University of the Southwest

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHWEST Summer 2011 USW celebrates 50 years Inside this issue: USW Graduates Its 49th Class 2 Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, the story of University of the Southwest is an inspiring one. Former First Lady, Laura Bush 3 It is a story of vision and dreams, faith and 2011 Free Enterprise Dinner 4 determination, work and wisdom. It encom- Fall 2011 Lecture Set 5 passes countless numbers of hearts and hands USW Athletes Honored 6 who have joined together to build an institution that not only enriches human lives but also 2011 Black History Month Project 6 glorifies God. It is the story of one communi- Class Notes 7 ty’s belief in the future. Congratulations The story begins, so it is told, in the early half • Henry DeLara ’02 (BBA, Management and Accounting), of the century when “a young man on horse- has recently joined the adminis- back scaled the heights near Cloudcroft and trative team at Pettigrew & climbed the Wofford fire lookout tower to gain a Associates as a staff accountant. panoramic view of ‘The Land of Enchantment.’ • Donna Johns ’00 (BS, Special In prayerful meditation atop the tower, the Education and Social Science), youth was inspired to beseech God to give him was presented with a Donley New Mexico for Christian Education.” Excellence in Education award in May, 2011. Johns has been That young man was B. Clarence Evans, and Within a few years, however, it became appar- teaching for 13 years and is cur- he was destined to become the founder and ent that the college had grown beyond the orig- rently a US history teacher at first president of what was to eventually inal design, and the move to a larger, perma- Hobbs High School. become University of the Southwest. nent location became a motivating force. By • Cynthia Trevino ’98 (MSE, 1961, the present site north of Hobbs on the Curriculum & Instruction) and And so, after many prayers and dreams and Lovington highway was obtained. ’02 (MS, Educational In 1962, to reflect the expanded vision of the Administration), was recognized plans, Clarence Evans finally saw his “college with a Veteto Excellence in for Christian Education” become a reality. entire community that had now embraced this Teaching award, which honors Hobbs Baptist College was chartered as a two- fledgling institution as their own, College of the teachers for their contributions to year junior college in 1956, and changed to Southwest was founded as an independent, Hobbs students. Trevino is a New Mexico Baptist College when the school non-denominational, four-year liberal arts col- teacher at Houston Junior High School in Hobbs. became a four-year college in 1958. lege to serve the southeastern New Mexico and West Texas region, an • Tammy Rotunno ’98 (MSE, Educational Administration), was approximately 21,000 honored with a Veteto Excellence square-mile service area. in Teaching award. Rotunno is the department head of special In 2008, the Board of education for the Hobbs Trustees voted to change the Freshman High School and has been an educator for 17 years. name to University of the Southwest to better commu- • John Malone ’70 (BS, English & Social Studies), was elected to nicate the type of academic the Sweetwater County Wyoming community into which the School District #2 Board of institution was evolving. Trustees. The district serves continued on page 2 To kick off our 50th year anniversary, USW held a logo contest. Sonia Tovar, bilingual education major from Hobbs, won with her concept. USW Graduates its 49th Class continued from page 1 2,600 students and covers an Emily Jackson received the Trustee’s area of 5,500 square miles in Award, which is presented to the southwestern Wyoming. Malone retired after coaching for 39 years graduate who best represents the in Arkansas and Wyoming. ideals of the university in the community. • Kevin Henning ’05 (BBA, Management and Accounting), recently earned his Ph.D. in busi- The Academic Excellence Award was ness administration with a con- presented to Nathen Shelemey, who centration in statistics from Texas was the graduating senior with the Tech University in Lubbock, TX. highest cumulative grade point aver- Henning was a Kemper age. Fellowship recipient while attend- ing USW. The Dean’s Award, given to the grad- • Mike Galvan ’97 (BS, Secondary uate best representing the ideals of Education) and USW’s Dean of Athletics, was named Athletic the master’s program, was presented Director of the Year by the Red to Dominga Barrientos for the mas- River Athletic Conference for the ter’s of education program, and to 2010-2011 academic year. Scott Smith for the master’s of busi- • J. Pernell Jones ’88 (BBA, ness administration program. Accounting) has been named Alexandria Lopez, USW SGA President, Vice President for Finance and addresses 2011 graduates. Professor Barbara McGrath, Dean of Operation for the Christian institu- Arts and Sciences, was honored with tion Eastern University, in St. On May 7, 2011, University of the the Professor of Merit recognition. Davids, PA. In addition to being an alum, Jones served as USW’s Southwest Alumni Association wel- VP for Administration from 1992- comed the 49th class to its ranks. USW Alumni and current principal of 2003. Ninety-four students graduated from Sanger Elementary in Hobbs, Alfredo USW at the Jack & Mabel Maddox Turrubiates (’97, BS, Elementary • Samuel Spencer, Jr., member of the USW Board of Trustees, has Student Life Center. Education and Social Sciences), been appointed to the State Board spoke to the graduating class about of Finance. Spencer is the Lea Awards were presented at the cere- taking a journey through life and County State Bank president and mony: the President’s Award was enjoying all of the stops along the currently serves as the co-chair of given to Alexandria Lopez, Student way. Turrubiates is a member of the the USW Advancement Government Association President. National Guard and was deployed to Committee. This award is given to the senior who Afghanistan in 2009-2010. • Debra Hicks, member of the USW best represents the ideals of the uni- Turrubiates was presented with a Board of Trustees, has been nom- versity on campus. Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris inated to serve on the New Mexico Transportation causa. Commission, representing District 2 on the commission. Hicks currently serves as the chair of the USW Institutional Resources Committee and owns Pettigrew & Associates in Hobbs. • Carroll Leavell, friend of the University, has been appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures Workgroup, which is comprised of legislators from states that host nuclear facilities or cleanup sites. • Don Maddox and Jim Maddox, friends of the University, were honored with the Distinguished Leadership Award for their out- standing leadership and dedica- tion to the state of New Mexico. The award is presented to individ- uals who have used their leadership skills to improve the quality President Gary Dill presents of life for New Mexicans. USW alum and commencement speaker Alfredo Turrubiates with honorary degree. Former First Lady, Laura Bush, Visits Hobbs for Spring Lecture her reaction, as well as President around the world for the White Bush’s difficult decisions. The House Conference on Advancing evening ended with a Question and Global Literacy, showcasing suc- Answer period from the audience cessful, culturally aware literacy and a book signing of her best- programs from a diversity of coun- selling memoir, Spoken From The tries. Her leadership of this effort Heart. led to her current role as Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Mrs. Bush is actively involved in Literacy Decade. issues of national and global con- cern, with a particular emphasis on Mrs. Bush is an advocate for education, health care and human women’s health and has been an rights. One of her endeavors active participant in campaigns to included a trip to Afghanistan in raise awareness of breast cancer 2005 to witness firsthand the and heart disease, both in the U.S. Laura Bush with MyPower students progress achieved by the Afghan and around the world. She part- people after the fall of the Taliban nered with the National Heart, Lung, On March 29, 2011, Former First regime. She visited the Women's and Blood Institute in The Heart Lady Laura Bush made an after- Teacher Training Institute in Kabul, Truth campaign and the Red Dress noon presentation to 150 5th and which is training women to lead project. She is also a strong sup- 6th grade girls from three elemen- classrooms that girls were once for- porter of our national parks. tary schools in Hobbs. The girls, bidden to enter. who were taught about Mrs. Bush Laura Bush was born in Midland, and the role of a First Lady prior to A former teacher and librarian, Mrs. Texas, to Harold and Jenna Welch. the event, heard how girls in other Bush convened in 2001 a Summit She holds a bachelor of science parts of the world were denied edu- on Early Childhood Cognitive degree in education from Southern cation and how they lived. Mrs. Development, providing a forum for Methodist University and a master’s Bush encouraged the girls to rise prominent scholars and educators degree in library science from the above their problems to achieve to share research on the best ways University of Texas. She taught in their goals. Mrs. Bush answered for parents and caregivers to pre- public schools in Dallas, Houston questions from the girls, including pare children for lifelong learning. and Austin and worked as a public how she and President George W. She draws attention to proven pro- school librarian. In 1977, she met Bush met and what it was like liv- grams that help children avoid such and married George Walker Bush.

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