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 Archaeology Students 'Dig' Ancient Indian SettlementStudents in the South Texas Archaeology Field School offered by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi searched for artifacts associated with the Aranama Indians during a dig July 16 at the Fort Lipantitlán pre-historic settlement. The Indians lived in the area that is now part of the Bluntzer Ranch near the town of San Patricio between 1150 B.C. and 1780 A.D. The eight-week course was led by Dr. Robert Drolet, curator of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, and University adjunct professor. |
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| Research and Scholary Activity | ||
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| Awards, Honors, and Grants | ||
 The University’s Office of Community Outreach was recently honored as a finalist for the 2009 Texas Environmental Excellence Award for its environmental programs which include environmental education and air and water quality initiatives. The award sponsored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) recognizes the state’s most outstanding waste reduction and pollution prevention projects. This is the third time the TCEQ has honored Community Outreach for its environmental programs. Full Story |
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 Dr. Suzzette Chopin is one of 22 recipients of the National Science Foundation’s 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). She will be honored during an upcoming White House ceremony. Chopin, a professor of Biomedical Sciences, will also receive a $10,000 grant. The PAESMEM Program identifies outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance the participation of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. |
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| Thirteen Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi faculty members have received Texas A&M University System Teaching Excellence Awards. The following faculty scored in the top 5 percent for their respective classes:
The following faculty scored in the next 15 percent for their respective classes:
Graduate Studies and Research awards for fiscal year 2009 have surpassed $16 million. April and May awards included $749,778 to Dr. JoAnn McDonald from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Governor’s Academy for Teaching Excellence (GATE) Summer Education Program and $275,000 to Dr. Elaine Young from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Teacher Quality Grant in Mathematics. List |
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| Around the Island | ||
The University will hold its Summer 2009 Commencement Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1:30 p.m. at the American Bank Center arena. Commencement speaker will be Dr. Gary Jeffress, professor of Geographic Information Science and director of the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Due to construction near the American Bank Center, parking lot 4 will be designated for faculty parking with overflow going to parking lot 5. For more information, contact Norma Cantu at ext. 2722. The Corpus Christi Area Alumni Club will hold its August mixer and dinner on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 6-8 p.m. at the Place to Be Restaurant, 920 Louisiana Ave., in the upstairs meeting room. The agenda will include developing a steering committee for the Club’s winter mixer. Islander alumni, their families and friends are welcome. Reservations will be taken until the day of the event. For more information, contact Chapter President Lee White at 361.548.3141; or e-mail lwhite01@stx.rr.com. Islander Blankets for Care Packages: The United Student Veterans Organization (USVO) and the Veterans Affairs Office are preparing Islander care packages to send to student veterans who are deployed overseas. Donations toward the purchase of Islander blankets (to be included in the care packages) and overseas shipping costs may be made at the bookstore in the University Center. For more information, contact Lynn Perry at ext. 2331, or e-mail lynn.perry@tamucc.edu. |
Dr. JoAnn Canales, professor and associate dean of Graduate Studies, lectured before Peru’s National Assembly of University Rectors during a week-long series of events in June. At the request of the U.S. Department of State, Canales addressed Peruvian government officials on methods for implementing quality control assurance and accreditation systems for higher education in Peru.
Dr. Frank Spaniol, a professor of exercise science in the Department of Kinesiology, spoke at the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Advanced Training Symposium in Shanghai, China, June 19-21. While in Shanghai, Spaniol who is chair of the NSCA Baseball Special Interest Group, worked with the Chinese National Baseball Team. Spaniol has been awarded more than 20 grants for exercise science and instructional technology research and is currently investigating the effect of visual skills on the batting performance of professional baseball players.
High school students participating in the Governor’s Academy for Teaching Excellence (GATE) Summer Education Program attempted to sail a teammate across a swimming pool in boats constructed of cardboard and duct tape during a “Float-a-Boat” activity on July 23 at the Moody Sustainers Field House Pool. The team-building exercise was one of many activities designed to challenge the more than 50 high school students from across the state taking part in the College of Education’s three-week program for students who are interested in teaching careers in mathematics and/or science at the elementary or secondary levels.
Students in Dr. Suzzette Chopin’s Research Ethics and Professionalism class collected and analyzed ghost shrimp, small fish, mole crabs and coquina clams during a “Hidden Treasures” low-tide investigation held July 10 on the Padre Island National Seashore. Amanda Garza, teacher ranger for the Padre Island National Seashore, led the exercise which included a discussion of the human impact on the environment.
Students ages 9-12 used advanced motorized Lego kits to design and build battle bots during the Lego BattleBots Camp held July 27-31 sponsored by the Office of Community Outreach. Participants learned about the principles and strategies of mechanics by competing in a double-elimination battle bots tournament and a battle bots soccer game.
The Islander Dance Team earned enough points at the Universal Dance Association College Dance Camp held July 18-21 at Texas State University to advance to the semi-final round at national competition in Orlando, Fla., in January 2010. The team also won first place in Fight Song, the Superior Performance trophy, and earned around 35 individual awards.
Future students learned all about the Island University’s programs, activities and organizations during the “Passport to the Island” held July 23 in the University Center, Lone Star Ballroom. The event was part of the two-day New Student Orientation.
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