VOLUME 14 NUMBER 1 SPRING 2014 The Magazine of Sam Houston State University Across the campus, you can feel a high level of energy and excitement. Innovation and improvements are paying off in numerous achievements and national recognition for our academic programs, research, and athletics. This enthusiasm increases every day and has brought our Alumni Association membership to an all-time high exceeding 11,000 active members, including more than 2,200 Life Members. A Sam Houston Enrollment has State education increased 43% remains accessible over ten years, and below the ranking SHSU as Did you know… average costs the 11th largest membership provides: for public Texas university in Texas. DID YOU institutions. • Unique networking opportunities • Invitations to alumni programs • Publications & news • Discounts to alumni events • Savings benefits SHSU ranks 4th Since 2003, out of 38 public A complete list of membership INSIDE administrative Texas universities privileges is available at costs as a alumni.shsu.edu, where you for students percentage of KNOW? can also join online. Bearkat All Paws In obtaining total operating employment within Connects Students budget were 12 months of reduced by half. With Community p2 graduation. New Head SHSU Alumni Association | P.O. Box 2022 | Huntsville, TX 77341 | 800.283.7478 | alumni.shsu.edu Football Coach /SHSUAlumniAssociation @SHSUAlumniAssoc Sets High Bar p16 BEARKATS-IN-BUSINESS Host All-Star Line Up Score Record-Breaking Support LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT For a second year in a row, over 175 Houston- area business professionals and fellow alumni More than a motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service” is a tradition that is engrained in our came together to celebrate and support the university’s special culture, which embodies the strengthening of character through community university’s championship athletic program service as an important part of the journey to becoming a well-rounded and educated individual. Don Sanders `58 with Sammy Bearkat. at the Bearkats-in-Business event held at the A primary focus at Sam Houston is to promote a stimulating learning environment through exclusive restaurant, Tony Mandola’s. the integration of academic programs, a caring campus environment, and service to others. Institutional expenditures for community engagement activities are more than $275,000 annually. This money is well spent, since it promotes a broad range of service initiatives at the university. Fellow alumnus Randy Roden, owner of This commitment has resulted in an elite designation—“Community Engaged University” from Houston’s Listo Drywall, Inc., hosted the the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. reception with his “downhome southern In 2010, our university established the Center for Academic Community Engagement (ACE), which Texas” hospitality. Guests were welcomed by oversees and promotes combining community engagement with academic instruction. This initiative university coaching staff and the effervescent has grown from 21 professors and 40 courses to 130 instructors and 204 courses over five years. Sammy the Bearkat mascot. Students participating in ACE courses apply the skills and knowledge learned in their classrooms for the betterment of society. In 2013, more than 500,000 service hours, which are valued at more than $8 million, were generated through these courses. Special guests—Elvin Bethea, Don Trull, Larry Dierker and Gerald Irons, inspired and Campus-wide engagement at the university has also resulted in the creation of the American Don Hendrix, Jr. `78 and Jackie Hendrix `79 (sponsors), President, Dr. Dana Gibson, Arlene Seltzer and Steve Seltzer `77. energized the crowd of Bearkats with their Democracy Project, the SHSU Center for Leadership and Service, and membership in Campus Compact, a national organization for civic engagement. The Engaged Scholars Committee was reflections on sports and the importance of created to support faculty in their efforts to connect learning objectives and community participation. fans and supporters. In March of this year, our largest student-directed volunteer initiative, “Bearkat All Paws In,” was held for the fifth year on the main campus and the second year at SHSU-The Woodlands Center. Enthusiastic applause greeted Dr. Dana Gibson, More than 800 students, faculty and staff spent the day contributing their time for the improvement SHSU president, Bobby Williams, university of their communities. athletic director, and K.C. Keeler, new head Additionally, our student organizations and athletics department are actively involved with non- football coach as they spoke of Sam Houston’s profit organizations, agencies and businesses, contributing more than 16,000 hours of service and success both on the field and in the classroom. raising more than $36,000 for charity. In public schools alone, our undergraduates spend more than 400,000 service hours annually, with an additional 43,000 hours in counseling services provided by With over fiftyBearkats-in-Business sponsors graduate students. Business majors logged about 6,000 hours working with local businesses to assist in developing fundraising appeals, conducting strategic reviews and creating marketing plans. for the all-star reception, Randy scored a Athletic Director Bobby Williams, Don Trull (retired professional football player), home-run raising a record-breaking $260,000 to The American higher education system has been responsible for identifying and developing solutions Larry Dierker (retired professional baseball player), Gerald Irons (retired profes- benefit the university’s athletic program. to many of the major problems vexing society. Through significant, intentional efforts to integrate sional football player), Randy Roden (host), Elvin Bethea (retired professional football player) and President, Dr. Dana Gibson. service with academics and other initiatives, Sam Houston State will continue to “measure up” to long-held institutional values that are rooted in community, work to enhance the overall learning For more information about Bearkats-in- environment for our students, and produce well-educated and service-oriented citizens. Business or to learn more about ways to support the SHSU athletic program, contact University Advancement at 936.294.2402. Dana Gibson President SHSU Alumni mix and mingle, enjoying the atmosphere of Tony Mandola’s one- shsu.edu/giving of-a-kind restaurant. SPOTLIGHT Bearkat All Paws In Editor Julia May 2 Connects Students With Community [email protected] For the last four years, a sea of students in bright orange shirts Writers has flowed into Huntsville for a day to paint, plant, clean and Amy Barnett fix—anything they can do to meet community needs. Jennifer Gauntt Linda Gilchriest Julia May Flori Meeks A Capital Experience Paul Ridings 4 Six SHSU students put politics into action last year, spending Brandon Scott five-and-a-half months working with representatives in the Photography 83rd legislative session as participants of the inaugural Austin Brian Blalock Internship Program. Design Causality Continuing Connections Masthead Design Ford Design 8 In The Classroom Vice President for Community engagement has become so important at SHSU University Advancement that a faculty committee has been formed for the sole purpose Frank R. Holmes [email protected] of integrating involvement into departmental curriculum. Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kristina K. Ruiz SECTIONS [email protected] University Focus Associate Vice President for Development School Of Nursing Awarded $1.1 Million, Thelma Mooney 10 [email protected] SHSU Selected For Prestigious Scholarship Program, Scene at SAM Director of Marketing and Communications Bruce O’Neal [email protected] Director of Alumni Relations Carry The Vision Charles Vienne 14 Alumni Answer The ‘Call’ To Remain University, [email protected] Community Engaged Assistant Director of Creative Services Amy Bass-Wilson [email protected] Eye On The Kats The goal of Heritage is to keep you informed 16 New Head Football Coach Sets High Bar, about Sam Houston State University. Houston College Classic, Incredible Senior Class Heritage is published twice a year by the Office of University Advancement for Leaves Football Legacy, Fall/Winter Sports Briefs alumni, donors and friends of SHSU. To contact the Office of University Advancement please call 936.294.3625 Alumni Look or visit us at shsu.edu/giving. 23 The SHSU Alumni Association: Successfully Connecting The Past, Present & Future, Five Alumni Honored For Contributions, Where Are They Now?, Class Notes, In Memoriam ON THE COVER BOARD OF REGENTS Sam Houston State THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM University’s more than 200 student Donna N. Williams, Chairman ................. Arlington Vernon Reaser III ....................................Bellaire organizations and Ron Mitchell, Vice Chairman .............Horseshoe Bay Rossanna Salazar ...................................... Austin athletics groups Charlie Amato ..................................San Antonio William F. Scott ................................... Nederland work year-round to meet community Dr. Jaime R. Garza .............................San Antonio Matthew Russell, Student Regent .............San Marcos needs through Kevin J. Lilly ......................................... Houston Brian McCall, Chancellor ............................ Austin service projects David Montagne .................................. Beaumont such as food drives. SPRING 2014 1 BEARKAT ALL PAWS IN CONNECTS STUDENTS