THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY • MARCH 2011 TORCH Service & Sustainability Taking Steps That Matter An alumnus gives back in more ways than one Service: A TLU Tradition The history of Bulldogs getting involved in the community THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY TORCH Vol. 35, No. 3, March 2011 Publisher Sarah Story Editor Jenni M. Loer Editorial Assistant Naomi Urquiza Contributing Writers Tim Clark Derrick Collins Contributing Artists Danny Batista Drew C. Engelke Terry Price Judy Samford Dustin Wyatt Editorial Board Taylor Carleton Director of Alumni Relations Nancy Hershfield VP for Development & Alumni Relations Jenni M. Loer Marketing Communications Specialist Mandy Owen Director of Admissions Terry Price Assoc. Prof. of Dramatic Media & Director of Emerging Media Sarah Story Asst. VP for Marketing Communications Steven Vrooman Assoc. Prof. of English & Communication Studies Torch is published three times annually in September, December and March by Texas Lutheran University Development & Alumni Relations office. Inquiries and submissions should be directed to the editorial staff at [email protected]. AlumNotes submissions and change of address may be sent to the Alumni Relations office at [email protected]. 2 TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY Photo by Terry Price THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY • MARCH 2011 TORCH 5 9 13 18 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 5 Taking Steps That Matter 4 Letter from the President José Alejandro Flores ’03 merges international business, 5 TLU Today Feature articles social responsibility and eco–friendliness. 17 Campus Life Events scrapbook 9 The Next Generation of Living & Learning at TLU New campus master plan raises sustainability awareness. 18 Growing & Giving From the development office 12 A Talent for Service 20 Scoreboard TLU sports Students form Service Through Music group. 24 Bragging Rights Accomplishments 13 Classroom Meets Outdoors 25 Flame Q & A Person of interest interview Recreation courses take on mountain biking and more. 26 Lucky’s Pack TLU point of view 15 The Watoto Project Taking on the epidemic of orphaned children in Tanzania. 28 AlumNotes 16 Operation Backpack 34 Flashback Blast from the past photo Fighting child obesity and hunger one backpack at a time. 35 Save the Date Events calendar Check out the online edition and special features at tlu.edu/torch. TORCH • MARCH 2011 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT Reflections on an interim Texas Lutheran may well have named a new president by the time you are reading this. The new president will bring enormous energy to the campus and the entire TLU community. Next year, and beyond, will be great years for the university. What about this year? Three expectations were established for this year. First, that it be an outstanding year for students and student learning. We are well on our way to fulfilling this expectation. It has been a grrrrrreat year to be a Bulldog. Second, we wanted to position the university to attract a strong pool of candidates for the presidency. The search committee has reviewed the resumes of nearly 70 applicants, many with the qualities, experience, and commitment to Lutheran higher education the university is seeking. The Board of Regents is confident a new president will be named this spring and begin serving this summer. Third, we were determined to use this year to position the University for the future. It is important that we all perceive that good things are happening at TLU and believe that even better days are coming. To this end, the Board of Regents is investing, carefully and strategically, in keeping TLU affordable, providing new facilities and supporting an exciting transformation of the university’s core-curriculum. This has also been a great year for Sally and me. We have been so impressed with TLU. The soul, sense of community and mission of this place are to be valued and supported. We have been made to feel at home. TLU people, wherever we have encountered them, have been more than generous and gracious to us. There is much we will miss about TLU. The people, Chapel, rooting for the Bulldogs, Vespers and all the special events and activities, large and small. And the weather! These have been and will continue to be grrrrrrrreat days to be a Bulldog. God bless you all. Dr. Robert Vogel Interim President Photo by Terry Price Dr. Vogel lends a helping hand during TLU’s annual Day of the Dogs day of service in February 2011. 4 TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY Taking Steps That Matter How one alumnus found a way to give back globally and locally and make it count. José Alejandro Flores ’03 has three passions: soccer, helping others and international business. He led a cultured and charity driven life growing up in both Guatemala and the United States as a dual citizen. Drifting between the developed and developing worlds exposed him to poverty and humanitarian needs in both countries and inspired him to make a difference. TORCH • MARCH 2011 5 TLU TODAY “Growing up, and still to this day, DeFlores, LLC is an export-import I’ve been exposed to individuals “It was then that I realized merchant trading company currently without proper footwear through focused on environmentally friendly, the sport of soccer,” says Flores. “I that I could realistically sustainable and socially responsible have been involved in the sport in couple my ongoing life brands. VOS Flips, the initial both the developed and developing portfolio brand launched in March world and have been collecting and experiences of helping 2009, truly exhibits the mission of giving footwear and soccer balls to TLU to pursue one’s passion and individuals in need my entire life.” others with my passion for purpose and give back. It was this inclination to give to VOS Flips are eco-friendly, 100% those in need, coupled with his international business. I was recyclable natural rubber sandals affinity to multiculturalism, that and represent a brand founded to led him to start his own business definitely shaped most by answer one simple question: “Can following his graduation from Texas people afford to care?” The sandals Lutheran University in 2003 with my International Business were introduced along with the Two a degree in International Business Steps At A Time™ social initiative and earning his MBA the following professors and mentors that promises to give a pair of sandals year at St. Mary’s University in away to someone in need for every San Antonio. Founded in 2008, during my time at TLU.” pair sold in addition to supporting Photos courtesy of DeFlores, LLC. Photos courtesy of DeFlores, On a recent visit to TLU, Flores talked to students, faculty and staff about the possibility of selling VOS Flips in the TLU bookstore. He also discussed workstudy opportunities for students interested in representing the brand while gaining real world experience. He made a great first step when his flips received positive response from students at TLU’s Fair Trade and Global Gifts Fair. 6 TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY Flores traveled to one of the rubber producing communities in Guatemala that cultivates the raw material for flips. Flores gave away the first pairs of flips himself to workers, children and families. rubber-producing communities with Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express- 400-level international business course health care and education, starting News and on Inmigrante TV. Along with at TLU focused on the ever-growing in Guatemala. Two Steps At A Time™ the TLU men’s soccer team, athletes importance of conscious consumerism partners with international shoe charity and teams across the globe are outfitted in the international marketplace. “It Soles4Souls, Inc., AgroSalud Guatemala with VOS Flips including: Seguin’s own was then that I realized that I could and the Guatemalan National Rubber Will Heyward of the Hamilton Tiger- realistically couple my ongoing life Association. Cats, Dallas Cowboys’ Andrew Sendejo, experiences of helping others with my So, can people afford to care? VOS was Michael Griffin of the Tennessee Titans, passion for international business,” says founded on the principle that most people Leone Cruz of the Seattle Sounders, Bruno Flores. “I was definitely shaped most by want to help others and the planet, but Guarda of FC Dallas, Kieron Bernard of my International Business professors and lack the resources to make a significant Orlando City Soccer, the Houston Toros mentors during my time at TLU.” impact on their own. VOS offers people and the Haiti Men’s National Soccer Team. After Flores took steps in his educational a way to give back for the price of a pair Flores isn’t just passionate about journey, it was time to take a few steps to of sandals. VOS has been featured in The supporting soccer; he played professionally ensure the social responsibility he wanted in 2005 with the Deportivo Suchitepequez his brand to represent. Two Steps At A in Guatemala. To Flores, soccer is not just Time™ incorporates the right step—giving a global sport, it’s a universal language away a pair for each pair sold—and the that unifies nations, languages, cultures left step—providing basic health care and ethnicities—something he hopes the and education for rubber production VOS brand can do. Soccer also influenced communities in need. Through its the design of the sandal. Instead of the partnership with Soles4Souls, VOS traditional thong style flip-flop, VOS Flips Flips is able to contribute to the over 7 feature a strap perfect for athletes wearing million pairs given away since 2005. The socks hoping to trade cleats for something initial efforts are focused in Guatemala a little more comfortable. because it is currently home to the rubber The ideas of charitable work and soccer production communities that cultivate sandals merged into an Eco-Giving™ the raw material used in the sandals.