SIFE hosts conference for local high school students

Featured

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Ryan Schaap

Students working on leadership development. From left to right: Ashlea Vongkhamphra, Jose Arbaiza, and Taria Bustillos. Photo by Ryan Schapp.

WTAMU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) hosted a “Leading the Way” conference Jan. 26 to give local high school students a taste of what college is about.

“We try to teach students how to focus on problems that are going on in the community and find a solution for it,” Erin Stodghill, project manager for SIFE, said. “We will give them a local problem that they will be able to see and touch and try to find a solution for.”

Student Body President Brandy Roberts welcomed the students and spoke about the importance of leadership.

“I think teaching leadership to high school students is very important because for me, I had to learn the hard way without having a conference like this,” Roberts said. Continue reading →

Herdsmen working on a new home for Thunder X

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Brittany Castillo

Thunder X's face. Photo Courtesy of Eternal Flame by Jordan Fry.

The WTAMU Herdsmen are moving forward with plans to create a new buffalo habitat for WT’s mascot, Thunder X.

The 40 by 60 foot metal building will rest on 15 acres of land located on Valley View Road, northeast of the First United Bank Center and south of the Stanley Schaeffer Agriculture Education Learning Lab.

According to a WT press release, Herdsmen adviser and chief of the University Police Department Shawn Burns said that the habitat has been a gradual process. Continue reading →

WT transfer students share transition challenges

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Monica Gambert

The application process in order to be accepted into a university can be a hassle.

However, applying to a university as a transfer student can be an even bigger challenge.

“The hardest part about being a transfer student was trying to make friends and get involved,” Kylie Berry, a junior Advertising and Public Relations major, said. “ I got involved in the Mass Communications department from the first day, it helped me make great friends.”

Jessica Walters, a junior Graphic Design major, transferred from Collin College. She agreed that transitioning to a new school was tough. Continue reading →

Honors graduation reception

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Rubi Valencia

With fall semester coming to an end, the William H. and Joyce Attebury Honors Program will hold a graduation reception on Dec. 7.

“Two honor students will graduate this December and the reception will begin at 3:30 p.m. and it will end at five o’ clock,” Toni Williams, administrative secretary of the Killgore Research Center, said. “Jillian Read and Kenneth Clift are the two honor students that are going to graduate this December.”

“The graduates will be given a certificate with a medallion and they will present their capstone thesis,” Kathey Walker, administrative director of the Killgore Research Center, said. “We will have food and drinks at the reception and our academic director, Dr. Mallard, will give the certificates to the honor graduates.”

Continue reading →

Listen Up!: Students host live music show on campus

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Maria Molina

One Sessions poster. Photo courtesy of KWTS: 91.1 The One.

We recently dropped by to cover One Sessions, the annual live music show hosted by KWTS 91.1: The One at the AT&T High Definition Studio.

Want to know more about the show, the new studio and the cool acts? Then put on your headphones and listen up!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Students and staff win Math, Chemistry and Physics department art contest

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Maria Molina

The Math, Chemistry and Physics department held an art contest to decorate their hall in the Classroom Center.

“We just moved in to this new area in the Classroom Center a couple of years ago and wanted to decorate the halls,” Nick Flynn, department head of the Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics department said. “Stacy Chase [instructor of Mathematics] came up with the idea and it is a good way to decorate the department.”

Flynn said the event was successful, which encouraged the department to make this contest an annual event.

“We are encouraged,” he said. “We had over ten submissions.”

The department planed to give awards to the first three places, however there was a tie for the third place.

The first place winner was Jesse Melson, a Music Education major. Second place was awarded to Chase Vernon. Tied for the third place was Linda Chenoweth, head of reference at the Cornette Library at WTAMU, and Social Work major Elena Vargas.

Vargas said she was excited when she heard she won third place.

“My art professor told me about it [the contest] Nov. 8 and it was due Nov. 10 so it was unexpected,” she said.

On the other hand, Chenoweth said she feels it is important for staff to also participate in this type of events.

“I think staff are not as visible as students,” she said. “It seemed an important thing that included faculty, staff and students.”

(L-R) Linda Chenoweth, Elena Vargas, Jesse Melson, Chase Vernon.

International professors reveal how they became part of WTAMU

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Jordan Fry

Web Editor’s Note: This story is Part three of a three part series.

Dr. Rajan Alex

India

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Dr. Rajan Alex came to America to pursue his master’s degree because he wanted to get a better degree than was available to him in India.

“The quality of education at the university level is much better,” he said. “Professors have the choice to set up their own curriculum to teach the courses. This makes the degree competitive.”

Alex explained that the education system at the university level in India is much more structured and the faculty doesn’t have the freedom to create their own curriculum.

He feels this lessens the competitiveness of a degree because students aren’t exposed to different aspects of the area of study. Instead, every student learns the same exact material.

Alex received a master’s degree in mathematics from New Mexico State University. He went on to receive a master’s degree in computer science and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Texas Tech University.

Teaching was not Alex’s first career choice until he was given the opportunity to be a teaching assistant while in grad school.

“It gave me a liking towards the teaching profession,” he said.

He came across an ad for a teaching position at WT while he was finishing grad school at Texas Tech in 1995.

“I just applied for the teaching position and I got the job,” he said.

Alex teaches courses in computer science, programming and theoretical computer science. He has also taught courses in data structures, discreet structures, databases and net-centric computing.

Alex said he has a very good relationship with his students and that they treat him well.

“They think I know too much,” he said. “Too much math.”

Alex said that during his time here, he has never had a negative evaluation from a student.

“I’ve never had an evaluation that said, ‘this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about,’” he said. “After this many years, I think I would have had negative feedback if it was the case.”

Dr. Alex said he still has students who have graduated come back to see him. He feels that is a good sign of a good professor.

“As a teacher, I want my students to feel like they are getting the best from me,” he said.

The teaching position he holds at WT is the only teaching position he has held and he doesn’t see that changing.

“I absolutely enjoy WT. That’s why I’ve been here so long,” he said. “I fit into this system and I don’t see any reason to leave.”

Dr. Enyonam Osei-Hwere

Ghana

Assistant Professor of Communication

Before coming to America and receiving a master’s degree in international affairs and a Ph.D. in mass communication from Ohio University, Dr. Enyonam Osei-Hwere had no interest in leaving Ghana.

“Ohio University recruited me, but I had no interest,” she said. “I had a really great job with the Ford Foundation and I was newly married, so I turned them down.”

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29th Renaissance Feast is a success

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Daniela Fierro

On Dec. 2, the 29^th Annual Renaissance Holiday Feast was held at the WTAMU Dr. Hazel Kelley Wilson Alumni Banquet Hall.

The Feast is put together every year by the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities and the CORE office as a way to raise money for scholarships, said Director of Student Activities Skip Chisum.

“[CORE] has been preparing for a couple of months,” said Chisum. “[CORE] cares for the production of the Feast, food and ticket sales.”

However, Chisum said that this might be the last year that the Feast will be held at the Banquet Hall.

Continue reading →

Music department wins “Can-Tree” food drive

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Krystina Martinez

On Nov. 30, the departments of the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts College came together for “Cans For Christmas,” an event put together by the Ad/PR Society to support the High Plains Food Bank.

“Our philanthropy is the High Plains Food Bank, and we wanted to do something that would get the entire FAC involved,” J’Rhea Wise, president of the Ad/PR society, said.

Before the event, each department collected cans and other non-perishable goods. The food would be used to construct a Christmas tree. The winner would be able to pick a faculty member of their choice to dress in an elf costume on Dec. 7.

“It’s for a good cause, and Dr. [Robert] Krause wanted us to get involved,” Mark Tenorio, a freshman Music Performance major, said.

Each department had 15 minutes to put their tree together. The atmosphere was competitive, especially between the Music and Mass Communication departments.

“We’ll try our best [to win],” said Tenorio.

Brock Carter, director of communications for the High Plains Food Bank, judged each tree for its size and creativity. At the end, the Music Department won first prize, with Speech Communication winning the award for Most Creative.

Continue reading →

The Wesley Foundation will host Dead Day Dance

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Brittany Castillo

On Dec. 7, The Wesley will host a dance party to celebrate the end of the fall semester.

Sophomore Filiberto Alvarado Jr., majoring in Electronic Media, will be running the sound board and hosting the event.

“‘Dance ‘Til Dead Day’ is one of the Wesley’s biggest events of the fall semester,” said Alvarado. “The Wesley understands students have finals coming, so we give an opportunity to have fun before hitting the books.”

The Dance Day bash will be at the Wesley Foundation basement from 9 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, and everyone is welcome to join.

“It’s open to all students, the more people, the merrier!” Reilly Downes, a junior Musical Theatre major, said. “It definitely builds community on campus, making a safe place where people are free to put their dancing shoes on and kick their cares away.” Continue reading →

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