Torchlite
February 2008For a printable version, click
here.
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After receiving the seal of the university during investiture ceremonies, President Ann M. Svennungsen receives a standing ovation from the crowd of students, faculty, friends, family and alumni at her inauguration ceremony, Feb. 1. The Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, who officiated at the ceremony is at the podium, and her husband and children stand to her left. (Photo by Drew Engelke)
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TLU Today
Inauguration activities – Three days of activities last week commemorated the inauguration of President Ann M. Svennungsen as Texas Lutheran University’s 14
th president during its 117-year history.
“The inauguration weekend here is such a celebration of the institution of the liberal arts,” President Svennungsen said. “We have worship, we have speakers, we have music, and visual arts. There is a living out of our wonderful mission that engages the whole person and gives us intellect and service and spirit all in one weekend.”
The inaugural events kicked off on Jan. 31 with a special art exhibit of image and text created by Kristi Ylvisaker, a painter from Norway, and her sister Mary Nilsen, a writer from Iowa. PBS senior Washington correspondent Ray Suarez presented a lecture that addressed urbanization, connectivity, and social dynamics, and the role that higher education plays in addressing these issues and preparing students to live in a diverse and rapidly-changing world. His lecture can be heard
here.
On Feb. 1, The Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, preached to an overflow crowd at a special inaugural service at the Chapel of the Abiding Presence. His address can be heard
here.
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| Over 180 people processed to Jackson Auditorium in colorful academic regalia for the inauguration ceremony on Friday afternoon, Feb. 1. The ceremony included the world premiere of a hymn by Susan Palo Cherwien and René Clausen, commissioned especially for the inauguration, and special greetings from U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Seguin Mayor Betty Ann Matthies, Bishop Hanson, Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, and Mike Washington ’77. |
Following the investiture by Bishop Hanson and the presentation of the Presidential Medallion by Regent Chair Karen Norman, President Svennungsen presented her inaugural address. The address can be heard
here.
Following the ceremony, a one-of-a-kind vintage airplane from World War II flew over the campus to honor President Svennungsen. The AN-50, a rare variant of a T-6 Texan, is the only remaining aircraft of its kind. The flyover was arranged and guided by TLU Regent John M. Agather, a multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot who has held numerous positions in the Commemorative Air Force.
The inaugural reception in Hein Dining Hall celebrated TLU and President Svennungsen’s ethnic heritages through food and music by Mariachi Galas de Oro, the German band Fritz und Freunde, the Agape Gospel Choir, and the TLU Mexican Folkdance Group.
Over 300 people, mostly students, took part in the community-wide service project on Feb. 2. President Svennungsen pointed out that the number exceeded expectations and that more jobs were added. “I couldn’t be happier with that outpouring of love that we have seen by our students,” she said.
The volunteers worked at 15 different sites around Seguin cleaning debris, dead trees and limbs from Walnut Creek to dusting and organizing negatives and artifacts at the Heritage Museum. Trees planted on campus between Hein Dining Hall and Jackson Auditorium will be known as the Inaugural Grove, and an old stage was demolished at the Texas Theater in Seguin in preparation for an expansion and renovation of the historic building.
“What a privilege it is to work with young people and work with these students who are here. And there’s nothing better than to greet them on the sidewalk, watch them sing, or play basketball, organize something for student government, welcome us to chapel, and be face to face with what you really are all about – and that is raising and mentoring the next generation of what we call servant leaders. It makes what I do such a privilege.”
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| TLU students Eralyn Hall, Sarah Saatzer, Allison Rodriguez, and Jennifer Hahn join Patt Linden ’60 as they pick up trash, trim branches, and clear underbrush at Seguin’s Memorial Rose Garden. More than 300 TLU students got up early on Feb. 2 to work at 15 community sites for the community-wide service project honoring President Ann Svennungsen’s inauguration. Dr. Linden, a member of the inauguration committee, chaired the community-wide service event, “Day of the Dogs.” See more photos here. |
Black History Month – Throughout the month of February, Texas Lutheran will celebrate Black History Month on campus with several different activities celebrating African-American history and heritage.
Events will include speakers Dr. Granville Coggs on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. and Dr. Jacqueline Cooper on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Coggs will be speaking on how the Tuskegee Airmen faced segregation in the armed forces following World War II. Cooper will be providing a lecture on the degrading portrayal of women’s sexuality in the media with a focus on African-American images.
The Black History Month celebration will also include recognition of Black AIDS Day, an evening of gospel music, a panel discussion by African-American professionals, and will conclude on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Wupperman Little Theatre with a production of “Past, Present, and Future,” a collection of monologues and poetry honoring black authors.
The TLU Black History Month celebration is sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha, the Black Student Union, D.I.V.E.R.S.E., the Division of Student Life and Learning, and Phi Alpha Theta. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule and more information,
click here.
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Growing and Giving
Front Row – Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak has been selected as the honoree for the fifth annual Texas Lutheran University Front Row Gala on March 5 at Union Station in Minute Maid Park in Houston.
The highlight of the evening is a 45-minute live, on-stage conversation between the honoree and CBS-TV sportscaster Verne Lundquist, who is a 1962 TLU graduate. The event begins with a VIP reception where the VIP guests have their pictures made with the honoree and Lundquist prior to the dinner.
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| Kubiak |
“Front Row with Gary Kubiak and Verne Lundquist” begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. and also features a silent and live auction that will include a number of autographed sports-related items.
A Houston native, Kubiak spent 20 years in the Denver area where he earned a reputation as a brilliant offensive mastermind. He played for the Broncos from 1983-91 as the backup for Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.
He began his NFL coaching career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994 and in the spring of 1995, Kubiak returned to the Broncos as offensive coordinator, where he helped guide the team to seven postseason trips and two Super Bowl titles in 11 seasons.
Kubiak returned to Houston on Jan. 26, 2006, becoming the second head coach in the history of the Houston Texans. In his rookie season as a head coach, Kubiak guided the Texans to a 6-10 record, tripling the team’s win total of the year before. In 2007, the team posted an 8-8 record, the best in franchise history.
This year’s Honorary Chairman will be NFL Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Dinner chairmen are TLU alumni Kent and Terry Richter.
Individual tickets are available for $150, $250 and $500. Tables of 10 are available for $1,500, $2,500 and $5000. Those purchasing tickets or tables totaling $2,500 or more are invited to attend a private VIP reception with Kubiak and Lundquist beginning at 6 p.m.
To purchase tickets, visit the TLU Web site at
www.tlu.edu or call the TLU Development Office at 830-372-8030.
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Alumnotes
Be sure to watch the Grammy Awards on Feb. 10 when one of TLU’s own is among the nominees. Dr. Alton Chung Ming Chan ’80 and Joseph Banowetz were nominated for Best Chamber Music Performance for their “30 Songs of the Russian People” (Toccata Classics).
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Scoreboard
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| Logan Hull |
Baseball – Three-time defending American Southwest Conference champion Texas Lutheran appears in both major NCAA Division III preseason polls. The Bulldogs are ranked 15th in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s preseason poll and 17th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association-D3baseball.com Preseason Poll.
TLU was also picked as the top preseason choice in the ASC West Division, and sophomore right-hander Logan Hull of Victoria was named the ASC West Division Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Greg Burnett starts his first season as head coach on Feb. 9 against Austin College. Burnett, a TLU assistant coach for nine seasons, was promoted to head coach following the May 2007 retirement of Bill Miller as head coach. With Miller and Burnett leading the way, TLU has a 316-93-2 record (a .771 winning percentage) over the past nine seasons. In that same time span, the Bulldogs have won three ASC Championships, one Heart of Texas Conference Championship and six ASC West Division Championships.
For the latest on TLU sports, visit
www.tlu.edu/athleticsBack to the top
Happenings
Synergy Brass Quintet Concert7 p.m., Feb. 18
Jackson Auditorium
Front Row with Gary Kubiak and Verne Lundquist6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 5
Union Station at Minute Maid Park
Houston
Visit our web calendar for a complete list of events and activities at TLU. Back to the top
