Spotlight: Tree Campus USA

Texas State decks the hills with trees
as new Tree Campus USA honoree

Freshmen Kaylee Seahorn, center, and Haleigh Barfield, left, helps plant a tree at the Tree Campus USA ceremony, held on campus Nov. 30.

Texas State University is one of four universities to receive the Tree Campus USA designation this fall from the Arbor Day Foundation. The selection honors colleges and universities that promote healthy urban forest management and engage the campus community in environmental stewardship. In celebration of the milestone, the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota — co-creators and sponsors of the Tree Campus USA program — granted 71 trees to the Texas State campus, teaming up with students to plant the trees during a ceremony held Wednesday, Nov. 30, near the Speck Street Garage on the west side of campus.

University President Denise Trauth voiced her support of the Tree Campus USA initiative during the tree-planting ceremony.

“I expect this designation will raise our awareness of the urban forest around us and help us appreciate — even more than we already do — the beauty and environmental role of our trees,” Trauth said. “We are proud to be among the first campuses in Texas to receive it.”

Happenings: Holiday Season at Texas State

Bobcats bake up holiday spirit in Gingerbread House Contest

By Catherine Harper

Each holiday season, Bobcats gather to deck the halls with boughs of holly, tinsel and gingerbread — houses, that is. Starting Monday, Nov. 28, through Thursday, Dec. 1, Texas State’s University Bookstore will host the 10th annual Gingerbread House Contest to fire up the holiday spirit among students, faculty and the community.

The Gingerbread House Contest starts off the season of festive events at Texas State, leading up to the University Bookstore’s Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Happenings: World AIDS Day

Texas State celebrates ‘Peace, Love, and Latex’ on World AIDS Day

From Health Promotion Services

Texas State University’s Health Promotion Services and peer education team, The Network, will bring awareness to the global AIDS epidemic on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center mall area. “Peace, Love and Latex” will be the theme of the event to increase awareness about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and prevention strategies and to reduce stigma and misinformation associated with the virus.

Happenings: Moonlight Breakfast

Moonlight Breakfast serves up egg-cellent study break for Bobcats

Texas State faculty prepare and serve breakfast favorites to students at the Moonlight Breakfast.

By Catherine Harper

With books stacked high and tension even higher, finals week at Texas State is a stressful time for students. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, students can blow off steam before finals at Texas State’s annual Moonlight Breakfast — yes, breakfast at night — at Jones Food Court from 9-11 p.m.

For nearly 30 years, the Moonlight Breakfast has served as a staple for students to unwind with friends over a comforting morning meal cooked and served by Texas State faculty and staff.

Happenings: Coat and Blanket Drive

Texas State helps homeless
through Bobcat Blanket Drive

Donate new blankets and gently used or new coats, hats and gloves to the Bobcat Blanket Drive, held on campus Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

By Billi London-Gray

The recent spell of balmy November days soon will give way to the temperamental chill of Texas winter. For homeless individuals who spend all their nights outside, the cold isn’t just uncomfortable — it can be life threatening.

The Bobcat Blanket Drive, sponsored by the Psychology Department and the Health Psychology Graduate Program, is one way the Texas State community can help these imperiled neighbors weather the winter months with greater comfort and health. Scheduled from Monday, Nov. 28, to Friday, Dec. 2, the drive will collect blankets and winter outerwear on behalf of Front Steps and the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH).

Happenings: Official Ring Ceremony

Official Ring Ceremony honors           gilded Texas State tradition

By Catherine Harper

Texas State class rings are dipped in a fountain of waters from the San Marcos River.

With its unique design and rich tradition, Texas State University’s class ring represents a university experience like no other. Next week, Bobcat seniors are invited to share in the shining tradition and history of the Official Ring Ceremony.

Since Texas State’s founding in 1899, the university has passed its unique legacy to its students. The Official Ring Ceremony, to be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in Strahan Coliseum, commemorates this legacy with the receiving and dipping of class rings as well as the opportunity to share the pride of the Bobcat experience.

Study Tips: Extra Helpings

Minimize the tryptophan naps to
maximize preparation for finals

Thanksgiving turkey is delicious; acing your class will taste even better.

By Billi London-Gray

Thanksgiving Break gives Texas State students an extra helping of time to prepare for fall finals. Between visiting with Grandma and chillaxing with a plate of leftovers, carve out opportunities to work on your final projects and study. Make the most of the three-day respite from classes with these study tips.

Rising Stars: Karen Chisum

Chisum, in last Southland season,
earns acclaim, honors — and wins

Texas State volleyball coach Karen Chisum (center) is in her 32nd season as coach of the Bobcat team. Flanking her are players Caleigh McCorquodale (left) and Amber Calhoun.

By Mary Kincy

Karen Chisum counts it a privilege to be a Bobcat. “It’s not a right,” she explains. “Everyone doesn’t get to. You’re recruited out there to perform, to exceed expectations and to be successful.”

It’s advice she’s taken to heart during the course of more than three decades as coach of the Texas State volleyball team, earning a record that ranks her the sixth-winningest active head coach in NCAA Division I volleyball.

Chisum’s accomplishments were honored recently when she was named to the 2011 class of Distinguished Alumni Award recipients at Texas State (She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the university in the 1970s.). Further acclaim came in mid-November, when the Southland Conference league office named Chisum its Coach of the Year following a 24-7 (15-1 in the Southland) record over the season that earned the 2011 team the program’s sixth Southland Conference regular season championship.

Happenings: Last Bobcat Day of 2011

Bobcat Day gives future students
inside look at Texas State life

University Ambassadors welcome future students to Bobcat Day and lead many of the day's activities.

Bobcat Days welcome prospective freshmen and transfer students to experience Texas State. Held twice each semester, these day-long events give interested students and their guests the opportunity to explore the campus and talk one-on-one with current students, faculty and staff.

The final Bobcat Day for 2011 will be this Saturday, Nov. 19, at the San Marcos campus. Subsequent Bobcat Days will be held Feb. 25 and Apr. 21, 2012. You can register online by clicking here or register the morning of the event when you arrive on campus. All Bobcat Day activities are free.

Happenings: Poetry Readings

Honors College shines spotlight
on San Marcos, university poets

These illustrations by Crockett Elementary School students were created in the "Teaching Poetry to Children" Honors College program.

The Honors College at Texas State University will host a pair of poetry events this week, featuring both poets from local elementary classrooms and established writers from the university community.

For six weeks, Texas State Honors students in professor Diann McCabe’s “Teaching Poetry to Children” class have made weekly visits to Crockett Elementary School in San Marcos to present poetry sessions to 19 first- through fifth-grade classes. The aim of the Tuesday morning sessions is to introduce poetry to children through reading great poetry and encouraging students to write their own poems in response. The results are 19 books of children’s poetry, written by the San Marcos students and compiled by the Honors undergraduates who presented the poetry sessions.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., young poets from these classes will read their favorite poems at the Hispanic Cultural Center in San Marcos, located at 211 Lee Street.