Torchlite

April 2008
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Construction is underway on the new AT&T Science Facility, which is located between Moody Science Building and the statue of Martin Luther near the Beck Center.  The three-story science building will be 9,000 square feet, including a 3,000 square foot basement.  Completion is expected in time for the Spring 2009 semester.

 

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In This Issue TLU Today Scoreboard Happenings

TLU Today

Provost to retire – Dr. John T. Masterson has announced his plans to retire as Texas Lutheran University executive vice president and provost, effective May 31, 2008. He will be TLU’s special commencement speaker during the university’s 2008 Spring Commencement ceremonies, May 10 beginning at 7 p.m.

For nine years Masterson has served as the university’s chief academic officer and has supervised TLU’s student life, athletics, library, campus ministry and information technology divisions.  He has worked with TLU’s faculty and staff to restructure the curriculum, design a new first-year program, develop a coordinated program of academic support, establish a Center for Professional Development, and create the Moline Center for Servant Leadership. He also has regularly taught a freshman class in communication studies.

“Throughout his tenure, Dr. Masterson has initiated, developed and completed significant improvements in each division,” said TLU President Ann M. Svennungsen. She explained that Masterson had shared his original intention to retire at an earlier date, but because of the timing of the retirement of President Jon Moline last year, he agreed to stay through the transition and the university’s reaccreditation process in 2007.

“I thank Dr. Masterson for the expertise, wisdom and collegiality he has so generously shared with me during my first year at TLU.  I am most grateful to him for this expression of loyalty to TLU and its mission,” Svennungsen said.  “He leaves the school a better place.”

Choir Tour – TLU’s choral department will present “Peace I Leave With You,” its 2008 Spring Choir Tour, April 3-8.  This year’s tour locations include performances at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1210 West Beltline Road, Richardson, on Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.; First Lutheran Church, 3901 Bill Owens Parkway, Longview, on Friday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 200 West Anderson Lane, Austin, on Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m.; and the Gibson Memorial Concert to be held at TLU’s Chapel of the Abiding Presence on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. The tour also includes performances at an Alzheimer’s center in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

"We look forward to Spring Tour each year because it provides us the opportunity to reach out and touch others through the art of choral music.  We also welcome the opportunities to serve others with our music by performing in hospices, adult care centers, Alzheimer's care facilities, homeless shelters and food banks," said Dr. Douglas R. Boyer, director of the TLU School of Music.

Junior Visit Day – TLU will host Junior Visit Day April 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  The visit day program will include a student panel, student-led campus tour including a look inside residence halls for first-year students, lunch in Hein Dining Hall, and an admissions and financial aid information session.

“Junior Visit Day is targeted specifically to students in their junior year of high school and is a great opportunity for students to kick-start their college search process by trying TLU on for size,” said Jamie Kocian, director of admissions. “Our current students will share their experiences on a wide array of topics including academics, athletics, student organizations, living on campus, commuting, campus safety, study abroad opportunities, campus ministry and volunteer/service opportunities, and internships,” she added.

A workshop entitled “What’s the Next Step” will be led by Kocian and will present information about the college search process and finding the right “fit,” how students can prepare for college in their senior year of high school and general admissions and financial aid basics including process and deadlines. Both students and their families can attend this workshop and will be given time to ask questions.

To RSVP for Junior Visit Day or for more information, contact the admissions office at 800-771-8521 or admissions@tlu.edu.

Cynthia (Brantley) Beverly ’75 speaks to students following the 2008 Women’s Forum held March 27 in the Dunne Conference Center.

Women’s Forum – The 2008 Women’s Forum:  “Flourishing in a Competitive World,” held March 27 in the Dunne Conference Center of Tschoepe Hall featured a lively discussion about gender roles, communication styles and career insights from forum leader President Ann M. Svennungsen and panelists Cynthia Beverly ’75, business executive for the technology industry; Paula DiFonzo, CEO, New Braunfels Utilities; Angela Laird, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Research Imaging Center at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio; and Robin Melvin ’79, partner in the Austin law firm of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.  Students, alumni, faculty, and staff attended the first annual forum.

President Svennungsen will be traveling in Texas this month.  On Sunday, April 13, she will preach at both services at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Brenham.  She will also be at the Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod Assembly in Longview on April 26.  If you are at the assembly, April 25-27, stop by the TLU booth and say hello.

Gibson Day – Seguin will celebrate Gibson Day with the unveiling of a Texas state historical marker on the home of the late Hugo and Georgia Gibson, TLU professors, at 4 pm, Tuesday, April 8.  The unveiling will take place during an open house from 3-5 p.m. at the home at 305 S. Erkel in Seguin.

Hugo Gibson, a Classics scholar, came to Texas Lutheran in 1929 to teach Greek and Latin, which he did until his death in 1963.  He is best known, however, for founding the Texas Lutheran Choir and directing it from 1929-1945.  Georgia was a mathematician and taught until her death in 1973.  During her tenure she also served as Dean of Women.

Gibson Day will conclude that evening at 7:30 with the Gibson Memorial Choir Concert at the Chapel of the Abiding Presence.

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Scoreboard

Ashley Williams, Staci Jackson, Destiney Jones, and Taffey Gray are members of the TLU women’s 4x400 meter relay team that finished third in national competition and were named the ASC Women's Track & Field Athletes of the Week.

Women’s Track and Field – The Texas Lutheran women’s 4x400 meter relay team gave everything it had in defending its 2007 national title but fell just short in repeating the special feat, finishing third at the 2008 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championships held March 15.

The Bulldogs returned from the national meet with a school-record total of six indoor All-American awards. The entire relay team earned All-American honors by finishing in the top eight. Staci Jackson and Ashley Williams also each claimed an All-American award for finishing in the top eight of the 400. TLU was the only school to have two All-Americans in the open 400.

The Bulldogs are coached by Head Coach Patrick Zarate and Assistant Coach Darlene Holland.

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Happenings

Peace I Leave With You
TLU Spring Choir Tour
Free will offering will be taken at all concerts
Student Art Exhibit
April 10- 24
Annetta Kraushaar Gallery
Schuech Fine Arts Center

Showtime at the Apollo
7:30 p.m., April 10
Jackson Auditorium

Environmental Studies Seminar
Darryl Birkenfeld, Ph.D.
1 p.m., April 11
Moody Science 101

Band Concert
7:30 p.m., April 18
Jackson Auditorium

Junior Visit Day
April 19
TLU Campus

The Songs of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
Presented by the Music Theatre class
7 p.m., April 25
2 p.m., April 27
7 p.m., April 28
Wupperman Little Theatre

Spring Baccalaureate
10:30 a.m., May 10
Jackson Auditorium

Spring Commencement
7 p.m., May 10
Chapel Lawn


Visit our web calendar for a complete list of events and activities at TLU.

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