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...electronic news and information about SPC people and events.
OCTOBER 23 , 2000 EDITION
"The
man who deosn't stand for something will fall for anything."
(Peter
Marshall)
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PTK GROUP HONORS ADMINISTRATOR Members of
the Texas Tech alumni |
Former Tech President Donald Haragan Speaks at SPC The Danube, Ganges, Nile, Niger, Mekong and Colorado Rivers are just a few of the great rivers in the world where controversy swirls around water, an element basic to life on earth. Dr. Donald Haragan, who received the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday night at South Plains College for his service to Phi Theta Kappa, talked about the importance of water in his keynote address to 70 initiates into SPC's Kappa Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa chapter. He spoke on PTK's 2000-2001 honors study topic, "In the Midst of Water: Origin and Destiny of Life." "We are only able to use one half of one percent of the earth's available water," said Haragan, president emeritus and professor of atmospheric sciences in the honors college at Texas Tech. "A total of 97 percent of water is sea water, and another two percent is locked in glaciers." As population increases, water use rises. Countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia have a shortage of water, and their survival is at stake," he said. "Agriculture in the United States is the major consumer of water, followed by factories, oil and manufacturing," Haragan said. "Household use is about 10 percent of the available water in the U.S. The issue is not only the quantity but the quality and purity of water." But he said there are seeds of hope. Countries like Japan have learned to use less water, and efforts are increasing in desalinization and cloud-seeding to enhance rainfall. During the ceremony, Dr. Haragan was presented a medallion symbolizing the international award by Robin Seale, 1999 president of SPC's Kappa Mu chapter and currently executive vice president of the Delta of Texas PTK alumni chapter at Texas Tech. He received the award for outstanding service to PTK. "Dr. Haragan has displayed an earnest interest in Phi Theta Kappa and he has always understood the value of two-year college transfer students and especially those who were Phi Theta Kappa graduates," said Gary Poffenbarger, associate professor of English at SPC and PTK chapter sponsor. "He has always encouraged students to learn as much as they can about the world." As a professor of atmospheric sciences, dean and later president of Texas Tech University, Dr. Haragan has been a strong supporter of Phi Theta Kappa, Poffenbarger said. Dr. Haragan has been a strong advocate of the Texas Tech honors transfer program which rewards Phi Theta Kappa and other honors students with scholarships and other benefits. He also has served as a major supporter of the Delta of Texas Alumni chapter of Phi theta Kappa at Texas Tech. Dr. Haragan was nominated for the international award by SPC's Kappa Mu chapter and the PTK alumni organization at Texas Tech. |
Self-Study Steering Committee Seeks Volunteers for Principal Study Committees
The Self-Study Steering Committee has appointed chairpersons to principal study committees in the first step to organize the college's self-study for reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
The Steering Committee is now seeking faculty and staff who are willing to serve on one of six principal committees.
Interested volunteers may respond to the call to participate in the self-study via email at selfstudy@southplainscollege.edu.
Gary Poffenbarger, self-study director and associate professor of English, said departmental chairpersons and others would be asked this week to nominate individuals to serve on committees.
"Our self-study must include broad-based participation by all groups at the college," said Poffenbarger. "We will be working this fall or organize the principal committees and appoint membership to these groups."
Steering
Committee members will chair the principal committees as follows:
Frances Bly,
chair of the Committee on Institutional Purpose
Larry Nichols, chair of the Committee on Institutional Effectiveness
Jill Moore and Claudine Oliver, co-chairs of the Committee on Educational Programs
Donneva Crowell, chair of the Committee on Faculty
Julie Johnson, chair of the Committee on Educational Support Services
Dr. Ron Carden, chair of the Committee on Administrative Processes
Each principal committee will consist of 15 to 18 members and will be organized into sub-committees that will be assigned different sections of the SACS Criteria for Accreditation.
"Everyone at SPC will have the opportunity to contribute to the self-study either directly or indirectly," said Poffenbarger.
One of the first tasks of the Steering Committee is to develop a procedural manual that will guide the college's self-study. That project is scheduled to be completed by December.
Every 10 years, South Plains College is required to undergo a self-study in preparation for reaffirmation of its accreditation with the SACS Commission on Colleges. College personnel will spend the next 18 months evaluating the college against the criteria for accreditation.
Throughout the self-study project, COMMlines will serve as a source of information about study activities and progress.
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Lozano to Become Secretary for Associate Dean of Information Technology Olga Lozano, an employee of the college for five years, will transfer Nov. 1 to the position of secretary to the associate dean of information technology. She had served as secretary to the dean of admissions and records |
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Blair Transfers to Business Office Nanette Blair, departmental secretary in the Math and Engineering Department for the past three years, has transferred this month to the Business Office as an accounting clerk. She has been employed at the college for seven years. |
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Nichole
Beltran Nichole Beltran's counter job this past summer in the Financial Aid Office at SPC changed her career. She joined SPC Oct. 9 as a financial aid advisor on the Levelland campus. Nichole had initially thought about a career in the medical field after graduating from Levelland High School in 1995. She took a course in phlebotomy from SPC the following year to get her foot in the door. She worked about a year as a phlebotomist at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. She had been a work-study student in the Financial Aid Office during her phlebotomy studies and decided to return to school full-time. She worked this past summer at the counter for the office and decided to pursue a degree in business toward a career. "As a work-study, I really liked what I was doing and had the opportunity to come back and work full-time. I really enjoyed the office atmosphere," said Nichole. She is taking an accounting class and will take evening classes next spring toward a four-year degree in business. A native of Ballinger, she grew up in Winters and moved to Levelland 11 years ago. She and husband Juan Jaime have a daughter, Aliza Jade Jaime, 16 months. |
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Steve
Green Steve Green has been hired as the new South Plains College head men's basketball coach. "We're really excited and happy to find a person of his experience available at this time of year for us," SPC athletic director Joe Tubb said. "We really think he can get us back on track." Steve comes to SPC after a year at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi as an assistant coach. In the program's first year of existence, the Islanders were 13-13 in 1999-2000. Before joining the Islanders, Steve was an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at San Diego State for five years. While having experience at the NCAA Division I level, Steve has been previously known for leading other WJCAC teams to national success. At Midland College from 1991-1994, he led the Chaparrals to a 73-24 mark while leading the squad to three straight years in the top 10 national rankings. He also guided the Chaps to a Region V title and was named Region V Coach of the Year during the 1993-1994 season. Before his time in Midland, Steve coached another WJCAC team, Howard College, from 1988-1991. In his time with the Hawks, he tallied an 81-19 record while winning a Region V title and Coach of the Year award in the 1990-1991 season. He earned his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma Christian College in 1977 and his master's degree from Sul Ross in 1997. He and his wife, Theresa, have two sons, Blake and Justin. |
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Terri
Mahaffey Terri Mahaffey combines people and managerial skills in her new job as secretary to Dr. Pat Tyrer, associate dean of continuing education and workforce development at the ATC. She fields numerous questions and telephone calls, handles certificates for class attendance, helps set up computer classes and courses for the Lubbock County Community Correctional Facility, and short courses such as beginning golf, quilting and photography. "It's varied; there's never a dull moment," she said. She has had a varied career. A Lubbock native, Terri spent part of her time in California and moved back to Lubbock in junior high and graduated from Cooper High School in 1975. She worked as an escrow assistant for West Texas Title in Lubbock and worked in human resources for Amarillo Brace and Limb from 1990-97. In the meantime, she studied business management at Metro Business Academy in Amarillo and medical technology at Amarillo College. She opened up a artificial brace and limb company, Mahaffey Orthotics in Amarillo from 1997 until this year. She enjoyed helping people. Terri has since returned to Lubbock to raise two daughters, Melanie, 13, and Haylee, 11. She has translated her people-skills to the ATC. "I love working with people," Terri said. "They are my forte." |
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Mackinzee
Pate Mackinzee Pate, who joined SPC Oct. 9 as secretary to the registrar on the Levelland Campus, has enjoyed college life both as a student and staff member. A Littlefield native, she graduated from Littlefield High School in 1995, moved to Levelland with her family and as an English major took a variety of classes at SPC. "I took a lot of classes for fun," she said. She later took English courses at Texas Tech University, worked two years as a customer service representative for Convergys Corp. in Lubbock and worked a year as student coordinator for American Commercial College in Lubbock. She scheduled classes, tracked grades, handled academic probation and satisfactory progress. "I enjoyed my job but hated the commute," Mackinzee said. She had little time to spend with her son, Jack Isaac Escamilla, now 18 months. The job at SPC seemed ideal. "It sounded like I would enjoy it and it was just down the street," she said. In her new role, Mackinzee helps with dual credit and continuing education classes, pre-registration and registration and other tasks. |
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Christine
Tafoya Christine Tafoya is now on the other side of the counter. SPC's newest attendance clerk in the Office of Admissions and Records went back to school in 1993 at SPC to update her skills. She took classes off and on for four years and graduated with an associate of applied science degree in 1997 in administrative secretary. A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Christine and her family moved to Lubbock, where she graduated from Lubbock High School in 1972. She later moved to Levelland and has been a resident for 24 years. Christine had initially thought about pursuing a nursing career and took nursing courses at Texas Tech University. After working two years as a unit secretary at Methodist Hospital, however, she decided not to go into the health field and instead to stay home full-time to raise her children. Jason and Matthew are now adults, Phillip, 16, is a junior at Levelland High School, and Jessica, 13, is an eighth-grader at Levelland Junior High. Christine later worked a variety of temporary jobs -- at a managed care center, Trupenny Tax Center during tax season and SPC's bookstore during fall registration. But she wanted a permanent job and saw the job opening through the Internet. She now handles drop slips, transcripts and proof of attendance for insurance purposes in the Office of Admissions and Records on the Levelland Campus. "I have wanted to work for a long time at South Plains College," she said "I hope to stay." |
Pickin' On the
Plains
Thur., Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m., Tom T. Hall Performance Center
Saturday Night
Special
Sat., Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m., Tom T. Hall Performance Center.
Cost is $5 for senior citizens and $6 general admission. Proceeds will be used for scholarships.
SPC to Host Big Band Dance Saturday
Music from the 1940s and 50s swing era of the Big Bands will resonate from the South Plains College campus when the SPC Jazz Band and South Plains Dance Orchestra host a Big Band Dance Saturday to benefit music scholarships.
The event will occur from 8-11 p.m. in the Sundown Room of the Student Center on SPC's Levelland campus.
The SPC Jazz Band will play the first set of the night. Songs will include "Embraceable You," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Big Noise from Winnetka."
Dr. Bruce Keeling, professor of music, directs the 21-member band composed of SPC students.
For the final two sets of the night, the South Plains Dance Orchestra will perform.
The 18-member orchestra is comprised of SPC music faculty, former faculty and students, retired public school band directors, musicians and vocalists from different walks of life. The orchestra is directed by Jon Johnson, chairman of the Fine Arts Department.
The group will perform Big Band classics from Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and many other musicians of the era.
"There are some really great dancers out there," Keeling said. "We always have a lot of senior citizens who come and can really show off their dancing skills. And the event helps to benefit the students."
Along with dancing, Keeling said people are welcome to come and just listen to the music.
Admission is $12 per couple or $6 per person. Light refreshments will be provided for all who attend the event.
Proceeds benefit the Wilburn and Helen Wheeler Music Scholarship and the Fred and Bettye Harris Scholarship funds.
For more information, contact the Fine Arts Department at (806) 894-9611, ext. 2261.
Say Happy Birthday to the following SPC employees who have something to celebrate this week.
| Oct. 23 | Denny Barnes, Betty Lack |
| Oct. 24 | Rafael Aguilera |
| Oct. 25 | Stan Smith |
| Oct. 26 | Jerry Gilmer, Suzanne Griffin, John Hartin |
| Oct. 27 | Jill Berset |
| Oct. 28 | Christy Dockery |
| Oct. 30 | Jay Lemon, Martha Marsh, Janna Menges |
| Oct. 31 | Cindy Scott |
Painting by SPC Professor Selected for Magazine
Nearly 30 paintings by Lynette Watkins, assistant professor of art, are currently featured in a one-woman show at Levelland's Bank One this month before going on the road Nov. 2-5 to the Weems Gallery Art Fest in Albuquerque, N.M.
Watkins has 27 oils, watercolors, mixed media and collages on display. One oil painting, a 48' by 60' piece titled "Sanctuary," has been selected for an appearance in the November issue of Southwest Art.
Bank lobby hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays. The paintings will be on exhibit in Levelland through Oct. 31.
The exhibit includes the Sanctuary series, based on Watkins' reflections of a site near a summer home in Ruidoso, N.M., and At the River's Edge series, based on the Biblical story of Elijah and the brook Kerith.
A number of her paintings were inspired by studies she made two years ago in Europe of cathedrals and famous art sites.
Her paintings will also be part of a Lubbock Arts Alliance Gallery Tour Nov. 11-12 at an artist's studio and residence at 2508 20th St. in Lubbock. The exhibit will include paintings by Janet Bybel and Gale Webb.
Watkins will soon have a web-site address of www.lynettewatkins.com and her first on-line art gallery.
Carr, Munde Songs Featured on CD
Joe Carr and Alan Munde, associate professors of music, have a song featured on a CD produced by Texas Highways titled Under the Texas Sky: Songs from Texas Highways Magazine.
Munde plays banjo and Carr plays guitar and mandolin and sings on "Texas Blues," a song made famous by Bob Wills.
The 12-song collection is produced by Rounder Records and pays tribute to the spirit of the Lone Star State. Other featured artists are Johnny Gimble, the Cox Family, Tish Hinojosa, Nanci Griffith and Riders in the Sky.
The CD sells for $12.98 and can be ordered from Texas Highways, P.O. Box 149233, Austin, Texas 78714, 1-800 839 4997.
Munde and Carr are also working on a music CD for children and recently helped Andy Wilkinson complete a CD of country Christmas songs.
SPC Fields First Meats Judging Team
South Plains College is fielding the first Meats Judging Team in its 43-year history this fall, a move that could increase marketability for students who want to pursue a career in the livestock industry.
"We are thrilled, for the first time, to be able to offer a meats judging program for students throughout the West Texas area and beyond," said Jim Jenkins, professor of agriculture who helped launch the new team. "This will give young people an avenue to compete in meats and/or livestock judging, increase their competitiveness and their marketability to future employers."
Joe David Lehmberg, 22, the team's coach, is an SPC graduate who came up with the idea for the program.
Lehmberg had competed successfully on SPC's livestock judging team and was a member of the 1999 national champion meats judging team at Texas Tech.
"I enjoyed my time on the livestock judging team at SPC and I thought it would be a way to give something back to the college," said Lehmberg.
The students have access to the meats coolers in the Texas Tech meat lab facility for training and have also taken field trips to Plainview's Excel plant and to practice contests at the Amarillo IBP plant.
Business Teachers of District 17 Texas Business Education Association to Meet Saturday
Area high school and college business teachers will be attending the District 17 Texas Business Education Association fall meeting, Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Byron Martin ATC in Lubbock.
The purpose of the organization is to promote better business education in Texas and in the nation. Dianne Bridges, professor of office technology, serves as president of the district organization. The theme for the meeting is "Shopping for New Ideas." The speaker will be Connie McCullough, director of contracts and grants at the Reese Technology Center.
Library to be Closed Tuesday-Thursday
The library will be closed Tue., Oct. 24 - Thur., Oct. 27 for reautomation. The library is installing a new catalog system and the entire staff will be trained for the new system during this time. The computer lab on the second floor will remain open but access to the rest of the library's materials will not be available. The library will be open in the evenings from 5:00-9:30 p.m. on October 24, 25 and 26. For questions, call David Drake at ext. 2302.
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