Alumni: Wayne Oquin

Grad gives back through annual performance collaboration

By David King

Wayne Oquin directs students at Texas State.

The sound of teenage musicians, rehearsing as part of a summer orchestra camp, creeps through the walls of Gaila Raymer’s office in Evans Auditorium.

The air conditioner hums a white noise in the cavernous, cinderblock-walled room. The office of the production manager is home to everything from event posters to random theatrical props to odd pieces of who-knows-what.

There’s also an overstuffed couch, fronted with a cluttered coffee table. This summer afternoon, Wayne Oquin is resting on the couch, wearing a T-shirt and shorts and talking softly about topics ranging from his days of 30-credit-hour semesters to hearing Reverie, his composition for the organ, performed on National Public Radio.

Happenings: 13th Annual Feria Del Mariachi

13th Annual Feria Del Mariachi
fires up culture at Texas State

The Texas State University School of Music will host the 13th annual Feria del Mariachi conference and festival March 2-3 at various venues in San Marcos.

Tickets for the event are $5 for students with valid Texas State identification, $15 for general admission, $20 for preferred seating and $50 for the Noche de Gala Dinner and preferred seating during the Feria del Mariachi concert.

The two-day list of festivities includes a mariachi competition for middle school, high school and college-level ensembles at San Marcos High School that is free to the public, workshops on vocal and instrumental techniques, a clinic with the international award-winning group Mariachi 7 Leguas and a concert featuring both Mariachi 7 Leguas and Texas State University’s Mariachi Nueva Generacion. The finale concert will take place at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in San Marcos and will be hosted by celebrity master of ceremonies Valente Rodriguez of the “George Lopez” show.

Study Tips: Use Your Professor

Got questions? Professors are
your best resource for answers

Professor Tom Grimes, author of the book Mentor: A Memoir, helps a Texas State student with her work.

By Texas State SLAC

It can be difficult to converse with professors before or after class. There may be too little time because the professor may have to go to another building, or another class may be waiting outside.

That’s why professors designate office hours to meet students outside of classes. Yet many professors say few students use this time. Take advantage of their willingness to help. Your professor may be formal in class but friendly and approachable one-to-one.

Happenings: Job Search Bootcamp

Atten-tion! Job Search Boot Camp trains Bobcats to tackle success

It's time to start your search!

Job searching can be as tiring as scrambling over an obstacle course. On Tuesday, Feb. 28, train yourself to endure the process — and see success — at the Job Search Boot Camp with Texas State’s Career Services from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.

Are  you ready for the challenge?

At Tuesday’s event, hear from employers about the importance of interviewing, professional dress, résumé writing and social media networking. Once you’ve been through all the stations, you’ll have the opportunity to execute what you’ve learned by speed interviewing with employers.

What can you do to prepare for the Job Search Boot Camp as well as your job search? See some resources below, and good luck, Bobcats!

Happenings: 24th Annual Comm Week

Hear us roar: Comm Week 2012 invites Bobcats to find their voice

By Catherine Harper

How important are strong communication skills for your career? How does music communicate emotions to make us laugh and cry? And why are good first impressions so important?

From Feb. 27 to March 2, answer these questions — and more — at Texas State’s 24th Annual Comm Week featuring speakers from all over the nation.

From hard-hitting issues — such as humane animal treatment, homosexuality and 9/11 — to obstacles we encounter everyday, Texas State’s 2012 Comm Week invites Texas State students, faculty and the community to speak out on topics of communication with a  full schedule of events.

All events are free and open to the public.

Spotlight: Flowing Waters

Partnership program brings Texas State students into local classrooms

By Mary Kincy

Students examine slides under microscopes as part of a Flowing Waters exercise.

A partnership between Texas State and the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is changing the way middle- and high-school students in San Marcos schools understand science — and just in the nick of time.

Studies show students in the U.S. are lagging in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and Flowing Waters is a hands-on program designed to engage students in the sciences, offering avenues of approach that promote interest and inspiration.

Each year, Flowing Waters places eight Texas State doctoral students in San Marcos schools, where these “resident scientists” encourage students to ask and answer their own questions using the scientific method.

Holidays: Presidents Day

Happy Birthday, George Washington! Presidents Day honors forefathers

George Washington wants YOU to have a great Presidents Day! (Portrait by Gilbert Stuart Williamstown)

What do you think of when you hear the name George Washington? A couple of things may come to mind: cherry trees, crossing the Delaware, wooden teeth and, of course, his role as the first president of the United States of America. We can attribute much of America’s success as a nation to the leadership of Washington and his successors, so we honor presidents past and present on Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday of February.

Also known as Presidents Day, the federal holiday was originally instated in 1879 to honor Washington’s Feb. 22 birthday. Since then, it has expanded in scope to become a day that recognizes the contributions of all 44 presidents — including President Lyndon Baines Johnson, a member of the Texas State University class of 1930.

Find out more about the history behind this holiday below.