Faculty and Staff News

A lot of summer family fun with babies, birthdays, anniversaries, and trips.

Jacen Lee Anderson was born May 20 to Nathan (MarCom) and Christy Anderson.

Greg Boston, son of Amanda (Science) and Ben Boston, turned one year old. He celebrated by eating his entire mini bundt cake.

Renee Rhodes (MarCom) traveled to Thailand for a two week mission trip to teach English. She worked with a group of interns that included her brother (Jason Rhodes) at the Payap Christian Zone in Chiang Mai. In addition to several mountain trips to run English camps in village schools, the group fit in some great sight-seeing too! 

Teal Dennis, Sheila Dye, Chris Hayes, Warren McNeill, and Brett Morte enjoyed an afternoon together at Minute Maid Park in Houston on July 9. 

Sheila (Alumni Relations) and Howard celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in San Jose del Cabo.

Then celebrated her father's 80th birthday at a family reunion in La Vernia, TX. Their daughter, Brittany, made a surprise trip from New York, to join Trey and Whitney ('10) for the special occasion.

Ruth Holmes has had a busy summer of traveling for fun and work.

- to see family in South Carolina, Dallas, and Oklahoma 

- to see friends from high school at Opera in the Ozarks (Eureka Springs, Arkansas) where we attended Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring, Leonavallo's Pagliacci, and Puccini's Il Tabarro -- fabulous singers & orchestra surrounded by the beauties of the Ozark mountains and forests, especially visible at nearby Thorncrown Chapel, a completely glass structure surrounded by enormous green trees, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in similar surroundings

- for work at the Texas Music Teachers Association conference in Dallas where I demonstrated the Roland digital electronic harpsichord for conference attendees, students and their parents and teachers. While at the conference I heard Texas winners of the state, regional and national auditions on piano, strings, brass and woodwinds, percussion and vocal auditions. Winning pianists at the college and young artist levels performed at the level of those I have heard at the Van Cliburn International Competitions. Additionally, an all-Beethoven recital by world renowned pianist Emmanuel Axe was the highlight of the conference.

Mack and Janey (Tutoring Coordinator) Bibb enjoyed a week of fun and relaxation in the beautiful mountains of Colorado and northern New Mexico in early July. They visited Durango, Pagosa Springs, Angel Fire, and Red River before returning to the west Texas heat!