Keep Informed. Get Involved. Stay Connected. JANUARY 2012 VOLUME ii ISSUE 5 brenham bryan schulenburg sealy
stay CONNECTED: • Blinn’s Technical Education Center changes New Ulm resident’s life • Director says serendipity brought him to Star of the Republic Museum • Blinn recognized for gathering employer feedback • Blinn theatre students lauded for design and technology skills
Blinn’s Secret Treasure –
The Star of the Republic Museum A Walk through Texas History
from the top
I
am pleased to welcome each of you back for the Spring 2012 semester. I look forward to an exciting and successful year at Blinn College. The semester kicked-off with two outstanding Faculty and Instructional Staff Meetings in early January, where I once again had the pleasure of meeting more employees. I have enjoyed getting to know the people who make Blinn work, and I appreciate the warm welcome I have received into the Blinn College family. Also this month, our students returned to classes and reminded us all why we cherish our role in higher education. Seeing thousands of excited and energetic students each semester keeps us focused on providing educational excellence and a high quality college experience. As you can tell by now, I put a lot of stock into communication and teamwork. I spoke in our meetings about tearing down silos, and I think that is our first step to having a truly unified College. Each Blinn campus is unique, but all share the common ground of being part of Blinn College—an iconic institution with a 129-year track record of excellence. Each campus contributes an important piece of our overall success. Concerning our funding, the financial outlook for the State of Texas still projects decreasing state support for colleges and universities over the next few years. However, I can assure you that our financial situation, while lean, remains strong among community colleges in Texas. The administration and I will continue to seek out efficiencies on our operation while keeping in mind such important priorities as educational quality, growth and recruitment, retention and a positive college experience, among others. We can accomplish great things as one Blinn, through teamwork. I wish each of you the best for another successful semester.
Blinn Connection is a newsletter for the faculty and staff of Blinn College published monthly by the Office of Blinn College Marketing and Media Relations. MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS Jeff Tilley, Brandon Webb, Charlie Kelm Jeanelle Moreno, Richard Bray, Layla Barrett To submit information, contact the Office of Marketing and Media Relations Brenham campus phone: (979) 830-4663 fax: (979) 830-4105 email: richard.bray@blinn.edu Bryan campus phone: (979) 209-7285 fax: (979) 209-7302 email: brandon.webb@blinn.edu Mission Statement Blinn College provides a personal commitment to individual and community enhancement through educational excellence. Vision Statement Blinn College will raise the educational aspirations and achievements of all people by being the doorway for enriching lives and broadening horizons. Accreditation Blinn College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 300334097, (404) 679-4501) to award the associate degree. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves the courses and programs offered by Blinn College. Blinn College seeks to provide equal education without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, or any other constitutionally or statutorily impermissible reason. This policy extends to all programs and activities supported by the college.
Harold Nolte, Ed.D. President
ON THE COVER Keep Informed. Get Involved. Stay Connected. JANUARY 2012 VOLUME II ISSUE 5 BRENHAM BRYAN SCHULENBURG SEALY
The Blinn College Board of Trustees Atwood Kenjura - President STAY CONNECTED:
Leon Toubin - Vice President
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Norwood Lange
Douglas Borchardt - Secretary
Carolyn Miller
Dr. Henry Boehm, Jr.
David Sommer
BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012
Blinn’s Technical Education Center changes New Ulm resident’s life Director says serendipity brought him to Star of the Republic Museum Blinn recognized for gathering employer feedback Blinn theatre students lauded for design and technology skills
Blinn’s Secret Treasure –
THE STAR OF THE REPUBLIC MUSEUM A Walk through Texas History
Artifacts such as these are viewed by more than 30,000 visitors each year at the Star of Republic Museum.
Keep Informed. Get Involved. Stay Connected. PRINTABLE PDF VERSION
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Blinn’s Technical Education Center changes New Ulm resident’s life
With the Media: 12 Contact Steps to Take
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Blinn’s Secret Treasure – The Star of the Republic Museum
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Director says serendipity brought him to Star of the Republic
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Blinn recognized for gathering employer feedback
theatre students lauded for 10 Blinn design and technology skills
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• Blinn Students Help Feed Families • Museum creates exhibit for president’s office • Blinn student appears on this season of ‘The Bachelor’
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ATHLETICS • Hall of Fame coach takes job at Arkansas State • Buccaneer basketball hits the ground running
BOARD NOTES
11 Report it, don’t ignore it
AROUND THE CAMPUSES
PERSONAL NOTES WITH CONDOLENCES MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
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spotlight on blinn
Blinn’s Technical Education Center changes New Ulm resident’s life
Ryan Barrett
After being laid off, New Ulm resident now shining as Emerson Process Management machinist
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hen Ryan Barrett’s old job required him to move furniture into Blinn College’s A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center in Brenham, he had no idea just how crucial the center’s programs would be to his future. When Barrett was informed that cutbacks would result in his maintenance job being eliminated in August, the 25-year-old New Ulm resident didn’t have any idea where his next paycheck would come from. With just a high school diploma in hand, it seemed that his options would be limited—that is, until he spoke to a friend who worked at a local machinist’s shop. His friend recalled that Blinn’s Technical Education Center might be of help, and sure enough, when Barrett combed through the course catalog he found what he was looking for–a machinist’s class. Continued on next page
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BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012
spotlight on blinn Four days after he was laid off, Barrett began the next chapter of his life thanks to Blinn’s technical education program. “It was all new to me,” said Barrett, who is now working at Emerson Process Management’s PIC location in Brenham. “I’d never seen these machines before. I’d never used the kind of tools that we use here.” Nonetheless, Barrett proved a quick study. Technical Education Center Director Dr. Milton Radke put Barrett in touch with Emerson Process Management after the company informed Radke that it may have an opening in its shop. Barrett filled out an application, and after a successful interview he was hired part-time even as he continued his training at the education center. It took seven weeks for Barrett to complete the 280-hour course. “The first week I was wondering, how am I ever going to learn all this stuff?” Barrett said. “But once we started getting into the shop and doing more hands-on work and seeing what they were talking about in the classroom, it became really easy for me. It was something I enjoyed doing, and I really got into it.” Once Barrett completed his training at Blinn, Emerson hired him full-time into a division that would ultimately contribute $7 billion towards Emerson’s 2011 fiscal year sales of $24 billion. “I was really excited,” Barrett said. “Working at my old job wasn’t very challenging. I feel a lot more comfortable here.” Blinn’s technical education program has benefitted Emerson, as well, providing a pool of trained applicants just a few miles from the company’s Brenham location. In fact, two weeks after hiring Barrett, Emerson also hired another member from the same class, Dontavious Hubert, as a saw shop operator. Prior to that class’s graduation, Emerson invited the Blinn students to their shop so they
could see a professional machinist’s shop and learn about the company. The manufacturing manager interviewed every student who expressed an interest in the company. “Dr. Radke and his Blinn Technical College team led by David Yeager have been very instrumental in working with Emerson/ PIC to develop programs that will meet our business needs,” said Emerson Process Management General Manager Eric Claggett. “So far, it has been a great relationship for Emerson/ PIC and one we feel will only continue to grow over time.” With the introduction of innovative new equipment, students such as Barrett have an opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology. Kim Shupak, the human resources manager at Emerson Process Management, said she is very excited about the relationship with the Blinn Technical Center. “It has been challenging for us to find experienced machinists,” she said. “Our hope with Ryan and other students from the program is that Blinn’s technical program provides the foundation, and we can provide the work experience and continued training in order to develop skilled machinists. As our business grows and we continue to add people, the Blinn technical program will be a source for us.” Emerson Process Management, an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in a broad array of industries that include chemical, oil and gas, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and others. Opened in February 2010, Blinn’s $2 million technical education center houses programs to support the educational needs of businesses in the area. Some 1,200-1,500 people are trained each year in the 12,000 square-foot facility, with an emphasis on manufacturing, electrical, construction
“When I was working at my old job, it wasn’t very challenging. I feel a lot more comfortable here.”
crafts, mechanical, leadership, management and health. “The support from our communities has just been tremendous,” Radke said. “The partnership between Blinn and our local communities continues to help provide outstanding educational and career opportunities for the citizens of Washington and surrounding counties.” Graduates of the program have a 100 percent employment rate, Radke said, and the success of students such as Barrett only helps to spread word to other companies.
JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
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college focus
Blinn’s Secret Treasure College-run museum draws more than 30,000 – The Star of the visitors annually Republic Museum
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hen the Texas Legislature approved the creation of the Star of the Republic Museum in 1970, the brand-new institution wasn’t unlike the early years of Texas itself – plenty of open space with vast potential for innovation. The museum, located at Washington-on-theBrazos State Historic Site and administered by Blinn College, didn’t have a clearly defined mission when it was established. It was only after the museum was built as the only starshaped museum in the world that the staff was tasked with finding items to exhibit. “The museum was going to have something to do with this historic site and early Texas, but there wasn’t a clear focus,” said Houston McGaugh, the museum’s director since 1987. “Once they focused on that, then the collection slowly developed.” Eventually, the museum found its niche telling the story of Texas’ years as an independent nation between 1836 and 1846. Its location at Washington-onthe-Brazos gave the museum the unique opportunity to tell that story, and the collection now features more than 8,000 items, including about 4,000 documents, 500 rare books and 300 maps. The collection includes what is believed to be the oldest known Texas flag, as well as The Reading of the Texas Declaration of Independence, a painting by Charles
and Fanny Normann that was commissioned for the Texas centennial in 1936. That painting has been on loan from the Fultz family in Navasota since the museum opened. “There’s a copy of that painting in every Texas history text book that’s ever been printed,” McGaugh said. The two-story museum includes an auditorium that seats 80 and exhibits documenting the Native Americans who first inhabited Texas, the natural resources that drew settlers to the territory, the Mexican-American War and features numerous showcases describing the daily life of average Texans in the era. It is the only accredited museum in the state
“That blows my mind. I have no idea how they find us,” McGaugh said.
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devoted exclusively to collecting and interpreting pre-1850 Texas history and material culture. This glimpse into Texas’ history allows us to better understand what it is that makes Texas – and Texans – unique. It’s a question that has been posed to McGaugh numerous times in his 24 years as the museum director. “Here’s this family in South Carolina, and all of a sudden they see this article in the newspaper that says if you go to Texas, a family can get 4,400 acres free,” McGaugh said. “A lot of people would jump all over that, but you’re forgetting that it’s a foreign country, it’s a long distance to travel and to get there you’ve got to swear allegiance to Mexico and at least say that you’re Catholic. Continued on next page
This artist’s rendering depicts the unique shape of The Star of the Republic Museum, located in the 300acre Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. The museum was created by the State of Texas and opened on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1970. House Bill No. 634, of the Sixty-first Legislature, in regular session, transferred the control and custody of the Museum to Blinn College, Brenham, Texas in Washington County.
BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012
college focus The museum offers about 30,000 visitors each year the opportunity to better understand the unique Texas spirit. Roughly 10,000 students pass through the museum doors each year. More than half of all visitors are first-time guests, and about 15 percent hail from a foreign country. “That blows my mind. I have no idea how they find us,” McGaugh said. The museum’s location at the birthplace of Texas’ independence allows its guests to make a full day out of their visit. The building sits beside Independence Hall, which marks the site where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed and the Republic of Texas was created, and the Barrington Living History Farm, where visitors can see what daily life was like for Texans during that era. “You can come out here and spend four or five hours really easily and get a very immersive education in early Texas history,” McGaugh said. In addition to its daily offerings, the museum offers special education and public programs, including the Night at the Museum in the fall, the Republic of Texas art contest for Washington and Grimes County fourth graders in the spring, the Texas Independence Day celebration in the spring and the upcoming Brazos Valley Regional History Fair, with students from area counties competing for the opportunity to advance to the state and national history fairs. The museum is currently looking for volunteers for its upcoming history fair on Feb. 10. The Star of the Republic Museum staff: HOUSTON McGAUGH Director since 1987 SHAWN CARLSON Curator of Collections and Exhibits since 2002 ANNE SIMMS McGAUGH Curator of Education since 2002 Assistant Curator of Education, 1998-2002 SHERI FINKE Public Programs Coordinator since 2010 VALERIE PURCELL Education Assistant since 2010 EFFIE WELLMANN Museum Secretary since 1995
Director says serendipity brought him to Star of the Republic Museum McGaugh a leading authority on history of the Texas Republic After 24 years as the director of the Star of the Republic Museum, Houston McGaugh says it was serendipity, not a carefully-laid plan that led him to a career as the caretaker of the only accredited museum in the state devoted to collecting and interpreting pre-1850 Texas history and culture. As an undergraduate student at Texas Tech University, McGaugh, who grew up near Lubbock in what he called “the high plains of cotton country,” was drawn to the natural sciences and imagined that one day he would be the curator of a natural history collection. But as he continued his studies, he grew more and more interested in the educational aspects of museum management, especially in teaching people how the study and collection of artifacts from bygone era’s benefits today’s modern society. “That became interesting to me, explaining what museums do and what we can learn from them,” McGaugh said. So midway through his collegiate career, McGaugh began taking more education classes. He earned a bachelor’s degree
in wildlife sciences from Texas Tech, then remained in Lubbock for his master’s in museum studies. McGaugh’s undergraduate background in natural science has actually been a tremendous benefit at the Star of the Republic, which focuses its efforts on studying the 10-year period in which Texas was its own republic. “If you think about early Texas, why did people come? It was because of the land and the animals and the natural resources that were here,” McGaugh said. The Star of the Republic director began Continued on next page
Houston McGaugh
JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
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college focus his 33-year career at the Museum of Natural History in Little Rock, Ark., where he was part of a staff that was at the forefront of the “green” movement, teaching children about natural history, ecology and energy conservation. McGaugh stayed there for five years before he went to work for the Strecker Museum in Waco, Texas, where he directed the museum’s education programs. In 1987, McGaugh came to the Star of the Republic Museum, where he has spent the last 24 years teaching visitors about the years when Texas was its own independent nation. “You would think that since we’re only focusing on a 10-year period we would run out of ideas eventually, but you would be amazed at the number of Texas history books being published each year and the constant ongoing research. We always end up with more ideas for the museum,” McGaugh said. Since coming to Star of the Republic, McGaugh has become one of the premier authorities on the Texas Republic. He has served on committees and panels for the Texas Association of Museums, on the Association of American Museums Standing Professional Committee on the Education for the Mountain/Plains Museums Region and on the Washington County Historical Commission. He was appointed by Gov. Ann Richards to serve on the Sam Houston Bicentennial Commission and the Stephen F. Austin Bicentennial Commission, and served for four years on the Texas Historical Resource Advisory Board for the Texas State Archives. He also served on the statewide planning committee for the new Texas Heritage Initiative as chairman of the steering committee. McGaugh is joined at the museum by Dr. Shawn Carlson, the curator of collections and exhibits since May 2002. Carlson came to the museum with a background in archaeology, especially in studying historic sites from the 18th-20th centuries. Her field experience led her to sites at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Anson Jones plantation and the David Burnet home site, providing her with considerable knowledge of Texas Republic period artifacts.
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Anne Simms McGaugh came to Star of the Republic as the assistant curator of education in 1998 and was selected as the curator of education in 2002. She oversees the development of all the museum’s educational programs and is responsible for writing and editing the museum’s quarterly newsletter and maintaining the website. She married Houston McGaugh 10 years ago, after they had worked together for five. “As I like to tell people, I get to tell her what to do for eight hours and she gets the other 16,” Houston said. Sheri Finke, a nine-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves who spent one year deployed in Iraq, joined the museum staff as the public programs coordinator in July 2010, while Museum Secretary Effie Wellmann has been with the museum for more than 17 years.
Museum Newsletter
The Museum publishes a quarterly newsletter, Notes; available free of charge, upon request. Check it out for the latest information about what’s happening at the Museum or for interesting tidbits about life in the Republic of Texas. To subscribe, please send your mailing address (street, city, state, and zipcode) to star@blinn.edu. To download the most recent issue, click here.
Find us on Facebook
Become a fan of the Star of the Republic Museum today! Keep informed about what’s happening at “The Star” and let us know what you are thinking!
Hours
The Museum is open to the public seven days a week, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, and from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1.
Map
From Brenham, take Hwy. 105 east 14 miles, turn right on FM 912 to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park. From Bryan/College Station, take Hwy 6 south to Navasota. Exit Hwy 105 and travel west 7 miles, turn left on FM 1155 to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park.
a day in the park River Outlook
Old Washington Townsite Amphitheater
Conference Center
Visitor Center
Independence Hall
Brazos River
Picnic Area
Education Center
Visitor Center Parking
Picnic Area Parking
Museum Parking
Star of the Republic Museum
Park Entrance
BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012
Barrington Farm
Barrington Farm Visitor Center Farm Parking
college focus
Pictured from left to right, Kynsie Benefield, Karen Buck, Wes Jurey, Dr. Ted Raspiller, Dr. Bob Brick and Sarah Rosser.
Blinn recognized for gathering employer feedback College was among only two institutions awarded across the state Blinn College earned a prestigious statewide award recently for proactively gathering employer feedback after it sends graduates into the workforce. The Texas Workforce Investment Council invited Blinn College Vice President of Applied Sciences and Workforce Education Dr. Bob Brick and his staff to speak in front of the council in December and receive the Model of Promising Practice Award for determining employer satisfaction. Blinn received the award along with Lone Star College, marking the only two community colleges in the state lauded for employer satisfaction programs. The schools were recognized for using evaluation surveys to evaluate employer satisfaction and then using that data to improve institutional and student performance. “We use our surveys to make continuous improvements to our programs,” Brick said. “Many employers feel that they get students
out of college who need re-training in order to be productive, but our graduates are not facing that same kind of plight when they enter the workplace.” In fact, Blinn’s system for garnering feedback from employers has been so successful that its students are often ahead of the curve. When Blinn’s radiology program learned from local clinics that they were transitioning from film x-rays to digital x-rays, Blinn updated its program to train its students in the latest techniques. “Our students were so well-trained that the local clinics used our students to train their own staff,” Brick said. “When the employers got new equipment, they used our students for the training.” Brick said Karen Buck, the Director of Technical Education Quality Initiatives, was integral in setting up Blinn’s system of surveys for the different fields Blinn students enter after graduation. The system ensures that
employers complete and return the surveys to Blinn and tracks where Blinn students are finding employment after graduation. The Texas Workforce Investment Council, which presented the award, assists the governor and the legislature with strategic planning for and evaluation of the Texas workforce development system. The Council’s strategic priority is to promote the linkage of education, workforce and economic development to leverage resources, increase collaboration among state and local partners and build the pipeline of skilled workers that Texas must have to prosper in the 21st century. “We were pleased to be held up as a model institution for gauging employer satisfaction with our graduates,” Buck said. “The data we gain from these surveys helps us tailor our training and stay relevant for our students who then become valuable and marketable employees.”
JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
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feature
Blinn theatre students lauded for design and technology skills
Morton was awarded Special Mention in Costume Technology and received a signed copy of “Showcase: Developing, Maintaining and Presenting a Design-Tech Portfolio for Theatre and Allied Fields,” by Rafael Jaen, for his presentation detailing his design and construction of Suzy Pincushion’s costume for Blinn’s presentation One student’s award valued at almost $9,000 of “Raggedy Ann and Andy.” Brandon Flippo was awarded Honorable Mention in Props Three Blinn College students were recognized recently for their Technology and received a set of Rosco scenic paint brushes, a entries in the design and technology competition of a prestigious painter’s apron and a sample collection of the full line of Rosco technical theatre symposium in Stillwater, Okla. Off-Broadway paints for his presentation on the Forte piano he Blinn sent a group of theatre students to the Winter designed and built for Blinn’s performance of “Amadeus.” Symposium of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology“We are all very proud of our students who developed design Southwest Region, where they joined almost 200 students, faculty competition entries, preparing themselves and industry professionals from across the for organizing and presenting their ideas Southwest region in the study of numerous as they move on to the next step in their aspects of technical theatre design, education,” Blinn College Technical including set model making techniques, Theatre Arts Director Kevin Patrick said. lighting technology, foam carving, Blinn students’ design and production custom wig-making, costume design and work can next be seen in “God of rendering, mask-making and rigging. Carnage,” directed by Bradley Nies, Six Blinn students were among the Theatre Arts Director, and presented in 51 entrants in the design and technology the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts competition, presenting costume design Center Feb. 23-26. Blinn designers and and technology from their work in Blinn’s technicians will again develop portfolio Introduction to Costumes course, taught presentations for entry in the Texas by part-time instructor and regular guest Community College Speech and Theatre costume designer Jennifer Patrick, and the Association (TCCSTA) Play Festival on “Raggedy Ann and Andy” production March 1 at Weatherford (Texas) College. Blinn’s Theatre Arts program presented More information can be found at www. to Brenham audiences in November. The blinn.edu/finearts/theatre.html and www. Rebecca Flippo students also presented stage props and facebook.com/pages/Theatre-Arts-at-Blinnstage management from “Raggedy Ann Blinn College sophomore Rebecca Flippo prepares a College-Brenham. custom wig in the costume shop at Oklahoma State and Andy” and “Amadeus,” which Blinn University in Stillwater, Okla. on Jan. 15.
presented in October. Sophomores Tyler Ray Morton of Sealy, Brandon Flippo of Smithville and Rebecca Flippo of Smithville were all recognized for their entries. Rebecca Flippo was awarded the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Annual Award for the Student Showing the Most Potential and received eight weeks’ tuition to the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas, where she will engage in weeklong courses with industry professionals, learn the latest techniques and see the latest Las Vegas shows and productions. This award is valued at $8,995. Rebecca Flippo was recognized after presenting her costume design and crafts for the character King Kookoo and for her stage props in “Raggedy Ann and Andy,” and for her presentation on her role as stage manager for the same production.
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BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy November 2011
college focus BOARD NOTES Regular board meeting Jan. 17
The board received thanks from the Blinn College council of division chairs and faculty senate for its decision in November to authorize a one-time stipend for all full-time faculty and staff employed prior to Aug. 22, 2011. The board also read a resolution honoring the 2011 national championship volleyball team and recognizing head coach David Rehr as the regional and national coach of the year, and reviewed the financial statement and a list of checks for the period ending Dec. 31, 2011. The board voted to:
• Approve the financial statement and single audit for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2011 and approve the audit as the amended budget for the 2010-11 school year. • Authorized the administration to award bids for frozen food products, grocery products, cooler products, meat products, milk products and bread products for March 1, 2012 thru Aug. 31, 2012. The board received or heard reports from:
• Richard O’Malley, executive director of facilities, planning and construction, on buildings and grounds.
• Authorize the administration to dispose of surplus college volleyball jerseys via public sale.
• Becky Garlick, Schulenburg campus director, on the campus goals and measures.
• Approve the appointment of Ann Horton, City of Bryan councilwoman, and the re-appointment of Dr. Pamela Matthews, vice provost for academic affairs at Texas A&M, to the Brazos County Advisory Committee. Horton replaces Maritza Hoffmann. Both will serve two-year terms from Jan. 2012 thru Dec. 2013.
• Julie Maass, registrar, and Ann Weir, associate dean of student services, on the preliminary enrollment and housing occupancy for the 2012 Spring semester.
• Add College President Dr. Harold Nolte as an authorized representative to handle transactions with Lone Star Investment Pool, TexPool and TexStar.
• Dr. Ted Raspiller, president of the Brazos County campuses, on updates from the Brazos County campuses. • Dr. Nolte on administrative announcements and a newly endowed scholarship. NEXT BOARD MEETING - FEB. 21 (7 p.m. Bryan Campus)
Report it, don’t ignore it Alert the Emergency Management & Safety Office to workplace safety hazards, falls and even close calls If you ever notice a safety hazard at work, report it, using Blinn’s “Incident Report Form.” The form is an important part of our safety program. The information gathered in the report helps identify trends, investigate problem areas and look for corrective measures or training opportunities. The form should be filled out for: • Work/college related illness or injury (no matter how small) • Safety incidents (such as vehicle accidents, fire, or other emergencies)
The form should be used for students, visitors, contractors, faculty and staff. In short, if it happens on our campus to anyone on our campus, it should be reported. Look for Microsoft Word or Adobe .pdf versions of the “Incident Report” form here:
https://www.blinn.edu/personnel/Forms/forms.htm Once completed, submit the form to: Gary Waites, Emergency Management/Safety Coordinator 979-830-4661 gary.waites@blinn.edu
• Near-misses (such as a file cabinet falling and almost hitting someone)
JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
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COLLEGE FOCUS
Contact With the Media: Steps to Take The media relations professionals at Blinn College routinely work with media outlets across the region and around the country to help the College communicate a consistent message and present itself and our employees as exceptional and worthy of media coverage. The Marketing and Media Relations Department works to proactively pitch stories to the media and quickly respond when attention arises for an interview with an expert at Blinn or a formal comment on the record. Our job is to help ensure that our faculty, staff, students and our College name will be represented accurately and fairly and that, to the greatest extent possible, we maintain positive relationships with any media outlet that might come calling. On occasion, members of the media may contact you directly. Most of our regular reporters know not to approach faculty or staff directly, but on occasion you may receive direct media contact without first hearing from Blinn’s media relations team. When the media do contact you: You should not agree to an interview, or even an informal conversation. Instead, let them know that someone from Blinn will be back in touch with them promptly. Gather the following information, and then politely end the conversation. Anything said to a reporter is on the record, however innocent, informal or casual the conversation may seem. End the call or conversation without answering questions or carrying on the discussion, then contact Jeff Tilley (Brenham/Schulenburg/Sealy) or Brandon Webb (Bryan). Steps to take: 1) WHAT: Ask what they want to cover. 2) WHEN: Ask when their deadline is. 3) THEN: Contact – Jeff Tilley – Brenham/Schulenburg/Sealy • 979-830-4129 • jeff.tilley@blinn.edu Brandon Webb – Bryan • 979-209-7285 • brandon.webb@blinn.edu Under severe deadline pressure, should you fail to reach either, call the Office of Marketing and Media Relations: 979-830-4113. When you contact us, we will ask you what the reporter asked for and what their deadline is. Then we will contact the reporter for “next steps.” There are circumstances where the College may not accept interviews on a given topic, or when the terms or structure of the interview will need to be set in advance. These controls are put in place to ensure our faculty, staff and students are reflected in the best possible light and that the College is accurately and fairly reported upon, regardless of the subject of the interview. Dealing with the media can be rewarding, and it can also be tricky – Jeff and Brandon are here to help. They are your first call when you receive media contact. Thank you for your outstanding, newsworthy work at Blinn. It’s a pleasure to help tell the stories about the educational excellence you achieve here every day.
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BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012
Blinn College Phi Theta Kappa Reunion Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 6 -10 p.m.
Washington County Fairgrounds Event Center 1303 East Blue Bell Road, Brenham “Blinn College Reunion Group Rate” available at LaQuinta Inn and Suites (979-836-5551) and Super 8 Brenham (979-830-8885) For more information, contact Glen Vierus at 979-830-4181 or gvierus@blinn.edu
How Blinn Alert Works The Blinn Alert System allows the college to rapidly communicate important campus-related emergency notifications to students, faculty and staff by sending a voice message and/or instant text message to home and cell phones. While the system is active and ready for use, it is only as good as the contact information it contains. In order to send you emergency text messages and voice mail alerts, you must provide your contact information.
How to register for Blinn Alert Just go here and you can register in seconds or update your current information. Your information is confidential and will not be shared. Faculty & Staff NOTE: your initial log-in will include your employee ID number. Your initial password is your year of birth month and date. EX: 19800806, for a birth date of August 6, 1980. You may change your password after signing in.
AROUND THE CAMPUSES
Blinn Students Help Feed Families More than two-dozen student organizations banded together before the 2011 holidays to collect canned goods for area families – netting a whopping 660 pounds of food. With leadership from the Student Government Association (SGA) and student organizations across the Brenham campus, the collected items were given to Faith Mission. Three student groups led with the most donations, including: 1st place: Blinn Republicans. 2nd place: Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 3rd place: Baptist Student Outreach. The clubs received support from the Office of Student Leadership and Activities for their Spring 2012 programs in recognition of their outstanding service to the community. SGA also volunteered two days at Faith Mission, delivering food to the Brenham community. Blinn’s contribution to Faith Mission was the largest the charitable organization received this holiday season. (Back Row): Faith Mission Staff along with SGA-Brenham Members Donnie Harris, Preston Roque, Blair Lee (Front Row): Student Activities Coordinator Viri Acosta, SGA President Lili Campos, Arica Keilers, and Andrew White
Museum creates exhibit for president’s office Display describes challenges faced by leaders of the Texas Republic The Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park has recently created a small exhibit for the Blinn College Administration Building on the Brenham campus. Just outside the President’s Office on the third floor is a brief synopsis of the four men who led the Republic of Texas between 1836 and 1846, when Texas was its own nation. The display describes the challenges David Burnet, Sam Houston, Mirabeau Lamar and Anson Jones all faced in guiding the young republic, and reproduced documents and books belonging to all four men are on display. The Star of the Republic Museum is located one mile east of Washington on FM 1155, just off of Highway 105. The museum is administered by Blinn College with the mission to collect and preserve the material culture of the Texas Republic and to interpret the history, cultures, diversity, and values of early Texans. The museum is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Blinn student appears on this season of ‘The Bachelor’ Blinn College graduate Lauren Nicole Sterling is a contestant on this season of ABC’s ‘The Bachelor,’ appearing as one of 25 young ladies competing for the affections of this season’s bachelor, Ben Flajnik. Sterling, who goes by the name “Nicki” on the show, is a Hurst, Texas native who graduated from Blinn in May 2011 with an AAS degree in dental hygiene. The show airs each Monday at 7 p.m.
JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
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buccaneer athletics
Hall of Fame Blinn College coach takes job at Arkansas State
www.buccaneersports.com
Rehr won two national championships with Buccaneers After spending the past nine seasons sending Blinn College players on to successful Division I programs, volleyball coach David Rehr is following suit. Blinn athletic director Dick Speas announced on Jan. 11 that Rehr has taken the head coaching job at Arkansas State University, where Rehr will coach in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference after leading the Buccaneers to two NJCAA national championships. “For me, it’s about finding out how good I really am at the next level,” Rehr said. “The decision to leave the program the community, the college and the kids was the hardest part.” Since coming to Brenham, Rehr has turned the Buccaneer volleyball team into a perennial powerhouse, winning two national championships, including last year’s NJCAA title with a perfect 38-0 record. Rehr also led the Buccaneers to
Buccaneer basketball hits the ground running Men’s, women’s squads off to combined 28-5 start Following in the footsteps of a volleyball team that won the national championship and a football team that made a bowl appearance this fall, the Blinn College basketball teams have kept the pace through the first half of this hoops season. The Buccaneer men are off to a 14-3 start after winning their first five games of the season. The team recently completed a seven-game win streak and is 3-2 in Region XIV Conference play. Sophomore forward Joel Wright ranks fourth in the conference with 19.0 points
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the 2008 national championship. “The volleyball program was getting stronger when he came to Blinn, but David took it to an entirely different level and he kept it at that level through his entire tenure,” Speas said. “Not only that, but he did it the right way.” Under Rehr, the Buccaneers have won the Region XIV Tournament eight times to qualify for the national tournament and have amassed a 313-35 record, good for an .899 winning percentage and more victories than any coach in program history. Additionally, Rehr has coached 14 NJCAA All-Americans and 11 American Volleyball Coaching Association AllAmericans. For his career, which includes three seasons at Frank Phillips College before coming to Blinn, Rehr has amassed a 393-63 record (a career .862 winning percentage). “For me, it’s not the wins and losses,” Rehr said. “What makes me happiest is seeing how successful the kids have become off the court
per game while sophomore forward Titus Rubles leads the league with 11.9 rebounds per conference. The Buccaneer women are 14-2 on the season and 3-2 in Region XIV thanks to a season-opening eight-game win streak. As of Jan. 18, the Buccaneers have won five consecutive games. Sophomore point guard Miki Turner ranks among the league leaders with 12.4 points per game, while sophomore forward Valencia White leads the conference with 10.2 rebounds per contest.
BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012
David Rehr - 2011
after they have left Blinn. We’ve got people representing Blinn throughout the state and the country that are outstanding young ladies, and hopefully we’ve had something to do with that.” In November, Rehr was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame, and in December he was named the AVCA two-year college’s national coach of the year. Rehr also served as Blinn’s athletic director from 2007 until 2011. According to Speas, Blinn’s search for a new volleyball coach will begin immediately.
NFL Hall of Famer tours Blinn College NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana visited Blinn College’s Brenham campus Jan. 17, where he was greeted by head football coach Ronny Feldman (left) and President Dr. Harold Nolte.
buccaneer athletics Banquet honors former House Speaker National championship volleyball team also recognized Former Texas House of Representatives Speaker Gus Mutscher was recognized with the “Pride, Honor and Dedication” (PHD) Award at the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen’s Association All-Sports Banquet Saturday night. Mutscher, a Brenham High School and Blinn College graduate, was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1960 at the age of 28 and served as Speaker from 1969-72. He was appointed Washington County Judge in 1976 and spent the next 14 years pursuing an agenda of administrative and judicial modernization. An avid supporter of Blinn College athletics, Mutscher was a two-year letterman for the Blinn baseball team from 1951-52. Past recipients of the PHD Award include former Blinn baseball coach Brian Roper, former Blinn President Dr. Don Voelter and former Blinn athletic director Don Wilhelm. The banquet, which also honored Blinn’s undefeated 2011 national champion volleyball team, raised money for Blinn’s athletic programs.
2012 Blinn Buccaneer Baseball Home Schedule Date 1- 28 2- 3 2- 11 2- 14 2- 18 2- 21 2- 24 2- 25 3- 7 3- 9 3- 16 3- 24 3- 29 4- 4 4- 20 4- 21 4- 24 4- 28
Opponent Alvin* Wharton* Angelina* Panola San Jacinto* Temple Odessa / NCTC Seminole / NCTC South Suburban Galveston* Alvin* Wharton* Angelina* San Jacinto* Laredo * Laredo * McClennan Galveston*
Location Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham
Time 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 11 a.m. / 8 p.m. 11 a.m. / 8 p.m. 6 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 3 p.m.
2012 Blinn Buccaneer Softball Home Schedule Opponent Blinn College Round Robin Trinity Valley C.C. Angelina College Coastal Bend College Galveston College Gulf Coast C.C. Iowa Lakes C.C. San Jacinto - South Alvin C.C. Lamar - Port Arthur
Location Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham Brenham
Time TBA 3/5 p.m. 3/5 p.m. 2/4 p.m. 1/3 p.m. 1/3 p.m. 2/4 p.m. 4/6 p.m. 3/5 p.m. 1/3 p.m.
* Indicates conference games
Former Texas House of Representatives Speaker Gus Mutscher (left) receives the “Pride, Honor and Dedication” Award at the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen’s Association All-Sports Banquet Saturday night. He is joined by former Blinn athletic director Don Wilhelm (center) and Blinn President Dr. Harold Nolte (right).
JANUARY 2012 Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy BLINN CONNECTION
www.buccaneersports.com
Date 2- 10-12 2- 27 3- 7 3- 9 3- 10 3- 11 3- 16 3- 21 4- 11 4- 21
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around the campuses PERSONAL NOTES Melanie Morgan joined the Student
Services team in January as the new director of financial aid. Melanie comes to Blinn from Rice University, where she was the assistant director of financial aid. Richard Bray joins Marketing & Media Relations after nine years as an editor with the Brenham Banner-Press.
WITH CONDOLENCES Harvey Dee McIntyre III, the father of head baseball coach Harvey McIntyre, passed away Dec. 1. He worked at Alexander Oil for more than 20 years and was a loving father to his three sons. Nancy Atkinson, the wife of former Blinn College President Emeritus Dr. James H. Atkinson, passed away Dec. 12 in Bryan following a valiant battle with cancer. She taught English at Blinn from 1964-65 and was an enthusiastic supporter of Blinn. She established and supported several endowed scholarships, including the Lucille Click Sheppeard Scholarship in honor of her late mother. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY BLINN COLLEGE STUDENTS
Mark your Calendars Jan 28.......... Blinn Women’s Basketball vs. Panola (4 p.m. Blinn Gym) Buccaneer Spring Sports Banquet (7 p.m. Student Center Banquet Room, Brenham) Feb 1............ Official Day of Record Blinn Women’s Basketball vs. Trinity Valley (5:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) Feb 2............ Sealy Advisory Committee Meeting (12 p.m. Sealy Campus) Feb 3............ Blinn Baseball vs. Wharton (6 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Feb 4............ Blinn Men’s Basketball vs. Bossier Parish (6 p.m. Blinn Gym) Feb 10.......... Brazos Valley Regional History Fair (Star of the Republic Museum) Feb 10-12..... Blinn Softball Round Robin Tournament (Hohlt Park) Feb 11.......... Blinn Baseball vs. Angelina (3 p.m./6 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) PTK Reunion (6 p.m. Washington Co. Events Center, Brenham) Feb 14 ......... Blinn Baseball vs. Panola (3 p.m./6 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Feb 15.......... Schulenburg Advisory Committee Meeting (12 p.m. Schulenburg Campus) Blinn Women’s Basketball vs. San Jacinto North (5:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) Blinn Men’s Basketball vs. San Jacinto Central (7:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) Feb 16.......... Brazos County Advisory Committee Meeting (12 p.m. Bryan Campus) Feb 17.......... Blinn Baseball vs. San Jacinto (6 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Feb 21.......... Blinn Baseball vs. Temple (4 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Blinn Board of Trustees Meeting (7 p.m. Bryan Campus) Feb 22.......... Blinn Women’s Basketball vs. Angelina (5:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) Blinn Men’s Basketball vs. Angelina (7:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) Feb 23-26..... “God of Carnage” (Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center) Feb 24.......... Blinn Baseball vs. Odessa (11 a.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Blinn Baseball vs. NCTC (8 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Feb 25.......... Blinn Baseball vs. Seminole (11 a.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Blinn Women’s Basketball vs. Kilgore (4 p.m. Blinn Gym) Blinn Men’s Basketball vs. Kilgore (6 p.m. Blinn Gym) Blinn Baseball vs. NCTC (8 p.m. Leroy Dreyer Field) Feb 27.......... Blinn Softball vs. Trinity Valley (3 p.m./5 p.m. Hohlt Park) Mar 1-3........ “Laundry & Bourbon and Lone Star” (Banquet Room, Bryan Campus)
www.theblinntimes.com
Blinn College Fine Arts Division - Bryan, Theater Department presents
Laundry & Bourbon and Lone Star By James McLure
March 1, 2, 3, 2012 • 8 p.m. 16
BLINN CONNECTION Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy JANUARY 2012