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 Women Who Battled Breast Cancer Remembered The lives of those who lost their battle with breast cancer were remembered during the first “Lights of Life” celebration and candlelight vigil Wednesday, Oct. 8 in the Hector P. Garcia Plaza. Wonda Wilson, A&M-Corpus Christi alumnus and two-time breast cancer survivor, was the guest speaker. The celebration, sponsored by the Women’s Center for Education and Service, also honored the courage of those diagnosed with breast cancer. Pink carnations were available for a $1 donation with all proceeds benefiting First Friday, a local organization that underwrites free mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women in the Coastal Bend. |
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 Chenaux Honored by Texas SkillsUSAVice President for Student Affairs Eliot Chenaux was presented with a plaque and an official red jacket by District 12 President Mercedes Rivera for his support of Texas SkillsUSA during the District 12 Conference, Oct. 1. Texas SkillsUSA is a non-profit youth organization that involves nearly 15,500 student and professional members in high school trade and industrial programs. |
 Lecture Series Features Oceanography ProfessorDr. Kevin Speer spoke on “Primary Productivity and Benthic-Pelagic Coupling in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico-A Physical Oceanography Perspective” during the College of Science and Technology’s Distinguished Lecture Series Friday, Oct. 24, in the Harte Research Institute conference room. Speer is a professor in the Department of Oceanography at Florida State University. |
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 Administrators Receive SMARTHINKING TutorialUniversity President Flavius Killebrew, Provost Anantha Babbili and other University administrators received a hands-on tutorial of SMARTHINKING, the latest Web-based technology designed to assist students in their study and research, Oct. 9, in the Tutoring and Learning Center. SMARTHINKING, connects students to qualified tutors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any Internet connection. |
 State Rep District 32 Candidates Debate IssuesState Representative District 32 candidates Juan Garcia, Todd Hunter and Lenard Nelson debated the issues in front of an estimated 250 students from Dr. Bob Bezdek’s political science classes Oct. 21 in the Center for Instruction, Room 113. Another 200 students from Dr. Carlos Huerta’s political science class watched by simulcast in another classroom. |
 ECDC Science Night Features Spooky ExperimentsStudents and their parents learned how to work together and create science at home during a “Family Science Night” Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Educational Center for Mathematics and Science. Mary Beth Tierce, visiting assistant professor in the College of Education, and pre-service teachers set up learning stations featuring spooky polymers, screaming balloons and dry ice bubbles. |
| Awards, Honors, and Grants |
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| Around the Island |
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| The “Heart Gallery of South Texas” featuring photo displays of 62 local foster children seeking permanent adoptive families opens Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center, 2021 Agnes St. The exhibition, which coincides with National Adoption Month, is a collaborative project between the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Community Outreach Department. The exhibit features photographs and biographies created by University students and will be on display through December. For more information, contact Deborah Stine at 361.878.3513; or Doug Williams at 361.878.3560. |
‘Safety Day’ Features Drunk-Driving Simulator
Education professor Bryant Griffith’s recent book “Cultural Narration” has earned him a nomination for the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA) 2009 Outstanding Book Award. Dr. Griffith teaches curriculum and instruction at the University. AERA, founded in 1916, is the national interdisciplinary research association for 25,000 scholars who undertake research in education. The Outstanding Book Award acknowledges and honors the year’s best book in education research and development. 
Dr. Mufid Abudiab, an associate professor of mathematics in the College of Science and Technology, has been named to the Phase II and Phase III Statewide Mathematics Vertical Team mandated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas Education Association to close the gap between the college readiness standards and the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) standards. The team, which met in Austin July 23-24, consists of six high school mathematics teachers and four higher education faculty. 
Dr. Frank Pezold, dean of the College of Science and Technology, Dr. John Hernandez, chair of the Department of Computer Science, and Dr. Adolfo Benavides, professor in the College of Business, have received $4,000 from ExxonMobil Corp. to be split evenly between the computer science program and the information systems program. ExxonMobil currently has 15 graduates from the University’s Science and Technology program employed in various capacities. The check was presented by ExxonMobil representative Pete Devillez, who earned his master’s of science in Computer Science from A&M-Corpus Christi.
Dr. Shawn Wahl has been named the 2008 University Educator of the Year by the Texas Speech Communication Association (TSCA). Wahl, associate professor of communication in the Department of Communication and Theatre, was recognized for his excellence in teaching as evidenced by students and colleagues. TSCA is a professional, academic association committed to excellence in communication instruction, student performance, research, scholarly accomplishment, professional service and political awareness. 
Faculty, staff and alumni discount tickets are available for Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Concert Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Reserved seat tickets range from $15-$30 for adults and $7 for students and children. To charge tickets by phone or to inquire about discount tickets, call the Performing Arts Center box office at ext. 2787 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. To purchase tickets on-line go to
The new branding marks for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi are now available from the University’s Image Gallery. The images are in various formats for supporting the creation of presentations and materials. You can access the images at http://imagegallery.tamucc.edu |
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 Six Islander softball players read to more than 100 first-grade students at Faye Webb Elementary School Friday, Oct. 16, to teach children the importance of reading. The softball team players also visited kindergarten classes in September. The school’s reading activities with the softball team will culminate Friday, Nov. 21, when the players return to read to all elementary grade levels during Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) Day Friday, Nov. 21. |
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 A fashion show, traditional dance performances and authentic food were showcased at the Diwali “Festival of Lights Thursday, Oct. 30, in the University Center, Lone Star Ballroom. The Indian celebration, presented by the Islander Cultural Alliance and the India Students Association, signifies the victory of good over evil. Celebrated in India and other areas of the world, Diwali is one of India’s most vibrant festivals characterized by the illumination of lamps in homes and fireworks on the streets. |
 The University’s Anchor Alumni Club has elected its officers for 2008-2009. They are (from left) Treasurer Bea Blomquist, business manager in the College of Science and Technology; Secretary Elizabeth Benson-Landau, program assistant in the College of Education; President Gloria Ann Valdez, business coordinator in the College of Business; and Vice President Dr. Laura Rosales, director of research and scholarly activity in Graduate Studies and Research. |
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