News Archive - 2015

Lamar University sophomore Cade Johnson of Lumberton will join researchers at Children’s Hospital Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania to study cancer treatM.E.nts during the sumM.E.r thanks to his selection as one of two 2016 David J. Beck Fellows at Lamar University.

Beginning December 14, a portion of the northbound feeder road on M. L. King Jr. Parkway will be closed for construction.

Jeff Forret, professor of history at Lamar University and author of four books on the topic of slavery, has been awarded the selective William Nelson Cromwell Foundation Research Fellowship for continued work on his next book, Williams’ Gang: A Slave Trader, His Cargo, and Justice in the Old South.

Five Lamar University seniors majoring in mechanical engineering took top honors in the Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC) Challenge, among nine first-semester teams competing in the Fall 2015 Design Challenge.

ExxonMobil Corp. recently awarded $17,000 in grants to four engineering departments at Lamar University as part of its national program supporting higher education.

Lamar University’s inaugural team of Model United Nations delegates have returned from their first National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in Washington and have begun preparation for their New York conference in March.

Lamar University junior, Nicolas Nikoloutsos will be working on experiM.E.ntal procedures in nanoM.E.dicine under the direction of Che-Ming Jack Hu of Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan during the sumM.E.r as one of two 2016 David J. Beck Fellows.

Lamar University honored 8 students with the Plummer Award, recognizing them as the top male and female graduates in Lamar’s December 2015 graduating class. Lamar University President Kenneth Evans presented the awards during commencement ceremonies Dec. 11 and 12 in the Montagne Center.

Lamar University graduated 119 students with honors during fall commencement ceremonies Dec. 11-12 in the Montagne Center.

A total of 1,192 Lamar University stuD.E.nts earned places on the D.E.ans’ List for the fall 2015 semester, D.E.ans of Lamar’s five acaD.E.mic colleges announced. To qualify for the D.E.ans’ List, a stuD.E.nt must carry a full course load of 12 semester hours or more and have a graD.E. point average of 3.5 or higher for that semester.

A total of 616 Lamar University stuD.E.nts earned places on the PresiD.E.nt’s List for the 2015 fall semester, PresiD.E.nt Kenneth Evans announced. StuD.E.nts who qualify for the PresiD.E.nt’s List carry a full course load of 12 semester hours or more with graD.E. point averages of 4.0 for that semester. They automatically earn places on the D.E.ans’ List.

LU’s recent Veterans Day appreciation BBQ not only signaled the university’s appreciation for veterans among its students, faculty and staff, it also provided support for a veterans support organization that may soon provide unique outdoor experiences for LU veterans, said Kyle Mutz, director of the Disability Resource Center.

In Fall 2016 Lamar University Cardinal Basketball fans will find the gaM.E.-day experience even more exciting thanks to a major gift from Susan Conn McCurry. At Saturday’s Tip-Off Breakfast, head basketball coach Tic Price announced the gift that will finance a new state-of-the-art video scoreboard system in the Montagne Center.

Lamar University now offers Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs), an opportunity for first-year students to develop a sense of community as they attend classes and participate in various activities with their mentors and fellow classmates.

The Department of Theatre and Dance will present its fall dance concert, “Fall and Recovery,” Nov. 13 - 15 in the University Theatre. The evening of dance works encompasses many genres, including tap, jazz, musical theatre, modern and contemporary, and is choreographed by LU dance faculty and select students.

Lamar University’s Opera Theatre will present scenes from musical theatre and operettas featuring works by Gilbert and Sullivan, Stephen Sondheim, Franz Lehar and more at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 13 - 14, in the Rothwell Recital Hall.

Several Lamar University students recently attended the 11th annual Texas Undergraduate Math Conference hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler. The conference brings educators, students and professionals from across the state and allows students to present their mathematics research to an audience of their peers.

The Michael G. Weinert Entrepreneurial Lecture Series presents Anthony George, CEO of Nautical Control Solutions and founder and president of Control Dynamics International, in a public lecture, 11:10 a.m., Nov. 17 in Landes Auditorium in the College of Business.

Lamar University students, faculty and staff will celebrate a world of diversity in the LU International Cultural Festival: A Global Experience, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 2014, in the Montagne Center.

Cade Johnson, of Lumberton, and Nicolas Nikoloutsos, of Vidor, have been selected as 2016 recipients of the David J. Beck Fellowships, a competitive and generous award for Lamar University undergraduate students.

In an effort to promote international understanding, education and exchange, Lamar University is celebrating International Education Week, a national initiative set by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and the Department of State from November 16-20. Lamar University’s celebration this year will focus on the theme “Access for All” by highlighting the accomplishments and cultural revenue created by international students, as well as emphasizing international opportunities and appreciation for domestic students in a week of events.

Lamar University students, faculty and staff will celebrate a world of diversity in the LU International Cultural Festival: A Global Experience, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 2014, in the Montagne Center.

Lamar University's Drumline and Percussion Ensemble both took first place at the annual Percussive Arts Society's International Competition, Nov. 11 - 14, 2015, in San Antonio. Winning first place at the Percussive Arts Society is among the highest honors a collegiate percussion ensemble can receive. The awards establish LU’s percussion program as one of the finest in the world.

The Lamar Civic Orchestra’s fall concert on Tuesday, Nov. 17, will feature works by Schubert, Bernstein, Vaughan Williams and Mozart. The free performance will be at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre.

From Pentatonix to B.B. King, Lamar University’s Cardinal Jazz Singers' concert on Nov. 19 will feature a variety of classic jazz standards and Christmas music, as well as more contemporary selections, all performed a cappella or with a live student rhythm section. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall.

Lamar University’s Brass Choir will open the new “Soul of the City” concert series hosted by St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature new works for brass choir, as well as sacred music, Christmas music, film classics, Broadway hits and more. Guest artists will be organist Paul Holliday, performing an epic arrangement of Camille Saint-Saëns famous “Organ Symphony,” and soprano Abigail Dueppen, who will sing the “Vengeance” aria from W.A. Mozart's “The Magic Flute.”

Lamar University’s Cardinal Jazz Orchestra will perform classic and contemporary big band music and fresh arrangements of holiday classics with the Port Neches-Groves High School Jazz Band on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Port-Neches Groves High School auditorium.

Lamar University’s acclaimed Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24, in the Nederland High School Performing Arts Center. The diverse program includes selections from Thomas Tallis; John Barnes Chance; music from the motion picture, “How to Train Your Dragon”; and much more. Admission is free.

A generous contribution from Diane and Don Shaver will establish eight new scholarships, create an innovation fund, and fund six faculty fellowships, Lamar University officials announced.

“Monsters in Literature in Philosophy – Vampires, Zombies and Bears, Oh My!” will be the topic of the Distinguished Faculty Lecture presented by Steve Zani, professor of English and MoD.E.rn Languages, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre.

The Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board has elected Carol Hebert of Nederland to serve as 2015-2016 president. Stephanie Molina of Beaumont is past president and Ransom Jones of Beaumont will serve as president-elect.

Lamar University nursing students are helping implement the innovative Music and Memory project to enhance the quality of life of resident dementia patients through music. The work is part of a Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) grant to College Street Health Center in Beaumont, one of only 32 nursing homes in the state in the program.

A group of Lamar University international students will visit Vincent and Marshall Middle Schools this week to present information about diversity and cultural heritage.

Lamar University has been recognized for its commitment to the employment and support of persons with disabilities with the 2015 Business of the Year award from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).

Lamar University is hosting a Study Abroad Fair Oct. 13 in the Setzer Student Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will learn about the opportunities and the benefits of studying abroad.

Lamar University has been recognized by Princeton Review’s “Best 295 Business Schools: 2016 Edition” for its exceptional MBA and leadership programs in the College of Business. Of the 295 business schools recognized, 280 are in the U.S. and 15 are international.

Lamar University Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities (TALH) seniors Jacob Copley and Steven Garcia have been selected as National Hispanic Scholars

The International Student Council at Lamar University will close out their weeklong International Student Soccer Tournament this Saturday and Sunday. The tournament, which has been a reoccurring event, aims at bringing different cultures together through friendly competition and the love of sport.

Lamar University STAIRSTEP undergraduate students presented research in computer science at SIGITE 2015, the 16th Annual Conference on Information Technology Education in Chicago, an international conference on IT education hosted by DePaul University spanning Sept 30 to Oct 3.

Lamar University conferred 768 degrees during commencement ceremonies on Aug. 22, 2015.

An endowed scholarship in the name of Laura H. Purkey has been established in the Lamar Univeristy Foundation. The Laura H. Purkey Memorial Scholarship will benefit undergraduate students majoring in finance in the College of Business.

Lamar University’s rapidly growing Study Abroad Office nearly tripled its participation in the past year, and the Study Abroad Director Jeff Palis has high expectations for the 2016 academic year.

Eight STAIRSTEP undergraduates presented their research at the 3rd Annual Texas STEM Conference recently. The conference was hosted by Lamar University’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and funded by ExxonMobil.

On Saturday, Nov 14, 2015, the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is hosting its 2nd Annual Humanities, Arts, Social Science and Education (HASSE) Conference in Lamar University’s Lucas Engineering Building from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Brenda Nichols has been named associate provost, James Marquart, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lamar University announced today.

Paul Latiolais, director of the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (CICE) at Lamar University joins an elite group of graduates who have demonstrated their commitment and support for the entrepreneurial ecosystem by earning the Business Incubation Management Certificate from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA).

Stuart Wright and Susan Palmer have completed what they believe is the first comprehensive study ever conducted of government raids on religious communities — Storming Zion: Government Raids on Religious Communities, is the result of extensive research that took the two from Central and West Texas to the streets of Paris and Brussels to the most remote parts of the Alps and Pyrenees.

Jeff Forret, professor of history at Lamar University, has two books being published in November by LSU Press: Slave Against Slave: Plantation Violence in the Old South and New Directions in Slavery Studies.

The Department of Art at Lamar University honored internationally celebrated artist and LU alum John Alexander with the naming and dedication of the John Alexander Painting Studio on Oct. 8 in the Art Building.

Lamar University’s nursing department is helping its students get involved in the community by partnering with Julie Roger’s Gift of Life Tobacco Control Coalition Program to promote tobacco cessation and reduce the harm caused by tobacco in Southeast Texas.

As one of the outcomes of the 84th Texas Legislature session, Lamar University’s Texas Academy for Leadership in the Humanities (TALH) will utilize the boost in funding to enhance program planning.

The Lamar University men’s and women’s basketball teams stepped on the court at the Montagne Center for the first time Tuesday for preseason practice. It’s not either team’s first preseason workout, but it is their first on the newly redesigned court.

Lamar University’s Department of Health and Kinesiology introduced a new online Masters of Public Health (MPH) program specializing in health disparities this fall. The program, which is entirely online, allows students of all types to earn a masters degree at their own pace.

Kumer Das, associate professor of mathematics and director of the Lamar University Office of Undergraduate Research, will be honored with Lamar University’s 2015 Julie & Ben Rogers Community Service Award at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the University Reception Center of the Mary and John Gray Library.

Thursday, Lamar University’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Director Kumer Das announced university funding for 19 proposals that will involve the work of 22 students mentored by 17 faculty members. The grants were announced at a reception in the Mary and John Gray Library.

Lamar University senior Keeley Townley-Smith has been naM.E.d Texas State University System Regents’ Student Scholar. As such, she becoM.E.s the first so honored from LU, and represents the very best student scholars from among the more than 66,000 undergraduates enrolled in TSUS colleges and universities.

Erin Burns, clinical audiology supervisor, speech and hearing department, earned honors Nov. 3, as the third recipient of the Texas State University System Staff Excellence Award.Five other LU employees earned Distinguished Staff Awards at Lamar’s annual staff recognition program.

Start the holiday season at Spindletop-Gladys City Museum December 5.Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, on the Lamar University campus, will embrace the joy of the season with "Christmas in Boomtown." The event will give visitors opportunity to participate in the way many celebrated the season more than a century ago.

Lamar University hosted a visit from a delegation of administrators, staff and faculty of Qilu University of Technology (QLUT) Nov. 5. The group visited with LU faculty, toured the campus, and met with administrators as in a visit aimed toward a better understanding of LU’s academic programs and expansion of the current exchange student program between QLUT and Lamar University.

Two students from the Lamar University Department of Computer Science, James Wilson and Bharatkumar Tejwani, both won first prize at the Student Poster Contest during the Association for Computer Educators in Texas (ACET) conference.

Gisela Houseman, owner and CEO of The Houseman Companies in Orange, has added $50,000 to further strengthen the Tony Houseman Memorial Scholarship in Speech and Hearing at Lamar University. She also donated equal amounts to existing scholarships at Lamar Institute of Technology and Lamar State College-Orange.

Lamar University undergraduate students are invited to submit proposals in the 3rd Annual Undergraduate Grant Competition. The competition is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and is designed to support students in their research and creative activity.

Lamar University students, faculty and staff are invited to learn about innovation and creativity in industry at a lecture hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research, Sept. 10.

Lamar University’s Robert Robertson and Gene Preuss from the University of Houston-Downtown will speak at the annual Constitution Day conference Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the LIT Multipurpose Center Auditorium on the corner of East Lavaca Street and Jimmy Simmons Blvd.

Lamar University is seeking participation from the campus community in developing its new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) this fall.

The Texas State University System today announced a partnership with the not-for-profit Modern States Education Alliance that could help students earn up to one full year of college credit tuition-free, reducing the cost of a degree by up to 25 percent. TSUS is the first public university system in Texas to partner with Modern States’ ‘Freshman Year for Free’ program.

The Lamar University Office of Undergraduate Research will host the Texas STEM Conference sponsored by ExxonMobil, “Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM”, Oct. 3 in the Setzer Student Center. This is the third year the Office of Undergraduate Research has hosted the conference.

Lamar University’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) will host a student-led panel discussion on the ins and outs of preparing research grant proposals on Thursday, Sept. 17, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the sixth floor of the Mary and John Gray Library.

Lamar University has broken ground on a new 21,000 square-foot innovation center on campus next to its new administration building. The new Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship (CICE) will house offices, labs, meeting space, training areas and an event center.

Through the years, Jim Westgate, University Professor Earth and Space Sciences at Lamar University, has not only excavated the largest of creatures – ancient whales, giant sharks, towering dinosaurs, and mega-scale mammals – he has also spent considerable time and effort sifting out evidence of the smallest creatures as well.

Lamar University student Feroze Mohammed, 26, of Hyderabad, India, who was studying industrial engineering, died after an accidental fall at Robert H Treman State Park in New York State on Friday, Sept. 11.

Following a national search, Lamar University has naM.E.d Terry M.E.na associate vice president and dean of students for Lamar’s Division of Student EngageM.E.nt.

Lamar University, The Texas Tribune and The Beaumont Enterprise will host a free, open-to-the-public conversation marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Rita’s landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast and their forthcoming joint reporting project, The Road From Rita, at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 22 at Lamar University in Beaumont.

Lamar University will host a variety of Hispanic culture events across campus in observation of Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebrations that run through Nov. 4 will honor the history, traditions and culture of the generations of Hispanic Americans who have had a positive impact on society to raise awareness of important causes in the nation’s present and future.

Lamar University’s Department of Theatre and Dance opens the 2015-16 season with the fast-paced whodunit, “The 39 Steps,” Sept. 24 - 27, in the Studio Theatre. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from Alfred Hitchcock’s film, this Tony-Award winning play mixes Hitchcock's cinematic masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and adds a dash of Monty Python.

From Nebraska farm boy to groundbreaking researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, Jay Keasling has become one of the world’s foremost authorities on synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. At Berkeley, he developed engineered bacteria to create life-saving malaria drugs and carbon-neutral biofuels that provide an alternative to petroleum. Keasling will share his story and vision of the role of engineers and scientists for the betterment of mankind in a free public lecture at Lamar University Oct. 14.

Lamar University has set another all-time enrollment record, officials announced today. Official figures for the fall 2015 semester taken on the 20th class day show the university has the highest enrollment in its history.

The Cardinal Jazz Orchestra’s fall concert will put a fresh spin on the music of jazz legends Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Herbie Hancock and more on Thursday, Oct. 8. The free concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall on the campus of Lamar University.

Lamar University’s Mary and John Gray Library will host Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page as part of the annual regional reading initiative focused on promoting the simultaneous reading or listening to a selected title by those living along the upper Texas Gulf Coast. The community-reading event will be held at 2 p.m., Oct. 30, in the University Reception Center on the 8th floor of the library.

Lamar University Archivist Penny Clark, who previously used a grant to have 16,864 pages of University Press holdings digitally archived, has now been awarded a 2015 Rescuing Texas History grant from the University of North Texas to start a new digital archival project.

A new fund honoring Russ Schultz’s leadership as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication has been established through the Lamar University Foundation.

Lamar University’s Dishman Art Museum is currently exhibiting large-scale photographs by Eliot Dudik from two recent series, “Broken Land” and “Still Lives.”

As ExxonMobil Executive in Residence, Brian Savoy will present “Don’t be Transactional with Your Career” in Lamar University’s Landes Auditorium in the Galloway Business Building at 11:10 a.m. on Oct. 13. The lecture, with advice and stories centered on being fully invested in your career, is free and open to the public. He will also host a faculty colloquium and meet with graduate business students that day.

The Lamar University Police Department is expanding its use of body-worn cameras to enhance safety.

Lamar University’s STAIRSTEP program has exceeded its goals once again in its mission to retain and transition students into their advanced studies and career placement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

91.3 KVLU Public Radio will broadcast a live concert featuring Lamar University’s Faculty Brass Quintet and Houston-based Omni Brass at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27. The broadcast is part of an on-going series “Live from the Rothwell,” featured on KVLU. The “Halloween Spectacular” concert will be held in the Rothwell Recital Hall in LU’s Music Building and will be broadcast live to the Southeast Texas listening audience.

The Lamar University Foundation has established a new scholarship in honor of Russ Schultz, recently retired dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and his wife Susan. Endowed by their daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Jennifer S. and Omar Hernandez, the Dr. Russ and Susan Schultz Scholarship in Music will benefit students in the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music.

Lamar University television will get a significant boost from the City of Beaumont with its approval of $263,000 to purchase new equipment using Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access Channels funding.

Hannah Leleux, a Lamar University junior from Bridge City majoring in computer science, has been awarded a scholarship from the Association for Computing Machinery – Women to attend SIGITE 2015, the 16th Annual Conference on Information Technology Education, Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, at DePaul University in Chicago.

Roberto Torres, a Lamar University junior from Beaumont majoring in mechanical engineering, is one of 20 Hispanic students chosen from universities across the nation to participate in ExxonMobil’s LOFT Fellowship. The fellowship assigns a regional mentor to students to guide them as they advance in their engineering education and prepare to enter the workforce.

An accomplished academic and distinguished career accountant J. Donald Warren Jr. will become the newest member of Lamar University’s College of Business Hall of Fame.

Lamar University will confer 800 degrees at summer commencement August 22 in the Montagne Center. Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall will be the keynote speaker. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

This past year, university archivist Penny Clark, with assistance from Andy Coughlan, director of the University Press, worked diligently to digitize LU’s newspaper. From its early days as The Red Bird to today’s University Press, issues once available exclusively as physical copies can now be read online.

Today, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing announced that Lamar University’s Jo Anne Gay Dishman Department of Nursing is one of 60 schools of nursing selected to receive funding support to host White Coat Ceremonies, which emphasize the importance of providing compassionate care among health professionals.

The Texas Tribune and The Beaumont Enterprise will host a free, open-to-the-public conversation marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Rita’s landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast and their forthcoming joint reporting project, The Road From Rita, at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 22 at Lamar University.

The newly formed Greater South Park Neighborhoods Partnership is inviting residents of South Park and neighboring communities to “A Day in the Park” Sept. 12. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Alice Keith Park, at East Lavaca and Highland Avenue.

Despite pouring rain outside, the outlook was bright as Lamar University opened the new academic year with a reception and convocation for faculty and staff on Thursday, Aug. 20. Returning students begin moving in today and classes begin Aug. 24.

The Dishman Art Museum is currently exhibiting new work, including paintings, prints, drawings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and graphic design, from Lamar University’s art faculty. The annual Art Faculty Exhibition will be on display through Sept. 18.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently appointed Kurt Gilman, chair of the Mary Morgan Moore DepartM.E.nt of Music at Lamar University, to the statewide Music Field of Study Advisory Committee. The committee is charged with setting a course of study that allows for the seamless transfer of credits to music degree programs at four-year universities.

Lamar University honored 4 students with the Plummer Award, recognizing them as the top male and female graduates in Lamar’s 2015 August graduating class. Lamar University president Kenneth Evans presented the awards during the August 22 commencement ceremony. Plummer Awards honor the late Otho Plummer, who was chairman emeritus of the Lamar University Board of Regents and a longtime board member.

Lamar University graduated 32 students with honors during summer commencement ceremonies Aug. 22 in the Montagne Center.

Educational programs at Lamar University received nearly $250,000 in support from ExxonMobil in 2015. The funding supports a variety of programs in engineering, science and business and includes $140,500 in matching gifts.

The newly formed Greater South Park Neighborhoods Partnership is inviting residents of South Park and neighboring communities to “A Day in the Park” Sept. 12. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Alice Keith Park, at East Lavaca and Highland Avenue.

The Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities (TALH) will host a fall Open House at the Mary and John Gray Library on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Academy is an early entrance college residential honors program at Lamar University.

BEAUMONT – Lamar University conferred 1752 D.E.grees during spring commencement ceremonies May 23.

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship has been established for the College of Arts and Sciences. The Dr. Stephen and Suzye Doblin Scholarship in Mathematics and Science is established by Lamar alums Chuck (’72) and Becky (’71) Mason in recognition of Stephen Doblin’s service to the university upon his retirement.

Lamar University graduated 180 students with honors during spring commencement ceremonies May 23 in the Montagne Center.

A total of 557 Lamar University stuD.E.nts earned places on the PresiD.E.nt’s List for the 2015 spring semester, PresiD.E.nt Kenneth Evans announced. StuD.E.nts who qualify for the PresiD.E.nt’s List carry a full course load of 12 semester hours or more with graD.E. point averages of 4.0 for that semester. They automatically earn places on the D.E.ans’ List. The PresiD.E.nt’s List appears below, with stuD.E.nts listed by hometowns. The list is based on information proviD.E.d by the Office of the Registrar. Questions regarding the list may be directed to the registrar’s office at 409-880-8060.

A total of 1,000 Lamar University stuD.E.nts earned places on the D.E.ans’ List for the spring 2015 semester, D.E.ans of Lamar’s five acaD.E.mic colleges announced. To qualify for the D.E.ans’ List, a stuD.E.nt must carry a full course load of 12 semester hours or more and have a graD.E. point average of 3.5 or higher for that semester. StuD.E.nts with GPAs of 4.0 qualify for the PresiD.E.nt’s List and automatically earn places on the D.E.ans’ List. Their names are not listed here. The D.E.ans’ List appears below, with stuD.E.nts listed by hometowns. The list is based on information proviD.E.d by the Office of the Registrar. Questions regarding the list may be directed to the registrar’s office at 409-880-8060.

The Lamar University College of Education and Human Development will host the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp from June 14-26. The free residential camp serves incoming sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who excel in mathematics and science. Forty-eight students are participating in this year’s camp.

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship has been established for graduates of West Hardin High School. The Moss Family Scholarship will provide funding for outstanding students to further their studies at Lamar.

Fifty students are expected to participate in the Lamar Introduction to Engineering (L.I.T.E.) summer program, hosted by Lamar University’s College of Engineering July 20-24, 2015. The free one-week non-residential camp serves incoming seventh- and eighth-grade students who excel in mathematics and science.

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship has been established for the College of Fine Arts and Communication. The Monica and William Harn Scholarship in Speech and Hearing will provide funding for outstanding students to further their studies at Lamar

Allison Williams joined the Lamar University recreational sports family in June 2015 to serve as the coordinator of the Lamar cheer squad. Williams previously served as the head cheer coach for Mercer University in Macon, Ga. and head cheer coach for Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Ark.

Stronger budgets and new construction are outcomes of the 84th legislative session that Lamar University officials are calling one of the best ever for the university.

Concern for the citizens of the South Park community and neighboring areas led to the creation of the Greater South Park Neighborhoods Partnership earlier this year. The group, which meets monthly on the Lamar University campus, has begun to address issues facing the community, according to Norman Bellard assistant to the president for community relations at Lamar University and chair of the partnership.

Educational programs at Lamar University received support from ExxonMobil in 2015 totaling $108,500. The funding supports a variety of programs in engineering, science and business.

Lamar University’s Department of Earth and Space Sciences annual Teaching Environmental Science summer institute introduces EC-12th grade teachers to local environmental issues through hands-on learning and first-hand experiences.

The Lamar University Spirit Team, consisting of the LU Cheer Squad and the LU Dance Team, brought home several awards after attending the Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association Collegiate Camp July 10-13 at Texas State University in San Marcos.

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship has been established for the College of Arts and Sciences. The Texas Gulf Historical Society Charlsie Berly Scholarship will provide funding for students majoring in history at Lamar University.

Lamar University invites students of all ages to a variety of summer camps to be held on campus this summer. Camps are offered for a variety of ages and interests with both daily and residential opportunities.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State recently announced their Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship winners for summer 2015. Six Lamar University students have been selected to participate in study abroad internships and research through the scholarship funding.

Lamar University students are being encouraged to “paws” for a study break during finals week, beginning May 13. Certified therapy dogs with the local organization Paws 4 Love Southeast Texas Pet Therapy and rescue pups from the Humane Society of Southeast Texas will be on campus at the Mary and John Gray Library to help students de-stress and prepare for finals week, May 13-19.

Lamar University has selected 17 students to serve as Lamar Ambassadors. They will join 29 returning ambassadors in representing the student body at official university events during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Lamar University will confer 1807 degrees at spring commencement ceremonies May 22 and 23 in the Montagne Center. The times for the ceremonies for each college are as follows: College of Arts & Sciences, Friday, May 22, 7 p.m. in the Montagne Center. Stephen Doblin, Lamar University provost, will deliver the keynote address.

For Timothy Roden, a Lamar University associate professor of computer science, his role in transforming an idea into a reality is revolutionizing both the medical and athletic fields. Over a two-year period, Roden worked to develop the invention with MedHab, LLC, a privately held company focused on developing athletic and medical devices to offer customized physical rehabilitation and sport-enhancing protocols for patients.

Lamar University honored 10 students with the Plummer Award, recognizing them as the top male and female graduates in Lamar’s 2015 May graduating class.

An upcoming edition of “LUTV on Fox” features three student-produced docuM.E.ntaries on a range of topics. LUTV on Fox is a multi-award winning television program produced by the students, alumni, staff and faculty of the DepartM.E.nt of Communication at Lamar University. The program is scheduled to air on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. on KBTV Fox 4.

Lamar University's Department of Theatre and Dance will present its spring dance concert, "Dance Unleashed," celebrating dance in all its diverse forms, April 10-11 in the University Theatre.

Lamar University researchers in industrial and mechanical engineering have been awarded a $625,300 grant from the National Science Foundation for a special program to increase the number of students in engineering from underrepresented groups.

Lamar University's Cardinal Jazz Orchestra with special guest artist Jimmy Simmons, LU president emeritus, will open for the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra at the Jefferson Theater on April 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Lamar University honored Brad Mayer as the 2015 University Professor at a ceremony in the Mary and John Gray Library April 8. Mayer is professor of management and marketing. The title University Professor is awarded for life and is the most prestigious faculty award conferred by Lamar’s academic community.

Lamar University has honored three faculty members with 2015 University Merit Awards in recognition of outstanding performance in the classroom. Award recipients are assistant professors Komal Karani, marketing; John McCollough, economics; Millicent Musyoka, deaf studies/deaf education.

Lamar University honored Kumer Das with the University Scholar Award April 8 in an award ceremony at the University Reception Center on the eighth floor of the Mary and John Gray Library.

Lamar University is offering a free community event for young students to take a peak into the exciting world of engineering. The event will be held at the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum on Saturday, April 18 from noon to 4 p.m.

Lamar Opera Theatre will present a fully staged performance of Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti” April 17-19 in the Rothwell Recital Hall. Bernstein’s witty one-act opera set to jazz rhythms depicts a couple’s marital challenges and longing for love beneath the sunny veneer of 1950s American suburbia.

Lamar University voice students from the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music earned numerous award placements at the annual Greater Houston Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing classical auditions on March 28, 2015, at the University of Houston.

Professor Kurt Dyrhaug from Lamar University’s DepartM.E.nt of Art participated as an invited artist in the third International Crosscurrent Exchange Show in Tokyo, Japan, March 20-28, 2015.

Lamar University's Cardinal Jazz Singers will appear in concert with guest artist Roger Treece at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, in the Rothwell Recital Hall.

A dozen Lamar University civil engineering stuD.E.nts are working hard to ready Big Beau, their canoe, for the 2015 Tex-Mex Regional Competition. This year, preparations for the annual competition extend beyond the research and construction to incluD.E. serving as hosts for the April 23-25 competition, the first at LU since 2004.

The Lamar University Dance Team will present its spring show “Ten” May 8-9 at the Jefferson Theatre. The dance team has been practicing and preparing for “Ten” since the beginning of January. The dancers found tiM.E. for two rehearsals a week, and additional weekend rehearsals, while also dancing for the Cardinal basketball teams. “Ten” represents a total of 33 dances with soM.E. M.E.mbers performing in as many as 15 dances.

The Lamar University Reese Construction Management Program has scheduled a Construction Career Forum for Wednesday, April 29, from 6-8 p.m. on the eighth floor of the Mary and John Gray Library.

Industrial Carillon, Lamar University’s new-music ensemble, will present "New (and not so new) music from Nick Rissman" at 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 27. Rissman, director of Industrial Carillon, and associate professor in the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music, will host this evening of original compositions.

STAIRSTEP (Students Advancing through Involvement in Research Student Talent Expansion Program) hosted 31 students from Port Neches-Groves High School April 21 for a campus tour and workshops/demonstrations by STAIRSTEP teams in math, computer science and physics. The program is designed to increase the number of students seeking undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Lamar students, grouped in special teams, led the campus tour which included a scavenger hunt with prizes.

The Lamar University Department of New Student and Leadership Programs honored student organizations, student leaders and advisors during the 35th annual Toast to Leadership banquet April 23. Since 1980, the Toast to Leadership banquet has been held to recognize student leaders and the faculty and staff members who advise and guide the student organizations in their efforts.

Ten outstanding students were recently recognized for their contributions at Lamar University’s 7th annual Student Employee of the Year award ceremony.

The Omega Upsilon Chapter of Order of Omega at Lamar University honored 17 outstanding members of the fraternity and sorority community during its initiation ceremony on April 1.

Cutting-edge Faculty Brass Quintet concert blends technology, social media for interactive experience on Thursday, March 5. The exciting concert features music from the Baroque era through today, including selections from Bach, Handel, Shostakovich, Ellington, Gershwin and more.

Team Lamar emerged as the state winner in the TACSM Student Quiz Bowl held February 26 in Austin. Lamar’s team of four health and kinesiology students participated in the annual competition hosted by the Texas chapter of American College of Sports Medicine, the leading organization in the world in sports medicine, according to Rick Carter, professor of health and kinesiology, and the team’s advisor.

Lamar University has been ranked eighth among the top 50 most affordable online graduate schools nationwide for master’s degrees by Best Master’s Programs, an independent online guide for master’s degree programs.

Nine graduate students from Lamar University will participate in Ignite!, a three-day entrepreneurship program in Silicon Valley, as 2015 Gill Scholars along with 65 other graduate students from Rice University, University of California-Davis, and Texas Medical Center (UT Medical Branch, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Lamar University’s Cardinal Jazz Orchestra will perform its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. March 10 in the Vidor High School Auditorium.

Industrial Carillon, Lamar University’s new-music ensemble, will present special guest artists Duo Korusa in a concert featuring new and rarely performed works for piano, four hands at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 9.

Lamar University assistant professor of biology, Ian Lian, is part of an international research team that recently had a study published in the February issue of Nature, widely accepted as the leading research journal in the world.

The Lamar University Foundation has established a new endowed scholarship in the name of Carmen Angelle Jordan. The Carmen Angelle Jordan Scholarship in Finance will benefit students in the Bachelor of Business Administration program in finance.

Lamar University junior William Hamilton Shipp IV of Spicewood, Texas, will be performing energy-related research under the direction of Xuefeng Wang of the DepartM.E.nt of Chemistry at Tongji University in Shanghai, thanks to support as one of two David J. Beck Fellows for 2015.

Lamar University’s 40th anniversary celebration of Le Grand Bal will be an exciting evening of dinner, dancing and surprises in honor of the "Legends of the Arts" in Southeast Texas on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

The Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission (THGC) hopes to educate citizens about the circumstances that led to the Bosnian Genocide through the thirty-four panel, Prijedor: Lives from the Bosnian Genocide exhibit. The exhibit opens April 2 at Lamar University’s Mary and John Gray Library and will run through April 30.

After an exhaustive national search, President Kenneth Evans has named Srinivas Palanki as Lamar University’s next dean of the College of Engineering. Palanki will succeed Victor Zaloom, who has been serving as interim dean since August 2013, and longtime dean Jack Hopper who served 1999-2013. Palanki will assume his duties on July 1, 2015.

Lamar University’s online master’s degree programs have been ranked third in the 2015 Rankings of the 50 Most Affordable Online Graduate Schools for Master’s Degrees by College Choice, an independent online publication.

Violinist Mauricio Oliveros, associate concertmaster for the Symphony of Southeast Texas, will present a guest artist violin recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in the Rothwell Recital Hall on the campus of Lamar University.

Jim Jordan, chair of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences, will explore the idea of harvesting a clean and efficient form of energy from the Moon that has stimulated science fiction and fact in recent decades.

After an exhaustive national search, President Kenneth Evans has named Robert Spina as dean of Lamar University’s College of Education and Human Development. Spina, who has more than 25 years of combined teaching, research and service, will succeed Bill Holmes, who has been serving as interim dean since August 2014, and Hollis Lowery-Moore, who served as dean, 2004-2014. Spina will assume his duties on July 1, 2015.

Lamar University’s April 18 Diversity and Inclusion Conference will feature visionary speaker, consultant and thought leader Derek Greenfield speaking on “Constructing a World of Inclusion.” The university’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host the conference, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Setzer Student Center.

Nine graduate students from Lamar University recently participated in Ignite!, a three-day entrepreneurship program in Silicon Valley, as 2015 Gill Scholars along with 65 other graduate students from Rice University, University of California-Davis, and Texas Medical Center (UT Medical Branch, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center).

Alicen Flosi, instructor in management information systems, has been selected as Lamar University’s new director of sustainability.

Lamar University hosts American actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. in the university’s Academic Lecture Series, 7:30 p.m., May 5, 2015, in the University Theatre.

Lamar University senior Kara Timberlake will participate in the Institute on Political Journalism summer program in Washington, D.C. through the Fund for American Studies as one of two David J. Beck Fellows for 2015.

The Lamar Civic Orchestra’s annual spring concert on Tuesday, March 31, will feature concert suites from Respighi, Grieg and Liadov. The free performance will be at 7:30 p.m. at Lamar State College Port Arthur’s Performing Arts Center.

91.3 KVLU Public Radio will broadcast a live chamber concert featuring Lamar University’s Clarinet Quartet and Clarinet Choir at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 8. The concert, broadcast as part of a new series "Live from the Rothwell," will be in the Rothwell Recital Hall.

The Lamar University chapter of OM.E.ga Psi Phi Fraternity has partnered with Include Fitness to make the dreams of a Lamar alumna coM.E. true. Tracy Arline, a Lamar graduate, hoM.E.coming queen and student governM.E.nt M.E.mber, established Social Butterfly International, a company dedicated to helping people reach their highest potential for success. The partnership will inaugurate the First Annual Big Hearts & Bigger Dreams event April 11.

After a thorough national search, President Kenneth Evans has named Derina Holtzhausen as dean of Lamar University’s College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Lamar University’s Club Tennis Team was tapped “Club of the Year” recently at the annual United States Tennis Association Tennis on Campus Texas Sectional Championship, held in San Antonio. Team captain Zachary Defrancis was named the USTA Texas Tennis on Campus Leader of the Year.

Lamar University will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with special events and programs designed to highlight the struggles and challenges of African Americans and to recognize and celebrate their achievements and contributions to American society.

From Italy to Israel, Smithville resident Samantha Moody is no stranger to visiting new and exciting places. “I have always loved traveling,” Moody said. “In the course of my life, I have traveled internationally multiple tiM.E.s. I love learning about the people, the culture, and the stories.”

The two-year journey of Lamar University professors George Kenyon and Kabir C. (KC) Sen recently culminated in a new work designed to fill a significant gap in business knowledge. Their new book, The Perception of Quality: Mapping Product and Service Quality to ConsuM.E.r Perceptions was published by Springer-Verlag, Ltd. of London in December 2014.

Four nursing faculty members in the JoAnne Gay Dishman Department of Nursing at Lamar University will recognized this spring for their innovative teaching.

Norman Bellard has been appointed to the new role as Assistant to the President for Community Relations and Athletics Program Liaison.

The Lamar University Department of History will host the sixth annual Regional History Day competition on Thursday, February 12, for students from local middle schools and high schools. The competition will be held in the Setzer Center Ballroom beginning at 1 p.m.

The Lamar University Foundation has established a new endowed scholarship in the names of Becky and Joe Williams. The Becky and Joe Williams Scholarship in Audiology will benefit students in the Doctor of Audiology program, part of the speech and hearing sciences department in the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

The Lamar University Office of Undergraduate Research is calling for abstracts for the second annual Undergraduate Research Expo to be held on April 20. The expo will be held in the Setzer Student Center ballroom. Abstracts are due by March 30.

Shannon Copeland has been named director of alumni affairs for Lamar University, officials said today. The Nederland native has a long record of service to the university, most recently as director of advancement services, a position she has held since 2011.

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship has been established for the College of Fine Arts and Communication. The Dr. Wayne Dyess Memorial Scholarship in Music will provide funds for students to further their studies in higher education.

Lamar University has been ranked among the top ten engineering programs in the country based on their graduates’ mid-career earnings according to The Washington Post.

Lamar University conferred 1,355 D.E.grees during commencement ceremonies on D.E.c. 13. Here are Lamar’s fall 2014 graduates and their majors, listed according to their hometowns. The list is based on information proviD.E.d by the Office of the Registrar. Questions regarding the list may be directed to the registrar’s office at 409-880-8060.

Lamar University released its official Spring 2015 enrollment figure of 14,052 students today, and semester credit hours reached 149,369. “These numbers are all-time records for the university,” said Kevin Smith, senior associate provost.

Lamar University’s Police Department is offering a Citizens’ Police Academy to help participants learn about the police profession and criminal justice system. The program is a series of classes designed to provide students, faculty, staff, and alumni insight into the workings of the Lamar University Police Department.

After an exhaustive national search, President Kenneth Evans has named James Marquart as Lamar University’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs. He will succeed Steve Doblin, who is retiring after serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lamar University for 13 years. Marquart will assume his duties on July 1, 2015.

Lamar University’s STAIRSTEP program continues to help stuD.E.nts D.E.velop research and presentation skills to enhance their success in the professional STEM fields.

College Choice ranked Lamar University third in the 2015 Rankings of the Best Online Masters of Nursing (MSN) Programs and 26th in the 2015 Ranking of the Best Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs.

Vinaya Manchaiah has been designated the Jo Mayo Endowed Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Lamar University, a prestigious honor named after a former member of the LU Foundation board of trustees.

Lamar University classes will meet on Tuesday as scheduled, but due to the freezing precipitation advisory for tomorrow morning students should rely on their judgment and local weather reports when deciding whether or not to travel to campus. 

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowment has been established for the College of Arts and Sciences. The James M. and Sue Gilbert Mellard Endowment will provide funding to support PULSE Magazine, Lamar’s student-created literary magazine.

The fall 2015 semester will mark the arrival of the 10th class of Mirabeau Scholars to Lamar University, officials said. The 21 new Mirabeau Scholars will join current Mirabeau Scholars in participation in the university’s Honors College that offers enriched classes in the entire university core curriculum, upper-level interdisciplinary classes and seminars, enhanced classes in many majors, and opportunities for independent study, honors contracts and the honors thesis

The search for the next dean of the College of Engineering at Lamar University has reached its final stages with campus visits.

The search for the next dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Lamar University has reached the final stages of a process that began in September 2014, when an advisory search committee consisting of representatives of Lamar University faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders was formed.

Lamar University's Department of Theatre and Dance will perform Tennessee Williams' semi-autobiographical masterpiece "The Glass Menagerie," Feb. 26 to March 1, in the Studio Theatre.

A group of Lamar University students have been selected to present their research in the 19th Annual Posters on the Hill undergraduate poster session on April 22-23 in Washington, D.C.

Saxophonist and clinician Justin Pierce will be on the Lamar University campus on Wednesday, March 4, as a guest artist in the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music.

Eight Lamar University students have been chosen to be part of a select group of college students to participate at the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U). More than 1,000 innovative student leaders will gather March 6-8 to seek new solutions to world challenges.

Lamar University students will soon have the opportunity to study abroad and conduct obesity research while earning college credit thanks to a $25K grant received from 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.

The Lamar University College of Engineering hosted 85 local teachers for the second STEM Outreach conference January 12.

Eight Lamar University students have been chosen to be part of a select group of college students to participate at the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) 2015. More than 1,000 innovative student leaders will gather this spring to seek new solutions to world challenges.

The LU Department of English and Modern Languages will offer four new courses for the spring semester addressing the subject of ethics in an uncommon and unique format: through literature.

Dennis Kiel will join the administrative staff of Lamar University as the new director of the Dishman Art Museum on Feb. 16, 2015.

Lamar University’s STAIRSTEP program continues to introduce area high school students to science, math and technology with the goal of increasing the number who will attain advanced degrees in these fields.

The Lamar University Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship has been established for the College of Engineering. The Dr. George J. Hirasaki Scholarship in Chemical Engineering will provide funding for outstanding students to further their studies at Lamar.

Mark Bowles is the founder and co-inventor of the technology behind ecoATM, a company acquired in 2013 by Outerwall for $350 million. He is the holder of nine patents with 30 patents pending.

Lamar University and Microsoft Corporation are teaming up to advance technology literacy for educators worldwide by providing a pathway from professional development to post-graduate certificate programs or a graduate degree in digital learning and leading. The partnership was announced by Microsoft today at BETT Show 2015 in London.

The Lamar University Foundation has established a new endowed scholarship in the name of Amie Lynn Bean. The Amie Lynn Bean Memorial Scholarship will benefit undergraduate students majoring in nursing, part of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities (TALH) will host a spring preview day at the Mary and John Gray Library on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Academy is an early entrance college residential honors program at Lamar University.

The LU Wind Ensemble will present a local preview of their upcoming TMEA performance at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 5, in the Julie Rogers Theatre. The ensemble will perform selections from Percy Grainger, Samuel Hazo, Henry Fillmore and others. Admission is free.

ExxonMobil presents Thomas Freeman at Lamar University Feb. 17 in “Living Legends - An Evening with Dr. Thomas Franklin Freeman” in celebration of Black History Month. The presentation, sponsored by ExxonMobil’s Black Employee Success Team (BEST) and hosted by Lamar University, is free and open to the public. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the University Theatre.

Lamar University was named a top college for online computer science programs by ComputerScienceOnline.org, a resource for online learning in computer science and related fields.

The Lamar University chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, will host Dr. Robert Clarke, professor and dean of research in the Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, in a free public lecture Feb. 23.

David Bernsen, George Dishman, Sandra French Clark and Roosevelt Petry have been selected as the 2015 Lamar University Distinguished Alumni Awards recipients. The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest awards presented by Lamar University to its alumni.

Lamar University professor Brandé Flamez will receive the 2015 Counselor Educator Advocacy Award from the American Counseling Association. Formal recognition of award winners will be made during the National Awards Ceremony at the 2015 ACA Conference & Expo, March 12-15 in Orlando, Fla.