November 2011 A Monthly Newsletter for Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Friends of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
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| Camp Danger Improv Troupe to Compete in National Championship Tournament The Camp Danger improv troupe took first place in the Southwest Regional College Improv Tournament held Oct. 15 and will compete for the national title in March 2012. The tournament sponsored by the Chicago Improv Festival featured troupes from the University of Texas, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech, Rice, Northwestern State, the University of North Texas, and the University of Houston. Camp Danger members are (from l to r) Andrew Robinson, Dillon Dinkens, Ellen Buschang, Esteban Reyna, and Travis Delgado. |
Texas SkillsUSA Conference Draws More Than 250 Students from Area Schools
Provost Christopher Markwood visited with area high school students at the District 12 Texas SkillsUSA Leadership Conference on Oct. 10 in the University Center. More than 250 high school students took part in the conference which facilitates trade and industrial education. Texas SkillsUSA brings together educators and organizations to address the nation's need for a globally competitive, educated, and skilled workforce. |
Islanders Presented with Official School Rings at Parents Weekend Ceremony Junior and senior Islanders students and alumni received their official school rings during a ceremony Oct. 15 in the Performing Arts Center. The annual rite is part of the University's Parents Weekend, which gives mothers and fathers a glimpse into their students' lives through participation in events ranging from the "Islanders' Invasion" volleyball game to a brunch with the University provost and deans of the five colleges. |
Killebrews Talk with Amarillo Third-Graders About Importance of College Education University President Flavius Killebrew and first lady Kathy Killebrew talked to a classroom of third graders from the Margaret Wills School about Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the importance of going to college during a recent visit to Amarillo, Texas. The at-risk school is a "no excuses university school." The Killebrews, who are trying to seed hope in the children, also sponsor a class in Luling and Driscoll, Texas. |
| Research, Grants, and Scholarly Activity |
 Dr. Richard McLaughlin, endowed chair for Marine Policy and Law at the University's Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, is one of 15 experts appointed to the Outer Continental Shelf Scientific Committee, a group that advises the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regarding development of Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources. Members are selected based on their expertise and reputation in the scientific community and ability to represent important elements of the bureau's research and science information needs. |
 Dr. R. Deborah Overath, assistant professor of biology, has received a $136,854 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to provide resource managers with information needed to plan the recovery and reintroduction of the endangered South Texas Ambrosia. Dr. Dave Grisé, visiting professional assistant professor of biology, is co-principal investigator of the grant who will examine the health of the extant populations. |
| Recognition, Honors, and Awards |
 Dr. Evan Ortlieb, assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, is the recipient of the 2011 Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) Jerry Johns Promising Researcher Award. The national award honors and supports research by a junior ALER member whose work is beyond the dissertation stage, and recognizes research that addresses significant questions for reading/literacy instruction from early childhood to adult level. |
 Dr. Christine Shupala, assistant vice president and director of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library, has been elected to the board of governors of the Texas Digital Library and is serving as its secretary/treasurer. The Texas Digital Library is a consortium of higher education institutions in Texas that provides shared services in support of research and teaching and offering an infrastructure for the scholarly activity of its members. |
| Around the Island |
| The Islander Cultural Alliance will hold its 2011 Culture Fest on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 2-5 p.m. on the first floor of the University Center. Student organizations from across campus will celebrate their cultural diversity through ethnic food, exhibits, and live musical performances highlighting cultures from around the world. The first 100 participants will receive a free T-shirt and a cultural cookbook of ethnic recipes. The event is free and open to the community. For more information, call 361.825.2539. |
 The University Theatre will present Steven Sater's "Spring Awakening" from Tuesday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Warren Theatre in the Center for the Arts. Exploring teenage angst, "Spring Awakening" tackles the challenges young people face on their road to adulthood. The play is for mature audiences. Tickets are $12 for adults; $7.50 for students; and $5 for University students. Tickets can be purchased online; or at the box office. For group rates, call 361.825.3756. For more information, call 361.825.5800. |
More than 100 students, faculty, and staff dressed in "the universal color of love" for the fifth annual campus "Go Pink!" group photo on Oct. 5. The photo, a project of the University's Women's Center for Education and Service, was one of many campus events held during "Breast Cancer Awareness Month," an international campaign to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
The Zeta Tau Alpha women's fraternity won first place and a $1,000 prize during the "Islander Revue" music and dance extravaganza held Oct. 14 in the Performing Arts Center. This year’s show, which was presented by the Student Foundation and sponsored by Whataburger, showcased a variety of performances including spoof comedy musicals, interpretive dance, and hip-hop routines. Proceeds from the annual event fund student scholarships.
Islanders' fans met the 2011-2012 men's and women's basketball teams during the "Islanders Invasion" Oct. 15, following the volleyball game against Southeastern Louisiana in the Dugan Wellness Center. Those who attended also had an opportunity to win prizes, watch performances by the cheer and dance teams, and listen to the pep band.
Kay Anderson, director of Application Technology Support, pleads for bail money during the "Pizza Rama and Jail House Lock-Up" Oct. 19 to kick off the State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign. For $5, donors could have their favorite professor, administrator, or staff member arrested. The jailbirds were then given tin cups to solicit bail money from passersby and were released once they posted the required $5 bond.
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