Torchlite
February 2010 For a printable version, click
here.
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| Renee Flores, executive director, AT&T external affairs, and Sam Ehrlich, TLU director of corporate and church relations, admire the AT&T Art Collection during the exhibit’s opening reception in January. The collection, which is a significant gift from AT&T to the university, is composed of 13 paintings, sculptures, and prints by ethnically diverse artists. After the exhibit closes at the end of February, the pieces will be on permanent display throughout the TLU campus. |
TLU Today
Leading modern composer at TLU – Composer and pianist Ricky Ian Gordon is the TLU 2010 Artist in Residence, March 1-3. Gordon, a leading writer of vocal music that spans art song, opera, and musical theater, will share his expertise with students and present a recital and conversation featuring TLU students at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 2, in Ayers Recital Hall of the Schuech Fine Arts Center.
On Wednesday, March 3, TLU presents, “In Recital: Ricky Ian Gordon & Guest Artists.” The 7 p.m. program, also in Ayers Recital Hall, will feature guest artists and TLU alumni Lori Bade and Rachel Fry, along with Laurie Jenschke, John Seesholtz, and Laurel Thomas.
Both programs and free and open to the public.
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| Briehl |
Hein Fry Lecture – Rev. Susan Briehl will present the 2010 Hein Fry Lecture at 1:30 p.m., Feb. 12 in the Chapel of the Abiding Presence on the TLU Campus. The annual Hein-Fry Lecture Series, the premier endowed theological lectureship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, identifies key theological issues facing the church and offers lectures that stimulate inquiry and discussion of those issues not only at the eight ELCA seminaries but throughout the church.
The Hein-Fry lecture topic for 2010 is "Hearing the Word: Teaching the Bible in the Parish and Beyond." The hope for these presentations is that they will raise awareness about the many ways the Lutheran churches have traditionally taught the Bible as well as offer innovative contemporary approaches to teaching the Bible that Lutherans might use today.
Heather Hansen, TLU instructor of theology and Southwest Texas Synod youth ministry coordinator, will give the response to Briehl’s lecture on behalf of the university.
Esther Menn to speak on Jewish-Christian Relations – The public is invited to a symposium Feb. 22 with Dr. Esther Menn, professor of Old Testament and director of advanced studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; and Dr. Darrell Jodock, Drell and Adeline Bernhardson Distinguished Professor of Religion at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. The two scholars will share share their experiences, insights, and visions for the future of Jewish-Christian Dialogue and Relations in the student-initiated Theology Symposium at 7 p.m., Feb. 22 in TLU’s Tschoepe Hall.
Day of the Dogs, TLU’s annual day of service will take place Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. to noon. TLU students, faculty, staff and alumni will join together as a community to provide a city-wide day of service to over thirty organizations in town. Service projects ranging from highway clean up to working with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Seguin Day Care Center will be worked by diverse clubs, groups and organizations within the TLU community.
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Lucky's Pack
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| Left to right, Scott Carleton ’84, Director of Alumni Relations Taylor Carleton ’97, Greg Gunderson ’83, and Coach Bill Sweda enjoy the spread at the annual Alumni Gold Rush basketball game. (Photo by Drew Engelke) |
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Growing and Giving
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| Charles Vestal, development officer, accepts a 2000 Cadillac from TLU Corporation Board member Jo Powell Murphy. In addition to gifts of cash and stock, TLU development staff frequently works with donors who bequest tangible items. Along with the Cadillac, other recent donations include a bronze bulldog statue from alumnus Weldon Kuretsch ’62 and a mineral collection from collector and friend Lloyd Tate. |
Front Row with Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Verne Lundquist will be Feb. 16 at the Westin Park Central Hotel, 12720 Merit Drive in Dallas. The two most successful quarterbacks in the history of the Dallas Cowboys will share the stage with CBS-TV sportscaster and TLU alumnus and regent Verne Lundquist, who will conduct a live, on-stage interview with the celebrity athletes about their careers and other sports-related topics. The evening includes a VIP reception, dinner, and live and silent auctions.
Front Row is an annual fundraising gala benefitting TLU’s 14 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics teams. Since its inception in 2004, the event has raised more than $350,000. For more information or to purchase tickets/tables, contact the development office at 830-372-8030.
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Scoreboard
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| Reporters at a well-attended press conference in January ask questions of Danny Padron, Texas Lutheran’s newly named head football coach. |
New Football Coach – TLU introduced Danny Padron as its new head football coach at a press conference Jan. 11 in San Antonio. Padron succeeds Dennis Parker, who stepped down as coach following the 2009 season. The Bulldogs were 0-10 in 2009 and 6-24 in Parker's three years with the team.
Padron confirmed that his son Andy, an assistant football coach at O'Connor and former collegiate quarterback at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, would be joining him at TLU. After the formal portion of the press conference, held in Pearl Studio at the Historic Pearl Brewery, Coach Padron also acknowledged the hiring of Cuero High School head football coach Mark Reeve.
"We're all very excited about the challenges that lie ahead, and we're ready to go to work," said Padron. "And although there are no guarantees of success, we will guarantee that we will be one of the best conditioned and best prepared teams in the conference, a team that the university and the Seguin community can be proud of - on and off the field.
Padron recently completed his eighth season as the head football coach and athletic coordinator at San Antonio's Sandra Day O'Connor High School. Padron was 65-30 overall as the head coach at O'Connor. He was the 2003 San Antonio Express-News "San Antonio Area Coach of the Year."
In 2003, Padron led O'Connor to the Class 5A state quarterfinal round. He coached O'Connor to the 2004 and 2005 regional finals and to the 2006 and 2007 area finals. The Panthers were district champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
"We are very disappointed that Coach Padron is leaving O'Connor, but we certainly understand," said Dr. John Folks, superintendent of Northside Independent School District. "It is a great opportunity, and we wish him the best.
"Coach Padron is a great football coach, but more importantly he is a man of great integrity. He teaches kids about much more than football. He is in the business of developing good young men. I don't think TLU could have found a better individual to lead their football program, and not only to lead their football program but also to set the right example for the young men that are in the football program."
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Happenings
Corpus Christi Alumni and Friends Gathering Feb. 3
Executive Surf Club, 309 N. Water Street
Day of the Dogs
Service Projects in Seguin Feb. 6
TLU Sunday Feb. 14
New Life Lutheran Church
Pearland
Dallas Alumni and Friends Gathering Feb. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Houlihan’s, 5225 Belt Line Road, Suite 220
Front Row with Verne Lundquist, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman Feb. 16, 6:30p.m.
Westin Park Central Hotel
Rodeo Night Feb. 20
San Antonio
Annual Rabbi Stahl Lecture Feb. 24
Timmerman Room
Hein Dining Hall
TLU Film Night in Austin Feb. 25
Scholtz Beer Garten, 1607 San Jacinto
Join TLU and alum Chris Elley as we host the screening of his two films, “Ghost Town” and “Barbecue: A Texas Love Story”
Cost $7 includes entry, food, and non-alcoholic drinks
TLU Band Concert 7:30 p.m., Feb. 26
Jackson Auditorium
African American Alumni Gathering Feb. 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dunne Conference Center, TLU Campus
Endowed Scholarship Lunch Feb. 27, noon
Hein Dining Hall
C.R.E.W. with Shabach Gospel Choir 7 p.m., Feb. 27
Wupperman Little Theatre
Rockets Game 6 p.m., March 3
Houston
In Recital: Ian Gordon & Guest Artists 7 p.m., March 3
Ayers Recital Hall
Schuech Fine Arts Center
For more information on these and other TLU events, to update your contact information, or to receive e-mail notification of
Torchlite, please e-mail
alumni@tlu.edu, or call 830-372-8026.
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