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VOL. 48, NO. 1 | SUMMER 2020

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At Lamar University, challenges identified | FROM THE PRESIDENT | CARDINAL CADENCE | IN THIS ISSUE | the magazine of lamar university are challenges met, as our friends, alumni, his issue of Cadence is different from others you VOL 48, NO. 1 | SUMMER 2020 4 Educators using platforms may have read in the past as it is shaped by a students, staff and faculty know well. collective experience no one could have foreseen Cardinal Cadence is published by Lamar University, LU pioneered for 2020. As you well know, COVID-19 has affected all of a member of The Texas State University System T and an affirmative action, equal opportunity Throughout hurricane response and recovery, us, some more than others. This issue focuses on just a few educational institution. 6 Small Business Development of the many stories to unfold throughout our community Center: Taking care economic downturns and coronavirus during this time. Lamar University’s alumni, faculty, Kate Downing, Executive Editor, Special Assistant to the President and Director of of businesses amid staff and students have strived to find solutions and be Marketing Communications coronavirus pandemic response, we have gathered as a community, proactive in the face of uncertainty. Cynthia Hicks ’89, ’93, Editor, Creative Director One of the things we are thankful for is being a leader Daniel McLemore ’09, Associate Director of identified actions to take and ultimately, in online education. This provided us an advantage Marketing Communications 8 E-Commerce evolution: when 100% of our classes went to an online delivery Amanda Toups ’15, Graphic Design Coordinator Curb-to-car application keeps successfully, overcome the obstacles. This system during the last semester. LU faculty, such as those buyers & goods connected featured in this issue from the College of Fine Arts and CONTRIBUTORS in pandemic & beyond issue of Cadence shares some of the stories of WHITE TOGETHER Communication, had the opportunity to showcase their Writing

Mandy Arceneaux ‘10, James Dixon, Kate Downing, + unique and creative teaching methods while our digital Casey Ford ‘13, ‘15, Madison Franco, Daniel Houston, our Cardinals and how they responded with learning platform helped K-12 educators across the nation so they could continue teaching Cassandra Jenkins ‘19, Grayson Meek ‘10, ‘17, Natalie 11 Providing for our community during the pandemic. Three alumni who are also educators, Alline Ayala, Stu Guthrie and Rhodes ‘14, J.T. Robertson, Shelbe Rodriguez, Hannah Helping through headbands heart and hand when called. Barbara Ybarra, describe how they translated face-to-face learning into a digital environment. Snodgrass, Haley Strahan ‘05, Shelly Vitanza Other areas on campus are assisting our community. LU’s Small Business Development Center Photography RED is working with struggling local small businesses. Alumni are likewise engaged, in Southeast Brandon Gouthier ‘96, Daniel McLemore ‘09 12 Connections: Innovative Texas and beyond, helping in different industries affected by the quarantine. Lauren Martin is in Circulation includes more than 90,000 copies distributed teaching during a pandemic 11 event management at The Laurels in Beaumont and is guiding couples whose plans were altered to alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Lamar University. or postponed. Megan Mistric works at Buckner Calder Woods senior care home and plans If you have received more than one copy of this publication, please let us know. 17 Unfinished Business: activities to keep all of the residents busy, especially in the face of social distancing. Nutrition Alumna Daniella DeLaRue '03 and Senior Services’ CEO Janci Kimball maintained food needs for their clients by providing a Changes of address may be sent to: drive-through service while Mary Beth Jones and Fred Antoine ran a sack lunch ministry out of University Advancement evacuates from Tonga P.O. Box 10011 St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica. Justin McCullough used e-commerce to create Curb-to-Car, an Beaumont, Texas 77710 application that delivers food and various goods to individuals. or [email protected] 18 Judith Smith: Brave Our alumni also are serving others through their careers as nurses, police officers and longtime leader emergency medical technicians, among other professions, and developing products to help DIVISION OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT these hometown heroes. Charles Daleo created a hand sanitizer provided at no cost to those Juan J. Zabala ’07, Vice President on the front lines while Kaylynn Tkachev sewed headbands with buttons on them for medical Shannon Copeland Figueroa ’02, ’03, ’07, Director of 20 A cheerful presence in the Alumni Affairs and Advancement Services personnel to attach to their masks for more comfort during long shifts. Judith Smith served as Cardinal community manager and spokesperson for the coronavirus testing center at Jack Brooks Regional Airport in P.O. Box 10011 21 Athletics News Beaumont, Texas 77710 her role as director of the Port Arthur City Health Department. Her work not only contributed (409) 880-8419 or fax (409) 880-8409 Alumni keep kids learning 12 24 to early testing and monitoring but also for doing critical work in contact tracing for those who during the pandemic 22 LU News were positive with the virus. LAMAR UNIVERSITY ALUMNI OFFICE Articles in this issue also feature students making masks through 3-D printing, staff like When visiting campus, you’re invited to stop by the 32 Red + White Together Kelsey Baden who keeps spirits high as Lamar University’s cheerleading team coordinator and Alumni Office at the John Gray Center, Rudy C. Williams 28 Dreams postponed Building, Suite 102, 855 Jim Gilligan Way. alumni such as Daniella DeLaRue who volunteered in the Peace Corps before being evacuated as Ensuring seniors are 34 Class Notes a result of COVID-19. I encourage you to read these interesting and timely stories as well as find P.O. Box 10005 Beaumont, Texas 77710 out more information about how the Cardinal Emergency Fund positively affected two of the healthy, happy (409) 880-8921, or (800) 298-4839 43 Cardinal Emergency Fund many students for whom your support was key. [email protected] Adapting quickly to stands in the gap Enjoy the sneak peek on the back cover of our new Welcome Center’s progress, and as we go lamar.edu/alumni meet demand to press with this issue of Cadence, I wish each of you and your loved ones continued health and happiness. LAMAR UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Supporting struggling Juan J. Zabala ’07, CEO | COLLEGE SNAPSHOTS | Karen Nichols ’83, COO community members With Cardinal Pride, P.O. Box 11500 10 Business Beaumont, Texas 77710 30 Safe... & Stylish (409) 880-2117 [email protected] 30 15 Fine Arts & lamar.edu/foundation Communication Kenneth R. Evans, President Cardinal Cadence (USPS 017-254) is published by Lamar University, 211 Redbird Lane, THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS 16 Arts & Sciences Beaumont, Texas 77710. Brian McCall, Chancellor | Austin

William F. Scott, Chairman | Nederland Dr. Veronica Muzquiz Edwards | San Antonio 27 Education & David Montagne, Vice Chairman | Beaumont Don Flores | El Paso Human Development Lamar University is an equal opportunity/affirmative | San Antonio | Baird action educational institution. Charlie Amato Nicki Harle Duke Austin | Houston Alan L. Tinsley | Madisonville Engineering Garry Crain | The Hills Amanda Lee, Student Regent | Huntsville 31 | RED + WHITE TOGETHER | Lamar University’s more than 20 years of an overall for students in the format that works best for them, never considering that a day would come when online education was 25-year effort to provide education delivered the only option, as has been the case during the pandemic.” directly to the student has played a critical role LU’s educational faculty and alumni assume in transforming the industry and ensuring a leadership roles during pandemic continuity of learning during the pandemic. When 90% of the world’s schools closed in 185 countries and 1.6 billion children were sent home to finish the school In 2005, with a few years of experience in the online space, year via alternate instructional methods, Lamar University’s the university was positioned to build a robust online program education leadership faculty and its education alumni assumed when Hurricane Rita disabled the physical campus. a leadership role more than 20 years in the making. “We were one of the early pioneers in the concept of After a near seamless transition to a comprehensive online providing a critical and value-added dimension to higher platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, LU’s educational education by delivering curriculum to students at their location,” faculty began supporting educators across the country, and LU’s said Kenneth Evans, LU president. “The reason many universities alumni became leaders in their districts. across the country and K-12 schools in Texas were able to flip Krystal Hinerman, clinical assistant professor of educational a switch, transforming their campuses to virtual classrooms research; Ken Young, associate professor of educational during the COVID-19 crisis, is because early pioneers like Lamar leadership in the Center for Doctoral Studies of Educational University, through experience and thorough investigation and Leadership; and Cindy Cummings, assistant professor of implementation and continuous analysis, developed systems educational leadership, represent more than 30 years’ that have now been disseminated across the industry.” experience in both PK-12 and higher education online teaching, In 2007, LU launched three online master’s degree programs course development and program planning. They led the cause in the College of Education and Human Development with to help individual educators and entire districts transition to huge success. Since that time, the University has expanded its online platforms. online degrees to include programs in criminal justice, school “The training we have received and the years of experience counseling, computer science, cybersecurity, communication, teaching online has prepared us for providing support in these nursing, business and a Bachelor of Science in technology. unique times,” said Hinerman. “We’ve looked at this as a state- In fact, since launching into the online space, 21,741 students wide effort in response to needs specifically for school districts have earned degrees online—2,593 bachelor’s degrees, 18,592 but have addressed specific requests also, and all remotely.” master’s degrees and 556 doctorates. Hinerman, Young and Cummings offered free webinars to “We now have 18 undergraduate programs, 21 master’s, one demonstrate how to teach online using streaming video tools doctoral program and six certifications online,” said Brenda and provided tips on how to set-up and conduct instruction Nichols, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. with students in an interactive format. Dozens of Lamar “We have 4,000 graduate education students online across eight University educational leadership faculty joined the effort to different areas and another 3,500 graduate and undergraduate support educators across the nation and developed additional students totally online.” webinars based on feedback from teachers and districts. LU’s communication platforms for admissions as well as the “It is in this spirit that we felt compelled to do what we ongoing student experience are streamlined. Online students could to support them in a manner that would not burden have access to the same learning aids as on-campus students, them or their institutions financially or otherwise,” said Young. including library-enhanced learning platforms, tutoring, “We’re not doing this as consultants for money or notoriety, but coaching and advising. because we care about them and the success of the students “The same faculty members who teach on-campus classes they teach. In our opinion, it is a practical way to bridge also instruct the online students,” said Nichols. “We don’t use the university and communities we serve to make a positive teaching assistants to teach courses, and we try to maintain difference in our state and beyond.” small class sizes in order to meet the needs of our students.” Since the initial webinar, the team has developed additional As a result of LU’s now vast experience in the online EDUCATORS webinars based upon the feedback they’ve received. They have curriculum space and its students’ exposure to alternative deployed links to recorded meetings and tutorials to anyone learning methodologies (Many of LU’s on-campus students also who requests them. They are curating resources to support take online courses. Pre-pandemic, approximately, 5,000 of the Texas educators and administrators and to be made available to USING 8,000 on-campus students take at least one course online.), the whomever needs them. university was able to move to a comprehensive online program “Of course, we’re supporting Lamar University’s faculty, our PLATFORMS in the face of the pandemic. Now every student is taking online students and alumni as many of them make this transition courses, from music to mechanical engineering. to online teaching and learning, but we’re also continuing to “The beauty of the platforms for digital learning environments support the community members who are reaching out to us is they are now being used by universities and colleges across LU PIONEERED individually regarding support and resources for this process,” For resources, visit the globe in response to the global pandemic,” said Evans. “Our said Young. lamar.edu/learnyourwaycadence by Shelly Vitanza early efforts were to make this transformative offering available

4 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 5 | RED + WHITE TOGETHER | AssistHer, Restaurant Strong, Hello ends, most business owners have economy on a large scale in a long-term Alice and local community grants also developed a wait-and-see approach. basis.” According to Sargsyan, this will are being distributed immediately to Gevorg Sargsyan, professor of economics be a major test of the resiliency of all small business owners affected by the and finance, believes the coronavirus small, medium and large enterprises in economic shutdown. will have a dire impact on businesses, the area. “The Federal Reserve has additionally For small business owners most in offered to back some of the loans of the need of immediate assistance, Mulcahy much larger companies,” Mulcahy said. said there are more funds and resources “I really want business owners to know, ahead. “The SBDC plans on extending don’t get frustrated and just hang in its hours to ensure that customers can there. Relief is on the way.” come see us. We have funding from Aside from financial distress, Mulcahy the CARES act coming in and virtual said the second biggest question on the meetings available. I’m also bringing in a minds of local business owners will soon bilingual counselor to serve the Hispanic be, ‘where are my customers?’ “You need population here in the Southeast Texas to find new ways of doing things. You community,” he said. “We’re here to get have to morph your company to make particularly in the Southeast Texas area. the consumers the information they need some things happen,” he said. “The way “Like the rest of the nation, coronavirus so they can weather the storm, whether we did business yesterday is not the way has resulted in lower demand for goods it be this one or the next.” we will do business tomorrow. It will be and services across the economy. The a different world, and the only way that Southeast Texas community relies heavily For more information on we will benefit from it is if we adapt.” on oil and gas, construction and real resources and funding for With shelter-in-place orders slowly estate sectors,” he said. “Coronavirus has lifting and no clear view of how created an unprecedented situation and small businesses affected by businesses will fare after the pandemic activated all three threats against our coronavirus, visit sbdc.uh.edu.

Small Business Development Center: Kristy’s Korner Framing Taking care of business amid coronavirus pandemic espite coronavirus shutdowns, for one mom Aside from customer service, another tactic that has by Shelbe Rodriguez and pop shop, it’s been business as usual. For worked for this small business is budgeting and cutting Dnearly two decades, Beaumont-based business unnecessary costs. The pair said that they “tightened the Kristy’s Korner Framing has served the Southeast Texas belt” years ago in hopes of one day retiring. “We didn’t ust a few weeks ago, the World out of this situation.” Those businesses providing future business owners with community and beyond. Owners, Kevin and Barbara need to use any SBA loans and that’s mainly in part to us Health Organization declared the that have financially prepared will current information so that they can Couron ’80 believe that it’s their “old school” business living within our means,” Kevin said. “That’s the key—live Jrapidly spreading coronavirus have easy access to money, capital and act appropriately. tactics that has kept their business afloat during within your means and prepare for tragedy tomorrow.” a pandemic, causing a paradigm shift other resources because, according to According to the SBA, capital access the pandemic. While most business owners have relied on social in businesses across the globe. David Mulcahy, they are healthier companies. is among the top common issues “We run our business in an honest and trustworthy media and online distribution to keep their businesses Mulcahy, director of the LU Small For those businesses that are struggling that small businesses will face during manner,” Kevin said. “We offer a good product at a afloat during the shutdown, Barbara suggests reaching Business Development Center, says significantly from the social disruption, this time. To combat this, on Mar. 27, good price while implementing a caring customer out directly to your customer base. “Check on them and only those business owners who have the SBDC offers funding options and President Donald Trump signed into service program.” let them know that you are thinking of them and ask planned well in advance will come out relief resources. law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and While they weren’t classified as essential, the pair if there’s anything that you can do for them,” she said. on top. The SBDC provides the road map for Economic Security Act, which contains continued to work amid shelter-in-place orders, taking “Think outside the box on how you can help them. “As a business owner, even before a current and future business owners with $376 billion in relief for American custom orders via phone and email. They also relied That’s the way Beaumont operates; we help each other disaster, you need to have at least six free consultations, daily webinars on U.S. workers and small businesses. The SBA on commercial accounts they’ve landed throughout out during times like this.” months of operating cash just in case Small Business Administration Recovery has developed the Paycheck Protection the years, one being ExxonMobil, to maintain their As shelter-in-place orders begin to lift, Kristy’s Korner something happens. Those who do not Assistance as well as low-cost training Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan workload. “When you’re a ma’ and pa’ shop, your Framing is among those businesses that have officially will be in trouble,” Mulcahy said. “About programs and seminars. The center also Emergency Advance and SBA Express customers become like family. We build a relationship reopened their doors. Kevin and Barbara said that 60% of businesses have survived, and serves as a link between the SBA and the Bridge Loans and provides SBA debt with our customers and they learn quickly that they can they will continue to sanitize their work areas and 40% are out there trying to figure out consumer with the main goal of relaying relief for small businesses in economic count on us,” Kevin said. “It is those relationships that are wear protective masks, and, not surprising, they what’s going on and how they can get information from the legislature and distress. Sam’s Club, Google, LiftFund, priceless and can ultimately determine the success of will continue to be here when the community your business.” needs them.

by Casey Ford

Beaumont band back exigency to together,” and today in help business their Round Rock offices, owners back n a time when we are all his dad—surely everyone recognizable business names McCullough works with into business missing human interaction, owned a business and had in Southeast Texas. Feedback several LU alumni, including with curbside technology might two beepers and multiple from his early customers his vice president of product, pickup Iseem a cold solution for offices. As he speaks about validated that McCullough’s Adam Haynes ’09, his lead capabilities. connection. But our phones his father, McCullough tears professional purpose was architect, Chris Allen ’09; lead Curb- and computers have, of up—in 2007, he lost the focused on others. For him, software engineer, John Tyler to-Car is a necessity, replaced hugs and man who taught him that entrepreneurship has always ’14, and software engineers contactless handshakes, so technological “you can change where you been less about financial Zeb Barnett ’13 and Matt pickup innovators have sought out live, where you work, but success and more about Williams ’13. application usable by any warm, fuzzy solutions to you cannot change your innovating to serve and lead. Because of the ways the goods-providing business. keep us connected to the name, and the McCullough When Hurricane Harvey pandemic immediately Some Austin businesses people—and foods, goods name means something.” A aftermath moved McCullough changed their own day- using it successfully and services—we love and successful business owner and his family away from to-day business routines, include coffee companies, that make us feel normal. in petrochemical shipping, Beaumont and out to McCullough and his team booksellers, other retailers Justin McCullough this father encouraged his Central Texas, realized early on that they and restaurants, including ’02 and his team at FSG young son to make his own he assumed had an opportunity to think those of the world- SmartBuildings, based in path in business, so by the his role at about how they could make renowned Hai Hospitality Round Rock, Texas, have time McCullough graduated FSG Smart something immediately Group. When asked if he used their “down-time” since from Orangefield High Buildings, deliverable and useful to thinks the world will ever the pandemic began to School in 1996, he was set businesses that might be go back to the old way of stimulate e-commerce with on a path toward technology struggling to adapt and buying stuff, McCullough their Curb-to-Car application. entrepreneurship. It would thrive. He compared it said, philosophically, he The app is not only keeping lead him to Lamar State to the way that a shoe thinks not. businesses connected to their College-Orange, where he company transitions “The customer is like homebound customers—and would meet Renae, his wife to mask-making or a water,” he said, “seeking the customers connected to their of now 20 years, and then to thinks many people are world-changing, but then distillery converts path of least resistance in its favorite stuff—but it also is Lamar University and a not going to want to go people must understand it to hand sanitizer inevitable course downhill. evolving virtual commerce, B.B.A. in management back into the store as often. and use it the way it was production—their It’s my mission to follow the as it allows for simple information systems. Curb-to-Car is just one way intended, and it has to development of customer and help cut that interactivity, convenience McCullough jokes that that technology can make propagate in beneficial ways Curb-to-Car was path for them—technology is and safety. It may seem back then, before there it easier for businesses to long-term. The key to this the culmination of the cutting tool, a virtual river ironic that technology would were names for “what give customers what they kind of success, then, would past e-commerce moving through all manner of have significant interest in he is,” he thought of his need and want—removing seem to be an understanding experiences and efforts obstacles to make commerce the happiness and safety of studies ambiguously as where he serves impediments between buyers of what people want and in building an IoT—Internet more customer centric.” human beings, but it makes “half-computer science, half- today as chief and goods. need and then caring enough of Things— platform for During the pandemic, people much more sense when we management”, but what he products officer. McCullough acknowledges about them to give them smart buildings. They were have largely had no choice meet entrepreneurs like really learned during his MIS He had the that it can be difficult today access. McCullough and able to leverage this system but to opt for curbside McCullough and understand time at LU was that his big opportunity in to find a new niche in entrepreneurs like him are architecture into the creation pickup or delivery, but once the heart that beats beneath passion was people. To earn the beginning technology. Consumers are innovating for connection in of an app in a moment of this all resolves, McCullough the interface. a living during his studies, to build an discerning because they have a world looking for ways to For most of his childhood he built a business designing FSG innovation endless options. A heal itself and move into and adolescence, McCullough and hosting turnkey web team, so he It’s my mission to follow the customer and help cut concept can seem the future. thought everyone was like sites for some of the most “got the “ that path for them—technology is the cutting tool... —Justin McCullough ”

8 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 9 BUSINESS | COLLEGE SNAPSHOT: | Providing for New Cardinal Success Coach meets challenges With student success and retention among our community its top priorities, the College of Business named Kristin Helm as its new Cardinal success coach. The New England native relocated to Southeast Texas in early February of last year to serve as a career consultant for the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “Thinking back to when I was a college student, I really valued the mentors that I had in my life, and I just wanted to give back like my mentors had given to me.” Online course delivery Helm assumed her new position just one article published week after Tropical Storm Imelda hit the Last fall, a collaborative article Southeast Texas community last fall, and it titled “Evaluating Online Complex was her first lesson in understanding the Technology-Enabled Course importance of her role. “I spent countless Delivery: A Contextualized View hours speaking with students and trying of a Decomposed IS Success to help them to meet their basic needs Model,” featuring delivery of and discuss how they could successfully Helping through online education, was accepted move forward in the semester,” she said. for publication in Communications “From that experience, I really feel more of the Association for Information connected to our students and Systems, the official journal of the university.” headbands the Association for Information On the heels of that challenge came university closures and shelter-in-place orders brought on by my father’s and three siblings’ “My professors made me Systems, which published the COVID-19, and again students had a semester other than the one they anticipated. But Helm says it’s times Charles Daleo education and allowed all Kaylynn Tkachev article in its February 2020 issue. like these when her role matters most as she works with at-risk College of Business students, connecting feel known and supported The authors are assistant them to campus resources and communicating with faculty. -68 comes from a of us to achieve our ’15 loves sewing, a and were always willing to professor of information systems “During such an emergency, retention is key,” she said. From spotty WiFi and academic distress to university degrees.” share their expertise and Yu Zhao family where they passion her mother and analysis , professor financial need and health concerns, Helm said, “It’s hard to know that students will potentially drop out One way of giving back meaningful advice, even and chair of the Department of have pharmacy because they can’t afford future semesters, or they don’t have access to basic necessities.” to the community he grew instilled in her, and after graduation,” she says. Information Systems and Analysis, When the university initially moved to online learning, Helm knew that she had to act fast in order Kakoli Bandyopadhyay and LU in common. up in was through the constantly works on “I made lifelong friends and and to ensure that business students adapted successfully. She reached out to College of Business deans, His father, Anthony ’31 professor of marketing and directors and department chairs for assistance in pinpointing which students might be most in need creation of hand sanitizer important career connections graduated from South Park projects in her associate dean of Graduate of resources. She then collaborated with Craig Escamilla, executive director of retention and student for first responders. “In the through internships, student Soumava Junior College, while Charles Studies and Research success, on university calling campaigns to both online and on-campus students. past, it has not been legal craft room. organizations and other Bandyopadhyay. and his brother Frank -59 When a neighbor, who works “I felt so much pride in that—there’s so much value in a student hearing from a real person asking what for pharmacists in Texas various opportunities.” “The article focuses on they need and if they are okay,” she said. “It was through these calls that we were able to get feedback took pre-pharmacy classes at a nearby hospital, mentioned to compound a medication She and her husband, understanding the factors that that ultimately changed how we were serving our students.” One change the calls generated was the in the 1960s at Lamar how the constant use of masks are likely to impact the success establishment of two additional WiFi locations on campus for those students who lacked the resources for without a prescription Artur ’17, moved to Denver University before graduating was rubbing the back of her of online delivery of courses internet access. from a practitioner,” Daleo in February for his job and with pharmacy degrees from ears, Tkachev jumped at the involving complex technologies,” Helm says working specifically with College of Business students pushes her professionally “because explains. “But the pandemic are doing well during the Kakoli Bandyopadhyay said. the University of Texas at opportunity to help. She they are such driven students. They are always willing to do more to ensure their success, so it makes me has allowed it.” Because of pandemic, believing there are The team conducted a survey of do more. Through this role, my hope is that I can help these students find their way.” Austin. Their sister Antoinette created a comfortable fabric this current great need for many things to be thankful business students from four mid- (Daleo) Mabe earned her headband with buttons on sized state universities in the U.S. hand sanitizer, the Food for right now. “It’s times Fall Honors Convocation  AmeriCommerce  Motiva shares degree in education from LU either side so the mask can be Each university was a member of and Drug Administration like these that show you Awards Ceremony CEO visits LU branding success in 1958, and Charles Daleo’s secured on the buttons and not the SAP university alliances, and The College of Business, The Michael G. Weinert The Financial Management and the World Health how much good there is in the students had taken at least son Grady graduated from LU the ears. “So far, I have sewn along with the Student Entrepreneurial Lecture Association National Honor Organization have authorized humanity,” she says. “I am so one online SAP-enabled course. Advisory Council to the Series presented Ed Society hosted Motiva in 2014. thirty headbands,” she says. Sturrock ‘02 pharmacists to compound filled with pride and love for The findings indicate that system Dean, hosted its 28th annual , CEO and co- Enterprises, the largest oil The brothers opened Daleo “There are very few materials quality, information quality and Fall Honors Convocation founder of AmeriCommerce refinery in North America. alcohol-based hand sanitizer. my friends who are working Compounding Pharmacy and needed –just a couple of service (instructor) quality are all Awards Ceremony Ecommerce Software last Students of all majors had Daleo Pharmacy has already on the front lines, and I can’t recognizing the honor and fall. Sturrock founded his the opportunity to learn Wellness Center in 1980, still strips of fabric, thread and significant antecedents of student provided numerous bottles wait to give them the biggest satisfaction; system quality and achievement of scholarship company as an LU student, about social awareness, located on Calder 40 years two buttons.” recipients which highlighted and in 2005, just three career opportunities in of their hand sanitizer to first hug once this is all over.” For information quality are significant later. A Beaumont native, Originally from Southeast more than 40 donors for years after graduating with the oil and gas industry, responders and remain open now as Tkachev looks toward antecedents of perceived learning their generosity. Among his B.B.A. in management and how the company has Daleo believes LU serves Texas, Tkachev graduated outcomes; and only system quality Dr. & Mrs. Sam with regular store hours so the future, she will continue them were information systems from successfully branded itself Southeast Texas well. “Lamar in 2015 with her Bachelor is a significant antecedent of Parigi, Mr. & Mrs. Herman Lamar University, he and his for nearly two decades. people have access to this making and donating these Wilson Barbara Mattison University is a tremendous of Fine Arts in Music students’ continued intention to , partners took their company hard-to-find necessity innovative headbands to use online learning. and David Aysen on behalf nationwide. asset to our community,” he Education and enjoyed her Dr. Don Warren Jr. right now. those in need. of says. “It has been a part of time at Lamar University.

by Kate Downing

10 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 11 | RED + WHITE TOGETHER | accessible to our artists. Suddenly, we favorite childhood books, the authors Collaborate, were in a situation where we had to be enjoyed it as well,” said George. “We innovate, create. very creative and experimental,” said were able to ask them questions and find That’s the motto for the College of Fedorchenko. “We went back to the out what inspired their stories.” Fine Arts and Communication at Lamar Renaissance age and used the same George would like to keep some of the University. Never has the faculty had materials artists used hundreds of new learning instruments in place when to live this more than in the pandemic years ago.” life returns to normal. She would like time of COVID-19. As classes began Fedorchenko had to utilize her entire to see some of the Zoom meetings for their work through online meeting, house to set up different classrooms. students who are absent and to also have the question abounded, how do you For her printmaking class, she set up PowerPoint presentations available with live and teach the fine arts through a her kitchen island to have room to clickable links to lessons. Zoom call? In this article, we discuss experiment printing with ladles, spoons, “It has been so precious to see my some innovative ways students lived a stone egg and other materials she students learning technology and and practiced the arts, as well as how a had. The class used rolled up fabric as a interacting through different ways,” said Beaumont Independent School District dabber and leather as a stamper. Other George. Who knew doing jumping jacks principal had to implement new learning kitchen essentials used were spices such through Zoom P.E. could be so fun?” strategies overnight. as turmeric, cinnamon and vegetable One of the highlights for George For Travis Prokop, assistant professor oil to make ink. For her Alternate during this phase was planning a parade of dance in the Department of Theatre Fibers class, Fedorchenko set up in a for her students to see their teachers and and Dance, he knew he needed to adjust different room to make paper and had for the faculty and staff to celebrate the accordingly and fast. He began filming to experiment with different chemical students. As they were riding through dance combinations that he could send reactions to see what they could create. the neighborhoods of their students, to his students and researched different The class made paper from using grass she heard one student exclaim, “I knew forums to connect through like Zoom and okra slime instead of the typical lye my principal would be here. I knew she and Microsoft Teams. that would have been used at school. would show up!” “My biggest worry was how to do an “I believe this group of students will Colleagues in the Mary Morgan online dance class. We play off of each be more resilient and stronger critical Moore Department of Music hit all the other’s energy in person, and I didn’t thinkers and creative problem solvers high notes of collaboration, striking an know how that would work through because of how they have had to adapt innovative chord and creating a a computer screen. I knew this would to COVID-19,” said Fedorchenko. harmony of instruction, practice be the largest pitfall to overcome,” said For Belinda George, ’03, ’08,’15, and ultimately learning. Prokop. “The next obstacle to overcome principal of Homer Drive Elementary Immediately, many of the faculty was what our dancers focus on with the in BISD, going virtual for her wasn’t began recording short videos and space they were working with.” scary. The hardest part was knowing her posting them in order to conduct Prokop decided to be realistic and students couldn’t interact with her or asynchronous teaching on various choose one goal—to keep connections their teachers. platforms, including Zoom. Brian Shook, established. He wanted to also focus “I created a Q and A from the state the chair of the department, focused on his students’ mental health and mandate of the school closure for the on updating his YouTube channel, a knew dance was what they needed as a teachers and created Zoom meeting resource for LU faculty as well as faculty distraction and a way to cope. trainings for my faculty and staff. I had across the country. “What I’ve enjoyed the most through to learn how to present information “By and large, we had no dramatic this situation is seeing people dance and virtually, but by the third week we had problems. Professors came up with do choreography more on social media. our rhythm down,” said George. alternative assignments that still focused More people are enjoying the arts, and To connect with her students, George on objectives of the courses and the everyone is realizing they can become an started virtually reading books to her artist,” mused Prokop. students and their families on the Homer I believe this group of For Xenia Fedorchenko, associate Drive Facebook page. Because this was “ professor in the Department of Art such a success and seemed to connect students will be more resilient and Design, panic planning and her families, George started reaching out and stronger critical thinkers experimentation is what got her and her to the authors of the children’s books and creative problem solvers art students through this difficult time. she was reading and invited them to because of how they have Innovative teaching “Normally we teach our art students participate in Zoom meetings with the in an amazing facility with access students. had to adapt to COVID-19. —Xenia Fedorchenko ” during a pandemic to labs, studios, ink, paint, rollers “Not only did our students love getting Connections: and many other media that are very the chance to meet the authors of their

by J.T. Robertson & Shelly Vitanza

Keith Holtzhausen’s Strategic Communication to be Carter translated and offered in paperback Derina Holtzhausen Fifty Years , dean of the College of Fine Arts and “Keith Carter Communication, has been recognized for her international book, The Fifty Years” Routledge Handbook of Strategic Communication, with a translation opened at into Chinese and the textbook being offered in paperback. Ansgar the Dishman “I co-edited this book with my colleague from Germany, Zerfass Art Museum ,” said Holtzhausen. “My research involved interviews with this past fall 65 scholars from all continents. This book offers a truly international to celebrate perspective on strategic communication.” the life and Strategic Communication, first published in 2015, was released as works of Keith Carter, Walles a hardback, but as a result of demand, the book will be released in a Chair and professor of art in the paperback edition. The publication, with a reputation for national and Department of Art and Design. international research on postmodern principles in communication, is “For decades my photographs cited weekly on an international basis. overall spirit from the faculty remained incorporated Flipgrid for students to Dueppen, who teaches applied music, have explored our relationship “This book has a world-wide reach and delves into areas such as conceptual foundations of strategic positive,” said Shook. “It’s stressful, but make recordings and Skype, FaceTime low brass, jazz band and chamber music, to time, place, memory and communication, institutional and organizational dimensions, implementing strategic communication and everyone understands the situation and or Zoom to meet up and listen to instructs many students individually, vernacular culture. I tend to think domains of practice. I was just interviewed this week by scholars in Germany and Kenya on the research,” said Holtzhausen. everyone had a can-do attitude.” the recordings. which was a real challenge during the of them as a visual diary. I often draw from the world around me, Strategic Communication joins Holtzhausen’s other published book, Public Relations As Activism, both Shook, and many of the LU faculty, “The quality of the performance was pandemic. He used Skype, Zoom and literature, the animal world and of which have provided a valuable resource for scholars and students in public relations and have been turned to a Facebook group created to not as good as in person, but Skype Collaborate to see students every week folklore to examine externally used in advanced courses on public relations theory, PR management, organizational communication and discuss teaching higher education music. worked well for hearing the tone,” at their regularly scheduled class time. objective, yet internally boundless, other related areas. The 10,000-member group shared tips, said Brielle. “Flipgrid is a great visual For the ensemble classes, the group used themes where our chaotic world tricks and techniques for teaching music component, although heavy ended Skype, but the emphasis of the course is at once both mysterious and Tackling tinnitus ordinary,” said Carter. Vinaya Manchaiah, Jo Mayo Endowed Professor in the Department of using alternative modalities. on the teacher’s side. It was easy for shifted from playing together to each Carter’s explorations include Speech and Hearing Sciences, began a tinnitus research project this past Jack Benson, an instructor teaching students to log in, and we could perform playing his or her part well. the use of the traditional chemical November. He is looking for research volunteers who have tinnitus (ringing music appreciation and theory, started and talk about what they were working “Obviously you can’t replace in-person darkroom and arcane historical or buzzing in the ear) to volunteer for an eight-week internet-based program, his own discussion board to get his on in that musical passage. It also had an contact, but the online medium gave processes, as well as contemporary Tackling Tinnitus. Tinnitus, which affects more than 30 million people in the U.S., can be very bothersome and disrupt many aspects of daily life. students’ feedback about the best open grid for a studio class so everyone us an opportunity to focus on different practices. In doing so, he hopes to examine both the history of “Although there is no cure for tinnitus, research has identified strategies that approach to teaching online. “I didn’t could comment on each types of things. Students worked on photography and our own shared can help people better manage their tinnitus,” said Manchaiah. “This program want them to feel pressured or frustrated other’s performances.” their own parts and what they really natural histories. shares these strategies.” and wanted to get a feel for their Although Flipgrid had some needed to get better on and took turns This free program runs during an eight-week period with more than perspective,” said Benson. “They were limitations, Frost found the visual aspects evaluating each other’s playing,” 20 modules providing strategies for individuals with the condition. The All State Choir Camp information can be read online, downloaded or printed. It is structured in a way very kind with suggestions, and I made of the application, as well as the ability said Dueppen. The Mary Morgan Moore to make it easy to read and includes videos and worksheets to track progress. Department of Music hosted a adjustments to the syllabus.” for students to record themselves and Dueppen, the area coordinator for the The intervention is available in both English and Spanish. Participants must be at least 18 years in age with record-breaking All State Choir Benson had been teaching music hear their recordings played back, were brass festival as well as the organizer of troublesome tinnitus and have access to the internet. Spanish speaking individuals with tinnitus are highly Camp last summer with more than theory online for years but not his other extremely beneficial. the Collage Concert, used the extra time encouraged to participate. 200 students in attendance. Coty For more information about this program, to register as a participant or to learn more about the researchers classes that require students to listen “They created a vibe story about to plan these events. He also reached out Morris served as the director. involved, please visit tacklingtinnitus.org. to and discuss music. He opted to use who they are with fun pictures. Many more to students. “I’m surviving by doing “We finished our 2019 camp with more than 200 talented and highly Zoom to create a live classroom setting at downloaded the application, even though the stuff I can do to get caught up for  Communication and  Theatre and  Deaf Studies and Deaf the time students were used to attending it’s web based, and it was another way when the university opens back up,” said motivated high school singers Media recognized Dance presents Ed students visit Paris and a great team of enriching, class. Benson expected attendance to for them to learn and a great process Dueppen. “We are all kind of making this by Intelligent.com Permanent Collection Sixteen students from the top-notch and highly skilled The Department of “Permanent Collection,” Department of Deaf Studies decline, but he was surprised. for students who recorded themselves work in some way. With a great attitude, clinicians and staff,” said James Communication and by Thomas Gibbons was and Deaf Education visited “Most days we were right at 100%,” numerous times, listened with a critical confidence and resilience, we can step Han, associate professor of music Media has been awarded the second production in Paris this past summer on said Benson. “I was in awe they were so ear and then recorded. I think some of up to the challenge that the world and director of choral activities top ranking status by the Department of Theatre their study abroad trip. at LU. “New to our team last year Intelligent.com, recognizing & Dance’s 2019-2020 The students met and faithful, but this generation of students is them spent hours that first few weeks,” is facing.” it as one of the best season. Caitlin Grammer, was Coty Raven Morris, who is interacted with Deaf people very tech driven.” said Frost. Brian Shook has a YouTube channel— communications degree a senior theatre major from from around the world currently pursuing her Master of Brielle Frost, assistant professor Tim Dueppen, assistant professor of “Brian Shook”— and additional resources programs in the nation. Bridge City, directed the at two conferences, the Music in Choral Conducting at This student-focused production, which featured World Association of Sign of flute who also conducts the flute music, also found his students practiced are available at Michigan State University. Ms. comprehensive research seniors Austin Jones, Language Interpreters and ensemble, also found the transition to more than usual, possibly because of Morris joined our choir camp guide is based on an Houston, and Temesha the World Federation of the Ramsey online easier than she expected because the isolation and extra time they had. “I as our camp manager. With assessment of 1,604 , Beaumont; juniors Deaf Conference. briellefrost.com her charisma, she was exciting, accredited colleges and Josh Pendino, Lumberton, the students were so adaptable. She didn’t think it would go as well as it did,” universities. Each program and Brianna Butler, trombonetim.com engaging, most thoughtful and used a variety of platforms, and students said Dueppen. “The students worked ensured our campers enjoyed a was evaluated based Baytown; and sophomores on curriculum quality, Dustin Smith, West embraced them. really hard and focused on specific parts most productive camp full of jackbensonmusic.com graduation rate, reputation Hardin, and Taylor Like Benson, Frost used Zoom of their performances that were lacking.” fun activities.” and post-graduate Bell, Colmesneil. for larger studio class meetings. She employment.

14 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 15 | COLLEGE SNAPSHOT: ARTS & SCIENCES | UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Couch named “highly Alumna Daniella DeLaRue ’03 evacuates from Tonga effective” math educator PJ Couch , associate professor of by Daniel Houston mathematics, has been named one of the top mathematics educators in the country. Most of us know Couch as “the guy who rides the unicycle around campus.” He was one of three mathematics educators in the nation to receive the Henry L. Alder arlier this year on March 15, more than 7,300 Peace Corps volunteers in 60 countries Award that is given annually to faculty were forced to retreat in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving behind members whose teaching has been students, friends, families and the country in which they’d dedicated so much time. effective and successful in Daniella DeLaRue ’03, a Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Tonga undergraduate mathematics. E and former director of the Lamar University McNair Scholars “Education has created many opportunities for me, and Lamar Program, was discussing plans for college with one of her University’s role in my success has been students when the email arrived that would ultimately send her paramount,” said Couch. “It feels great to be able to parlay LU’s investment in me to the benefit of others, and her fellow volunteers back home. and I hope that this recognition can help me create more opportunities for more people.” “I remember trying to figure out just how quickly it was As a faculty member, Couch has founded the MaPP Challenge for high school students, has displayed Cardinals Esports hits spreading,” said DeLaRue, recalling the days and weeks leading the ground running a passion for undergraduate research, is a part of the Key Communicators initiative with Beaumont Independent School District and an active member of the Lamar University Greater South Park up to the exodus. “Because of the communal nature of Tonga’s Cardinals Esports was founded Neighborhood Partnership. culture, I knew how quickly a virus like that would spread.” in October of 2019 by Interim Associate Dean Tim Roden and With 53 volunteers living among four island groups, DeLaRue computer science senior Zachary Stinson receives prestigious pondered the implications of not only all these members Mosteller. In the five months community service award evacuating their posts, but also those of Peace Corps posts Cynthia Stinson since Cardinals Esports started, , chair of the JoAnn Gay Dishman School of around the world. the organization has added 42 Nursing, has been honored as the 2019 Julie and Ben Rogers “This is completely unprecedented—like so many things full-fledged members and has Community Service Award recipient. Although Stinson has over 150 students in their discord served at Lamar University for 25 years, she’s been a Cardinal with the pandemic—that every volunteer was evacuated back channel. Cardinals Esports—a form much longer. She received her bachelor’s degree from LU to the U.S.,” said DeLaRue. “In the midst of packing and of sport competition using video in 1980 and then continued her education at other giving out all the hugs I could to everyone before I left, it games—currently supports Texas institutions. was difficult to process.” Two days later, DeLaRue and her multiple teams. The Julie and Ben Rogers Community Service Award was fellow volunteers would be on a flight back to the U.S. “It was Of the teams, Overwatch, Rocket established in 1979 to acknowledge the members of Lamar League, Fortnite and League of University’s faculty and staff who make a lasting impact on the simply heart-wrenching for everyone.” Legends competed in full-fledged Southeast Texas community through an outstanding record With the current education project underway, DeLaRue was collegiate seasons throughout the of service and volunteer work. Individuals from LU, Lamar an English literacy facilitator on the main island of Tongatapu, and fall 2019 semester. All competitive Institute of Technology, Lamar State College – Port Arthur the program manager for their learning center and library. She also managed the teams have made great strides and Orange are chosen. American Center, which the U.S. Embassy in Fiji sponsors, and provided resources during the past semesters and Stinson combines her vocation with her life experience promise to be top contenders through service leading. She serves on the Board for the such as free internet access and guidance for students wanting to study in the in collegiate esports. Team Pink Power Support Group, organized “Cancer Crusaders,” U.S., as well as events for the public like the Saturday morning reading club that Overwatch recently hit a milestone and formed the collaboration between the Gift of Life and DeLaRue and her staff also conducted. by defeating the Columbia Dishman School of Nursing to teach high school students “Everything has been disrupted,” she said. “I had a feeling we would be Chicago College Renegades. This about the dangers of tobacco and risks of cancer. Not only has she served on many committees and in evacuated for safety reasons, but I had hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. We could win is proof of all the hard work organizations at Lamar University, but she continues to present on numerous topics to community members and practice the members of the outside of the classroom on topics such as health and disease, treatment and caregiving. not predict how quickly this would consume resources and shake infrastructures Overwatch team have put in. Students within the School of Nursing average around 6,000 hours of community service to local agencies in travel and healthcare.” DeLaRue remains in touch with the school in Tonga Jason Chambliss, leader of each year, largely attributable to their service-oriented leader, Stinson. and supervises the staff from a distance. She has plans to reinstate as soon as the Overwatch team, said they volunteers are cleared to return to finish her service. felt “vindicated” by this victory  Recent grad accepted  Biology student  Med school “I, like so many others, really feel I have unfinished business and that it was proof of what is into Ph.D. program selected to present acceptance goes viral Judah Roden ‘18 Tyler Nelson Omar Hamza ’20 to come. Another team to watch , a , a biology received there,” said DeLaRue. recent master’s degree in major, presented at the his medical school is the League of Legends headed DeLaRue describes the connections she had with acceptance and shared Tommy Nguyen computer science graduate Gulf Coast Undergrad by . Nguyen is a and son of associate Research Symposium at his mother’s reaction the Tongan people as crucial to her understanding and proven competitor in the Esports professor Tim Roden, was Rice University. The topic of through social media. appreciation of their culture. “The best part of my service scene. He has won tournaments accepted into a doctoral his presentation was “Effect Hamza received more in Tonga had to have been the relationships I built, whether and prize money playing League program in the Department of Varying Cell Culture than half a million views of Legends in high school and is of Computer Science and Conditions in SKNO-1 Acute within 24 hours as well as it was with my host family, teachers at my school, the looking to continue winning. In Engineering at University Myeloid Leukemia Cells.” congratulatory messages students I taught, vendors in the market, other volunteers in their first season, they defeated of North Texas to study Nelson was chosen through from around the world. my cohort, or other friends I made,” said DeLaRue. “I miss Baylor University, who is a strong game design and a selective process. He will attend Texas A&M artificial intelligence. College of Medicine. the feeling of home I felt, even thousands of miles away competitor on the Esports scene. from Southeast Texas.”

JudithBrave longtime Smith: leader by Shelly Vitanza

uring the COVID-19 pandemic, Judith Smith ’79, an COVID-19 was the ‘big one’ Smith and her team anticipated When test results were returned, the department communicated in a time of effective medications as well as vaccines for varying inaugural graduate of LU’s nursing school, became the but hoped would never happen. However, they had a pandemic outcomes to patients and counties. strains of flu. She predicts a new era post pandemic. manager and spokesperson of the coronavirus testing plan in place. They also had experience with drive-in testing. In “Our epidemiologist made sure that each county was “I have not been afraid but I think the scary part for me is Dcenter at Jack Brooks Regional Airport. Overnight, Smith, the 2005, under Smith’s direction as the newly appointed director contacted and contact tracing initiated. The big focus became just thinking about how can we live with a new normal until a director of the Port Arthur City Health Department, was thrown of the Port Arthur Health Department, a drive-through flu clinic contact tracing, and we had a team set up for that when results vaccine or a treatment or antiviral is available without people into the media spotlight and expected to be the expert on was established. were positive. We made sure that contacts were notified and just relaxing and just thinking it’s no longer here,” she said. testing for the novel communicable disease. “We were familiar with drive through, so the county used our told to quarantine according to the CDC guidelines. We called a While Smith is trying to determine how “we come to grips No doubt Smith was the most qualified candidate for idea. We could show them how it should be done where people lot of people.” with living a new normal,” she continues to lead her expanding the testing center’s lead role. During her 36 years in public call if they are symptomatic and make an appointment. It all fit As challenging as closing the department was and moving team (funding has been granted for more people to help with health, she has tested, treated and educated the public about into the CDC guidelines.” to a makeshift center, wearing layers of personal protective COVID-19 contact tracing) at the Port Arthur Health Department contagious diseases. After working in the hospital setting for Jefferson County provided the funding for Smith and the equipment and delivering bad news to people was, the to meet future new public health challenges. several years, Smith began her public health career in 1983 as department’s 11 nurses to run the makeshift center. For four media spotlight was the most overwhelming aspect of Smith’s “We don’t visit in the office as much as we used to because the sexually transmitted disease and immunization nurse for weeks, the health department was shut down so that Smith and leadership role. of the virus, so I just try to encourage people by sending out the Port Arthur Public Health Department. While continuing her team could conduct all of the testing. “I watched how hard the staff worked and then to hear texts and emails telling them, ‘you’ve done a good job’ or ‘this that role, Smith also became the tuberculosis nurse and was on Smith, a cancer survivor, didn’t hesitate for a minute to take and read the critique from media was the most challenging. is going to be a good day.’ I have fun and laugh a lot; I respect the frontlines of a measles outbreak in the community in 1985. the assignment. However, because many of her nurses have It [COVID-19] was new, and we just didn’t know everything, each employee and encourage everyone to have the same During a syphilis epidemic, Smith and her team conducted small children or elderly parents at home, she gave them the but media continually called and wanted to spin something respect to one another.” ‘night blitzes’ into bars to provide community outreach. With option of not working at the center to guard their that we didn’t do or overlooked. To read something unfair the same tenacity and compassionate care, Smith served the personal health. or taken out of context, especially during this time when we The nurses are the real heroes. community through HIV and H1N1. “The nurses are the real heroes. Every one of them accepted should be giving each other an encouraging word, was the most “ “Overall, public health is so interesting because things and said they wanted to go out and help. They did an amazing challenging part.” Every one of them accepted and change,” said Smith. “After Hurricane Rita, we attended several job. It ran very smoothly. Patients were satisfied. There were no Smith has seen a lot of changes during her stint in public said they wanted to go out and workshops on pandemic flu and were reminded, it’s not if but complaints, and no one had to wait.” health. It wasn’t that long ago that gloves became a part of help. They did an amazing job. when. We always knew with every year it could be the big one. Not only did Smith and her staff conduct testing, but the standard operating procedures to draw blood or give shots. She Something could occur that could throw you off guard.” staff also gathered all of the information from each patient. also has witnessed the death of patients from HIV to now live —Judith Smith ”

Men’s cross country wins 17th Southland title The men’s cross country team recorded the A most dominant performance in Southland IN cheerful THE presence Conference history on its way to a league CARDINAL record 17th league title—the program’s by 12th in the past 14 years. Big Red scored Hannah Snodgrass COMMUNITY 34 points to win the championship meet by 86 points—the largest margin of victory Soccer advances to national spotlight in championship history. Senior Jordan Rowe clocked a time of For the second time in program history— Cardinals held 10 opponents to one goal 24:01.7 to win the race by seven seconds amar University Cheerleading Team Coordinator Kelsey cheerleaders were selected for the 2020-2021 season, including and the second time in just four years or fewer. and averaged a 4:50.1 mile. Rowe was not Baden exemplifies never-ending spirit and passion. While 10 returning members. under head coach Steve Holeman—LU The Cardinals’ season came to an a one-man show, but the tip of a spear that most people on campus recognize her work through “The virtual tryout worked really well. We were able to look soccer won the Southland Conference end during the first round of the NCAA was painted LU Red and White. He led an L regular season and tournament titles to Championships against No. 14 UCLA. attack that saw LU place three runners in Cardinal Athletics, it’s Baden’s off the field (and court) at videos, schedule interviews on Zoom and choose our team in advance to the NCAA Championships. Big LU came up just short to the nationally the overall Top five and five in the Top 14 leadership and positivity that make a difference during this about four days. We are anxious to finally get together as a team Red posted a 16-7 (.696) overall record— ranked Bruins but the Southland honored for the victory. global pandemic. and begin practicing for the new year,” Baden said. the second-best win total in program their efforts on the field, bestowing four The Cardinals were recognized by the Baden arrived at LU in June 2018 from Southern Illinois When asked her favorite thing about coaching, she history—and dominated the conference superlative honors and assigning seven Southland for their efforts on the course. University, with previous stops at UT-Tyler and St. Louis describes watching her athletes grow and “seeing not just the with a 10-1 (.909) league mark. spots on the all-conference teams. Junior Six runners garnered all-conference The Cardinals opened the season with Lucy Ashworth was named SLC Player recognition, including three first-team University in Missouri. She grew up cheering competitively, cheerleaders, but the type of people they become.” Baden talks one of the toughest non-conference and Forward of the Year, while classmate selections. Rowe was named Men’s Cross beginning at age nine, and continued at her alma mater— of the growth in one of her cheerleaders as he went from timid schedules in program history and the Esther Okoronkwo was named league Country Athlete of the Year, while Liam Webster University, where she studied communications. She and never having cheered before to being named a captain his nation. LU’s non-conference docket Newcomer of the Year and Holeman was Burthem received league Newcomer of also cheered professionally in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams, senior season in 2019. consisted of two teams ranked in the named SLC Coach of the Year. the Year honors. LU distance coach Tony so she knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. In describing her “LU moment,” Baden doesn’t hesitate to final top 25 poll, and included the likes of Following LU’s postseason run, the Red Houchin also received his fourth SLC Cross Oklahoma State, UL Lafayette, Southern and White received more accolades on Country Coach of the Year honor. Baden never envisioned coaching for a living, but talk about the exciting experience of coaching her team as the Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tulsa. the field as Ashworth, Okoronkwo and Big Red’s point total was its best now cannot imagine taking a different path. She and her Cards went to the playoffs her first football season in 2018. She After a 1-5 (.167) start to the season, and Plata were all named to the United Soccer performance since scoring 27 to win the cheerleaders share a tight-knit, family bond; their love for recounts being on the sidelines with her cheerleaders for the numerous injuries to the starting lineup, Coaches All-Region teams. Ashworth 2015 title. The 86-point margin of victory each other is equal to their love for LU. “We all talk frequently, LU vs. Texas A&M football game in 2019. “It was pretty wild! Holeman rallied the troops as Big Red and Okoronkwo received first-team smashed the previous record, which was either through our GroupMe app or through conferences on It was kind of like they did not even know what to do with won 15 of its next 16 contests on their way recognition while Plata was named to the also held by LU and set during the to the league title. During their run, the third team. 2008 season. Zoom or FaceTime.” themselves. It was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us.” With COVID-19 halting sports and gatherings, Baden and Baden and the LU Cheerleading Team can naturally make not- her team are working creatively to maintain their bond, so-great situations fun and maintain the same energy regardless.  On Dec. 12, 2019, Blane  Junior defensive back  Junior point guard Ellis activity levels and enthusiasm. “We’re pretty good with They are well versed in “pumping up energy” in the crowd, Morgan took over as Michael Lawson was Jefferson became the our social media, and one of the Cheer FX groups here engaging with current and prospective students, alumni and Lamar University’s new named first-team All- first player in LU men’s in Southeast Texas challenged us to this burpee backflip Cardinal fans to make people smile. An exciting new tradition head football coach. Southland Conference basketball to record The former San Diego as a defensive back and 11 steals in a game. In tournament, so we’ve been posting about that and staying Baden is proud of is having alumni cheerleaders ring the bell at State quarterbacks punt returner during the final game before connected,” Baden said. Team members encourage one football games. coach becomes the third the 2019 season. The the Christmas holiday, another. “If somebody does a new skill, everybody responds. While she and the team have done their best to remain head coach since the two-way threat ranked Ellis recorded his only It’s fantastic.” spirited during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baden looks forward program’s rebirth and its among the nation’s Top double-double of the The pandemic has had the biggest effect on cheer team to getting back to what they love—cheering on the Cards and 10th since transitioning 10 in interceptions season with 12 points to four-year status. per game. and a school-record tryouts, which they conducted through video. Prospective bringing positivity and pride to the LU community when it is 11 steals. cheerleaders received tryout material on April 20 and needed most! were given until May 1 to submit their video. Twenty-two

College of Engineering Reaccredited Proksch named 2019 LAMAR UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES Bachelor’s degree programs in chemical, Distinguished Faculty Lecturer LU HELPS BRING NSF civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical LU named Bryan Proksch, associate CENTER FOR MIDSTREAM engineering have been reaccredited by the professor of music, the 2019 Distinguished RESEARCH VESSEL TO MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE Engineering Accreditation Commission of Faculty Lecturer. Total Petrochemicals and THE GULF OF MEXICO ABET, the global accreditor of college and Refining USA Inc. sponsored the 2019 In an effort to support Southeast Texas greatest university programs in applied and natural edition of the Distinguished Faculty Lamar University is helping bring one of three petrochemical expansion in decades, Lamar science, computing, engineering and Lecture series. state-of-the-art National Science Foundation- University announced the establishment of engineering technology. Proksch’s lecture, “Music and Oil in funded oceanographic research vessels to the the Center for Midstream Management and ABET accreditation assures that Beaumont: John Philip Sousa and the Gulf of Mexico— the first new regional class Science. Approved and funded by the 86th Texas programs meet standards to produce Magnolia Petroleum Band,” included the research ship in the U.S. Academic Research legislature, the Center for Midstream Management graduates ready to enter critical technical fields. “Maintaining our ABET accreditation music of Sousa performed by students from the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Fleet to the Gulf in nearly four decades. and Science will focus on midstream research and demonstrates LU’s commitment to provide quality engineering programs that provide Music Nov. 12 in the Setzer Student Center Live Oak Ballroom. As one of 15 associate members of the Gulf– teaching across campus. a solid educational foundation, giving our students the capability to lead the way in The award, initiated in 1987, is one of the highest honors accorded a Lamar Caribbean Oceanographic Consortium, led LU founded the center to meet the need for innovation, emerging technologies and anticipating the safety and welfare needs of the University faculty member. The entire university and the general community nominate by the University of Southern Mississippi and midstream technology and additional needs of public,” said Brian Craig, dean of the College of Engineering. prospective lecturers, and a committee of faculty members and representatives from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, the upstream and downstream industries. It is Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because the student body, staff, administration, alumni, faculty retirees and the community Lamar University played a role in developing dedicated to discovering solutions to distribution it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, selects the honoree based on the professor’s proposed topic and on his/her the future scientific agenda for Gulf of Mexico and storage modalities, environmental impacts, precision and safety are of the utmost importance. “These standards are essential to professional background and recognized teaching/presentation skills. and Caribbean oceanographic research. The and to optimizing commodity movements and produce graduates ready to begin their engineering futures,” said Craig. “Additionally, Proksch, who received his Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Carolina consortium’s efforts ultimately secured the market access. graduation from ABET-accredited programs may also establish a student’s eligibility for at Chapel Hill, was selected for his comprehensive research and historic documentation approximately $100 million funding for the The new center will serve as a bridge between many federal student loans, grants and scholarships, is often a mandatory requirement of John Philip Sousa, specifically Sousa’s connection to Beaumont. His presentation vessel to be built and stationed in Louisiana and LU and local industry, connecting breakthroughs in for employment, and supports entry to many technical professions through licensure, covered “all four of Sousa’s visits to Beaumont, including a 1906 visit during which the Mississippi. Matthew Hoch, associate professor access to oil and gas to the downstream advances registration and certification.” Lucas Oil Company took him on an excursion to open ‘a few gushers’ for him out in the of biology, serves as LU’s representative on in refining and liquefaction technologies. ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that currently accredits 4,005 oil fields,” said Proksch, who joined Lamar University in 2013. Proksch is the author of the consortium. “The center was established to grow a multi- programs at more than 793 colleges and universities in 32 countries. A Sousa Reader: Essays, Interviews, and Clippings, a unique collection of articles that The new ship, which is expected to be reveal fascinating information about Sousa. industry/university collaboration that advances Flow cytometer funded, a game changer for LU and the community delivered in 2023, will perform regional, national in midstream capacity, resiliency, environmental James Henry, associate professor of chemical engineering, was awarded a National Westgate receives the distinguished TSUS Regents Professor Award and international research important to the U.S. compliance and safety,” said Brian Craig, dean and the world. With science labs, deck space Science Foundation grant for the acquisition of a flow cytometer/sorter for LU. This James Westgate, professor emeritus of earth and space sciences, has been awarded of the College of Engineering. “The center will for scientific deployments and state-of-the-art device will be the first of its kind to be located between Houston and Lafayette and will the Texas State University System Regents’ Professor Award, which honors college develop advanced education, training and technologies, the 199-foot ship will enable be available for multidisciplinary research on campus. professors for their outstanding professional excellence and significant educational solutions for the midstream industry, such as valuable research on environmental change, the A flow cytometer allows researchers to examine and sort individual cells at a rate of contributions on the international, national and communal levels. technology gaps related to capacities, distribution, global hydrologic cycle, biodiversity in the ocean 100,000 per minute, giving far more precision in the study of groups of cells. “Without Since joining LU in 1989, Westgate has been principal investigator or co-P.I. for more storage, optimization, reliability, inspection, and marine mineral resources. this equipment, we can’t do much quantitative analysis of single cells,” explained Henry. than $1.7 million in science, education and research grants and garnered more than data analytics and decision making, predictive “The lack of knowledge of most of the “The flow cytometer will allow us to collect data about individual cells based on what $1.2 million in grants aimed at providing scholarships and opportunities for teacher maintenance, resilience, cyber physical security, world’s oceans is tremendous, and the Gulf and questions we are asking.” Henry is primarily focused on Alzheimer’s research, and the graduate students. IIoT, safety, environmental compliance, economics, device will aid research associated with Alzheimer’s disease therapeutic screening and Caribbean are no exception. Despite decades of new and emerging markets, and future business identification and drug screening, as well as the identification of unique cancer types Lin named associate provost for Research oceanographic research in the Gulf of Mexico, opportunities. These solutions and knowledge and markers and determination of environmental toxins. and Sponsored Programs much of the work has been done close to shore can then be broadly distributed to the industry, Henry also has spoken with local oncologists about the possibility of allowing them Prof. Jerry Lin has been selected as associate provost for in smaller research vessels,” said Hoch. “The workforce, policymakers, students and scholars.” the use of the flow cytometer for local testing of biopsies. “At this time, these samples research and sponsored programs. Lin’s long and productive new RCRV will have a range of 5,400 nautical The Center for Midstream Management and are sent out of town, which can add days or weeks to a cancer diagnosis,” he said. research-oriented career at LU, his understanding of the world miles (6,200 miles) so we can study large-scale Science will support students, faculty members, of funded and competitive research and his long-standing questions not touched on previously.” labs and post-doctoral fellowships across Lamar “The Nest” installed across BISD relationships with area industry recommended him for The ship will be operational for University with an emphasis on applied research Soon eight elementary schools will be equipped the position. multidisciplinary collaborations among that is vital to the midstream industry. Additionally, with innovative learning labs. A high-tech STEM- Since joining LU in 1999, Lin has been principal investigator or institutions. The vessel has 12 science berths, the center facilitates training for the midstream centric space, called “The Nest,” opened in May co-PI for approximately $7 million of external grants funded by where students and faculty can participate in community by hosting events and seminars. The 2019 at Pietzsch-MacArthur Elementary and has federal and state agencies and by industries. Lin is also active in projects while at sea. In addition to bringing the center also supports the development of academic served as the model space for more labs, two of the international research community. He is author or co-author of more than 120 peer- vessel to the Port of Beaumont for public and courses and certificate programs at LU to train the which opened last October. reviewed articles published in top journals of his area of expertise, which have been outreach events, Hoch says he’s looking forward next generation of midstream professionals. “The Nest,” evolved from a relationship cited more than 3,300 times. to the new discoveries now possible with such a “We are uniquely positioned to team with between Lamar University and the neighborhood research ship. industry leaders and midstream providers for surrounding the campus, which includes Pietzsch- LU one of 10 universities in the nation on the rise “One potential project would address solutions not only to distribution and storage MacArthur. Several years ago, LU’s former First Lady Nancy Evans began promoting College Gazette has named Lamar University one of the “Top 10 Public Universities impacts of increasing excessive sediment and modalities but also to optimize flow rates and “Reading Wednesdays” at PMac. Each Wednesday, Evans would visit with students and on the Rise.” nutrients from the Amazon River, due to Amazon gain access to the best-suited markets,” said encourage them to read. Soon afterwards, Evans helped organize LU education majors Lamar University ranks eighth in College Gazette’s 2019 listing of “amazing deforestation, on ocean biology. Surface currents President Kenneth Evans. “With a highly-regarded to regularly tutor the students. That’s when it became obvious that a special room or universities on the rise.” The independent organization that provides an online starting carry these pollutants past the Mesoamerican engineering program, dedicated research faculty space was needed to accommodate reading and individualized learning. Spurred by place for students and families to discover “right-fit” schools, cited several metrics Barrier Reef, into the Gulf of Mexico and via the in the environmental field, a business college Evans, Audrey Collins, principal at PMac was asked to “dream big” about a space that for the ranking, including programs, student and alumni accomplishments, faculty Loop Current may pass the reefs of the Florida actively involved in this industry and a center would meet the needs of her students. accolades and research programs and expenditures. Keys. For example, Amazon River nutrients have committed to port science and management, “My battle cry has always been, your toughest kids deserve the best of everything The ranking also included consideration of the campus, noting LU’s state-of-the-art been implicated in the excessive sargassum LU has the talent pool to drive the science and so I asked for the best,” said Collins. Norman Bellard, LU’s assistant to the president facilities, recent renovations and updates to its residence halls. LU’s rankings by other weed on beaches of Belize, Mexico and Texas.” management of these vital midstream processes.” for community relations and founding member of the South Park Neighborhood sources also played a role in the university’s inclusion on the distinguished list. LU was said Hoch. “Equally exciting is the potential for The kickoff symposium Nov. 21 hosted Partnership, and Teresa Simpson, chair for the LU/BISD Business Partnership, took recently noted as a Top 20 “rising star” institution in the country by Firetail, a UK-based discovery of new benthic (bottom) life in the midstream industry operators and suppliers, state Colllins’ vision, enlisted community partners and sourced funding ($20,000+ for each consulting firm; LU has scored in the Top 75 in three of its specialty graduate programs, multiple basins and deep-sea trenches, and let’s legislators, regulators and LU faculty and students. room) to ensure elementary students across the district have benefit of “The Nest” in including education, nursing and criminal justice; Intelligent.com, an online news not forget the opportunity to study geological Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas their schools. More innovative learning labs will open in 2021. Bellard said the plan is to source and research website, ranked 11 of Lamar University’s programs in the processes and past conditions on Earth in this Association, was the keynote speaker. open two a year. Top 35 nationwide. tectonically active region of the world’s oceans.”

consistent structure for all classes, which motivations of educators applying and Ybarra had learned from her work at volunteering in Edtech ambassador LU was essential in helping parents and programs within McClelland’s students navigate in the new Achievement Motivation Theory,” applies online platform. to the current pandemic situation. “First and foremost, I was a student “The doctorate program, prepared me in an online program, and I know what to be open to the unexpected and trust worked for me and really appreciated the process, and that has really been how courses were structured and the helpful in navigating the uncertainty of consistency from one course to the next,” the times,” said Ayala. Barbara Ybarra ’16 said Ybarra. “One of the courses I took Alline Ayala ’18 “During the program I participated at LU was about developing online. I’m in research around online learning, Associate Superintendent Digital Graphics 1 and Gateway to of Teaching and Learning thankful I learned how to develop a Technology/Engineering 1 teacher personal learning networks, quality online course that is micro-credentialing with badges Bryan Independent School easily accessible.” Hudson Bend Middle School and achievement motivation. My District, Bryan Bryan ISD, like many schools, has Lake Travis Independent School understanding of these topics has deeply Alumni keep kids District, Austin Bryan ISD, a district that generally a significant digital divide between shaped the way I am approaching the students who have access at home process of teaching and learning with my serves a lower socioeconomic status Alline Ayala’s school went on spring and those who don’t. The district students during this crisis.” learning during demographic where 76% of the break March 11 and then extended the has distributed more than 5,000 She has valued her experience as population receives free and reduced break another two weeks, giving teachers Chromebooks to meet the an online learner because she can cost lunch, had no learning management time to plan lessons and prepare for students’ needs. appreciate what her students are the pandemic system in place when the pandemic hit. an online learning experience. The The district also made sure that every now going through. “Much of what The first week of the pandemic, the district coordinated all curriculum student, including those with special is published is modeled from my district purchased Schoology, a program through Schoology. All assignments were by Shelly Vitanza needs, were accommodated through experience as an online learner. Our that automatically integrated with the consistent for every subject in every the virtual learning platform. Special multi-week project started with an district’s student information system. grade, assigned the same day with the education courses are occurring on video ‘introduction’ similar to a course syllabus, They trained more than 1,200 teachers same due date. Teachers were then asked conferencing and through teletherapy. in which we share what the topics and in a 48-hour period and were completely to offer “office hours” for students to Some online courses are modified for tasks are for each week. I also have Lamar University has 90,000 alumni and 12,000 of launched and teaching students online attend via Google Meet. students with vision impairments and modeled much of my feedback strategies those are in education. These educators assumed within two weeks. “A few schools and educators began dyslexia but submitted with everyone to those I had received from my leadership roles during the pandemic to ensure “We had been researching systems reaching out to me mid to late February else’s assignments, and those students professors (clear, specific, actionable). I children across the nation were able to continue for several years and planned to bring asking for help on designing their are included in discussion boards. feel much more confident about myself their educational pursuits despite the challenges. the top companies back this spring for emergency plans for teaching and “For example, if a student is supposed when in front of the camera and can LU initiated online courses in 1995 in the College implementation in 18 months,” said learning,” said Ayala. “Knowing that I to receive preferential seating in a manage the calls well with muting others of Education and Human Development. Therefore, Barbara Ybarra, associate superintendent had the preparation and knowledge to classroom, we are reaching out to the and presenting screens.” most of LU’s educational alumni are familiar with of teaching and learning. “We got the be able to support them was very helpful parents and determining where the Ayala created the presentation, online learning platforms. These alumni either system purchased within the first week in my own journey to make sense of this best place for that student to work in “Supporting Continuity of Teaching were enrolled in online courses at LU or they were and had it enrolling students by the situation. Contributing to their efforts the home is,” said Ybarra. “Our special and Learning During an Emergency: taught online tools in their educational curriculum. second. Five weeks in, we have 93.5% of and giving back to a profession that has education and accommodations are Conversation Guide and Quick Start “Our educational alumni across the nation are 16,000 students online.” given me so much has been an integral continuing through the virtual platform.” Recommendations” for other teachers well-trained in online education, and many of The district created a lead trainer part of my own self-care process. Bryan ISD’s pandemic experience is and districts. them are now invaluable leaders at this time in our program to train teachers district wide, Teachers in Ayala’s school and the documented on Facebook at @bryanisd nation’s history,” said Robert Spina, dean of the all virtually, through Google Hangouts. entire district have worked together and Twitter @bryanisd. College of Education and Human Development. Through slide deck and on-demand using their strengths. Those with more “There are great stories and little “These alumni have not only moved their teaching, video series, the teachers were experience with online learning have wonderful moments, but what’s been “...what’s been the mentoring and student connections to digital fully immersed. taken the lead on the structures for the most wonderful, incredible thing most wonderful, formats, but their experience and knowledge base Teachers did incredibly great,” said lesson creation and instruction, and to watch is what can happen when an incredible thing to has been a critical part of the success of moving Ybarra, who earned her doctorate in others with video production skills have entire team is completely behind getting K-12 education online.” educational leadership from LU in 2016. created videos for the rest of the teams watch is what can kids what they need,” said Ybarra. Here are three LU alumni who have ensured the “We said to the teachers, ‘This is what to use. happen when an entire transition from face-to-face education to online you’re faced with now, we’ve got to keep Ayala, who received her doctorate team is completely going.’ They actively rose to platforms and who have provided the greatest in educational leadership from Lamar behind getting kids pedagogical value along with the teacher-student the occasion.” University in 2018, said the doctoral connection so important in K-12 environments. The district did provide content for research she conducted, titled “Perceived what they need.” courses in a starter kit and provided a -Barbara Ybarra ’16

email survey, which was an indicator of the highlights of the material we’re how many students could be accessed presenting and leave out the fluff, but electronically and how many students I’ve told the teachers now is the time you would need low-tech or paper options. can start to test the boundaries and ramp While Bush Middle School up the rigor a little bit.” implemented Google Classroom for 95% Guthrie continues to communicate of the online teaching, Guthrie continued and interact with students. He recently his communication campaign to find hosted a Zoom lunch, where he went out how he and the school could help into the school cafeteria with food from a students become online learners. local restaurant owned by a Bush family “Each week, I personally called and kids popped in on Zoom. They about 30 kids and parents—10 per talked about their food, their dogs, their grade level—that had not been fully families and the crisis. Stu Guthrie connected,” Guthrie said. “I asked how The Bush pandemic experience Dean Spina named we could help them, devices, less work, is documented on Twitter: @mrguthrietweets. distinguished alumnus current doctoral candidate The distinguished alumni award etc., to get them through. It’s important Principal is the highest award presented to that students see and hear from you University of Pittsburgh alumni. Bush Middle School, North East and you continue to build Dean Bob Spina was honored Independent School District, personal connections.” by the university’s School of San Antonio Guthrie learned what he expected; Education as the Department of Health and Physical Activity’s not every student had his or her home Bush Middle School Principal Stu Guthrie Distinguished Alumnus. Spina drew heavily on his experience in the LU desk set up with computers, lights and has 30 years of combined doctoral program when implementing materials. Additionally, some students teaching, research, service and administration experience an online program for his school. The were helping their younger siblings. Education advocate and mathematician Freeman Others had spotty internet connections. in higher education after Hrabowski presents Academic Lecture announcement about the pandemic came graduation from the University The Lamar University Academic Lecture Series, hosted by the College of Education and Human In the coming weeks, Guthrie on Thursday of the school’s spring break, of Pittsburgh’s doctoral program Development, invited one of TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’Freeman which gave Guthrie and his teachers a remained focused on building strong in health, physical and recreation Hrabowski to campus last fall. Hrabowski is renowned for ‘getting kids to love to learn’, especially lower few days to prepare the “Bush Family” personal connections and staying in education. Currently, he serves as income students and those underrepresented in STEM disciplines. His research and publications focus dean of the College of Education on science and math education, with a special emphasis on minority participation and performance. for an alternative learning system. touch with his faculty, students and parents. He consistently inquired how and Human Development at His leadership, expertise and vision are integral to programs worldwide and used by universities, Before school was to start again Lamar University and is a fellow school systems and community groups around the country. His lecture, “Pursuing the Dream: A 50- he could be part of the solution where on Monday, Guthrie sent an email to “The doctorate in both the National Academy of Year Perspective on Broadening Participation in Education,” was based on his experience as a valued the semi-affluent school community, problems arose, assuring parents their program prep Kinesiology and the American consultant on science and education to national agencies, universities and school systems. Hrabowski has comprising 1,000 students, explaining children would not fall behind, and just ared College of Sports Medicine. a compelling story which he tells in his most recent book, “Holding Fast to Dreams: Empowering Youth me to be open to from the Civil Rights Crusade to STEM Achievement.” He describes the events and experiences that the situation and what was going to listened to parents who needed to talk. The school issued Chromebooks and the unexpected New department name played a central role in his development as an educator and leader including being jailed at the age of happen. He also sent a Google form for 12 for participating in Martin Luther King Jr.’s children’s crusade. laptops where there was need and slowly points to the future kids to respond. and trust the Family and Consumer Sciences implemented the online program for “Because I’m currently working on my process, and has a new name: The Department  Assessment research  Alumna Danielle Jackson  Superintendent doctorate, I knew we had to implement all students. of Nutrition, Hospitality and office formed named Texas Assistant Jay Killgo gives “As a result of being an online student that has re Human Services. The name The college has heavily Principal of the Year commencement address communication, which is big anytime, ally Danielle Jackson Jay Killgo, at LU, I kept communication clear and been helpful in change intent is to reflect invested in the faculty and of Vidor school but, when you’re in a situation where is working to bolster their Marshall High School in district superintendent, concise, made all assignments phone current directions in each of the everyone is going to be working from navigating the department’s respective fields endeavors concerning Fort Bend ISD has been delivered an inspiring selected to represent speech during the home, that’s even more important,” said friendly in the beginning and didn’t and better align with its program assessment, assessment uncert research and accreditation. the Texas Association December 2019 get fancy until we had everyone going ainty of areas and the mission to address Guthrie, who is in his first year of LU’s the times.” Kyle Boudreaux, with of Secondary School commencement ceremony. educational leadership program. “I told in the right direction,” said Guthrie. fundamental human needs. a background in data Principals as the 2019- Graduates and guests alike The department’s professional our faculty our communication has to be “I’ve received good feedback from our -Alline Ay collection and reporting, 2020 Texas Assistant were encouraged by his community with how we rolled out our ala ‘18 disciplines are bound by the online learning and Principal of the Year. humble words focused on straightforward; we have to respond to common theme of rendering learning technologies, and Jackson graduated cum future opportunities and emails faster; they have to be short and distance learning.” service to individuals, families professional development, laude with a BA in Political understanding that learning sweet with each other, and we also have In week five of the pandemic, Bush and communities. Other exciting will direct the new Office Science in 1997 and an MA does not have an end but Middle School had 100% of its 1,000 news in the department includes of Assessment Research, in English in 2003. Jackson remains a process. to do the same with our kids who would will represent the state as the development of several facilitating faculty access students connected and working online, to data as they collaborate she enters the National need real simple directions, checklists minors: students across the and Guthrie said teachers were able to on scholarship, reporting Association of Secondary and a way to know they campus can now minor in culinary stretch kids in their assignments and give and course analysis School Principals National accomplished things.” arts, event planning, hospitality to increase student Assistant Principal of the Guthrie received 650 responses a little bit more. administration, fashion retailing, engagement and measure Year recognition program. within a couple of days of sending his “Initially, we stuck with one app or family studies and nutrition. students’ learning. interface,” said Guthrie. “We still hit

26 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 27 Dream postponeds by Madison Franco Adapting quickly auren Martin ’03, B.S. happens when that perfect immediate family, and then to meet demand interior design, is a day falls in the middle of a we rescheduled the reception by designer at The Laurels, pandemic? for next year, so it’ll be like Grayson Meek ‘10, ‘17 La family owned and operated “A lot of our couples have their one-year anniversary,” wedding venue in Beaumont. had to change plans,” Martin Martin said. We’re trying to be Through it all, vulnerable to COVID-19, Seniors, already isolated She has made a career of said. “We had to cancel all of flexible, work with them, meet Kimball, a 1991 and many of their volunteers in the best of times, are helping couples plan the March, April and May, and for their needs and still make it are seniors, as well. “We especially likely to go for dream wedding many have the ones coming up, we’re special for them.” graduate of recognized immediately the extended periods without imagined for years. But what having to reduce numbers. In any situation, Martin the College of need for alterations,” Kimball contact during this pandemic. But we are able to reschedule reminds clients that the most Fine Arts and says. To deal with the uptick “Many times, we may be the them all.” important part of a wedding Communication, in demand driven by stay- only humans they see or From changing dates is the couple’s love, and that our days coordinated to cutting guest lists, the reassurance is especially into Janci the delivery of at-home orders and the speak to each day. This has coronavirus pandemic has needed today. Kimball’s life-sustaining inherently fragile population, been especially critical during Ftenure as CEO meals and critical they adjusted their service this crisis.” certainly had an effect on “I just tell them at the end weddings. Under the first of the day, the only thing that of Nutrition and services, such plan by limiting operations to To donate or volunteer social distancing guidelines, matters is that you’re married Senior Services in Beaumont, as transportation, to full-time staff and closing a with Nutrition and Senior gatherings of more than 10 to your best friend. You’re Tropical Storm Imelda area seniors. dining facility and replacing it Services, visit them on the people were banned. This going to look back at this in dropped 40 inches of rain Already tested by water with a drive-through format. web at seniormeals.org, find meant that some couples who 30 years and laugh about it,” on Southeast Texas. Not long and fire, Kimball and the 350 They also utilized them on Facebook or chose to get married had to Martin said. “You’re going to after, in November 2019, employees and volunteers of contactless delivery to contact them by phone at reduce a large guest list of go through a lot of things in a dramatic explosion at a Nutrition and Senior Services maintain a sense of personal (409) 892-4455. loved ones down to about your marriage. Just know that butadiene plant run by TPC adapted quickly in the face connection with their clients. Ensuring seniors are eight people. if you can get through this, Group in Port Neches sent of a global pandemic. The “One couple had a really you can get through a lot in literal shockwaves through recipients of their services small ceremony with just your marriage.” the region. are among the most Lunch Ministry continues To learn more about to fill the need where it can volunteer opportunities every Sunday. Currently, once normal operations healthy,by Madison Francohappy Jones and other long-time resume or to donate, visit members of the group, the Sack Lunch Ministry egan Mistric ’13, and loved is part of her job. including Fred Antoine ’78, (stanthonycathedral.org/ or “Miss Sunshine” Normally, that might include are operating under a COVID- events) and Some Other Place as her residents organizing activities such 19-specific protocol that (someotherplacebeaumont. Msometimes call her, as group events and family Supporting involves a smaller team in the com) on the web. began volunteering at her visits, but with the risk of struggling kitchen, increased sanitization grandmother’s senior living COVID-19, Mistric has had to and an altered delivery home when she was only 10 get creative. community method. As businesses years old. Since then, senior From Mother’s Day reopen and the desire to care has become her Zoom calls to “noodle ball” members recapture old routines grows lifelong passion. (hallway hockey with pool masks. We’re just trying to my pocket,” Mistric said. by stronger, Jones admitted “I fell in love instantly, and noodles), Mistric makes sure Grayson Meek ‘10, ‘17 keep our residents safe and “Outside of the building, I that the return to normal everything I’ve done since that residents and staff are show them love as much take every precaution. I’m operations might not be then has been goal-driven always having fun while as possible.” just trying to do what’s best he St. Anthony and food pantries run by immediate. Acknowledging to running a senior living social distancing. She has Her efforts to entertain and for my residents and family Cathedral Basilica Sack a collective of religious the uncertainty but never home,” Mistric said. helped organize a drive-by protect residents at Buckner members and just try to keep Lunch Ministry, begun entities, needed to close its forgetting the original After she earned her parade, asked local dancers Calder Woods are too many as much calm and peace and Tin 1997, always had a clear doors on Sundays, the Sack mission, she remarked, “We bachelor’s degree in general to perform outside residents’ to list, but even outside happiness as possible.” mission. Mary Beth Jones Lunch Ministry stepped in to will try to encourage social studies at LU, Mistric followed windows, and goes above of work, Mistric keeps the In a troubled time of ’10 became a parishioner provide meals. “The need did distancing and we will follow her dream to work in and beyond to keep residents wellbeing of her residents changing circumstances, around that time and recalled not disappear on that day, the guidelines that are put senior living. happy and safe at the in mind. Mistric responded to stress that the group emerged to and our parish decided to into place. Right now, we As the healthcare activity same time. “When I go out in public, with compassion and fill a specific need in the step in to help,” said Jones. are all just feeling our way, director of Buckner Calder “We’re constantly cleaning, I wear a face mask. I creativity to meet the needs community. When Some The need is a little greater and trying to continue our Woods senior care home, constantly social distancing, constantly wash my hands. of the residents she mission of feeding keeping residents happy constantly wearing face Other Place, an initiative of now, and the future cannot I have hand sanitizer in calls “family.” emergency programs, services be foreseen, but the Sack the hungry.”

Xuejun Fan receives distinguished TSUS Regent’s Professor Award Xuejun Fan, professor of mechanical engineering, was awarded the Texas State University System Regents’ Professor Award for 2019. This prestigious award honors university professors for exemplary performance and contributions to the educational community. Fan, an internationally renowned scholar and expert in modeling and characterization in SAFE… electronic packaging design and reliability relating to microchip packaging, joined the faculty in 2007. Since that time, Fan has won multiple awards for research and teaching, including the University & Scholar Award and the Distinguished Faculty Research Fellow award. In 2018, he was named University Professor and Mary Ann and Lawrence E. Faust Endowed Professor. He has authored and edited four books, published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers, filed five patents around the world and College of Engineering won numerous research grants. Center for Midstream STYLISH Management and by Shelly Vitanza Science hosts first annual symposium In partnership with the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Lamar University brought together members of the midstream sector to hear from industry leaders Todd Staples, president of Texas Oil and Gas Association; Thomas Long, group chief financial Another ‘Mitcham distinction’ is the comfort of her masks. She officer for Energy Transfer; and Jim Nyquist In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, super-glues insulation foam that is used to secure window unit , group president of LU establishes MOU with Emerson for cutting-edge training technology air conditioners in windows. The memory foam-like product Emerson Automation Solutions. LU reached a Memorandum of Understanding with Emerson, a global technology and engineering leader, to Morgan Mitcham wanted her friends and More than 100 guests attended ensure the College of Engineering prepares its students with the latest digital transformation technologies easily adheres to the edges of the mask that come in contact the symposium, where they heard and advanced process automation, instrumentation and control equipment now and in the future. family to have comfortable fitting masks with the face providing cushion. She also prints ear straps using panelists discuss the future of the As part of LU’s innovative, leading-edge instruction, curriculum and research, the university will provide with high-quality filters, so the Lamar a flexible rubber material that is adjustable for different head midstream industry as well as the engineering students, faculty and working professionals access to labs that include Emerson automation systems and technologies. Additionally, LU will develop applicable curriculum to fully integrate the sizes and also removes the strain from the ears. outlook for the energy sector in University senior mechanical engineering equipment. “I have made about 30 masks for family, friends and medical general in Southeast Texas. Many In addition to contributing $200,000 to Lamar University’s Foundation in 2018, Emerson will contribute major created her own. professionals I know personally,” said Mitcham. “They are LU students were in attendance to the provision of two Performance Learning Platforms—fully instrumented and operable process skids that With two 3-D printers, printer filament and a few items working really well, and it’s something I can do to help in and had the opportunity to provide hands-on training—and TerminalManager™ software to teach students how the industry manages the from the hardware store, Mitcham, who plans to graduate this situation. network with industry leaders entire terminal business process. In addition, Scallon Controls, Emerson’s Impact Partner, will also contribute in December, crafted a mask that is comfortable, meets CDC In between her LU course work—two classes and a senior and participate in the question- to the provision of four DeltaV™ distributed control system process trainer panels—allowing students to learn filtration standards and comes in a variety of colors. design project—Mitcham makes her masks. Each mask takes and-answer session. control system fundamentals in a safe and controlled environment—as well as lifecycle services and support for all of LU’s engineering labs that host Emerson equipment. Emerson will also provide training materials “I basically found a design online that I about eight hours to produce and Lamar University launched the Center for Midstream relating to their products and provide guest speakers on campus. made my own,” said Mitcham. “I added a assemble and costs a little less than $3. Management and Science in little more comfort to the existing design Mitcham hasn’t charged for her masks, but September 2019. The center  Professor  Henry awarded grant to accommodate different nose sizes and she’s put about 100 hours into the project. serves as a bridge between LU receives funding James Henry, associate Qin Qian added insulation foam right around the “It’s been really fun making them and and local industry, connecting , associate professor of chemical professor of civil engineering, was edge, so it seals better than an N95 mask.” now I’m making them in different colors breakthroughs in access to oil and and environmental awarded National Most unique about Mitcham’s masks which is more fun than solid white,” said gas to the downstream advances engineering, received Science Foundation is the filter. She uses the highest quality Mitcham. “I’ve got colorful filament for ear in refining and liquefaction funding for two research grant funding for the residential air conditioning filters. The sabers like turquoise and yellow.” technologies. As part of its grants to address acquisition of a flow filter material is capable of preventing COVID-19 from passing To support her new project, Mitcham has joined a mission, the CMMS will continue regional flooding. cytometer/sorter for Lamar University. through it and has a 97% particle removal efficiency rate. Facebook group—COVID HomeBrew Mask Relief. The group to host events bringing industry “They’re expensive, $40, but I can cut it up into small bits, communicates about the availability of filament, which is in leaders onto the LU campus for collaboration and learning double it and make 100 filters for the masks from one 20-by-30 high demand, and where masks are needed all over the country. opportunities. air filter,” said Mitcham. “The filters are pleated so there is no “It’s exciting just knowing I have two printers going all the fiber glass, and they’re probably more efficient than N95.” time, and I’m helping people to stay healthy,” said Mitcham.

30 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 31 R HC student Creativity and Community produces PPE The global pandemicconnection did not Wishes Reaud Honors College interrupt Buna Elementary mechanical engineering School teacher Virgie support student Ian Kennard has + (Norris) Clark’s creativity For thisfulfilled year’s been helping make personal and connections with her Teacher Appreciation protective equipment gear students for a second. Clark for our healthcare heroes ’14 reads to them several Week in May, since March 24. The demand nights each week in her Wendy (McBryde) for headband frames for Red bedtime zoom time. She Lapeyrolerie ’99, a face shields led to direct TOGETHER even created a “fort night” teacher at Hardin- requests from hospitals. LU’s White zoom where they built forts Jefferson High Makerspace helped provide to show their classmates. She School, created an “Adopt a Teacher materials and space before thrives in any environment, Aja Baise ‘16, who teaches Judge Ransom “Duce” Jones ’88, Appreciation Week” Facebook page as a and her social media posts Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6 closure forced Kennard to third grade at Glenn York are evidence she is changing place for Southeast Texas teachers to be move a printer to his parents’ Elementary School in Alvin, the lives of her students one acknowledged and thanked for their Chad Anderson ’96 Pearland home to continue and Cindy (Madden) vice president of manufacturing, day at a time. She makes a hard work. Indorama Ventures Oxides to meet the need. He had Nepinsky ‘83, who teaches difference by having learning to design several solutions at Homer Drive Elementary “Usually every year, the English be fun for her students and to problems before he School in Beaumont, saw a departments I’ve worked for will always could make the process as by bringing topics in that Above and beyond creative way to engage their Whitney Williamson ’05, a have their students write all the teachers efficient as possible. Kennard are relevant. She is the type students by making Flat Ms. special education specialist a letter of appreciation,” she said. “Those helped make ear savers on of teacher her students will Combatting hunger Baise and Flat Mrs. Nepinsky at Las Lomas Elementary in Lamar University Alumni Board members Chris Robertson ’16, a large-format 3D printer he remember for years to come. letters are priceless to us. Then it occurred disaster response so their students could take North East school district, Sharita Gardner ‘12, Brenna (Gordon) acquired, which also allows to me right after the governor made coordinator for Catholic their own Bitmoji of their has been broadcasting live Rodriguez ‘04 and Tea (Nguyen) Do ‘08, him to produce face shield the final announcement that we were Charities of Southeast Texas, teachers on adventures with social skills lessons for her organized projects with their work and materials in much not going to get those letters. I decided has been working tirelessly them until they can be with special education students larger batches. Junior League of Beaumont to assist through the pandemic to their teachers in person throughout the pandemic that we had a tough year already, so I the community. ensure low-income families again. “I can’t wait to see and worked to help relieve needed to do something to try and make Tea (Nguyen) Do ’08, who owns a Famers don’t go hungry. Chris all of their pictures as they stressed parents by delivering everyone’s day a little bit better.” complete each task. Say a Insurance Agency, personally sewed recently became the director gift bags as “pick me ups.” Lapeyrolerie posted the page publicly prayer that they don’t drop hundreds of cloth face masks for Baptist of Beaumont’s first client on April 29, expecting about 200 choice food pantry and Brandi (Dotson) Leger ’07, RN me in the toilet or let the Hospital. She also sent care packages of supplemental, working ICU and Covid dogs eat me,” Baise joked. participants. The community group was at works more than 60 hours units; Leigh (Judkins) Martin ’02, cleaning supplies and toilet paper to her a week ensuring people math and science teacher, Little Let’s hope her students don’t more than 4,000 by Monday morning. Cypress Junior High customers and provided treats for her who are out of work or have read this and get any ideas. “With COVID-19, people are having to clients to pick up outside her business lost financial resources as a teach from home and it has opened up for Easter. result of COVID-19 are not their eyes to what we really do on a daily With the money left over in the budget just being fed but are being basis,” she said. “Teachers really have a fed well. Offering healthy from canceled events at the Junior League tough job, and it’s amazing to see people choice food items such as of Beaumont, Sharita Gardner ’12, who is Pizza delivery reaching out to say thank you.” meat, fruits, vegetables and Dennis Moncla ’94, owner of a business development representative Carl Griffith ’83, president and Some teachers request only prayers, dairy, he is helping to not Colorado Canyon Miniature CEO, Griffith, Moseley, Johnson for MobilOil Credit Union and is the only provide temporary food Golf, delivered stacks of & Associates Inc. others smiles and wish lists. COVID-19 Response Ad-Hoc Committee assistance but education on pizzas to Baptist Hospitals of Port Acres Elementary kindergarten for the Junior League, organized a team healthy dietary changes. Southeast Texas during the teacher Marissa Phillips’ ’09 wish list was John Rollins ’12, public relations and past several months. of members to use the funds to show community impact director, United Way fulfilled last week. She received numerous appreciation through meals to frontline of Beaumont and North Jefferson County goodies for her classroom, including healthcare workers. She purchased thank pencils, mounting tap, carpet markers you boxes of girl scout cookies to send to Daylyn Turner ’07, and more. “More than anything, I’m so vice president and general the hospitals, helped with a Hometown manager, JK Chevrolet Subaru happy to see how many people love and Heroes lunch at Christus, delivered meals Nurses in NY appreciate teachers, myself included,” to healthcare workers at the Southeast JoAnne Gay Dishman School of she said. “This has been a trying time for Texas Regional Medical Center, and Nursing alumni traveled to New Shelby (West) Ibarra ‘13 everyone, and I think the realization that ordered yard card signs for Nurses Week York in April and May for 21 Shelby Ibarra, a teacher this is much more than a job for teachers at Fehl-Price Elementary, May 6-12 for Christus and Baptist Hospitals days, plus a 14-day quarantine has become apparent. We long to be upon return, to provide care to organized a drive of food, to boost morale. She also delivered meals COVID-19 patients. gift cards and other items back in our classroom with our children. I with her credit union team to medical Victoria (Cornell) Carmona ’18 recently that she distributed would give anything for just one more day professionals at the local hospitals. Sierra Roberts ’17 to residents in Livingston and with my babies.” Chelsey Mouton ’14 Lauren (Plaia) Goodhue ’13, Brenna (Gordon) Rodriguez ’04, regional family nurse practitioner, Onalaska who were affected Groves Middle School sixth-grade Shaela (Thayer) Zerko ’16 Diagnostic Group director of Harbor Healthcare System, by the tornado. She’s from the teacher Ashley Nicole Vickery ’18 received Joshua Rodgers ’12, ’15 Livingston area. helped spearhead a Hometown Heroes Madelyne (Childress) Morrison ’17 books, school supplies, bookmarks and Lunch for Christus, organized by Harbor games. “Some of these items were bought Foundation, in addition to her daily work of Thanh Tsan ’19, associate by friends and family, but what was even mechanical engineering; Leslie keeping hospice residents healthy (Prejean) Solis ’01, chemist; Patty more touching were the items purchased Okervall ’97, Valero Energy Corp. Elizabeth Whitley ’82, ’86, and comforted. secondary math supervisor, by complete strangers,” Vickery said. Beaumont school district Kayleigh Romero ’13, math teacher, Thomas Jefferson Middle School 32 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 33 | CLASS NOTES |

bottles, leg and foot boots, sutures Seller List. Elaine lives in Cleburne, she decided to pursue a career in services-digital documentation district for 28 years. She is now Dr. John Scott ’79, B.S. biology, and breathing machines. These Texas, as well as Ruidoso, N.M., law. After attending law school, holds a D.O. of osteopathic manager for operations and strategic a kindergarten teacher at Logos 50s items were all donated to the local with her husband, Greg ’72, B.B.A. she specialized in criminal law, medicine and an M.H.A. in initiatives at Texas Instruments Preparatory Academy in Sugar Land. hospital and clinic. V.J. and Cheryl accounting, who also holds family law and mediation for 20 health administration and is in Dallas. He and his wife, Judy Teri and her husband, Chester, have Mike Clark ’58, B.S. geology, was live in Port Neches. an M.P.A. years. Judge Landry also taught in the chief marketing officer and (Henderson) ’78, B.S. art, live two grandchildren, and they live recognized as “Mongol Nation’s the Criminal Justice Departments chairman of the board of All Care in Plano. in Richmond. Most Distinguished Geologist” and Cathy (French) Schmersahl ’67, Randy Gould ’73, B.B.A. at both Texas State University and Physicians Group. He is also an received a medal for geological B.A. history, holds a master’s degree accounting, is a retired senior University of Texas-San Antonio. She anesthesiologist. He and his wife, Rick Lemanski -81, is president of Johnny Spell ’85, B.S. chemical work he did for the Mongolian in interdisciplinary studies and finance manager of University of and her husband, John, live in Loucille, live in Keller. RJL Senior Services, and he lives in engineering, is plant manager at government. This is an especially is retired from teaching for Rains Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. San Marcos. Saint Clair Shores, Mich. Motiva Enterprises and lives in high honor for a foreigner to school district in Emory. She and her He has two adult children, Lauren Nederland with his wife, Lorrie. receive. Mike is retired and lives in husband, Dennis, live in Fort Worth. and Jonathan, and he lives in Bill Macatee ’78, B.S. speech, was Mel Wright Jr. ’81, B.B.A. Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. League City. the speaker for an LU Digital Alumni 80s management, is president of Doneane Beckcom ’86, B.M. Bill Stoehs ’67, B.B.A. management, and Friends Gathering via Facebook Wright’s Scrap Metals and served music education, ’09, M.Ed. Hershel Parker ’59, B.A. English, holds an M.B.A. business ’74, B.S. biology, Live on March 31, 2020. Bill was on the board of directors of administration, is an attorney and Dr. Purvis Harper ’80, also holds a Ph.D., is a published administration, and is retired after ’74, B.S. chemistry, retired after named a Distinguished Alumnus in Phyliss LaLonde-Solcher the Institute of Scrap Recycling has been the program director for B.B.A. marketing, is a realtor in San author and Pulitzer Prize winning serving as director and president serving as a pediatrician at Texas 2011 and gave the Commencement Industries for the 2018-2019 term. the Paralegal Studies Program at Antonio with JB Goodwin Realtors. finalist for his biography of Herman at Sprint Corp., AT&T Broadband, Children’s Hospital. He and his wife, Address to the LU Class of 2014. He lives in Beaumont with his Lamar State College Port Arthur She lives in Mico on Medina Lake Melville. He edited the Library of and CommSearch Associates. He Lynn, live in Kingwood. For the past 30 years, Bill has been wife, Neysa. since 2017. She teaches classes that We hope you enjoy reading with her husband, Scott. America volume, Herman Melville: served as a captain in the U.S. Navy a prominent network television lead to the Associate of Science about former classmates. Complete Poems in honor of Reserve. He and his wife, Catherine, ’75, B.S. chemistry, broadcaster who has anchored ’82, B.S. health in paralegal studies degree and David Smith ’80, B.S. civil Marc Keith Melville’s bicentennial in 2019. live in Hudson, Fla. is retired from working as a coverage of prestigious events such Sina Nejad and physical education, ’09, teaches classes in the General If you have news to share—a engineering, ’81, M.E. civil Parker is considered by some to be safety specialist at BASF chemical as The Olympics, The Masters, The Ed.D. educational leadership, Education Department in the engineering, ’15, D.Eng. civil position announcement, the most important Melville scholar ’68, B.S. government, is company. He and his wife, Regina, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, as is superintendent of Tarkington Criminal Justice Program that lead Jack Wilson engineering, was reappointed to of all time. He lives in Morro retired and lives in Lago Vista. live in Warren. well as network play-by-play of the school district in Cleveland. He and to the Associate of Applied Science the Texas Board of Professional milestone, achievement, Bay, Calif. National Football League. In October his wife, ’85, B.S. degree in criminal justice. Doneane Engineers and Land Surveyors, Kim (Cameron) ’69, B.S. ’76, B.S. music- 2018, he was inducted into the kinesiology, live in Cleveland. also practices law part time in and wedding, baby—or know the Barbara Croxton Michael Anders an appointment announced by elementary education, was featured vocals, ’79, M.M. music literature Texas Golf Hall of Fame, receiving around Jefferson County. She and Gov. Greg Abbott Jan. 10, 2020, whereabouts of a lost alumnus, for her volunteerism at the and vocal performance, holds a a Lifetime Achievement Award. In ’82, her husband, Randy, live in to expire Sept. 26, 2025. Sina is Billie Jean (Foster) Wallace Longview World of Wonders Hands Ph.D. in music history and retired addition to his career in media, he B.B.A. finance, is the banking center Port Arthur. we want to hear from you. 60s the first engineer from Southeast on Discovery children’s museum, as professor of music and chair has worked in the investment world manager II at Texas First Bank in Texas appointed to the Board of where she has met other LU alumni. of the Visual & Performing Arts in mid-market private equity since Kemah. She lives in Bacliff with her ’86, B.S. Gerald Duff ’61, B.A. English, also Professional Engineers and Land Cindy (Wall) Carlin Barbara is a retired sixth grade Department at the University of 2013. He served as a trustee for the husband, Bill. elementary education, is a certified has an M.A. and Ph.D. in English Surveyors, which he considers to be science teacher in Springhill school Findlay in Ohio after a 35-year Lamar University Foundation from tumor registrar at Baylor St. Luke’s and was inducted into the Texas a great honor. There are more than SEND US YOUR NEWS: district. Her husband, ’71, B.S. tenure. He is emeritus professor of 2016-2019. Bill lives in Dallas with ’83, B.S. chemical Medical Center in Houston. She lives Literary Hall of Fame in March 2019 Dick 65,000 practicing engineers in the Steve Solis mechanical engineering, is a retired music and producer of the Donnell his wife, Sonya, and has a engineering, is owner and CEO in League City. Cardinal Cadence by the Friends of the Fort Worth state of Texas and out of those, only physics teacher, having taught at Broadway Concert Series at the daughter, Cait. of SDS Solutions, which offers Public Library. Gerald has taught six engineers serve on the board. P.O. Box 10011 Sabine Pass High School. They live University of Findlay. In May 2018, consultation services to the The Smyrna Business Association at many interesting places during Sina, who founded Sigma Engineers in Longview. he was inducted into the 5th/3rd ’78, B.B.A. finance, petrochemical industry. He has (SBA) awarded the 2018 Small Beaumont, TX 77710 his career, including University Bart Simmons in Beaumont 27 years ago, serves as Bank Findlay/Hancock County ’79, M.B.A. business administration, more than 36 years of experience Business Person of the Year to of Exeter, Vanderbilt University, president of Sigma Engineers and Performing Arts Wall of Fame at the and his sons, Trent and Andrew, in the chemicals industry in areas ’86, B.S. e-mail [email protected] Johns Hopkins University, Oxford chair of the board. He is a structural Joseph Malbrough Marathon Center for the Performing own 2S Ranch and The Provision that include project management, communication, where he has University, Rhodes College and engineer licensed to practice in or call (409) 880-8921 Arts. He and his wife, Denise, live House in North Texas. The Provision process design, construction, owned a Smyrna, Ga., UPS store Goucher College. He lives in 70s Texas and the Province of Alberta, in Findlay. House is a store specializing in operations, maintenance/reliability, since 2004. The award recognizes Lebanon, Ill. with his wife, Patricia. Canada, and an excepted engineer grass-fed, grass-finished local beef. and environmental health and Joseph for his leadership and Susan (Allbritton) DeWolfe ’71, approved to practice architecture ’77, B.S. The Simmons family also own a safety compliance. He and his wife, volunteer service in the Smyrna Edgar Metcalf ’61, B.S. electrical B.S. speech, is a senior English George Bowden in Texas, one of only 20 in the communication, holds an M.A. in ranch in Pecos, near Big Bend. ’83, B.S. elementary community. He founded the Smyrna engineering, is retired after having teacher at South Houston High state. He serves on the College of Lisa (Drago) journalism and co-authored, “One Bart and his wife, education, live in Lake Jackson. Business Expo, which supports the served as an environment and safety School of Pasadena school district. Martye (Sculley) Engineering Foundation and the Company’s Quest for Quality: From ’78, B.B.A. accounting, have been SBA’s annual Scholarship Awards manager at Occidental Oil and Gas She retired from Child Protective college’s advisory board. Sina’s wife, Baldridge to Lean Six Sigma,” a married since 1978 and have three ’84, kinesiology, is program. Joseph has also served in Bakersfield, Calif., where he lives Services after serving as a substitute Soheila, serves as the chief financial Rudy Land YOU & LU case study for a public relations children and several grandchildren. a coach and physical education as an ambassador for the Cobb A lifelong relationship. with his wife, Earlyne. care supervisor. Susan started the officer of Sigma Engineers. They textbook, Cases in Public Relations. teacher at Lake Belton Middle Chamber of Commerce and a team Texas Coalition for the Prevention have two adult children, Amir and Additionally, he co-authored, ’79, B.S. nursing, is the School in Temple. His wife, captain for the Atlanta Super Bowl David Shepherd ’63, B.S. biology, of Child Abuse and the Habitat for Rita Davis Layla, and live in Beaumont. holds master’s and doctorate Humanity-based project in Victoria. “Asset Management: Front Page director of nursing at Oak Grove Jennifer, is chief financial officer 53 volunteer program. He and his or Front and Center” for the Nursing Home. In 2019, she was of the school district. They live in wife, Cara, live in Smyrna with their degrees in radiation physiology, She and her late husband have five ’80, B.B.A. The Office of Nov. 2018 issue of Texas WET honored as the Arthur E. Stillwell Jimmy Sciarillo Nolanville and have two daughters, two sons, Evan and Jared. and taught biology, archaeology children and seven grandchildren accounting, retired after serving as Magazine, a publication of the Water Award recipient at the 119th Greater Gracelyn and Allena. Alumni Affairs and paleontology for 28 years at whom she enjoys spending time an accountant at ExxonMobil Corp. Environment Association of Texas. Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce ’86, M.Eng. engineering Southeastern Louisiana University. with. When she is not working, she in Spring. He lives with his wife, John Via III is your connection. George lives in Granbury with his annual banquet. The award is ’84, B.S. science, holds an Eng.D. in He served as faculty advisor and does freelance writing and is active Tammy, in Spring. Maria (Villegas) Mercado coach for the SLU Rugby Club. He at her church. Susan lives wife, Kimberly. presented to individuals who display graphic design, holds an M.Ed. engineering, and is a teaching the forethought and vision of Port in special education, and is a real professor in the Department of Update your information so and his wife, Cathy, now live in in Pearland. ’80, B.S. mechanical ’77, B.S. biology, also Arthur’s founder and who work Randy Still estate agent for NB Elite Realty in Engineering Management at Drexel Kerrville. Dallari Landry engineering, retired in 2019 after holds a J.D. and is the presiding toward making the city a better Houston. She lives in Beaumont University in Drexel, Pa. He was we can keep you up-to-date Elaine (Litchfield) Wilmore ’72, working as an account executive at judge of San Marcos Municipal place for residents and businesses. with her husband, Marc. named to the Circle of Distinction V.J. Harper II ’64, B.B.A. general B.S. elementary education, ’74, Entergy Texas. His wife, on what’s happening at the Court, a position she was sworn into She and her husband, Barry, live Maridale of the College of Engineering at business, and his wife, Cheryl, M.Ed. supervision, earned a Ph.D. ’79, B.B.A. marketing, Nov. 1, 2018. Upon graduating from in Groves. (Adams) ’84, B.S. electrical Drexel, an award that recognizes university, invite you to special served on mission trips through in educational administration from ’12, M.Ed. educational technology Michael Walker LU, she worked at the Gulf Refinery engineering, retired after a career distinguished alumni for their their church, The Temple in Port Texas A&M University, and she is leadership, ’17, Ed.D. educational events and make sure you get in their lab for a year before training ’79, B.S. health in engineering, most of which was significant contributions to the Arthur, in June and November 2018 a professor at the University of Byron Hildebrand leadership, is a distance learning as a forensic scientist with the and physical education, who holds spent at Lockheed Martin in Grand field of engineering and exemplary access to all of the perks of in the area of San Blas, Nayarit, on Texas of the Permian Basin. In adjunct professor in educational Jefferson County Regional Crime an M.S. in mid-management school Prairie. He lives in Burleson with his support for the college and the the Pacific side of Mexico, bringing addition to teaching, she has been leadership at LU. They live Lab. After five years of processing administration, is a retired high wife, Regina. university. John also serves as being a Cardinal. medical and other equipment a counselor and a principal. In in Beaumont. including hospital beds, a piano, Feb. 2019, her fifteenth book was crime scenes, analyzing evidence school math teacher and was the a trustee for the University of submitted by law enforcement, state president of the Association of ’85, Virginia’s School of Engineering, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, published by Corwin Press where ’81, B.S. criminal Teresa “Teri” (Waldrop) Nunez testifying as an expert witness and Texas Professional Educators from Kenny Birkes B.S. elementary education, retired where he received a B.S. in chemical canes, bedside toilets, oxygen she is on the Corwin Best Seller justice, is a technical information lamar.edu/alumni List and the Corwin Million Dollar working with local government, 2018-2019. He lives in San Antonio after teaching in Fort Bend school engineering. He lives in Drexel, Pa., with his wife, Kim.

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and has two grown children, Laura Invista in Orange. He and his wife, year. This voluntary alumni position district in the state. Mark lives specialist at HyperQuest. He lives counseling and is a counselor at Jim Largent ’87, B.S. physical After School Special: The Lamar and Jason. education, holds an M.Ed. in Terrilynn, live in Port Arthur. serves as a regional advisor for in Hillsboro, Ore., with his in Nederland and has a daughter ABC Counseling in Bridge City, a the Sigma Nu Collegiate Chapters. wife, Beverly. named Macy. private practice she opened in 2014. University Second Juried Alumni administration and an Ed.D. in —Lamar University ’87, B.B.A. general ’89, B.F.A. graphic Chris has been actively involved in She and her husband, Robert, live in Art Exhibition Tracy Cormier educational leadership, and retired Rebecca Cawley showcased original works of art of its business, is the managing director design, holds an M.S. in project the fraternity ever since his time in ’93, B.A. history and ’94, Bridge City. as superintendent of Granbury Jeff McKinnon Stephanie (Hendrick) Ling alumni at the Dishman Art Museum in of financial services for the City of management, and is a graphic the Zeta Psi Chapter at LU. During B.A. Spanish, ’00, M.Ed. counseling B.F.A. graphic design, ’07, M.Ed. school district in August 2018. He an exhibition last June. Desoto. He lives in Grand Prairie now owns Largent Consulting and design teacher at Wagner High Hurricane Harvey, Chris went and development, is a student data school administration, is the interim Sherri (Calvin) Henry ’97, B.S. with his wife, Romona. serves as an educational consultant. School in San Antonio. She lives in above and beyond by personally manager for Nederland school principal of Fehl-Price Elementary health education, holds a master’s 1. Gonzalo Alverez ’17, Cathy Spence ’98, Clint New Braunfels. contacting chapter leaders inquiring district. He lives in Port Neches with School in Beaumont. Her husband, degree in counseling and a He and his wife, Jeri, who’s an Willour (Juror), Audra LaCour ’16, Elizabeth ’87, B.B.A. about the health and safety of their his wife, Brooke. ’90, B.B.A. finance, is a doctorate in education and is Eileen (Hall) Law Cure educational diagnostician, live Timothy Fontenot ’13 and Ken Mazzu ’92 accounting, married her husband, in Granbury, and they have two Charles Colvin ’89, B.S. psychology, members, despite being impacted by financial analyst at Christus Health assistant principal of Beasley John, in 2018. She is president children–Justin and Jaci. ’11, M.Ed. administration, is the the flooding himself. Chris lives with Shawn Oubre ’93, B.A.A.S. applied Foundation of Southeast Texas. They Elementary School in Lamar of Cure and Associates, P.C., interim principal of Pathways his wife, Amy, in Kingwood. arts and sciences, ’02, M.P.A. live in Beaumont. consolidated school district. She Art of Transitions in Leadership—LU formerly named Eileen H. Law, Learning Center in Beaumont, where public administration, holds a and her husband, Herbert ’98, B.S. Gary Martel ’87, B.S. kinesiology, partnered with the Greater Beaumont CPA, P.C., and a financial advisor holds an M.Ed. in mid-management he lives with his wife, Sakeia. Antionette Kelly ’91, B.S. Ph.D. in public policy and public Donna (Powell) Prudhomme ’94, communication, live in Richmond. Chamber of Commerce to offer a at Premiere Wealth & Retirement and is the superintendent of Moody psychology, was a cast member administration and is the city B.S. criminal justice, holds an M.Ed. professional development event for alumni Management, LLC. She and John live school district. Throughout his 33- Thomas “Greg” Hutchins ’89, of Hairspray at Port Arthur Little manager for the City of Woodway and E.D. and is the director of Leslie Laguna ’98, B.S. family and and area business professionals last July. in Montgomery, and she has year tenure, Gary has served as a B.B.A. accounting, was promoted in Theatre, which ran from July 27- after serving as city manager of career and technical education for consumer sciences, works for Child an adult son, James. bus driver, taught science, coached July 2018 to chief financial officer of Aug. 12, 2018. In August 2019, she Orange for 13 years. He and his Beaumont school district, where she Protective Services. In 2019, she 2. Pam Young, Heather Champion ’10 and football, been an assistant principal Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, was nominated for the Beaumont wife, Roxanne, live in Woodway. lives with her husband, Michael. received the Ramiro Hernandez Jeff Spoeri, associate vice president of David Ellison ’87, B.S. industrial and principal, and worked his where he lives. Greg has worked for Community Players Sallye Awards Excellence in Mentoring Award University Advancement technology, holds an M.Ed. in way to the role of superintendent. Goodwill for more than 20 years, for the Best Featured Actress in a Kim Redmon ’93, B.S.W. social Paula Hood ’95, M.Ed. counseling from the Department of Family and administration, and is retired, having served as CFO of Goodwill play. Antionette is a case manager work, holds a master’s degree in and development, is the director of Protective Services at their annual He and his wife, Susie, a fellow —Lamar State having previously worked at Devil Industries of Southeast Texas and for Boys’ Haven of America in theology, is a licensed social worker the Paul Brown Learning Center of awards ceremony in Austin. Leslie Class of 1969 Reunion educator, have been married for 35 College of Technology graduates of the Class Dog Guns, also known as Perro de Southwest Louisiana before moving Beaumont, where she lives. and lives in Beaumont. Beaumont school district, and she lives in Orange. years, and they have two daughters, of 1969 gathered last November to celebrate Dibalo. He lives in La Joya. to Fort Worth. lives in Beaumont. Kendal and Kayla, and two the 50th anniversary of their graduation. grandchildren. They live in Oglesby. Winton “Jay” Webster ’91, B.A. Calvin Rice ’93, B.S. sociology, Stoney Sanders ’98, B.B.A. finance, Kristi (Hobson) Knauth ’87, B.S. Charles Jameson ’89, B.S. electrical history, also holds a J.D., and is a holds a master’s degree, and is Bryan Murley ’95, B.S. is a technical account manager 3. Paula (Tate) O’Neal ’69, ’79, and Linda speech, ’04, M.Ed. elementary engineering, who also holds an judge in the Texas Office of Court principal of South Park Middle communication, holds an M.A. at Abacus Technical Services in Wade Armer ’89, B.S. mathematical (Tipton) Matcek ’69 education, is a second-grade teacher sciences, ’90, B.S. secondary M.B.A., is a senior project manager Administration Child Support Court, School in Beaumont. His wife, in communication, and has Plano, where he lives with his wife, at Sour Lake Elementary School in education, ’92, M.S. mathematics, at McDermott International in presiding over regions 2 and 10. He Nikisha (Colbert) ’02, B.A. been teaching journalism and Monica. Hardin Jefferson school district. Her is vice president of engineering at Houston. He lives with his wife, lives in Lumberton with his psychology, is a realtor at Coldwell communication courses at Eastern LU Alumni Homecoming husband, Pat ’87, B.A. psychology, Ohmstede Ltd. in Beaumont, and he Cindy, in Sugar Land. wife, Kelly. Banker Southern Homes Real Estate, Illinois University in Charleston, Ill., Melissa Cessac ’99, B.B.A. Pre-Game Party—Alumni gathered to is an attorney with the district lives in Hemphill. and they live in Sour Lake. since 2007. He lives in Charleston. marketing, is a nun with the Sisters celebrate homecoming during a pre-game attorney’s office in Jefferson County. Liz (Soliz) Mayfield ’89, B.S. Dana (Woods) Williams ’91, B.B.A. of Divine Providence of Texas in San party before the LU vs. SFA football game They live in Beaumont. elementary education, is a dyslexia/ general business, holds a J.D., and ’93, B.B.A. ’96, B.S. mechanical Antonio, where she lives. James Arnett ’89, B.S. secondary Theron Williams Clay Naiser last September. education, ’01, M.Ed. educational reading specialist at Hamshire- is a trial attorney at The Williams marketing, started his own auto engineering, also holds an M.B.A. Dana (Henderson) Kyler ’87, B.S. administration, retired after serving Fannett Intermediate School, and Firm, P.C. Her husband, Theron appraisal business called Expert and is a reliability and mechanical Bonnie Loiodice ’99, B.S.W. social 4. Jacquelyn Foreman ’80, Glenn Foreman, C.L. nursing, left her job as a NICU nurse as principal of Groves Middle she lives in Groves. ’93, B.B.A. marketing, is co-owner/ Appraisal Group. His wife, Dana engineering manager at Shell Oil work, holds an M.S.W., and retired Ross ’83, Annette Beard ’84 and current student at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital to diminished value specialist at Expert ’91, B.B.A. general Co. in Deer Park. He and his wife, in 2019 from her position as social School. He and his wife, Rhonda (Woods) Shane Foreman focus her time on her family and Appraisal Group. They live business-law, also holds a J.D. and is Shelley, live in Pearland. work instructor and title IV-e (Kuebodeaux) ’85, A.A.S. nursing, being a travel agent specializing live in Bridge City, and have two in Livingston. a trial attorney at The Williams Firm, coordinator at Lamar University. She in all things Disney and Universal PC. They live in Livingston. ’97, B.S. lives in Beaumont with her ’99, B.S. criminal grown children, Ashley ’04, B.S. 90s Angelic (Landry) Guillory Earl Morrison Orlando. Dana and her husband, ’92, B.S. criminal interdisciplinary studies, ’10, M.Ed. husband, Larry. political science, and Christopher Mark Pierce justice, holds a master’s degree in Price, became grandparents when justice, was named security ’94, B.B.A. administration, is assistant principal criminal justice and lives with his ’15, B.S. environmental science. Chris Graham ’90, B.S. computer Randal Broxton her daughter, Lauren, and her science, works as an engineer for operations manager for the Tualatin finance, is an insurance inspector at at Lakeview Elementary School in Amy (Ellender) Moore ’99, B.S. wife, Penny, and their four children husband, ’17, B.S. Hills Park and Recreation District in Information Providers and lives in Port Arthur. She lives in Nederland chemical engineering, ’02, M.B.A., Travis Miller Craig Bailey Sr. ’89, A.A.S. ExxonMobil in Spring. Sigma Nu in Ada, Okla. He is a compliance mechanical engineering, welcomed computer drafting technology, ’97, Fraternity awarded him with Sigma Beaverton, Ore. The district serves Houston with his wife, Cynthia. with her husband, Charles. is a polyethylene business manager manager for CLEET-Council on Law their son, Kolson Nash. Dana lives A.A.S. process operating technology, Nu’s Division Commander of the a population of more than 250,000 at Westlake Chemical in Houston, Enforcement Education in Groves. is a production coordinator at Year for the 2017-2018 academic and is the largest special parks Tony Landry ’94, B.B.A. personnel Jill (Chandler) Hazlip-Freeman where she lives with her husband, and Training. administration, is a material damage ’97, B.S. psychology, holds a Mike, and their daughter, Lauren. master’s degree in professional

technology leadership, ’14, Ed.D. certified in Personal Injury Trial School in College Station school Gina (Blinkenberg) Tilker ’99, Dottie (McIntyre) LeBlanc ’02, B.S. Melissa (Huynh) Conrad ’04, B.S. Marcus Ray ’04, B.S. computer and Katie Holmes ’06, B.B.A. marketing B.B.A. marketing, is a development communication, is an associate at industrial engineering, is a web information sciences, is a cloud and B.B.A. human resource educational leadership, works at the Law by the Texas Board of Legal district, and he lives in coordinator in the College of IDLife and founder and CEO of developer at Mor Furniture and operations engineer at OVHS US in management, ’11, B.S. nursing, University of Houston-Downtown Specialization, a certification only College Station. Business at UT Arlington. She lives Element 4 Fitness, an online health, lives in Frisco with her Dallas, and he lives in Little Elm. earned her M.S. in nursing to serve as the assistant dean of the College 1% of attorneys licensed to practice in Arlington with her fitness and nutrition company. She husband, Nathaniel. as a family nurse practitioner. She of Public Service in advising, law in the State of Texas hold. Cody Ginger (Childree) Lumpkin ’10, recruitment and retention. His and his wife, ’11, B.S. B.A. history, is a distance learning husband, Mark. coaches women through exercise Maura Sullivan ’04, B.G.S. general works in outpatient surgery at Julia (Tran) wife, ’08, B.S. nursing, live in Beaumont. Spanish teacher for Region 5 and nutrition. Dottie and her Michael Crawford ’04, B.B.A. studies, holds an M.S. in medicine- Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas. Belashia (Johnson) husband, Matt, live in management information systems, physician assistant, and works as a She lives in Orange. communication, holds a J.D. and Education Service Center in New Braunfels. is a project controls manager at physician’s assistant at Ascension is a principal injury attorney and Tamara (Hobbes) Grumbles ’09, Beaumont. She and her husband, certified mediator at The Wallace B.A.A.S. applied arts and sciences, is Caleb, live in Port Neches. 00s B&E Resources in Buna and lives in Health Care/Borgess Medical Center Brenda (Morgan) Richmond ’06, Law Firm, PLLC. They live a training coordinator at Controlled Carmen Morgan ’02, B.S. criminal Lumberton with his wife, Audrey. in Kalamazoo, Mich. She lives in B.A.A.S. applied arts and sciences, in Humble. Fluids in Beaumont. She lives in ’10, B.A.A.S. applied ’01, justice, is a second-grade teacher at Portage, Mich., with her is the director of management Ashli Stinnett Brenda (Bowling) Bedair Nederland with her husband, Scott. arts and sciences, is a paralegal at B.B.A. accounting, retired after Sallie Curtis Elementary School in Arthur Ferris ’04, B.M. music husband, Dennis. information systems for Austin ’08, B.G.S. general Reid Collins & Tsai LLP in Austin, serving as director of accounting Beaumont. She lives in Lumberton. education, is a teacher at Bridge City school district. Since 1996, she has Chris Bates studies, and ’17, ’09, B.B.A. where she lives with her husband, at Lamar State College Orange. She Middle School and lives in Michael Andrews ’05, is a battery/ worked in education technology, Ariana (Jones) Pinkee (Patel) Harley B.S. communication-broadcasting, finance and economics, ’10, M.B.A., Adam Durke. and her husband, Michael, live Santosh Tiruvan ’02, M.S. computer Bridge City. project engineer at NASA, and he and in March 2019, she received a married in July 2019. Chris is the is a financial advisor trainee at in Orangefield. science, ’03, M.Ed. secondary lives in League City. Commitment to Excellence finalist constable for Precinct 2, where Edward Jones. Her husband, ’11, M.B.A. business education, is associate vice president Clayton Harrell ’04, B.S. award from the Texas Association of Devin Bo Beaudry he oversees civil and criminal law ’10, B.S. industrial engineering, administration, is the CEO of Cedar ’01, B.S. industrial of enterprise automation at U.S. kinesiology, is the associate Curtis Fitts ’05, B.B.A. management School Business Officials. The award Alex Eppes enforcement. Ariana is a second- ’11, M.B.A., is a financial advisor at Park Regional Medical Center in technology, is president of Bank in Denver, Colo. He lives in director of business development information systems, is a server is one of the highest honors for grade teacher at Travis Elementary Edward Jones in Port Neches. They Cedar Park. He lives in Houston Trade Winds Energy Partners in Aurora, Colo., with his at ACE Sports of ACE Sign Co. in systems manager for Zachry those working in school business. School in the Port Arthur school live in Nederland. with his wife, Jessica, and their Lumberton, where he lives. wife, Zareena. Little Rock, Ark., and he lives in Industrial. His wife, Kathrin Brenda and her husband, Roger district. In February 2020, she was daughter, Kendall, who was born in Springdale, Ark. (Nikitina) ’05, B.B.A. management ’85, B.B.A. finance, live in Austin. named the school’s “Rookie of the ’09, B.S. summer 2019. ’01, B.B.A. general Amber (Clark) Arcana ’03, B.S. information systems, works as a Their daughter, Kaylea (Richmond) Felicia McAdams Elizabeth Ford Year.” They live in Port Arthur. psychology, ’11, M.Ed. counseling business, is assistant director of family and consumer sciences– Daphne Jones ’04, B.A. programmer/SharePoint developer Deason ’11, A.A.S. nursing, son-in- and development, holds an Ed.D. ’11, B.S. biology, human resources-support services family studies, holds an M.S.W. in psychology, ’13, M.Ed. counseling for Ohmstede Ltd. They live law, Gus ’09, B.B.A. accounting, and China Burks ’08, B.A. in developmental educational holds an M.L.S., is a public services for Cypress Fairbanks school district, social work and works in business and development, is a licensed in Beaumont. Roger’s parents, Bettye (Dawson) Amber (Barnes) Elrod music education, is the director of administration and is the director librarian at Lamar State College and she lives in Manvel. development at the STI Group. She professional therapist at Spindletop ’46, A.A. general studies, and bands at Lincoln Middle School in of advising and counseling in Orange, and lives in Orange. and her husband, John, live Center and lives in Beaumont. Shannon Holmes ’05, M.Ed. Earl ’53, B.S. health and physical El Paso, where she lives with her the College of Pharmacy and ’01, B.B.A. finance, in Lumberton. school administration, ’11, education, are all LU alumni. Brenda Joel Foxworth husband, Cullen. Health Science at Texas Southern ’11, B.S. family ’03, M.B.A., is the regional president Rachell Jones ’04, B.S. psychology, Ed.D. educational leadership, credits their LU education for Briana (Gattis) University. She previously served as and consumer science-food for the Beaumont market of Third Jody (Jeffus) Luedde ’03, B.G.S. ’08, M.S. community psychology, is the executive director at the preparing them all for ’08, B.M. music director of academic advising and nutrition, works as a health coach Coast Bank. In 2018, he was general studies, ’13, M.Ed. school holds a Ph.D. in psychology, is a Association of Texas Professional successful futures. Kyle Leyendecker education, is a teacher and band retention at Lamar State College Port for CareHere. Her husband, recognized as part of Banking counseling, is a school counselor at research psychologist and lives Educators based out of Austin. Trace director at Lakeview Elementary Arthur. Felicia lives in Houston. ’13, B.S. exercise science and Exchange’s 20 Under 40 Awards of Decker Prairie Elementary School in Killeen. His wife, Melissa (Baker) ’95, B.S. Rachel (Martinez) Sexton ’06, is a Baker School in Port Arthur. He lives fitness management, is a recruiter up-and-coming leaders in banking. in Tomball. She and her husband, interdisciplinary studies, is co-owner preschool teacher at Learning Hands in Nederland. ’09, B.S. training specialist for Outsource. He and his wife, Todd, live in Pinehurst. Rene (Slott) Latiolais ’04, B.S. of The Gourmet Cupboard, and they Preschool in Nederland at Hillcrest Brian Roberson II Michelle (Wolfe) communication, ’10, M.Ed. They live in Red Oak with their ’04, B.S. interdisciplinary studies, corporate communication, is live in Sour Lake. Baptist Church. She and her ’08, educational technology leadership, son, Holden. live in Sour Lake with their children. Karl Nowotny ’03, B.S. physics, the director communication/ husband, Cody, live in Port Neches. Michelle (Dodson) Messina B.A. history, and her husband, Mark, was named the Texas Council of is an exercise planner at General partners in education in the Brian Shajari ’05, B.S. criminal have one-year-old twin girls, Charlie Alpha Chapters district secretary in ’11, M.Ed. ’01, B.S. Dynamics Information Technology Nederland school district. She was justice, is the director of business Chris Araj ’07, B.S. communication Scott Doring Leslie (Prejean) Solis Mae and Mary Lois. They live 2019. In Jan. 2020, he was named administration, is the principal chemistry, works as a chemist for and lives in San Antonio with his named a Paul Harris Fellow by development for the American disorders, holds an Au.D., and was in Spring. the Houston Area Alliance of Black of Collins Intermediate School in Valero Energy Corp. at the Port wife, Christy (Harper) ’02, the Rotary Foundation of Rotary Bureau of Shipping, Beaumont/Port named a 2018 Jerger Future Leader School Educators Assistant Principal Corsicana school district, where he Arthur Refinery. In 2018, she was B.A. English. International in 2018, nominated Arthur area, working with maritime of Audiology by the American ’08, B.S. of the Year. Brian is the ninth-grade lives with his wife, Evelyn. They named the Valero Volunteer of the by the Spindletop Rotary Club cybersecurity engineering. He also Academy of Audiology. Chris is the Edgar Thompson management information systems, assistant principal at Furr High have two sons, Brett and Bray. Year in which she received $1,000 Wayne Talbot ’03, B.B.A. finance, in appreciation of tangible and serves on the board of directors for founder and owner of Pearland is an IT support specialist for the School in Houston. He and his wife, to donate to a charity. She donated is a CPA working for CARBO significant assistance given for the the Beaumont Heritage Society and Hearing Aids & Audiology, an Jefferson County District Attorney’s Jocquelyn, live in Houston with their ’11, B.S. nursing, the funds to St. Jude in memory of Ceramics in New Iberia, La., after furtherance of better understanding lives in Beaumont. independent private audiology Katelyn Hartman Office. He lives in Beaumont. two sons, Brian and William. also has an M.S.N. nursing and is an Austyn Halter. She and her husband, having spent most of his career in and friendly relations among practice in the Houston area. He is RN at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast ’00, B.G.S. general studies, the banking industry. He lives in peoples of the world. Her husband, Cody Tunstall ’05, B.S. also a past president of the Texas Steve ’09, B.S. ’09, B.S. computer Texas in the Emergency Services live in Port Neches. Erath, La. Toby ’10, M.Ed. administration, is kinesiology, ’10, M.Ed. educational Academy of Audiology. He lives in Laura Terry-Brown Jake Truncale principal of Langham Elementary administration, is assistant principal Friendswood with his wife, Rund, interdisciplinary studies, holds an science, and Joanna (Morgan) ’11, Department. She was recognized M.Ed. in educational leadership B.S. communication, had a son, Fox in 2019 as a Baptist Way Award ’01, B.S. mechanical Austin Williams ’03, B.B.A. finance, School in Nederland. Rene and Toby of Southside Elementary School in and their son, Andrew. Trent Stelly and is the seventh-grade assistant Ronan, in August 2018. Jake is an recipient. Katelyn lives in Silsbee. engineering, is a control systems is president of 5 Under Golf Center. live in Port Neches with their two Palestine school district where he principal at Ridgeview Middle electrical engineer at Total refinery. engineer at Fluor for various clients He and his wife, Nicole (Lajudes) daughters, Ella and Macy. lives with his wife, Charlie. Judy (Alvarado) Brodeur ’07, School in Round Rock school The family lives in Beaumont. ’11, B.S. on energy and chemical projects ’13, live in Beaumont. B.S. health education, is a certified April (Parnell) Hughes district. She and her husband, Rob, interdisciplinary studies, is a sixth- around the world, a position he Todd Patterson ’04, B.M. music Tina (Corfield) Dierschke ’06, teacher’s aide and her husband, live in Round Rock with their one- grade reading teacher at South began in January 2002 shortly after Jay Wise ’03, B.S. physics, holds an education, is the director of bands B.B.A. accounting, is the director of Norman ’07, B.S. industrial year-old son, Griffin. Elementary School of Breckenridge graduation. He has had several M.S. in health physics and a Ph.D. at Silsbee High School in Silsbee, finance for the City of San Angelo, technology, is an account manager school district. She and her assignments abroad including two in soil science and is a client project where he lives with his wife, Carol. where she lives with her at Pump Energy in Stafford. They 10s ’09, B.S. health husband, John, live in Moran. years in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, manager at Montrose Air Quality husband, Kevin. live in League City. Their son, Nathella Collins education, is a physical education and he is currently working on an Services in Deer Park. He lives Melanie (Bryant) Pharis ’04, B.A. Kyle ’12, B.S. communication, is a Kristen Haynes ’10, M.Ed. teacher at Lincoln Middle School ’11, B.S. industrial assignment in Kazakhstan. When he in Pasadena. history, is the principal of Beaumont Kimberly Doucet ’06, B.A.A.S. digital media producer and owns administration, is assistant principal Caleb Lackey in Port Arthur. She also works as a engineering, is a staff industrial is not traveling for work, he lives in Early College High School in applied arts and sciences, ’14, M.Ed. VisualsAffect in Austin, where at Argyle Intermediate School in tax specialist for NC Tax Services in engineer at Bell Helicopter in Fort Houston with his wife. Lance Baird ’04, B.B.A. marketing, Beaumont where she lives. educational technology leadership, he lives. Argyle, where she lives. is senior manager of environmental works for Texas Health & Human Beaumont, where she lives. Worth. He lives in Arlington with his wife, Courtney. ’01, B.A. health and safety at The Wonderful Jessica (Bres) Prince ’04, B.G.S. Services in the Health and Human Catherine (Stewart) Purser ’07, Gerardo Leal ’10, M.Ed. Lila (Creamer) Stevens ’09, B.B.A. general psychology, also has an M.S.W. in Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, general studies, also holds a master’s Resources Department. She lives B.S.W. social work, holds an M.S.W. Cody Dishon administration, holds an Ed.D. business, is an attorney and partner ’11, M.Ed. social work and is a patient care Calif. He and his wife, Brooke, live degree in public administration and in Austin. and is the mental health director and is the principal of Park Place Jeffrey Mann at Ferguson Law Firm in Beaumont. administration, is the director navigator in the Smart Health Clinic in Bakersfield, Calif. works as the economic resiliency at Jefferson County Correctional Elementary School in Houston, He also owns Dishon Investments, of instruction and leadership at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast planner at the South East Texas Amanda (Cherry) Fry ’06, B.S. Facility. She lives in Silsbee with her where he lives. a real estate business, with his development for College Station Texas. In 2019, she was nominated Eli Clark ’04, B.S. mechanical Regional Planning Commission. She chemical engineering, is a project husband, Delmar. father, Josh Dishon. In January 2019, school district, where he lives. as Baptist Hospitals’ Employee of engineering, works as a reliability also co-owns Gulf Coast Injection manager at Coastal Automation Gary Lucius ’10, M.Ed. Cody became one of the youngest the Year. Lila and her husband, engineer at LyondellBasell in La with her husband, Jay ’19, B.A. Services in Beaumont. She and her Jerry Wallace Jr. ’07, B.F.A. graphic administration, is a teacher and in Texas history to become board Mark, live in Beaumont. Porte, and he lives in Liberty. chemistry and B.S. mechanical husband, Wesley, live in Orange. design, ’10, M.Ed. educational coach at A&M Consolidated High engineering. They live in Beaumont.

High School in Philadelphia, Pa., Canadian Football League, with Capistrano Elementary School in El Shannon (Young) Marsh ’11, Hillary (Dean) ’12, B.B.A. Alex Edgerly ’13, B.S. biology, B.S. nursing, ’18, M.S.N. nursing general business, and ’12, B.B.A. holds a D.D.S. and married his and he lives in Philadelphia. his former team, the Calgary Paso, where he lives. Stampeders. In January 2020, he education, is an instructor in LU’s entrepreneurship, and Jarrod wife, Mallory, in October 2018. He ’14, M.Ed. signed a contract as a wide receiver ’15, M.S. Joanne Gay Dishman School of Daigle ’14, B.S. nursing, have a is a dentist at Edgerly Dentistry in Adrian Foster Hang (Nguyen) Reusch Nursing and an ICU RN at Baptist one-year-old son, Elliot Thomas, and Bridge City. They live in Orange. administration, is principal of Thorp with the Green Bay Packers in the computer science, is a software Hospitals of Southeast Texas. She they live in Apple Springs. High School of Thorp school district NFL. Reggie lives in Beaumont. engineer at Walmart Labs in in Wis., and he lives in Withee, Wis. Bentonville, Ark., where she lives and her husband, Samuel, live in Jennifer (Burris) Gonzalez ’13, ’15, D.Ed. educational with her husband, Justin. Bridge City. Jonathan Durr ’12, B.A. history, M.Ed. administration, is principal of Joshua Coco ’14, B.B.A. leadership, is the executive director and Trifeena (Siga) ’15, M.S. Bonham Pre-K in San Marcos. She Torey (Chevis) Grace marketing, married her husband, of advancement, recruitment, ’15, B.M. music, Tad Miguez ’11, B.G.S. general chemistry, married in Oct. 2018. lives in San Marcos with Kaila Spoonemore Rod, June 30, 2018. She works at communications and outreach at ’17, M.M. music, is a teacher and studies, is a salesperson for Nitro- Jonathan is a financial advisor at her husband, Rudy ’15, Life Technologies. He married his Fine Future Financial, and they live M.Ed. administration. Allstate as a senior unrepresented the University of Miami and lives in assistant band director at Cleveland 1 wife, Lynli, in July 2019, and they in Beaumont. claims analyst and assistant team Miami, Fla. High School, and she lives in lead, and they live in Houston. New Caney. live in Hamshire. Lauren Laudig ’13, B.S. biology, is a ’15, M.S. Wendy Hickman ’12, B.A.A.S. quality manager at Oxbow Calcining Mohamed Elrifae ’14, B.S. industrial mechanical engineering, is a ’16, M.E. industrial Andy Morris ’11, B.B.A. applied arts and sciences, ’14, M.Ed. in Port Arthur, and she lives Matthew Hicks Varun Allam management information systems, educational technology leadership, in Lumberton. technology, holds a master’s degree mechanical engineer at Timken engineering, is a power is a senior solutions lead-strategic is an IT support associate at Lamar in industrial distribution and is a Gears and Services and lives business intelligence developer project and quotations specialist in Houston. at TimePayment and lives in initiatives at Oracle in Austin, where University, and she lives Kayleigh Romero ’13, B.S. he lives with his wife, Emily. in Beaumont. interdisciplinary studies, is an at Summit Electric Supply in San Burlington, Mass., with his eighth-grade math teacher at Antonio. He lives in San Antonio Aaron Fong ’15, M.Ed. wife, Tejaswini. with his wife, Dana. administration, is principal of Bush Marcus Myers ’11, Ed.D. deaf John Large ’12, B.B.A. finance, ’14, Thomas Jefferson Middle School in studies/deaf education, is retired M.S. accounting, is a professor of Port Arthur school district. She lives Elementary School in Midland Brett Brown ’16, B.S. kinesiology, is from teaching at Del Mar College in accounting/general business at San in Beaumont. Lauren (Barbeaud) Hillyer ’14, school district, where he lives. a teacher and coach for Nederland Corpus Christi after 16 years as an Jacinto College and lives in League B.S. communication, is an English school district. His wife, Mallory teacher at Anahuac High School. She ’15, B.B.A. human ’15, B.S. speech and assistant professor of American Sign City with his wife, Katy. Tyler Thomas ’13, B.S. criminal Floyd Hollins (Raborn) Language and interpreting. He now justice, is an account manager at and her husband, Brandon, live in resources management, also holds hearing sciences, ’18, M.S. speech- Wallisville with their two-year-old an M.B.A. He is a business specialist language pathology, is a speech- lives in Austin. Monica (Wenzel) Roberson ’12, Manning’s Office Solutions. He and B.S. exercise science and fitness his wife, Skye, have a two-year-old daughter, Jasper. at FirstEnergy in Houston, and lives language pathologist for the district. in Houston. They live in Nederland. Heather (DeBord) ’11, B.S. nursing, management, and her husband, son, Benjamin Michael (born July ’14, and Will Sanderson ’12, B.S. Thomas, had their second child, 17, 2018), and they live in Silsbee. Taylor (Thurman) McDonald physics, and ’12, B.S. electrical Maisie Kat, in Feb. 2019. They live B.S. speech and hearing sciences, Maritza (Aguilar) Hood ’15, B.S. Latridia Byrd ’16, B.G.S. general ’18, M.Ed. school counseling, is a biology, graduated in August 2018 studies, and ’16, engineering, have a one-year-old, in Beaumont. Cody Thompson ’13, B.B.A. Michael Handy counselor at Van Buren Elementary from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s B.G.S. general studies, have a son, Landry Anne, born in January 2019. management, and Brittany 2 School in Port Neches-Groves. radiation therapy program with the Deuce, born in August 2018, and They have two other daughters as Le’Toria (Webb) Trahan ’12, B.S. (Moore) ’13, B.A.A.S. applied arts well. Heather is a nurse at Memorial psychology, is an academic specialist and sciences, have a one-year- She lives in Nederland with her highest GPA in her program and live in Houston. Hermann Memorial City Medical at Lamar University, responsible for old daughter, Stella Kate. Brittany husband, Jake. received the Outstanding Student Center, and Will is an engineer at BP providing comprehensive academic teaches first grade at Lumberton award. She is a radiation therapist Pristine Carpio ’16, B.B.A. Corp. They live in Katy. support for students. She works Primary School. They live in Silsbee. MariAnne Ortega ’14, B.S. at M.D. Anderson and her husband, management information systems, with students individually and psychology, is a recruiter at Imagen Brandon ’15, B.S. biology, is a is a trust associate at Westwood Technologies based out of New York medical student at University of Holdings Group in Houston, where Wesley Smith ’11, B.S. chemistry, in groups to help them build the Lauren Van Gerven ’13, B.S. holds a doctor of osteopathic necessary skills to succeed at LU. communication-journalism, ’15, City, N.Y., where she lives. Texas-Medical Branch at Galveston. she lives. They live in Houston. medicine degree and completed She and her husband, Treyvon ’15, M.B.A., is a business representative his residency in pediatrics at B.A. history, live in Beaumont. and LMI analyst at Workforce Lee Sanchez ’14, M.Ed. educational Maegan Collins ’16, B.S. political LeBonheur Children’s Hospital/St Solutions Southeast Texas, and she technology leadership, is head Kelsey (Patrick) ’15, B.S. family science, ’18, M.P.A., is an instructor power lifting coach and assistant and consumer sciences-nutrition, of political science at LU. She is Jude Children’s Research Hospital Haden Vyoral ’12, B.S. mechanical lives in Beaumont. in Memphis, Tenn. He is a clinical engineering, is an applications football coach at Alpine High School dietetics, hospitality, and Dalton pursuing a doctorate degree in in Alpine, where he lives. ’18, B.S. mechanical educational leadership, and she lives fellow in pediatrics, hematology engineer at Flowserve and lives in Jonathan May ’13, B.S. Locklear engineering, married Jan. 4, 2020. in Nederland. and oncology at Baylor College Silsbee with his wife, Halee. communication, and Danielle ’14, Kelsey is a territory manager for of Medicine at Texas Children’s (Wiggins) ’18, B.S. nutrition, Breana (Lemaire) Segura B.S. dance, is a dance teacher at Aytu BioScience and Dalton is a ’16, B.B.A. Hospital. He lives in Houston. Bailey Wingate ’12, B.S. political dietetics and hospitality, were Cameren Dennis science, is an attorney at Wingate married in September 2018. Thomas Jefferson Middle School in mechanical engineer at Entegris. accounting, holds an M.B.A. and she Port Arthur. She and her husband, They live in Cedar Park. is an accountant at Apache Corp. Lori (Wenner) Stratton ’11, M.S. Law, PLLC, in Beaumont, and Jonathan is a senior creative nursing education, is a nursing partners with Dean Brinkley of the designer at Broussard’s Print Shop Kane, have a two-year-old son, Jett She lives in Houston. Michael, and live in Port Neches. ’15, B.A. instructor in the Lamar University Brinkley Law Firm, P.C. He lives in Beaumont, and they live Cassie (Hall) Lumpkin 3 JoAnne Gay Dishman School of in Beaumont. in Groves. American Sign Language, ’18, M.S. Rebekah Drummond ’16, B.B.A. Nursing. She married her husband, Patty Stephens ’14, B.S. biology, deaf studies/deaf education, is an retail management and marketing, holds an M.S. in physician assistant American Sign Language teacher ’17, M.B.A., is a solutions advisor Kyle ’83, B.B.A. general business- Stephen Babin ’13, B.S. psychology, Cara (Shrontz) Babino ’14, B.S. —Lamar State College of Technology graduates law, in August 2018. He is the owner is a manager at GNC in Broomfield, nursing, ’18, M.S.N. nursing studies and is a physician assistant at Elkins High School in Fort Bend at Function 4 for Star Graphics in Golden Circle Luncheon at UT Southwestern Medical Center. school district. She lives in Santa Fe Beaumont, where she lives. of the Classes between 1924-1969 gathered last November for a luncheon of Bayou Ventures. She has three Colo., and lives in Broomfield with administration, is an RN at Texas honoring the 50 year+ graduates. daughters, Caitlyn, Jillian and Zoe, his wife, Samantha. The couple were Children’s Hospital. Her husband, She lives in Dallas. with her husband, Cole. ’16, B.S. kinesiology, and they live in Beaumont. married in 2018. Trey ’12, B.S. nursing, is also an RN Collin Gizzi 1. Nathan Bush, Ida (Hirasaki) Bush ’67, Emma (Gonzales) Isleib ’67, and Bruce Isleib ’70 at the hospital. They live Eric Aguilar ’15, B.S. nursing, and Lakshmi Moparthi ’15, M.S. and Kali (Whitlow) ’16, B.S. speech ’16, B.S. speech chemistry, is a validation engineer at and hearing sciences, were married Chris Whitmeyer ’11, B.B.A. Lachell (Williams) Bradley ’13 in Pearland. Johanna (Figlia) Alumni Past President’s Council Luncheon—Past presidents of both general business, is the CFO of B.B.A. management information and hearing sciences, married in Alcon, and she lives in Irvine, Calif. in August 2018. Collin is a U.S. the former Lamar University Alumni Association and the current Lamar July 2018. Johanna is a speech history teacher and coaches football, Whitmeyer’s Distilling Co. in systems, ’15, M.B.A., is an ERP Arpit Bhatt ’14, M.S. chemical University Alumni Advisory Board gathered for lunch last December. Houston, where he lives with his specialist at BASF Agricultural engineering, is a bioenergy process language pathologist at First Steps Ashley Pippins ’15, M.B.A. business basketball and track at Groves 2. Jimmy Booker ’55, ’56, Vernon Durden ’04, Jake Tortorice ’76 and Tamerla Chavis ’83 wife, Monica. Products Group in Beaumont. She analysis engineer at National Early Childhood Intervention of administration, is an HR partner at Middle School, and Kali is a speech- Spindletop MHMR. They live in Sabine River Works, a division of language pathologist at Spindletop married her husband, Leonard ’14, Renewable Energy Laboratory League City. DowDuPont. She and her husband, MMR. They live in Port Neches. —Last November, Lamar University students, Aaron Barnes ’12, B.M. music, ’16, B.S. exercise science and fitness in Golden, Colo., and he lives in Veterans Day Celebration Jarvis, have two young children and faculty, staff and alumni came together for a special luncheon to honor M.Ed. administration, and Hillary management, in May 2019, and he is Arvada, Colo. ’15, B.B.A. live in Beaumont. ’16, M.Eng. Lamar University veterans. (Brown) ’13, B.M. music, welcomed an exercise physiologist at St. Luke’s Reggie Begelton Ravi Gurugubelli general business-industrial mechanical engineering, is a a baby girl in 2019, and they live Medical Center in Houston. They Deneil Christian ’14, M.S. criminal 3. Dr. Larry Rose ’65, who served as a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, gave the engineering, won the Grey Cup, ’15, M.Ed. supply chain analyst at 3S Business in Humble. live in Beaumont. justice, is a business and criminal Christopher Puga keynote address about the value of military service today. justice teacher at Nazareth Academy the championship game for the administration, is the principal at Corporation in Houston, and he lives in Houston.

40 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 41 | CLASS NOTES | Cardinal Emergency Fund by October 2019. She is the store husband, Mark, welcomed their son, Daniel Houston Melissa Hernandez ’16, M.Ed. Lyndsey (Dumesnil) Weaver ’17, special education, is a member manager at Mathews Jewelers- B.S. interdisciplinary studies, is a Andrew Wendel, on Feb. 20, 2019. of a high school social studies Beaumont and Mid County, and they kindergarten teacher in Leander She is an English teacher and cheer live in Beaumont. coach at Port Neches-Groves High instructional support team in school district. Her husband, Kade Northside school district in San ’16, B.S. criminal justice, works School. They live in Nederland. Antonio. She lives in San Antonio. Dave Bennett ’17, B.A.A.S. applied for the Travis County Sheriff’s arts and sciences, is director of Department. They live in Leander. Success Iheagwam ’18, M.S. technology for La Grange school mathematics, is a sustaining Rebecca Higginbotham ’16, district. He and his wife, Tara, live engineer at Intel Corporation in B.B.A. marketing, married Quade Laurel (Rugg) ’17, B.S. family and stands“I had to quickly move allin my things the to pursue hisgap education at Lamar in La Grange. Chandler, Ariz. He lives in Chandler, Robertson ’17, B.S. mechanical consumer sciences-family studies, Ariz., where he and his wife, into storage and leave the U.S.,” said University. The friends he made at LU engineering, in September 2019. and Aaron Zepeda ’19, B.S. She works as a claims supervisor Ryan Blanchette ’17, B.S. nursing, mechanical engineering, married Oluwaseyi, live. Trebbi-Tindall. “It made me feel worried became a big part of his experience. “I for Geico in Katy and Quade is a and Daytona (Brown) ’17, B.S. Jan. 4, 2020, and they live about what may happen in the future was scared that I wouldn’t be able to do nursing, married in July 2018. Ryan Trent McGee ’18, B.M. music mechanical designer for Hanson in Angleton. and how bad this could get.” Trying to my workouts and (would lose) so many Professional Services in the Houston is a pediatric ICU nurse at MD education, is the assistant band Anderson and Daytona is a nurse director in the Fine Arts Department and Gulf Coast area. They live Lydia Alcala-Garcia ’18, B.S. get home after cancelled flights and happy moments with my university in Houston. at Houston Methodist St. John nursing, is a nurse at University of for both Kountze Middle School the risk of going into busy airports and friends,” said Patel. “I was scared of Hospital. They live in Friendswood. Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and Kountze High School, and he oversees percussion instruction for planes while going into a dark place without Dalton Holly ’16, B.B.A. and lives in La Marque. management, ’18, M.B.A., received Jamie (Deaton) Dillon ’17, B.B.A. the KMS and KHS Bands. Trent lives surrounded by social interaction.” human resource management, in Lumberton. his M.B.A. from Lamar University in Jordan Amborn ’18, M.Ed. school married her husband, Jacob, in thousands of The Cardinal Emergency Fund Dec. 2018. He and his wife, Kayla counseling, is a counselor at St. January 2019. She is a human ’18, B.S. studio (Comeaux) ’16, B.B.A. accounting, Aloysius High School of Vicksburg Stephanie Messina people amid stepped in to assist Patel with his fees live in Post. resources staffing coordinator at Catholic School in Vicksburg, Miss., art-education, is an art teacher at the pandemic and some of his expenses. “From India, Wellpath and lives in Beaumont. where she lives. Fehl-Price Elementary School in the Beaumont school district, where was a my father found difficulty in sending Jasmine (Morris) Johnson ’16, ’17, B.S. computer and she lives. B.B.A. management, is a senior Lauren Forse Quandra Baker ’18, M.Ed. clinical he ‘new normal’ concern money, because banks were closed information sciences, is a systems administrative assistant in the mental health counseling, is a caused by the for her and (we had) so many other financial University Testing Center at Texas analyst at Script Care in Beaumont, mental health therapist at Region Rebecca Recco ’18, M.Ed. digital Southern University. She married and she lives in Orange. 8 in Madison/Hinds County in learning and leading, is an art coronavirus as well. problems,” said Patel. “We found teacher at Bret Harte Middle School T Dominique ’14, B.A. chemistry, Canton, Miss. She has taken classes pandemic is something “The difficulty in buying groceries from ’17, M.S. chemistry, in Oakland, Calif., and lives June 30, 2018, who works as a Sahithi Gadde towards a specialist in psychometry- Cardinal stores because we were scared of the lab technician for Saybolt of Core is an analytical quality control diagnostician at Jackson State in Oakland. out of a movie, a scene Laboratories of Nederland. Jasmine chemist at Ascent Pharmaceuticals University, and she lives in Jackson. being played all around the Emergency coronavirus. So it was helpful financially and Dominique have a one-year-old and lives in Central Islip, N.Y. Kelli (Kilchrist) Reddix ’18, B.A.A.S. Fund helped as well as mentally. Thanks again to LU applied arts and sciences, is vice world. As social caution daughter, Jana Angeline, and the Cindy Colichia ’18, B.A.A.S. towards the for helping me in the worst situations, family lives in Missouri City. Deanna Karlson ’17, B.S. nursing, is applied arts and sciences, is the president of education and staffing and facemasks become a school nurse for San Ramon Valley administrative coordinator for the at Advanced Health Education the new way of life, so costs that like the Imelda flood, COVID-19 (as Unified School District in Danville, Center in Houston and lives Courtney Jones ’16, B.S. Texas Academy of Leadership in has struggle and hardship, I ran into well as) giving me my master’s degree.” communication disorders, has a one- Calif., where she lives. Humanities at LU. She and her in Richmond. year-old daughter, Rhyan, and lives husband, Kirk, live in Nederland. which threatens to derail from the Initiated after Hurricane Harvey, in Port Arthur. Dani Sanders ’17, B.S. political Christin Reeves ’18, M.Ed. the plans of those who had coronavirus,” the Cardinal Emergency Fund exists science, is in her last year of law administration, is the principal of Shelby Dryden ’18, B.S. theatre and school at Baylor University. Her Emerson Elementary in the Midland something greater in mind said Trebbi- to make sure students who face Sheldon Lee ’16, B.B.A. marketing, dance, is assistant director of the is pursuing a Master of Science accomplishments in Waco included Beaumont Heritage Society, and she school district, where she lives. for 2020. While laborers, Tindall. “It losses or distress due to unforeseen in sport administration through winning a moot court competition. lives in Vidor. entrepreneurs and healthcare workers helped me be able to ship most of circumstances can continue their Arkansas State University and works Jessica (Koch) Salomon ’18, B.S. ’17, M.Ed. mechanical engineering, married are among those most affected by the my important belongings with me on educational endeavors without as a social media correspondent for Lisa Smith-Williams Shaina Escobedo ’18, B.B.A. the University of Arkansas educational leadership, is assistant marketing, is the marketing her husband, Martin, in November pandemic, members of the Cardinal my flight and helped with the cost of interruption. Its greatest strength is principal of operations at IDEA 2019. She works as an engineer at Athletics Department. He live coordinator at Provost Umphrey Law family at Lamar University are battling storing items I could not take with me. I the diverse range of problems it can in Fayetteville, Ark. Public Schools in Austin, where she Firm and lives in Port Arthur. Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and lives with her husband, Brandon. they live in Austin. the economic effects of the challenge feel like my situation is a lot better now address; students who seek assistance LaTasha Richard ’16, B.S. exercise Mark Farley ’18, M.Ed. as well. But when things get tough, not that I was able to get home and be with with clothing, computers, housing or Abel Sanchez ’18, M.S. criminal science and fitness management, is Sarah (Vanveckhoven) Stasinos administration, is a social studies/ only does LU always pull through; we’re my family and isolate instead of transportation can find their needs met a logistics coordinator at Onyx M.D. ’17, B.S. nursing, is a life skills nurse electives teacher at Collin County justice, is a community supervision Physician Staffing in Irving, and she at Sam Houston Elementary School Juvenile Justice Alternative officer for San Patricio County. He also there to help when our family being stuck in the U.S. with no along with any other fees or financial lives in Dallas. in Port Arthur. She lives in Port Education Program, which is a lives in Portland with his needs us. permanent home.” issues they may have accrued. The fund Neches with her husband, Nick. cooperative effort between the wife, Krystal. “Things were going great for me Dhruvikkumar Harshadbhai Patel, helps ensure that no disaster of any Kagen Rose ’16, B.S. nursing, Collin County Juvenile Probation ’17, ’18, M.Ed. and Ciara (Deharde) ’17, B.A.A.S. Morgan (LeBlanc) Sumrall Department and McKinney school Amy (Carr) Saye before the virus got serious,” said an industrial engineer who graduated magnitude will keep a student from applied arts and sciences, married B.S. nursing, is a nurse at Memorial district. He lives in Allen with his administration, is a fourth-grade in May, was doing well before the getting their degree. Hermann Hospital in Houston. teacher at Spears Elementary School Alessia Trebbi-Tindall, a sophomore in August 2018. Kagen is a nurse wife, Lisa. coronavirus reached its peak. “In at UTMB in Galveston, and Ciara is Her husband, Tyler ’16, B.S. in Frisco, and she lives in Celina student athlete from the United communication, works as a public with her husband, Jarod. a second-grade teacher at Heights Joey Garcia ’18, M.Ed. school Kingdom. “I was playing tournaments general, my life was well established, relations/external communications Elementary School in Texas City. counseling, is a counselor at Bishop for the LU women’s golf team and timely functioned and fully organized,” They live in La Marque. specialist at Academy Sports and High School, and he lives in Anjuman Shrestha ’18, M.E. civil The Cardinal Emergency Outdoors Headquarters in Katy. Corpus Christi. engineering, is a construction my grades had improved a lot since said Patel. “I was using all the facilities “ They live in Cypress. manager at Dennis Group in Fund helped towards the Kara Timberlake ’16, B.A. English, last semester.” She’d first heard of the of Lamar University like the Setzer Springfield, Mass., and he lives in ’16, B.S. communications, is public Isaiah Gerald ’18, B.S. industrial Student Center, Library, Rec Center and costs that I ran into from relations coordinator at the Art Kinnedy (Mitchell) VanDevender engineering, is a continuous Holyoke, Mass. virus in an online article and never Museum of Southeast Texas, and she ’17, B.S. psychology, is a mental improvement engineer for Dow thought about it after that, unaware so many events on campus.” the coronavirus. health professional at Spindletop ’18, M.Ed. lives in Beaumont. Chemical Co. He lives in Deer Park Susana Tablada that it would soon become a worldwide From a small village in India, Patel —Alessia Trebbi-Tindall” Center. She and her husband, Julian with his wife, Tara. educational technology leadership, -19, live in Beaumont. is a teacher at Churchill High School pandemic that would affect her and her came to the U.S. knowing no one Alyssa (Hancock) Wilson ’16, in North East school district, and B.S. speech and hearing sciences, Zara (Killman) Holmes ’18, B.S. family’s lives. and knowing little about the country married her husband, Keene, in interdisciplinary studies, and her she lives in San Antonio.

42 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 CARDINAL CADENCE | Red + White Together | SUMMER 2020 43 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 502 BEAUMONT, TX P.O. BOX 10011 BEAUMONT, TX 77710

NEW WELCOME CENTER under construction by Shelly Vitanza

arch 12, Lamar University hosted be the starting point for campus and between the building and the site. a groundbreaking ceremony housing tours.” “We placed an emphasis on plants for its new Welcome Center To ensure a holistic design for the that have low-water requirements, quick Mto be constructed on the southeast campus, LU developed conceptual designs establishment periods and manageable corner of Rolfe Christopher Drive and of the new south campus entrance and growth, and that require minimal long- Jim Gilligan Way. The center will be a will implement site features as funding term maintenance,” said Katherine Miller, one-story 6,300-square foot building becomes available. assistant vice president, planning featuring a spacious two-story lobby with The building materials will be primarily and construction. comfortable seating areas for visitors, a brick, with cast stone An evapotranspiration-based, refreshment counter and a self-service elements, metal wall panels and a automated irrigation system that can be kiosk for prospective students. The lobby storefront glazing system. The storefront programmed to minimize water waste and a side gallery will include a variety system will provide transparency for will be installed. The system is capable of media to “tell the LU story.” A 40- a visual connection between the main of efficiently delivering the required seat theater for structured presentations entrance on the east, the interior lobby water needed for plant establishment and will be located adjacent the lobby and and the back side on the west of the development as well as making designed to lead visitors to the gathering building, which will contain an outdoor seasonal adjustments. area for campus tours. event space. Projected to be completed in one “The Welcome Center will be the first The interior finishes will include year, the site will house office space for stop on campus for prospective students, porcelain floor tiles at the lobby, theater, admissions counselors and the center family members, alumni and other gallery spaces and restrooms. All light director, a workroom for student LU Crew visitors,” said Tracie Craig, center director. fixtures will be energy efficient LEDs, and members and other support spaces and “It will be the first building people see as the building is planned to achieve LEED will include visitor parking, bus drop- they approach campus on Cardinal Drive. Silver accreditation. off, outdoor gathering areas, a public art We will provide information about the The landscape design includes sculpture by Paul Kittelson and Carter campus, LU’s history, academic programs, improvements to the surrounding site and Ernst and an iconic “photo op” athletics and student activities. It also will landscape elements for visual connection monument sign.