CadenceCARDINAL VOL. 35 NO. 2 | MAY 2007 Design by Mike Rhodes From the President Cover illustration by Eugene Anderson CadenceCARDINAL DEPARTMENTS Across campus, we are seeing hard work pay off even as new 4 On campus 51 Arts & Culture The Staff initiatives hold great promise. Chinese offered . accreditation received . Arts Notes . Literary Lamar . Music Hall of satellite classes . online degrees Honor . La Dolce Vita This spring, Lamar awarded its first-ever Ph.D. to Aditi Cardinal Cadence is published by the Division of University Singh, whose dissertation on biobutanol could factor in decisions Advancement, Lamar University, a member of The Texas 12 Dreambuilders 54 Athletics State University System and an affirmative action, equal Alumni help current students Golfers rank No. 3 in nation . Soccer begins that will benefit the economy of Southeast Texas for years to opportunity educational institution. come. Lamar also awarded 14 Doctor of Educational Leadership Brian Sattler, Executive Editor, Director of Public Relations 40 Class notes degrees to the first cohort to complete the program. Announcements . reunion pics Cynthia Hicks ’89, ’93, Editor, Publication Specialist Finding their way on a different course became second nature to Lamar’s golf team, which Larry Acker, Assistant Director, Writer exhibited a stunning final round in the NCAA national championship and took third place— Chris Castillo, Marketing Specialist, Writer FEATURES the highest finish in Lamar’s history in any sport. Congratulations to the team and to Coach Louise Wood, Media Specialist, Writer Brian White. Contributors: 14 A cultural affinity Access to higher education will be easier for the citizens of Hardin County with the initia- Daucy Crizer, Drew Lacey, Amanda Rowell, writing Pamela Saur nabs professor and scholar awards tion of Lamar University classes on the Lumberton High School campus Aug. 23. Our Center Andrew Nengue, Bret Gerbe, Scott Eslinger, Rohn Wenner, for Distance Education seeks to enhance educational access through many initiatives, including Michelle Cate, photography 18 Keeping it green degree programs available entirely online. Bob Jones ’73 sails the Hye Life Circulation includes 54,000 copies distributed to alumni, Opportunity of another sort begins in spring 2008 as Lamar offers courses in Mandarin, faculty, staff and friends of Lamar University. If you have 14 the language of more than 1 billion people and the official language of China. Students will received more than one copy of this publication, please 24 Treasured teeth let us know. Dental discovery yields new species learn to speak and read Mandarin and will be introduced to the customs and culture of China in context of the language. Changes of address may be sent to: 26 Come take a seat The Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center is now Lamar’s newest campus hot spot. University Advancement, P.O. Box 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710, or by 58 Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center Meanwhile, construction continues across campus on rooms for 500 additional students in email: [email protected] opens its doors Cardinal Village when it opens in August. National recognition of the excellence of Lamar University’s teacher education programs Division of University Advancement 28 The new Spindletop Camille Mouton, Vice President came with the announcement of accreditation of the College of Education and Human Carl Roth ’61 can’t get enough of courtroom Janice Trammell ’85, ’93, Director of Development competition Development by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Mona Halvorsen ’95, Director of Advancement Services 24 The announcement of a $1 million gift from David Beck ’61, super lawyer and Lamar Loraine Thibodeaux, Director of University Reception Center 30 Education doctorates shift tassels P.O. Box 10011 alumnus, establishes the first two fellowships ever for students at Lamar. These fellowships will Fourteen represent inaugural class Beaumont, Texas 77710 help attract top-notch students to the university. (409) 880-8419 or fax (409) 880-8409 Throughout the year, the support of alumni and friends helps make a university degree a email: [email protected] 34 Vision makes a difference reality for many students. Thank you so very much! 60 David J. Beck ’61 establishes groundbreaking Lamar University Alumni Office fellowships When visiting campus, you’re invited to stop by the With Cardinal Pride, Alumni Office at the John Gray Center, Building B, 855 Florida, Suite 102. 36 Making connections LAGNIAPPE Grady ’64 and Michael Ann ’64 Crawford Juan Zabala, Director of Alumni Affairs capitalize on communication 26 LU Alumni Office 17 Cardinal Views James M. Simmons P.O. Box 10005 38 Win-win combination President Beaumont, Texas 77710 20 Homecoming 2007 Rena Clark ’84 knows opportunity is always Lamar University (409) 880-8921, or (800) 298-4839 Reunions . stunning mineral exhibit . Email: [email protected] moments and memories about people www.lamar.edu/alumni 58 First Ph.D. graduate explores biofuels Lamar University Foundation Aditi Singh ’07 believes rice straw may be future fuel Janice Trammell, Executive Director THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Lamar University Foundation BOARD OF REGENTS P.O. Box 11500 60 Golfers make history Beaumont, Texas 77710 Cards take 3rd place in NCAA Charles Matthews, Chancellor • Austin (409) 880-2117 Email: [email protected] Kent M. Adams, Chairman • Beaumont 30 Bernard C. Francis, Vice Chairman • Addison Ken Luce • Irving 36 Dora G. Alcalá • Del Rio Magdalena Manzano • Huntsville Cardinal Cadence (USPS 017-254) is published triannually by Lamar University, Division of University Advancement, Alan W. Dreeben • San Antonio Greg Wilkinson • Plano 855 E. Florida, Beaumont, Texas 77705. Periodicals postage John E. Dudley • Comanche Trisha Pollard • Bellaire paid at Beaumont, TX, and additional mailing offices. Dionicio “Don” Flores • El Paso 2 | CARDINAL CADENCE 35:2 MAY 2007 MAY 2007 35:2 CARDINAL CADENCE | 3 20 on campus on campus LU locates in Lumberton Lumberton and Hardin County residents will General Geology I, U.S. soon have greater access to higher education History I: 1763-1877, through a joint venture between Lamar College Algebra, General University and the Lumberton school district Psychology, English in which Lamar will offer college classes in Composition I, Art the evenings at the high school. Appreciation and The university will offer core curriculum Criminal Justice-Alcohol courses during the fall 2007 semester with Related Crimes. classes beginning Aug. 23. Nine courses “This is a win-win required for most degree programs will be for Lumberton ISD, the offered initially. Classes will continue to be community and Lamar offered during the spring 2008 semester, and University,” said Ron course offerings will be expanded and rotated Sims, superintendent of to include upper-level classes and electives the Lumberton ISD. chosen to meet students’ needs. “This is a great opportu- “We recognize the 22-mile commute to nity not only for citizens Lamar University is a potential barrier to in the area who want to earning a degree,” said Paula Nichols, associ- start or continue their ate professor of educational leadership and degree, but also for our director of the Center for Distance Education high school students to CHRIS CASTILLO at Lamar. “For many individuals, this will begin working on mean access to higher education even if they degrees,” Sims said. New peaks alter skyline enter the work force immediately after high More than 71 per- Construction moves quickly toward ribbon-cutting for the campus’ newest residence hall, Cardinal Village IV, a $16-million expansion of school graduation.” cent of the Hardin Lamar’s current state-of-the-art 1,500-bed complex by Davis Brothers Construction of Houston. It will be completed by Aug. 15, 2007, The classes will be scheduled for 6 to County population age adding 500 beds to campus, bringing the Village total to more than 2,000 beds. 8:45 p.m. one evening per week for each 25 and older have Cardinal Village was 100 percent full in fall 2006, with about 120 students living in Brooks Hall. Spring occupancy is greater than 95 course taken. The schedule will follow the earned high school BRIAN SATTLER percent. Information on Cardinal Village is available at lamar.edu/cardinalvillage. normal university semester schedule and diplomas, but do not hold bachelor’s degrees. Monday through Thursday. For more infor- is designed to be conducive for students The state average for individuals with high mation about registering for college courses to meet their employment and family school diplomas is 52 percent. at Lumberton High School, contact the obligations. To assist students who wish to register Lamar University Center for Distance The initial courses to be offered include; for classes, a Lamar representative will be at Education, (409) 880-1847, or visit Open House Developmental Algebra I, Public Speaking, Lumberton High School from 1-7 p.m. www.lamar.edu. draws thousands More than 3,500 prospective students and their families toured campus March 3 for Open House 2007. Commencement witnesses several firsts “Everyone I spoke with was enthusiastic about all the Lamar conferred 679 degrees, including 18 new developments on campus—from the dining hall to doctorates, 119 master’s degrees and 541 the new Sheila Umphrey Center,” said James Rush, director bachelor’s degrees during spring commence- of academic services. “Visitors came from all over the state. ment May 12. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, I met families from El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston delivered the keynote address. Among the and Austin.” “firsts” in Lamar’s history was the largest num- Open House, an annual event, offers high school ber of doctoral degrees ever awarded, the first students and their families an opportunity to visit Lamar, Ph.D. (chemical engineering) ever conferred, meet with professors and learn about what the university and the first Ed.D.s in educational leadership has to offer socially and academically.