A&M-SA'S TRANSFER STUDENT NEWSLETTER
THE MONTHLY
November 2020
S I L V E R B U L L E T
Eat, drink, and be Thankful
Content 01 Department of the month 02 DOM Continued 03 Cisneros Institute Director 04 Faculty Highlight 05 Student Angel Form 06 Printable Form 07 Int. Education/Veterans Week 08 Transfer Student Spotlight 09 What are you Thankful for? 10 Favorite Holiday Traditions 11 Thanksgiving Recipe 12 Ugly Sweater Contest 13 Lights of Esperanza 14 #StudentPerks 15 Jaguars Corner MHAN#
There’s always something to be thankful for. All of us at Tau Sigma are thankful for all the support and success we have had with our Transfer Student Newsletter. Yes, this year has not been the easiest for anyone, but we are still here and going strong. So enjoy all the little things (and pie) this month. NOVEMBER 2020
VOLUME 5
TRANSFER NEWSLETTER
Alumni Affairs
I really kick into gear after graduation, crossing that stage you will have more contact and a lot more involvement with the alumni office. My job is to make sure that students that graduate stay connected to the university, whether it be by attending events, meetings or ceremonies. Back in 2016 there was no alumni program, but A&M-San Antonio felt like it had progressed into maturity long enough.
As the program grows more and more each semester there'll be a lot more interaction between alumni and students but usually I facilitate that relationship. A good example is the upcoming ring ceremony. Alumni will help volunteer by handing out information on ways to stay involved after crossing the stage. Students don’t realize that they can still access everything at the Mays Center after they graduate, so all the interview practice, resume review and the civic engagement opportunities like volunteerism are available to them.
The relationship you have with the University does not stop when you cross the stage, It's a life-long relationship. NOVEMBER 2020
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It's never as many as we’d like. It's always a fraction and also some of it’s really hard to track and some of it’s easy to track. I know who exactly is going to my events in a virtual and in person. In addition to that I can do all the analytics for who’s opening the emails and who’s posting things, it's the little things that are tricky to track. For example I’m always telling faculty, if you bring a graduate to your classroom to speak with students, please tell me because this way again I can put it in the alumni database and track that sort of thing.
How many graduates use the services available to them?
I would like to draw your attention to the calendar listed under important days. This will give you a sense of all the events taking place for the fall semester. We used to do movie night, go to spurs and missions games but stuff like that is on pause at the moment. We will be having a stage crossing for our December graduates. I don’t know how much alumni involvement I’m going to access but just like if we were at Freeman Coliseum for an in person commencement I always hand them an alumni decal for their car.
Upcoming events? Website?
In what ways do you hope to grow as a department for students? Goals?
I’m hoping that online talks and events will continue after the pandemic is over because we have graduates that did go farther out of the county, it’s going to be ludicrous to think that they’re going to be able to come back to campus all the time to be involved. There are some things that are really considered pretty basic that we don’t have yet just because we’re not ready for them. Universities will have an alumni board, the numbers vary but aren't usually too big, but if you’re going to put an advisory board together you have to have something for them to do and there’s places that we are not quite mature enough yet for them to be able to have have enough to do so you know that’s one of those things that that will happen in the future. Another thing is like I said it’s only me in the office with only one staff person so as we have more and more graduates out in the world I anticipate that eventually the University will decide to add more staff to the office and with more bodies obviously you can do some more things.
Follow us! Texas A&M-San Antonio @TAMUSAalumni
NOVEMBER 2020
@TAMUSAalumni
Alumni PAGE 02
Meet the New Director of Cisneros Institute for emerging leaders Patty Mendoza is A&M-SA's very own Director of the Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders, and she brings great news for incoming transfer students! In Patty’s position she is able to play a supporting role to an initiative for transfer students. This initiative's goal is to create a semester long certificate program for transfer students. Spring 2021 will be a pilot semester where transfer students majoring in Education can participate in the “Aspiring Teachers Leadership Certificate for Transfer Students”. This certification program provides tangible, practical experience to future educators. This is an accelerated opportunity to learn critical leadership skills. Learn more about Patty and her transfer story in the NOVEMBER 2020
Faculty Highlight! PAGE 03
Faculty
Patty Medoza
Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders
Patty is from California and only recently moved to Texas to become part of the Jagfam! Being from California, the transferring process is unique! The most exciting part about moving to Texas for this position is getting to be a part of a growing HSI university, and to be a part of a community of individuals that want to move the needle in student equity. I'm energized by the fact that we cater to our student population of non-traditional students.
Patty decided to attend a Community College where she could find supportive professors, and advisors and be able to decide on a career path. Community College was also a better option for Mendoza as she didn’t feel adequately prepared after not being placed in the ‘college track’ courses in high school. During her years at East Los Angeles Community College she connected with her transfer center advisor and an advisor from UC Burkley, who suggested she take classes relating to her ChicanX studies at Long Beach Community College. “During my third year in community college, I would drive twenty miles each way in LA traffic to attend both colleges and be able to work full time. I would be at one campus Monday/Wednesday and the other campus Tuesday/Thursday” Mendoza said. There were many programs that came out of the transfer center at East Los Angeles Community college that gave her and twenty other transfer students the opportunity to attend a Spring Break University Tour event. The school made it possible for Patty to visit eight different universities in northern California, one of them being her Alma Mater, University of California, Berkeley! Patty was impressed with their acceptance rate for transfer students, for every two FTIC students accepted there was one transfer student. Patty went on to receive her Bachelor's from UC Berkeley in Sociology and ChincanX studies, and a Masters Degree from California State University NOVEMBER 2020 Northridge in ChicanX studies. PAGE 04
NOVEMBER 2020
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NOVEMBER 2020
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Mark your calendars!
NOVEMBER 2020
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Transfer Student Bianca is a new transfer this semester, coming from Houston Community College. She has been able to transition into jaguar life as she found a place in the Silverliners Mentorship Program, for transfer students and a job and new friends in the office of New Student Programs. We are excited to share her journey as the semester is nearing the end. Gonzalez shares that while the affordability of our campus initially attracted her, her first campus visit sold her, with our community like campus, small class sizes, and that we are a hispanic serving campus. She really felt like A&M-SA chose her! Staying motivated this semester has been hard on all of us, but Bianca says "My motivation is my family and the desire to make them proud. Knowing I have two smaller siblings looking up to me motivates me to keep going. Becoming the best version of myself and taking advantage of all the opportunities that I'm blessed to have is truly satisfying." Read Bianca's educational journey and struggles that many of you can relate to!
Bianca Gonzalez
Bianca is from Houston, Tx. so coming to A&MSA meant leaving that home behind to follow her dreams! "One of the biggest struggles of moving cities to come to TAMUSA i would say was leaving my family. I am a family person. It’s just a huge struggle not being able to see them and interact with them everyday. My mother has always worked so I’ve been her right arm for a very long time taking care of my brothers, home, school, and driving them to wherever they’d have to be. I've spent the majority of my time not just dealing with myself but also with my brothers. I was not used to leaving my brothers on their own especially with school and making sure they were on track. I feel like not having that responsibility anymore has been the hardest for me in transitioning to TAMUSA. Although I know it will all be worth it." Gonzalez said. NOVEMBER 2020
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Share with us on Instagram @Tamusa.Transfers
WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR? TAU SIGMA EDITION For all of the connections special to me. of how blessed
people in my life. The I have made are very The holidays remind me I am to know such great people.
-Juan Espinoza
This time last year I said i wanted more, i wanted to set goals and achieve them I'm so thankful to have had the strength and support system needed to be able to do that! especially after the crazy year we've all had...
The ability to continue my education, to have a God that protects everyone in my life,to have a place that I can call home, coffee, music, Tau Sigma Executive Members and much more.
I am most thankful for my family and for the opportunity to have an education. This year has made me more aware and thankful for all the support from friend and family and the opportunities I have.
-Vi Gomez
-Samantha Muñiz
I am thankful for all the new friendships and connections I’ve made this year, they’ve all been such an amazing support system.
I am thankful for friends and family. I thank my family for their love and support. I'm thankful to my friends for their caring & friendliness and support.
For my loved ones, my dogs and anything covered in chocolate. I am also thankful for all those who keep pushing me to be great!
-Dennis Pendley
-Danielle Balandran
-Cheyenne Zavala
-Stephanie Martinez NOVEMBER 2020
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y a d i l o h e t i r o v a f r u o These are . . . s n o i t i d tra elle Dani skirk u B n Va
sa Karis hem Mitc
"At my husband's grandparent's house they say a prayer and talk about what we are thankful for." teo Doro Pena
y Kenn h Huyn
"Baking with my mom, and playing board games with my family."
erine Cath njo Nara
"Spending time with my family and watching the cowboys game."
NOVEMBER 2020
"Making multiple stops at my friends houses since my parents don't cook."
"We go after the table after dinner & share two or three things we are thankful for from the year, it's a great reminder of the good that's happened."
Share yours with us on Instagram @Tamusa.Transfers
Rosa jas Bara
"Everyone gathers around the table and we talk about the year & the best memories. It's the best."
da Bren s Reye
"Each year my family takes turns saying grace, last year was my turn."
Silver Liner Mentorship Program PAGE 10
RECIPE Pumpkin Pie RECIPE NAME
INGREDIENTS
2 cups canned pumpkin 2 large eggs ½ cup brown sugar packed 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk Frozen pie crust NUMBER OF SERVINGS
8 - 10 TIME TO PREPARE
10 min.
TIME TO COOK
55 min.
PROCEDURE
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. In a large bowl add the canned pumpkin and sweetened condensed milk . Mix until thoroughly combined. 3. Add in the eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, and vanilla extract. Mix the ingredients until smooth. 4. Pour mix into pie crust. 5. Bake for 55 minutes. If edges are brown half way through baking cover the pie with foil to avoid burnt edges. 6. Remove pie from the oven once the middle is no longer a jello or jiggly texture. 7. Lastly let cool and enjoy your pie!
Don't forget to show us how it came out! @Tamusa.transfers
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Lighting of the Christmas tree
Nov. 27 6:00pm 849 E. Commerce San Antonio, Tx. 78205
BO GO
#STUD ENT PERKS @tamusanantonio @tamusa.transfers @studentlifetamusa @cabtamusa
Buy a spiral ham get a turkey free
NOVEMBER 2020
Now till Thanksgiving Day
6 months of FREE Amazon prime with an ".edu" email address Great for holiday shopping!
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JAGUARS' CORNER Are you a student-parent? Sign up for Family Connect, a centralized location for resources and communication and get a chance to win fun family prizes! The drawing is November 30th, so don't miss out!
M e m be r M e e ti
tamusa.campusesp.com Thanksgiving break! No classes thurs. Nov.26Sun. nov 29
Att
NOV. 12 2:30
ng
pm
M
n Looking for a job on campus? Make sure to check out Handshake!
NOVEMBER 2020
entor ondays
NOV. 9th & 16 th 6:007:00pm PAGE 15