Houstonian 2015 by UH Center for Student Media

HOUSTONIAN 2015

2015

HOUSTONIAN A MAGAZINE FOR THE GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

HOUSTONIAN 2015

One word comes to mind: SUCCESS Graduation is a time to reflect on your journey. Think about where you started, and where you are headed. Your first day on campus seems like only yesterday. Your college memories feel complete now that you have reached this milestone. We are proud of who you have become, and we hope that we have prepared and inspired you to take what you have learned at UH out into the world. Class of 2015, we take this time to celebrate you. Congratulations...you are what success looks like.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

FROM THE EDITOR

ake a deep breath, Coogs. You’ve done it. Today is the culmination of at least four years of late nights with lifelong friends, limited parental supervision and the hard work it takes to become a graduate at the University of Houston. And as you prepare for commencement with Matthew McConaughey in one of the best football stadiums in the country, remember to cherish this moment — you’ll miss this. You’ll miss the bad hair days in the morning after knocking out two mid-term papers and studying for an exam. You’ll miss waking up and getting to a computer to make sure you get into the classes you need for your degree plan. You’ll miss explaining how you survived. Finally, you’ll miss being on campus during the rise of one of the best transformation projects in the country — the University of Houston. You have seen a renovation of the Student Center from a place that many avoided into a hub for student life. Students voted it as the best study spot for students on campus.

It was completely student driven from the funding to the planning. The $100 million plus project, TDECU Stadium, has changed the way UH is viewed in the athletic sphere. Outside of those two projects, UH has continued gaining ground in research with the highest patent revenue of any university without a medical school. During her State of the University speech this year, President Renu Khator said the individual streams that UH has created are making a forceful river “with the ocean now in sight.” You are crossing the stage at a special time in UH history. Cherish your time at a university finally starting to reach its potential on a grand stage.

CHRIS SHELTON

Magazine Staff Editor in Chief Christopher Shelton

Cara Smith, Rebecca Stearns, Kayla Stewart, Justin Tijerina

Managing Editor Trey Strange

Advertising Summer Davis, JP Montgomery

Lead Designer Josue Diaz

Production Jose Cruz, Alex Tomic

Copy Editors Joshua Cochran, Glissette Santana

Cover Design Josue Diaz

Writers Sean Alder, Laura Gillespie, Rebecca Hennes, Harrison Lee, Jenae Sitzes, Cara Smith

Photo Editor Jimmy Moreland

Photographers Emily S. Chambers, Mayra Delagarza, Betty Henriquez, Caitlin Hilton, Sarah Hoffman, Catherine Lara, Chris Luong, Katrina Madrinan, Thomas Martinez, Pablo Milanese, Brittaney Penney, Esteban Portillo, Edith Rubio,

About The Magazine This magazine was produced by students at the University of Houston in the Center for Student Media. The first copy is free to graduates. Each additional copy is $2, including postage. To request a copy, call 713-743-5350 or email csm@uh.edu

THANK YOU GRADS

FOR MAKING AWESOME HAPPEN. CONGRATULATIONS!

bauer.uh.edu • whereawesomehappens.com

The

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Summer/Fall 2014 - Spring 2015 Graduates

Christopher Abide Felix Alanis Johnathan Alvarez Alison Anchors Lucia Aparicio Tyler Beck Michelle Blair Laura Bleakley Jonathan Booker Karimah Browne Michael Bryson Anna Calhoun Rameen Chaharbaghi Xinyue Chen Elizabeth Chrisman Joshua Chua Spencer Clayton James Coffey Shani Cohen David Coldiron Henry Dang Dylan Dann Anna Diemer David Doerr Grace Edgar Aundray Edwards Gisela Escobar Diaz Mauri Cash Erwin Lavelle Florence Felix Gamez Rey Gonzalez Catherine Goode Benjamin Grube Jackson Guillen Payton Guerrattaz Russell Haehl

Nicholas Hatt Amanda Hernandez Joshua Hines Shamsah Hirani Austin Hoeltzel Blythe Hopson Courtney Howard Robert Hubley Mary Katherine Hunter Mei Kuan Im Alexa Johnson John Kline Maria Kurchevskaya Kirsten Kurtz Justin Langham Yi Ching Lee Blake Lein Joshua Levine Thanushka Lewkebandara Chenchen Li Dan Littles Page Madison Ben Malmer Heath Martin Yumemi Masui Matthew Mazzola Lynda McKnight Jack McLaughlin Cristina Mendoza Saleel Menon Caitlyn Merta Nickolas Miller Trent Minter Zachary Musick Adam Plantz Adam Polk

Andrea Ponte Christian Restrepo Jaren Reyes Emily Robinson Whitney Robinson James Rodriguez Desiree Sanchez Alexander Scheuermann Theodore Schneider Ethan Schneider Amy Sheffer Yan Shen Jihae Shin Aidan Smerud Spencer Smith Christopher Song James Sterling Aubrey Stokes Smith Camilla Sung Jacob Sustaita Kevin Tang Siobhan Thompson Julie Thornton Nicholas Tieh Cesar Torruella Mayara Velasquez Rachel Walrath Daniel Weatherholt Michael Whitebread Amanda Wilton Jia Hui Wong Nicole Woodward Zachary Woolhouse Jingwen Xu Teng-Kai Yang Joshua Zinn

Best wishes for your continued success!

COUGAR GRAD CHALLENGE

HOUSTONIAN 2015

4 FACTS state funds make up only

19%

of the entire UH budget.

YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE DONATING FOR YOUR SPIRIT C0RD

In 2014, tuition & fees covered only

The Class of 2015 raised

of the entire UH budget.

simply by donating change.

38% 42% $1,000

the record for highest participation, set in December 2014.

With a gift of $15 or more, graduating seniors earn a red and white Cougar Spirit Cord to wear at graduation. It is a symbol of pride and gratitude, and is a way to support UH and future students. Make your gift today!

uh.edu/cougargradchallenge

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

COURTESY OF UH

FERTITTA NAMED CHAIR

Tilman Fertitta, CEO of Landry’s Inc. and one of UH’s most prominent alumni, was named chairman of the UH System Board of Regents for 2014-2015.

CAGE RAGE

In celebration of the grand opening of TDECU Stadium, football coaches and players mingled with students in the Student Government Association’s first-ever pep rally, the Cage Rage. The Spirit of Houston played the fight song as students swarmed the stadium for tours and free dinner.

AUGUST LARGEST MOVE-IN IN UH HISTORY

August marked the largest movein effort in the history of the University, with 7,000 residents toting bags and suitcases to their rooms for the semester. The push for on-campus facilities has given UH the second-most number of beds in Texas. It took 700 volunteers to help all of these students.

CAT’S BACK To celebrate the coming year, students gathered at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, which was packed with booths from organizations offering entertainment, music and information about getting involved.

7,000 RESIDENTS

PHOTO BY CAITLIN HILTON

AUGUST

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA HOUSTONIAN 2015 13

A NEW ERA

The anticipation of a new football stadium predates most students at UH. The opening of TDECU Stadium cemented UHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive to compete in athletics at the highest level. Despite a 27-7 loss to UTSA, many Cougar fans cherished the moment.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

COURTESY OF UH

PHOTO BY REBEKAH STERNS

A LEGEND RETURNS

After serving as a volunteer track and field coach for a year, nine-time Olympian Carl Lewis was announced as a full-time assistant coach. He coaches sprinters and jumpers.

ANDERSON VISITS CAMPUS

The Mitchell Artist Lecture series brought acclaimed artist Laurie Anderson to the stage at the Moores Opera House.

SEPTEMBER

CALHOUN’S ROOFTOP BAR AND GRILL OPENS

Campus’ unofficial Thursday turn-up spot opened its doors to provide another spot for Cougars to congregate after 9 p.m. and adding to students’ growing food and fun options around the University.

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

PHOTO BY KATRINA MADRINAN

CULLEN FIELDS EXPANDS

Students gained more space for intramural games after a renovation expanded Cullen Fields. About $1.5 million in student fees will allow students to have more space for constructive activities on campus.

BYRON PITTS INSPIRES STUDENTS TO STRIVE As part of the Provost’s Summer Read Program, national ABC correspondent Byron Pitts, who was functionally illiterate until 12, talked about overcoming poverty to win six Emmy awards.

SMOOTHING OVER CULLEN Bumpy rides down Cullen Boulevard are a thing of the past. After two years of planning, the infamous street was finally repaired.

“Don’t let anyone discourage you about the profession,” Pitts said. “You can live a rich and wonderful life. You can cover conflict, you can see the world, you can meet interesting people, you can do important work — it is all in your power.” PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

OCTOBER 1

THE QUEEN OF UH INNOVATION After Khator took office, royalty revenue has soared R

oyalty revenue has proved to be one of the largest improvements at UH in the past decade. With $22 million in royalty revenue earned in 2014, UH is the highest grossing University without a medical school, according to the 2014 President’s Report. The figure is up from $1.1 million in 2008, President Renu Khator’s first year at the University. “We have earned the right to call ourselves the innovation university,” Khator said during her State of the University address on Oct. 1. With Khator’s sights on a new medical school in 2020, those revenues could grow even more. She announced that UH would commission a study to determine what it would take during her State of the University address. “There is a general effort to grow this sort of activity on the campus over the past few years,” said Richard Wilson, interim associate vice president for Technology Transfer

at the University. “It’s part of the things that society wants from state-supported universities — economic growth, jobs for Texans, new products which are beneficial to society.” The bump in revenue, according to Wilson and a UH press release, is largely due to Vimpat, an anticonvulsant drug that helps with adult epilepsy sufferers, and Busulfan, a cancer drug used in the treatment of leukemia. Wilson said there are still years to go before the new medical school brings in potential royalty revenue. “Many of our departments have good researchers, colleagues, students and facilities, and our (Operations and Information Management Department) does a good job,” Wilson said. “Development in this area is also a priority of the university. Not just in pursuit of royalties, but also to see UH inventions get out to be useful to society, to help faculty and students who want to start companies, and to facilitate

co-operations with local industries, which often care a lot about IP rights.” Wilson credited the work of Vice President of Research and Technology Transfer Rathindra Bose and former Assistant Vice President of Technology Transfer Mark Clarke for their work with improving research activity, beyond that of royalty revenue. Bose was instrumental in launching the Technology Gap Fund in 2013, a grant program that funded three faculty members with $50,000 to launch their technology into the market. “We are trying to identify really innovative, high-end technologies,” said Bose in a UH press release. “In my world, the University is a world where we should be creative. This is all about research and creativity.”

> LAURA GILLESPIE

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY ALIYAH ZAIDA

PHOTO BY JIUSTIN TIJERINA

COOG RADIO’S 5TH BIRTHDAY

Coog Radio had its coming-out party that doubled as a celebration of its fifth birthday. Only Beast, Young Mammals, Craig Kinsey and Southern Backtones headlined the party at Lynn Eusan Park.

DIVERSITY’S NEW HOME

With a university as diverse as UH, an advocate for celebrating different cultures is necessary. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion cut the ribbon and symbolically opened its doors.

OCTOBER

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

30 YEARS IN THE MAKING The Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management hosted several local restaurants that competed for the salad crown of Houston. Proceeds from the event went to the Food and Beverage Managers Association of Houston scholarships, which support students at the Hilton College.

HOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

NOVEMBER

THE TURN-UP

WAS REAL

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

7-8

Despite a disappointing result on the field, the rest of Homecoming weekend was a win for Cougars. Big Sean shined before a capacity crowd at Cullen Performance Hall, where his hits were well received. Brooke Sullivan and Evan Lucas earned memories of a lifetime when they were named Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of the Cougarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 31-24 loss to Tulane.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

NOVEMBER 10

BUILDING THE POWERHOUSE UH pushes bold image, new expectations O n the third anniversary of Renu Khator stepping into her role as president and chancellor of the UH System, the University received game-changing news. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced in 2011 that UH showed “very high research activity,” moving the University to its Tier One category for research and beating Khator’s own goal of achieving Tier One status within five to seven years. However, his milestone was not UH’s crowning achievement. For Khator, this was just the beginning of a new legacy of UH. A few years later, three people met to plan the University’s next big step: a marketing campaign that would redefine UH’s mission city-wide and nationally. It debuted on Nov. 10. “We have unfinished business,” Khator said in a UH press release.

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

“Two of our brand tone words are bold and aspirational, and this campaign clearly demonstrates those ideas,” Torres said. “The messages, combined with striking imagery and layout, are rooted in real endeavors and accomplishments PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND going on here at the University of Houston. Vice President for UH Marketing Richie “Nothing is as compelling as beautifully Hunter, Director of Marketing Brandy Holmes crafted messages grounded in truth.” and Director of Creative Services Enita Torres considered everything UH had achieved since gaining Tier One research status and highlighted the University’s “Big Rocks”: Arts, Athletics, The Powerhouse campaign reaches far Health, Energy and Student Success. The team beyond UH’s website, touching more than 90 drafted slogans that aimed to push old percepscreens across campus and approximately 600 tions of UH as “Cougar High” far into the past. elevator screens throughout Houston, with ads “Brandy brought some strong copy options changing weekly, according to uh.edu. UH is to the table, and we chose the two best: ‘This is also utilizing Bush Intercontinental Airport the House Innovation Built’ and ‘Welcome to and Hobby Airport to showcase large banners the Powerhouse,’” Torres said, calling the colthat promote its new image, an unconventional laboration one of the most exciting she’s ever strategy that represents UH’s willingness to use experienced. innovative methods to achieve goals. Visitors to UH’s website will immediately Social media has also played a huge part in notice the bold imagery paired with faces of the campaign by bringing attention to the stostudents who meet UH’s new standards, inries posted on the Powerhouse website. Social cluding making real-world impact, producing media coordinator Tiffany Norman said social ground-breaking research and bolstering UH’s media posts have been crucial in getting the off-campus influence with societal contribuUH community involved with UH’s vision by tions. asking people to take selfies with the PowerTorres said she kept in mind UH’s “optimishouse ads around Houston and post them with tic, forward-thinking values” when crafting the hashtag #GoCoogs. imagery for the Powerhouse campaign, hoping “The main theme of the Powerhouse camto give UH’s message a lasting visual impact. paign is the innovation that has built UH and

VISUALIZING A NEW AMBITION

A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED CAMPAIGN

continues to push the University forward,” Norman. “Social media is an innovative communication tool, so it’s very fitting for it to be heavily involved in this campaign.”

A NEW ERA

In her 2014 Fall Address, Khator used the metaphor of “individual streams turning into a forceful river with the ocean now in sight” to describe UH’s journey toward becoming a powerful player in the world of higher education and research. She announced plans to attain a large, federally-funded research center, a medical school and a College of the Arts — a progression for three of UH’s “Big Rocks”: Energy, Health and Arts. While the Powerhouse campaign aims to redefine UH as a powerfulinstitution that makes major contributions to society, Khator continued to emphasize student success. “Our vision is not to exclude the average man, but to dream more than the average for him… to dream the best for him,” Khator said in her address. “We have a responsibility to turn our diversity into strength and build a world-class university right here in Houston. “It is our challenge, but it is also the source of our energy.”

> JENAE SITZES

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

SCHOLARSHIP AFTER SCANDAL UH announces a scholarship fund that helps subsidize the costs of living on campus. The Cougar Experience Scholarship ended a back-and-forth saga between the University and prominent alumnus John Whitmire regarding a proposed policy that would make living on campus mandatory for freshmen. Whitmire, the state senator who helped derail the mandatory freshmen housing bill, made the first donation, which will benefit 300 students.

NOVEMBER KHATOR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS APPOINTMENT

It was announced that President Renu Khator will lead a nine-member board as the chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, which influences the nation’s monetary policies.

RU PAUL DRAG RACE WINNER COMES TO UH

The Season One winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Bebe Zahara gave students insight into the life of a drag queen. Zahara, who was invited to campus by the Council of Ethnic Organizations and Gamma Rho Lambda, impressed the audience in the UC Theater with the winning performance from the show. PHOTO BY BETTY HENRIQUEZ

HOUSTONIAN 2015

COURTESY OF ALLEY THEATRE

PHOTO BY PABLO MILAENESE

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Sustainability Fest pushes the UH community to be more environmentally friendly. On a cloudy Tuesday at Lynn Eusan Park, students received free snacks, reusable water bottles and reusable totes to reduce their carbon footprint.

PERFORMING A CLASSIC AT UH

The Alley Theatre, which performed at UH’s Wortham Theatre this year because of construction, showed “A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas,” and added holiday cheer to campus. It was the Alley’s 25th annual performance of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and three ghosts who visit him on Christmas Eve.

DECEMBER

FORMER AIR RAID PILOT FLIES HOME Only a week after being released by the Houston Texans, legendary former UH quarterback Case Keenum piloted the Texans to wins against Baltimore and Jacksonville in the last two weeks of the season. They were his first two career victories as starting NFL quarterback.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

HOUSTONIAN 2015

DECEMBER 16

THE NEW NORMAL With high-profile coaches and $200 million in facility upgrades, UH has changed the game

he campaign of President Renu Khator and former Vice President of Intercollegiate Affairs Mack Rhoades this past year has been to turn UH into a Tier One University in both research and athletics. The two have worked together while trying to build a championship program at UH — one that competes at the highest level in every sport. With nearly $200 million in facility upgrades and new high profile coaches in basketball and football, UH Athletics is poised to be a national threat in the years to come. With greater funding and scrutiny comes higher expectations, but football head coach Tom Herman is used to a high bar. Before arriving at UH he served as offensive coordinator for National Champion Ohio State University. “I think it’s always good to be around people that have high expectations and want to do well, want to succeed and win championships,” Herman said. “The enthusiasm level from [President Khator] and the administration is off the charts and is maybe as good as anywhere I’ve seen in the country.” The investment is starting to foster returns. The baseball program under head coach Todd Whitting has grown exponentially in the past few years in terms of recruiting and production on the field. The $2.2 million renovation of Cougar Field has helped UH arrive at that end. And a $25 million basketball development facility has helped the Cougars snag Houston Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson from the NBA.

The perception change has helped foster a culture of winning, Whitting said. “The perception of our University has changed dramatically over the past few years with Dr. Khator coming in and making the changes she’s made and with our former Athletic Director Mack Rhoades,”Whitting said. “He definitely raised the bar in terms of the expectation level and he put his money where his mouth is and went out to raise millions of dollars for a new football stadium, a new basketball practice facility, and upgrades at baseball, softball and track.” With a decorated coaching staff, Khator and the administration aren’t the only ones with high hopes for UH athletics though — students are beginning to develop a vision of what the teams can and should be. This excitement among the fans produced a 185 percent ticket sales increase from last year along with a 160 percent increase in ticket revenue.The increase in support is also a driving force in the performance of the players. Senior running back Kenneth Farrow looks to take advantage of the new expectations for athletics and use them to increase attendance at football games compared to past seasons. “We get out there and win games, everybody will be excited and that’ll really change things around fast,” Farrow said.

> SEAN ALDER

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

JANUARY

CARDIAC COOGS STRIKE AGAIN UH staged a historic comeback against Pittsburgh in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Cougars rallied from a 31-6 deficit early in the fourth quarter. The 25-point comeback in the final period was the largest ever for a bowl that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go into overtime.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

COURTESY OF UH

STUDENT CENTER GRAND OPENING

MLK DAY OF SERVICE

PHOTO BY KAYLA STEWART

COURTESY OF UH

It took about six years of planning, dedication and hard work, but the new Student Center was worth the wait. Now students have a central hub on campus that matches the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tier One reputation. With facility upgrades and more sitting areas and lounge spots, the Student Center has become the place to meet, even being voted the Best On-Campus Hangout spot for the year.

Students banded together for the MLk Day of Service, volunteering with Forge for Families, Generation One, the Houston Food Bank, the Houston Public Library, Interfaith Ministries and the Office of Sustainability to better the surrounding community.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

JANUARY 21

THE TWO PILLARS The Student Center & TDECU Stadium illustrate UH’s commitment to student engagement

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

If Houston is known as the city that’s always building, UH has quickly become the epicenter of its construction-centric culture.

And every building that joins the skyline sends a message. UH’s $120 million investment into a new football stadium communicates a long-term commitment to athletics’ success. A $25 million basketball development facility, expected to finish in September, speaks to the importance of nationally competitive

athletics. The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center’s $9 million in renovations will cater to UH’s growing residential population and woo the students that UH wants to turn into residents. And the University pumping $51 million into building a Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering Building, to be completed in 2016,

“I can’t tell you how many folks have told me ‘I haven’t been on campus in 20, 30 years, and I can’t believe everything that’s going on out there.’ And they came back because of the stadium,” said Wilkinson. “There’s no question whether it’s had a positive impact on the alumni base.” shows a laser-sharp focus on becoming a fully accredited Tier One university. But perhaps most notable is the University Center Transformation Project. On Jan. 21, after years of student planning, financial negotiations and hype, the project came to fruition. It’s an $80 million stamp on campus that’s redefined the way a UH student spends time between classes. The goal of building the Student Center, which now houses everything from an ice cream parlor to a software store –was to foster student success. The facility is held responsible for keeping students on campus later at night, for improving and increasing on-campus dining and entertainment and for keeping the students engaged. Keith Kowalka, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and one of UH’s most involved administrators in the project, gave an unconventional amount of project oversight to students. Meanwhile, the University Center (now known as the Student Center) went through a bevy of funding approvals and student committees, on which students were appointed to examine everything from the blueprints to the carpet color. It’s tough to quantify whether or not the Student Center has been successful in fostering student success. But Kowalka said he has seen a tidal shift in the culture at UH since the Student Center was built. Students are on campus longer, later and on the weekends, a significant change indeed for the once-commuter campus. To try and quantify the success of the Center, Aramark revenue statistics will be examined. Administrators will be able to see where students are spending their money, at what time transactions are happening and whether there’s been an increase in business on nights and weekends. The biggest facility investment in University history was the multi-million dollar construction of TDECU Stadium. And if a facility is built to attract people, the new football stadium’s biggest recruit will never suit up for a game.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

Head coach Tom Herman likely wouldn’t have considered UH as seriously if it weren’t undergoing a facilities overhaul. Funneling $120 million into a single structure – TDECU Stadium – told Herman that UH was ready for a culture change, and that it wasn’t afraid to spend money on athletics. “Whenever you see facilities being built and money being invested in athletics, especially football, you understand the commitment to winning and to the student athletes is there,” Herman said. The stadium’s biggest recruit just signed on a five-year, $6.75 million contract with the University, where he’ll be earning $1.35 million a year. It’s the fattest salary for a football coach in UH history. But Herman said that the University’s investment in facilities was a key influence in him choosing UH – the stadium alone made “a lot” of the argument for him to come to Houston. “When certain jobs present themselves, one thing you have to (ask yourself) is ‘How committed are they?’ Not just in talk, but in action and in dollars,” Herman said. Ultimately, though, the goal of these massive facility endeavors is to turn University graduates into engaged, donating alumni. Trey Wilkinson, chair-elect of the UH Alumni Association, said that he’s “absolutely” seen

growth in UH’s alumni base since the stadium’s construction. “I can’t tell you how many folks have told me ‘I haven’t been on campus in 20, 30 years, and I can’t believe everything that’s going on out there.’ And they came back because of the stadium,” said Wilkinson. “There’s no question whether it’s had a positive impact on the alumni base.” That puts pressure back on Herman to give UH the season it’s been waiting for and the alumni growth it needs. After last year’s lackluster 8-5 record, people are hungry for performances that will pull students in the stadium on a Friday night. Without home fieldadvantage wins, the stands will remain empty. “We have a long way to go, but the expectations have been set very high, and should be. We’ve got some culture things to change,” Herman said shortly after he was hired. “That takes time, but I will tell you this, the expectations of winning and competing for championships in the months of November and December are expectations that I as well, feel are reachable here in the near future.”

> CARA SMITH

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

BASKETBALL TEAM DEFEATS UCONN FOR FIRST CONFERENCE WIN OF SEASON After a tough start to the season, the Cougars defeated the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national champion, University of Connecticut, at Hofheinz Pavilion for their first conference victory of the season.

FEBRUARY

NEARLY $2 MILLION GRANT TO HELP DOWN SYNDROME PATIENTS A team of researchers from the College of Optometry earned a $1.67-million grant from the National Eye Institute to help patients with Downs Syndrome to gain better vision.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

FEBRUARY 13

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

IT’S TODD WHITTING’S BASEBALL WORLD The UH community is just living in it I

n many ways, the story of Todd Whitting’s life in Cougar Red makes him the Once and Future King of UH baseball. He played here, went off to his training grounds in Fort Worth, and returned with such success that it seemed the baseball gods laid it all out. Going into his fifth season as the Cougars’ pilot, he has more than 150 wins, including a deep odyssey into the 2014 post season that was punctuated when UH defeated LSU in Baton Rouge during the Regionals. The Cougars were ranked as high as No. 3 when the season began on Feb. 13 and are a trendy pick to reach the College World Series in Omaha. Whitting’s ongoing orchestration of UH’s rise from baseball’s ashes to 18 innings away from a trip to Omaha is a live action version of baseball’s romanticism. “I’ve said many times that the reason I left here after the 2003 season was to hopefully come back as the head coach,” Whitting said of his departure to Texas Christian University. “I needed to go out and learn a different way to do things and prove to myself that I could be a part of another winning program.” Managing his own alma mater, something of a rarity in college baseball, set him up for a

reunion that led to sublime simplicity. “I knew how the place worked, I knew what the niche was for recruiting, I knew the type of personnel I needed to hire. I knew the lay of the the land. It wasn’t like I was going in to this thing blind and having to find where the copy machines and the bathrooms were.” The journey to his return began in the pastoral panhandle town of Dalhart, where he recalled watching the College World Series as child and thinking that it looked like a career both good and fun. He spent 1991 to 1995 playing at UH and became an assistant coach afterwards. His trek then took him to TCU, where he rose to become associate head coach from 2005 to 2010, part of the coaching staff that helped send TCU to their first College World Series appearance in 2010. While Whitting has success as his hallmark, his reputation as a leader and shaper of young men might go farther. A gifted recruiter as well as a coach, his ability to sell his program to potential as well as current Cougars has further spread his baseball kingdom. “He’s a great player’s coach,” said junior second baseman Josh Vidales. “He really understands where we’re coming from. He’s been

around the game a long time and he has a lot of wisdom for us. You can’t do anything but buy in and listen. It’s a great feeling to know that he knows exactly where you’re coming from, not just on the field but off it as well. He says his office is always open and you can talk to him about anything which really helped me in the Fall.” Sophomore pitcher Andrew Lantrip echoed the sentiments of his second baseman. “It’s been a great experience,” said the righthander of his time at UH. “We come out here every day and try and get better. We never settle. We’re always wanting to get better. There’s never a point where you want to plateau. That’s how our mindest is as a ballclub.” For the Once and Future King, his station in life is good, the quest, the preparation, the work to get here having paid off in its preferred form. “What’s a better place to prepare for than your Alma Mater, one that has a chance to be an Omaha type program?” asked Whitting.

> HARRISON LEE

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY PABLO MILANESE

WOLF CENTER CO-FOUNDER HONORED AT IWO JIMA CELEBRATION

Bill Sherill, co-founder of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship and recepient of the Purple Heart, graced the TBH Center as the guest of honor for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

UHS DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Nearly 400 students from the UH System swarmed the capitol steps, lifting high the name of the University and gaining House support for the tuition revenue bill. PHOTO BY CARA SMITH

PHOTO BY ESTEBAN PORTILLO

24 23

A CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion reeled in broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien for the “Black in America” tour, in which she and others, including law school dean Leonard Baynes, conversed about race in the nation.

A VERBAL JOUST

Three candidates – Shaun Smith, Sam Perez and Elisha Diaz – emerged as potential leaders for the Student Government Association. They greeted student questions in the Law Center at the annual SGA Presidential Debate.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

THE YAK BUS ROLLS TO UH

A marketing tool devised by the creators of Yik Yak that targets college students by touring universities arrived on the University of Houston campus, encouraging students to utilize the social media app by giving out free items such as stickers and socks.

MARCH BRINGING CULTURES TOGETHER The new Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosted its first Culture Connect Week, with panels and discussions on sexuality, gender roles and cultural diversity. Students participated in lectures, volunteer opportunities, games and even dance lessons in an immersive and accessible form, promoting cultural diversity and acceptance for every student.

PHOTO BY CAITLIN HILTON

HINES INVESTS IN UH

Surrounded by a gathering of hundreds of students for an art exhibition, administration announced that Gerald D. Hines, the namesake of the architecture school, would donate $1 million to help fund international programs for the University.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY CATHERINE LARA

UH REMEBERS FALLEN COUGARS

For more than 20 years, the A.D. Bruce Religion Center has hosted the annual UH Day of Remembrance, where students can come to a 30-minute candlelight service to honor the deceased members of the University of Houston family.

TAKEN TOO SOON

DECEASED REVEREND, A GENTLE GIANT

Jemimah Noonoo, 34, touched the lives of everyone who took her class. Outside of her teaching talents, the journalism professor was known for her smile, faith, humor and optimism. Noonoo graduated with her Master’s of Arts from the Missouri School of Journalism. Before arriving at the Houston Chronicle, she worked at the New York Times and Newsweek. Noonoo is survived by her son, Nathaniel.

Israel Ahimbisibwe, 51, served as Reverend for the Episcopal – Canterbury Campus Ministry at UH. He had been affiliated with the University for around five years.

September 14

January 25

PHILANTHROPIST CULLEN PASSES

April 7

Roy Henry Cullen, grandson of Hugh Roy Cullen, one of the founding fathers of UH, died at 84. He served as the president of the Cullen Foundation, one of the most prominent charitable organizations in Houston.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

MARCH 13

TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY

UH alumna Lacy Johnson helps others by telling her story

acy Johnson was kept for five hours in a soundproof basement where her exboyfriend raped and planned to kill her. Luckily, Johnson managed to escape and ran to the nearest police station. Fifteen years later, Johnson said she still keeps one eye over her shoulder, but that doesn’t stop her from living her life and loving the person she is. Johnson pressed charges against her assailant, but he escaped and fled to Venezuela, where he holds dual citizenship and is safe from extradition. “I will never not be a person who was kidnapped and raped by a man that she had loved,” she said. “I am always going to be the person that I am. And so learning to love myself — to forgive myself for the mistakes I had made in the past, was profoundly helpful in going on to live a more healthy life.” In her memoir “The Other Side,” she shares her experience to help victims of sexual assault recover like she did. Johnson’s memoir was named a finalist for two prestigious national awards that include a National Book Critics Circle Award for the best autobiography of 2014 and an Edgar Award for best factual book about crime in mid March. Johnson said she was shocked and profoundly honored to be recognized and hopes her book helps other victims of sexual assault. “That was one of the most valuable things that happened to me; it was like for many, many years I was caught in this period of mourning. The hardest thing for me to do was to learn to love and to accept and to forgive the person that I am,” Johnson said. Johnson is now married with two children and spends her days balancing her creative work as a writer with the administration work she does serving as the director of academic initiatives at the University of Houston’s Cynthia Mitchell Center for the Arts, where she teaches Art Activism. “I love teaching,” Johnson said. “The kind of work that I do and the kind of teaching I’ve done is just sort of helping students get the skills to articulate their experience or to some way or another shape the world in which they

COURTESY OF LACY JOHNSON

live. The part where I have to assign a grade is the most difficult part.” As a survivor of sexual assault and with recent reports of sexual assault cases rising on college campuses across the nation, Johnson said she hopes the process in which these crimes are dealt with is changed. One of the biggest problems associated with sexual assaults is that so many victims do not report the crime. Johnson said there are many reasons for this, but ultimately people are quick to blame themselves and not seek justice. “There’s a lot of shame and stigma associated with sexual assault in our country, so many people don’t want to admit that something like that happened to them, they feel like it was a mistake on their part or bad judgment or something like that, and they would rather just suck it up and let it go away than to make a fuss,” Johnson said. Johnson advises anyone that has been sexually assaulted to first get to a hospital and have a rape kit performed immediately.

“Often times they will call a community women’s advocate for you or they will call a social worker who will come and sit with you during the exam if you don’t already have someone there with you, but there will be a social worker that meets you there as well as a police officer who will take your statement,” Johnson said. Johnson said she keeps busy with her two children, balancing her work at the Mitchell Center and continuing her writing. She is working on her third book and expanding a location based story-telling project called The Invisible City she serves as co-creator for. “I’m just trying to teach my classes, make a difference, write and make work that in some ways helps people see things that they didn’t see before or understand things in a different way and as long as I’m doing that I’ll feel pretty happy,” she said.

> REBECCA HENNES

HOUSTONIAN 2015

RESEARCH TRYING TO FIND A CURE FOR CANCER

Maria Simon has been studying a gene called Maternal Embryonic Leucine-zipper Kinase that works in breast cancer—specifically a derivative called a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Because it is difficult to have a single cure for cancer, she says, this study aims to help eliminate at least this type of breast cancer.

Students help further innovation at the University

or nearly a decade UH has made research one of its bedrocks. Five years ago, the University became a Tier One institution, and research is the tip of the spear. The research accomplishments of several professors and students allowed the University to take the next step in its development. UH is a long way removed from the Superconductivity research that allowed it to make a name in the late 80s. Now, the cancer-fighting drug Busulfan and epilepsy drug Vimpat are leading the way for UH in terms of research. With the help of

these medications, UH has the highest royalty revenue of any university without a medical school. However, it’s not just professors. Students are pushing UH’s research forward. Some, like Maria Simon are fighting breast cancer. Others representing UH across the globe. Whatever their specialty, many are making a positive impact on the world around them. Here are a few of the students that are researching today to make a difference tomorrow.

> CHRISTOPHER SHELTON

UH DISCOVERIES OVERSEAS

In Justin Stakutis’s research, he travels to the European Center for Nuclear Research in Geneva. There, he and his advisors accelerate particles nearly to the speed of light, and then direct them at each other. The collision create a form of matter called the “Quark Gluon Plasma,” which, Stakutis believes, can help physicists discover new types of matter.

CLASSIFYING OILS

The Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Concept in Chemistry allows Antonio Mejia and other chemical workers to classify oils. Mejia’s studies involve this concept and surfactant chemistry in relation to enhanced oil recovery system, which affects the optimization, formulation design and turnaround time of these chemical recovery processes.

IMPROVING BIOLOGY

Karen Nguyen studies the bump attractors of spatial navigation. Her conclusions may aid in developing reliability in the navigation systems of biology, robotics and industrial design.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

COURTESY OF UH

PHOTO BY THOMAS MARTINEZ

21 23 COURTESY OF UH

KHATOR RECEIVES NEW APPOINTMENT

President and Chancellor Renu Khator was promoted to the chair of American Council on Education, one of the largest organizations of educational leadership in the nation. Khator had previously been serving as the vice chair for the council, which focuses on communication and innovation for member institutions.

COMMUNITY SERVICE MVP

LAW CENTER RECOGNIZED

In the face of the growth of digital studies systems, UH allotted the Law Center $100,000 to develop an online education program. At the same time, the American Immigration Lawyers Association recognized the Law Center’s work, awarding it the Pro Bono Hero title for its work in the Central Texas region.

For the second year in a row, UH was named to President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for notable programs enacted by the Graduate College of Social Work, Houston Public Media and the College of Optometry. The University is the only public school in Texas to receive this award.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

MARCH

UH’S MAN OF

THE YEAR 26-28

With ScHoolboy Q headlining the highest-grossing Frontier Fiesta of all time, Cougars were excited to attend this year’s event held in TDECU Stadium for the first time. But Frontier Fiesta is about more than its musical acts. Students enjoyed the camaraderie and games of Fiesta City as well as the private parties that were sponsored by UH alumni.

PHOTO BY ESTEBAN PORTILLO

PHOTO2015 BY SARAH HOFFMAN HOUSTONIAN 37

REACHING THE NEXT FRONTIER Passing Coog traditions to the next generation F

or alumnus Travis Klecker, Cougar pride is a family event. He and his wife, Kim, have been bringing their daughter, Embry, to football games since she was six months old. “The stadium was loud, people were yelling and screaming, yet she was sound asleep,” Klecker said of their first experience with her at a game. Now, Embry is almost 3 years old and participates in UH events as if she had graduated in 2006 with her father. “She’s a trooper. She enjoys being around people and events,” Klecker said. “She loves to cheer, growl the Cougar growl, say “COOGS HOUSE!” and put up her ‘Go Coogs’ hand sign.”

On March 26, Klecker and his wife, who don’t live far from his alma mater, could not miss the opportunity to experience their daughter’s first Frontier Fiesta. “We recently got back from Disney World and discovered how much our daughter likes watching shows and performances,” Klecker said. “So we went for that and to check out how Fiesta has changed and progressed since last time we went — three years ago — and how the University incorporated the new TDECU Stadium into the scene.” Klecker, now an underwriter for Texas Mutual Insurance Co., has brought his wife to many Frontier Fiestas since graduation. But, despite improvements, his favorite fiesta remains the one he spent as a student.

“(My favorite Frontier Fiesta was) probably my last year at UH — 2006. The football team was recently coming off a Conference USA conference title,” Klecker said. “(My wife and I) are big fans of the football team and long-time season ticket holders.” But, for the Klecker family, the highlight of this year was the kindness UH showed to Embry. “While we were waiting for one of the variety shows to start, a nice young man that was making balloon animals for people about 50 feet away saw Embry and brought her over a balloon flower.”

> TREY STRANGE

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY NICHOLE TAYLOR

WOLFFEST ATTRACTS CROWD

The Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, housed in the Bauer College, presented Wolffest, a catering event where students in the center prepare and sell foods from local businesses, ranging from chains like Jackin-the-Box and Burger King to Texas Tamale Co., Little Big’s sliders and Niko Niko’s coveted gyros.

BRITTANEY PENNEY

CREATING A NEW PATH

For her strong accomplishments in economics, senior Cassie Gianni was named the first Rangel Graduate Fellow in UH history. She is one of only 30 students across the nation selected for the fellowship.

APRIL

A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AT UH

Were you placed in Slytherin? During the first ever Wizarding World at UH, students were privy to themed games and cuisine, which included a randomized sorting hat and “Ollivander’s Wand Shop,” where students created their own wand.

PHOTO BY MAYRA DELAGARZA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

PHOTO BY JIMMY MORELAND

TDECU STADIUM DESIGN MAKES STATEMENT

TDECU Stadium won the Houston Business Journal 2015 Landmark Award for best new building in the Public Assembly category. It was named as a finalist in March, along with the Student Center, which was nominated in the Renovation/Rehabilitation category.

A TOP-10 COLLEGE UHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online psychology program was ranked in the top 10. With most of the coursework needed to aquire a degree offered online TheBestSchools. org ranked the University No. 8 in the country. Only lower-level and foreign language courses are not available online.

COURTESY OF UH

THE BUCKET IS BACK

After a short hiatus, the cross-town rivalry between UH and Rice has been restored. The battle for the Bayou Bucket will start in TDECU Stadium in 2017 and the rivalry will continue with the second game at Rice.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TIJERINA

HOUSTONIAN 2015

APRIL

1968

VIEWS FROM

THE DOME THE ASTRODOME TURNS 50

In what is often called “The Game of the Century,” UH and UCLA, the consensus top two teams in the nation, squared off against each other in a game that changed college basketball for the better. When UH and star center Elvin Hayes defeated No. 1 UCLA at the Astrodome in 1968, it was the fiirst time a college basketball game was nationally televised. UH’s win snapped UCLA’s 47-game winning streak.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

The history of the Astrodome includes the history of UH Athletics. For more than 30 years it housed the majority of UHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football games and was the spot where many important memories occoured. The 50th anniversary of the Astrodome allowed Houstonians, including the UH community, to reflect on its sports history.

1968

Even before the Run and Shoot arrived at UH, the Cougars were known for high-flying offense. In 1968, the Cougars put up 100 points against Tulsa in the Astrodome by using legendary coach Bill Yeomanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Veer offense.

1989

Andre Ware put on a show for Cougar faithful at the Dome each week. Ware, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football history, was awarded with the Heisman trophy in 1989.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

COURTESY OF UH

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

After overcoming thyroid cancer excelling in the classroom and creating a foundation that helps educate youth on wildlife, junior Vanessa Alejandro was named one of the “Top 10 College Women” in the May issue of Glamour Magazine.

UPGRADING COUGAR FIELD

Scoreboard watching will be a lot easier next year. The Cougars plan to install the largest scoreboard in college baseball at Cougar Field.

$750 THOUSAND

#FREEAUSTINTICE The parents of Austin Tice, a former UH student and Daily Cougar columnist who was kidnapped in 2012 in Syria while reporting, along with the U.S. Director of Reporters Without Borders spoke at UH as part of their international campaign to bring visibility to Austin’s kidnapping.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

THEATER, UH BECOME OLD FRIENDS Students benefit by spending time with professionals T

heater has always been a cramped experience. For years, actors and stagehands have settled uncomfortably behind the curtain, tucking five, 10, 20 — or even more — bodies into a tiny section. Sharing spaces has become part of the lifestyle. So, when the Alley Theatre was forced to move for renovations to its permanent location, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts squeezed them in. As students transitioned to a black box theater on the second floor of the college, the Wortham Theatre transformed into a stage for the professional company. “The University of Houston’s Wortham Theatre’s modern amenities, similar size to the Alley Theatre’s Hubbard Stage, up-to-date stage technology, excellent audience amenities including ADA-compliant seating and proximity to the Alley Theatre’s downtown home all helped the Alley Theatre have a very successful 2014-2015 season,” said the Alley Theatre’s managing director Dean Gladden. But the Alley Theatre didn’t just shove students away from their larger stage. In fact, students were encouraged to collaborate with the visiting team. “We had a couple of big things that happened,” said Jim Johnson, director of the School of Theater and Dance. “Three students were in their production of ‘As You Like It,’ and then we have two Alley Theatre members in ‘The Miser.’” These intermingling performances allowed students to learn from the theater professionals, and viceversa. Additionally, the Alley Theatre hired students as interns and employees and gave tours of their productions. Perhaps the greatest asset the Alley Theatre brought to UH was, surprisingly, in the classroom. Named a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Playwriting, Theresa Rebeck—an accomplished creator of works such as NBC’s “Smash” and the “Catwoman” film in 2004— taught third- and fourth-year playwriting students in addition to directing “All My Sons” in April. For Troy Loftin, a playwriting and drama-

COURTESY OF ALLEY THEATRE

turgy junior, having Rebeck direct a show on campus made her much more present and accessible as a professor. “Normally, visiting playwright teachers come in, like, once a month to teach,” Loftin said, expressing his gratitude toward Rebeck’s teaching. Like other students, Loftin participated in some of the Alley Theatre’s events, but, for the most part, its presence left him mostly unaffected. He still went to school, and he continued to write. But, Loftin added, having to do shows outside of the main stage actually became a blessing, because the students partnered with other theater companies, like Stark Naked and Main Street. “The co-productions with Main Street and Stark Naked were some of the best productions I’ve seen in along time,” Loftin said. “Without the Alley coming here, we wouldn’t have had to do those outside shows.” And, even though the theater school was crowded this year, Loftin thinks this is just another part of the learning process.

“I think it was good to sort of stretch ourselves and experience what it was like without full facilities,” Loftin said. The Alley Theater’s season at UH will end less than a week short of a year, as the company moved from opening “The Old Friends” last August to “The Foreigner,” which opens this upcoming August. Converse to this ending, however, the Alley Theater is no foreigner to the school of theater or the University. They prefer to think of each other as the former — old friends. “The Alley Theatre would like to extend a profound thank you to the UH students and faculty for welcoming and embracing us during you year away from home and we hope they will follow us back to our home downtown as we hope Alley patrons will continue to visit and enjoy the many performances on the UH campus,” Gladden said.

> TREY STRANGE

HOUSTONIAN 2015

MAY 15

AND NOW WE’RE HERE Today is the culmination of all the hard work you have done since you walked across the stage in high school. However, this day is not just about you. It’s also about the friends and family who talked you out of quitting during a tough stretch as an underclassman. If you’re like broadcast journalism senior De’Andra Hurd, it’s also about the the extended friends you inspire to enter college with graduation photos on Facebook.

HOUSTONIAN 2015

WHEN UH TURNS 100 IN 2027 IT WILL BEâ&#x20AC;Ś

Every University of Houston student has a different idea of what it means to embody the cougar spirit, and a unique way of expressing their school pride.

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HOUSTONIAN 2015

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TIW: WHAT MAKES US AN INNOVATOR?

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Congratulations to the University of Houston Graduates! Halc贸n Resources Corporation 1000 Louisiana St., Suite 6700 Houston, TX 77002 (832) 538-0300 www.halconresources.com

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HOUSTONIAN 2015

Pella Windows & Doors

In fine homes throughout Houston and Texas www.houston.pella.com 2 Houston area showrooms: 8700 Fallbrook Drive in NW Houston (281) 807-4222

1847 W. Alabama (713) 572-6444

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

2055 Silber Road, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77055 713-956-0098 Ph 713-956-7044 Fax

James H. Metzger, P.E. 6100 Southwest Freeway Houston, Texas 77057 Tel. (713) 772-3868 Fax (713) 772-1472 www.ferrariofhouston.com

President

jmetzger@metzgerconst.com www.metzgerconstruction.com

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES! Tubing  Casing  Drill Pipe Couplings  Pup Joints 8526 Green River Houston, TX 77028 713-631-0071 www.tejastubular.com

JONMAR ELECTRIC 7700 Renwick, Suite 6-A Houston, TX 77081 (713) 668-1559

CONGRATULATING ALL I’MREADY-TO-SPREAD-MY-WINGS GRADUATING COUGARS. You’ve come a long way! Now that you’re ready to take on a new and exciting stage in your life, TDECU will help you get started on your financial success. Open a FREE TDECU personal checking account with a recurring direct deposit and get a $1501 bonus. Open your checking account today at any of our 19 member centers in the Greater Houston area, including our campus branch located in the Student Center. We’ll even cover the opening deposit in honor of your graduation. TDECU. Be you and Belong.

TDECU.org 800.839.1154

Offer valid through June 30, 2015. TDECU membership required. For full terms/conditions, contact TDECU. Federally insured by NCUA. 1To receive the $150 bonus, you must establish a recurring direct deposit in the amount of $100 or more within 60 days following the new primary checking account opening date. The bonus will be paid to your new checking account the month after a recurring direct deposit has been established on your account. Bonuses are considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. 6002.1-UH-Hous 8044.02