carillon that offers Westminster chimes, bell time strikes, peals, tolls and carillon hymns all from a fully digital automated delivery system. During the dedication ceremony, the bells sounded the National Anthem, the Sul Ross Alma Mater, Lobo Fight Song, "Amazing Grace" and demonstrations of early Christian chimes, Russian Orthodox and wedding peals.

Cantu's dedication address included a history of bells, beginning with the early Christian church. He concluded by saying "today, we celebrate the bells and the beautiful message they impart. My donation is but a small token of appreciation for the education I received here."

He dedicated the bells to Sprinkle, who taught in the Education Department from 1974-84, retiring as an assistant professor. She also briefly taught history at Sul Ross. She received the Outstanding Teaching Award for 1982-83 and delivered the May 1983 commencement address.

The dedication also included a proclamation from Texas Governor Rick Perry and the unveiling of a photograph of Sprinkle and a plaque in the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center.

Morgan, who retired Aug. 31 after 19 years as Sul Ross President, and State Rep. Pete P. Gallego, a Sul Ross graduate, also spoke at the dedication.

"We are pleased to dedicate and celebrate the addition of the Sul Ross State University Campus Bells," Morgan said. "We have had a lot of positive comments from faculty, staff and students and we are grateful for this generous gift from Roy Cantu."

Gallego spoke briefly about the attachment graduates often keep to Sul Ross, and the subsequent gifts and contributions that Cantu and others have made. He also praised Sprinkle.

"She stepped in and took a leading role in educating so many people," Gallego said. "She has had a huge influence on so many people here at Sul Ross, and this is a fitting tribute."

Photo: 1974 Sul Ross graduate Roy Cantu, Kingsville, donated a bell system to the university in honor of his former professor, Metha Sprinkle, who taught from 1974-84. The bells were officially dedicated Aug. 29. Sprinkle's portrait, a plaque recognizing the dedication and a proclamation from Texas Governor Rick Perry were also unveiled in the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center. (Photo by Steve Lang)

SUL ROSS TO HOST REGION 18 SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING SEPT. 9

Sul Ross State University will host superintendents from the Region 18 Education Service Center on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The Sul Ross Office of Enrollment Management and the Education Department will facilitate arramgements for the meeting, scheduled at 10 a.m. in the Espino Conference Center of the Vic and Mary Jane University Center. Region 18 Teachers of the Year -- Lynn Crim of Alpine Elementary School and Caroline Fox of Alpine High School -- will be recognized and presented with plaques donated by AT&T.

Committee presentations and reports will be provided, a legislative update will be given and a program on a comprehensive school support plan will be presented. Information on the Sul Ross GEAR UP program will be offered. The Sul Ross Office of Recruiting will provide university information and tours will be offered by the Student Ambassadors. The session concludes with a lunch served by ARAMARK.

At 1 p.m., the Teacher Education Program Advisory Committee will meet in the Espino Conference Center.

For more information, contact Dr. Kip Sullivan, (432) 837-8394 or sullivan@sulross.edu.