Scholastic Excellence Awards Ceremony

Scholastic
Excellence
Awards
Ceremony
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 • 6 p.m.
Science, Engineering & Technology Building Lecture Hall
The University of Texas at Brownsville
and Texas Southmost College
™
utb.edu
Alma Mater
“Hail the Orange & White”
Original lyrics by John C. Hunter Jr.
Adapted by Terry Jay Phillips
Hail our alma mater ... Hail the Orange & White
The fairest of South Texas through her days and all her nights
Loyal to each other, forever we’ll be
Partners for the greater good, UTB and TSC
Always foremost in our hearts, no matter where we roam.
We won’t forget South Texas will always be our home.
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Keynote Speaker
Dr. kathy bussert-webb
Kathy Bussert-Webb, Ph.D., has been teaching Literacy Methods classes for more than
10 years in the UTB/TSC College of Education. As the Director of the Center for Civic
Engagement last year, she led the university in applying for the Carnegie Community
Engagement Classification, which it received in January. She helped to put many processes
and structures in place for this prestigious classification, which focuses on reciprocal
community partnerships and curricular engagement.
In the Brownsville community, Bussert-Webb has a long-standing partnership with
Proyecto Juan Diego, an after-school tutorial center in Cameron Park, where she has taught
service-learning classes for the past five years. She also is a long-term partner with the
Brownsville Housing Authority and helped them to receive a 21st Century Texas Education
Agency grant.
Bussert-Webb has presented at many international, state and local conferences and has
published several articles in peer-reviewed journals. She is the Co-Program Chair for
the Service Learning and Experiential Education Special Interest Group of the American
Educational Research Association.
A native of Indiana and the proud daughter of a Hungarian immigrant mother and a
machine repairman, Bussert-Webb received her language-education doctorate from
Indiana University Bloomington. She also was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer for two years
in Honduras and taught reading at Brownsville’s Rivera High School. She and her husband
of nearly 15 years have a 12-year-old daughter, who is an avid reader.
Special Recognition
Program
Alma Mater
Master of Ceremonies Dr. Alan Artibise
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
TM
Athletics
The UTB/TSC Office of Intercollegiate Athletics creates a positive environment that nurtures
personal physical growth, teaches the values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant
leadership and sportsmanship.
Todd Lowery, Athletic Director
Nicole Sereda, Student Athlete
Peter Maldonado, Student Athlete
Welcome Dr. Juliet V. García
President
Alumni Association
Keynote Address Dr. Kathy Bussert-Webb
Associate Professor of Language, Literacy
and Intercultural Studies
Academic Recognitions Dr. Alan Artibise
Outstanding Students by Colleges and Schools
College of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Eldon L. Nelson
and Health Professions Interim Dean
College of Education Dr. Miguel Angel Escotet
Dean
College of Liberal Arts Dr. Daniel Heimmermann
Dean
College of Nursing Dr. Edna Iris Garza-Escobedo
Interim Dean
Chess
The UTB/TSC Chess Program provides the resources, training and support to enable students to
research their full potential in the classroom and at the chessboard. By sharing our knowledge
and experience with area students and coaches and competing at the highest level, we are
taking the leadership role for chess in South Texas and northern Mexico.
Russell Harwood, Chess Director
Ronen Harzvi, Chess Coach
Nadya Karolina Ortiz, Chess Team Member
Mauricio Flores, Chess Team Member
College of Science, Dr. Mikhail M. Bouniaev
Mathematics and Technology Dean
School of Business Dr. Mark Kroll
Dean
Special Recognition Dr. Hilda Silva
Vice President for Student Affairs
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Closing Remarks Dr. Alan Artibise
Refreshments will be served.
School of Business
DR. MARK KROLL, Dean
The banner of the School of Business features a Phoenix, symbolizing the resurrection or
the birth of the new enterprise. It is gold, representing the evaluation of the mind and
generosity to humanity. The dominant green bars represent growth and fertility, the hope
that life may be made better by the enterprise of humans working for humans.
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, Dr. Edith Galy, Associate Professor
Business Administration (master’s)
Arabella Quezada
Accounting (bachelor’s)
Misty Bernal
International Business (bachelor’s)
Linda Dorantes
Management (bachelor’s)
Yu H. Sung
Workforce Leadership and Training (bachelor’s)
Elizabeth Arredondo
Business Administration (associate)
Elizabeth M. Charles
APPLIED BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY, Maggie Solis, Assis. Master Technical Instructor
Accounting Technology (associate)
Maria Macias
Administrative Software Professional (associate) Amanda Montoya
Medical Office Management (associate)
Cynthia K. Rios
Paralegal Studies (associate)
Noe G. Gonzalez-Rojo
College of Science,
Mathematics and Technology
Dr. Mikhail m. Bouniaev, Dean
The banner of the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology features a scallop or venera
at the base, symbolizing the travels to inner and outer worlds scientists must undertake
so that they, too, learn and contribute more to our knowledge of the world. In the upper
portion of the banner, we see the crossed squares upon the titled quadrant, symbolizing the
technologies, both basic and advanced, that humanity must use to build its future. The color
blue dominates all, symbolic of the college’s commitment to truth and loyalty to its disciplines.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, Dr. Michael Lehker, Chair
Biology (master’s)
Nicole Ruiz
Biology (bachelor’s)
Jose Pablo Llongueras
CHEMISTRY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Dr. Gene J. Paull, Chair
Chemistry (bachelor’s) Kali Wallenta
COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCES, Dr. Juan R. Iglesias, Chair
Computer Science (bachelor’s)
Nadya Ortiz
Computer Information Systems Technology (bachelor’s)
Antonio J. Valladares
Computer Information Systems (associate)
Artemio Martinez
Computer Web Development (associate)
Diego Aranda
Computer Information Technology (certificate)
Moises Torres
ENGINEERING, Dr. William M. Berg, Chair
Engineering Physics - Bioengineering (bachelor’s)
Guadalupe Ortega
Engineering Physics - Electrical Engineering (bachelor’s)
Cesar R. Sosa
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, Dr. Immanuel Edinbarough, Interim Director
Residential Electrician, Solar Photovoltaic (associate) Rafael Gobea
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY, Felipe Paredes, Interim Chair
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (certificate)
Javier Calvillo
Auto Mechanics Technology (certificate)
Joe Morgan Cortinas
Commercial Electrician - Small Wind Turbine (certificate)
Hugo C. Becerra
Construction Technology, Green Building (certificate)
Guillermo F. Lash Jr.
Plumbing - Solar Thermal Technology (certificate)
Jose Luis Estrada
MATHEMATICS, Dr. Jerzy Mogilski, Chair
Mathematics (master’s) Liliana Zamfir
Mathematics, 8-12 Teaching (bachelor’s)
David Caldera
Mathematics (bachelor’s)
Mauricio Flores
PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY, Dr. Soma Mukherjee, Chair
Physics (master’s)
Sourabh Nampalliwar
Physics, Biophysics Specialization (bachelor’s)
Alberto Mata
Physics (bachelor’s)
Mauricio Flores
College of Nursing
Dr. Edna Iris Garza-Escobedo, Interim Dean
The banner for the College of Nursing features both a trifoliated Greek cross and a
Roman cross. The cross as a basic design motif has many meanings in many cultures.
The Greek cross symbolizes the four elements of creation: air, earth, fire and water, thus
symbolizing life. The Roman cross carries the additional symbolism of faith and the
ability to bestow a blessing. This cross features the colors apricot, the intercollegiate
color for nursing, and purple, symbolizing compassion. While the black field typically
symbolizes death, the cross of life and of faith rise above it, as nursing must. The lamp
is a symbol of all Florence Nightingale stood for: comfort, kindness, gentleness, courage
and an unswerving devotion to duty.
Nursing, Dr. Katherine Dougherty, Chair
Nursing (master’s)
Alberto Gonzalez
Nursing (bachelor’s)
Celina Cisneros
Nursing (associate)
Wendy Howell
Nursing ADN-LVN, Advanced Placement (associate) Dominique Montez
Vocational Nursing (certificate)
Maria Cortes
College of Biomedical Sciences
and Health Professions
Dr. eldon l. Nelson, Interim Dean
The banner of the College of Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions features the
rising sun, a DNA double-alpha helix, and a caduceus on a background dominated by
the colors green and blue, accentuated by gold. Green represents the medical professions
and the quest to heal and protect mankind from disease. Gold represents the elevation
of the mind through knowledge and service, while blue represents truth and devotion
as the foundation to advance human health. The DNA signifies the principal precept
of the College: unity in diversity. The caduceus is symbolic of medicine and the health
professions, while the rising sun signifies the future promises of education and research.
Allied Health, Eusebio Ortiz, Chair
Health Services Technology (bachelor’s)
Gabriela Adelaida Barajas
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (associate)
Melissa Montiel
Medical Laboratory Technology (associate)
Sheeraz Abusalim
Radiologic Technology (associate)
Rose C. Jordan
Respiratory Care (associate)
Christa B. Wood
College of Education
College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Miguel Angel Escotet, Dean
Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, dean
The banner of the College of Education features the fleurdelis, the flower of the lily or iris,
symbolic of royalty throughout the ages, but in the case of the college, representative of that
most royal of callings, teaching. The three torches represent the three levels of education: the
child, the adolescent and the adult. Their silver colors represent the sincerity that all teachers
must have and the peace that knowledge brings.
The banner of the College of Liberal Arts features a gryphon passant, symbolizing the guarding
of a horde of treasure. In this case, it is the treasure of knowledge, which the college is committed
to protect and dispense. The blue band symbolizes truth, which the college both challenges and
defends. This banner contains colors that are not the traditional colors of heraldry: orange
brown and deep ochre. These earth colors were chosen to symbolize the willingness of scholars
to break from the traditions of the past as a way to build our future.
Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies,
Dr. Steven Chamberlain, Associate Professor
Counseling and Guidance (master’s)
Ricardo A. Vanegas
Early Childhood Education (master’s)
Leticia Olivares
Educational Leadership (master’s)
Obed Leal
Special Education (master’s)
Carlos Martinez
Special Education (bachelor’s)
Gloria Valdez
Child Care and Development (associate)
Elisheba H. Vento de Matus
Health & Human Performance, Dr. Zelma D. Mata, Chair
Kinesiology, EC-12 Teaching (bachelor’s)
Bernardo Rangel
Exercise Science (bachelor’s)
Sonio David Garcia
Language, Literacy & Intercultural Studies,
Dr. David Freeman, Chair
Bilingual Education (master’s)
Elizabeth Cobble
Reading Specialist (master’s)
Rosemary Roberts
Teaching, Learning & Innovation, Dr. Reynaldo Ramirez, Chair
Curriculum and Instruction (doctorate)
Mary Catherine Soto
Curriculum and Instruction (master’s)
Yvette P. Olvera
Educational Technology (master’s)
Elizabeth O’Connor
Bilingual Education Generalist,
EC-4 Teaching (bachelor’s)
Michael S. Padron
ESL Generalist, EC-6 Teaching (bachelor’s)
Margarita L. Moreno
English Language Arts, 4-8 Teaching (bachelor’s) Kathy Hipsher
History, 8-12 Teaching (bachelor’s)
David Smith II
History, 8-12 Teaching (bachelor’s)
Michael E. Aldape
Applied Arts & Sciences (bachelor’s)
Maria Sustaeta
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES , Dr. Diamantina Freeberg, Chair
Psychology (master’s)
Rosa Law
Psychology (bachelor’s)
Dianeth Rodriguez
COMMUNICATION, Dr. John Cook, Associate Professor
Communication (bachelor’s)
Stephanie Caroline Lucas
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Dr. Kevin Buckler, Chair
Police Administration (bachelor’s)
Joaquin Garza
ENGLISH, William H. Harris, Chair
English (master’s)
Alan Oak
English (bachelor’s)
Ruth M. Garza
GOVERNMENT, Dr. Carlos Figueroa, Assistant Professor
Public Policy & Management (master’s)
Jennifer A. Morales
Architecture (certificate)
Luis Jasso
HISTORY, Dr. Helmut Langerbein, Chair
History (master’s)
Elizabeth Carr
History (bachelor’s)
Michael E. Aldape
MODERN LANGUAGES, Dr. Dania Lopez-Garcia, Chair
Spanish (master’s)
Juanita Moya
Spanish Translation (master’s)
Andrea Figueroa
Spanish Translation and Interpreting (master’s)
August Lovegren
Spanish, EC-12 Teaching (bachelor’s)
Andrea Castellanos
Spanish (bachelor’s)
Marta Ballina
Spanish Translation and Interpreting (bachelor’s) Ivan Torres
Spanish Translation (associate) Moroni Puga
MUSIC, Dr. Sue Zanne W. Urbis, Chair
Music Education (master’s)
Amy Werst
Music (bachelor’s)
Anubis Avalos
Instrumental (bachelor’s)
Joseph Sanchez
Voice (bachelor’s)
Cristian Torres
Keyboard (bachelor’s)
Eradio Martinez
VISUAL ARTS, Dr. Bret Lefler, Chair
Art (associate)
Jose Antonio De Luna Jr.
Art (bachelor’s)
Xochilth Rafaela Roman
Art, EC-12 Teaching (bachelor’s)
Andrea Morales