Herd, a 1957 petroleum engineering graduate, is the founder and operator of Herd Producing Company in Tyler. He was named a Distinguished Engineer in the College of Engineering in 1995 and was recognized by the Texas Tech Ex-Students Association as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1994. Herd credits Texas Tech for his success.

“My family and I are pleased that we are able to help Texas Tech provide the educational foundation for future petroleum engineers, like Texas Tech provided me many years ago,” Herd said. “It was this education that made this donation possible.”

Kent Hance, Texas Tech University System Chancellor praised Herd for making the education of future generations a priority.

“We are honored to name our successful Petroleum Engineering department after one of our distinguished graduates,” Hance said. “The generosity of alumni like Mr. Herd allows our institutions to continue providing excellent educational opportunities.”

“We are proud of the exceptional success of our alumnus in the petroleum industry,” said Pamela Eibeck, dean of the College of Engineering. “His generosity to the department is transformative and will allow the program to provide one of the nation’s best quality petroleum engineering educations to our students into the future. We are truly grateful for his willingness to give back to Texas Tech’s Petroleum Engineering department.”

Department chairman Lloyd Heinze says Herd has made a significant mark on the petroleum industry.

“He set a high standard for others to give to the industry as well as back to Texas Tech. We are proud to call him one of our Distinguished Engineers,” said Heinze.

Texas Tech produces 10 percent of the U.S. petroleum engineering graduates each year. The graduate program in the department is ranked in the top ten petroleum engineering graduate programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

“Medieval Southwest: Manifestations of the Old World in the New” will continue through April 4, 2009.

The multidisciplinary collaboration will draw on the expertise of historians, musicians, architects and anthropologists; utilize the resources of Texas Tech campuses on two continents; and tap dozens of collections of rare and precious items to give visitors a glimpse of the Southwest as it was during the days of Coronado and Mission San Sabá.

To the accompaniment of period music, people will view armor and weapons used by the conquistadors and their European counterparts, such as crossbow points from 1542, a wheel-lock carbine from 1610, and a Charleville flintlock musket from 1750.

Exhibits will display buttons, coins and pottery recovered in archaeological digs, and rare books and maps never before displayed to the general public. A rare 16th century leather and embroidered Spanish trunk and a partial, elaborately carved Italian suit of armor demonstrate the work of highly skilled artisans of the end of the middle ages into the Renaissance.

Other metalwork includes a Spanish lion, decorative detailing for bridle wear and weaponry, and carved jewelry. Rare engravings and woodcuts on display, among them Our Lady of Guadalupe and one of the first depictions of buffalo, have printing dates between 1531 and 1797.

Texas Tech researchers, based at the university’s campus in Seville, Spain, scoured the archives there for the original plans for San Sabá mission and presidio. The ruins, near present-day Menard, are being excavated by teams from the university. Unique artifacts will be displayed with a large reproduction of “The Destruction of San Sabá,” the earliest painting to depict an event in Texas history.

Funds to research and mount the Medieval Southwest exhibit were provided by Helen Jones Foundation Inc., Humanities Texas and the Program for Cultural Cooperation between Spain’s Ministry of Culture and United States Universities.

Contact: John Howe, professor of history, (806) 742-1004 ext. 233, or jon.howe@ttu.edu.

Pamela Eibeck, dean of the college, acknowledged an increase in national visibility as more faculty write proposals and papers and more of Texas Tech’s programs and research gain high-profile status.

“We appreciate that the U.S. News ranking verifies what we have known all along: Texas Tech’s College of Engineering provides one of the best engineering educations in the nation,” said Eibeck. “Our dedicated faculty, outstanding laboratories and supportive environment provide a superior engineering education, allowing our graduates to become technology leaders throughout the world.”

Earlier this spring, three College of Engineering graduate programs received rankings as well, in the magazine’s Graduate School issue. The Department of Petroleum Engineering ranked 10th in the Petroleum category; the Department of Industrial Engineering ranked 30th in the Industrial/Manufacturing category; and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering ranked 65th in the Electrical/Electronic/Communications category.

CONTACT: Leslie Cranford, Communications & Marketing, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2136, or leslie.cranford@ttu.edu.

WHEN:           Prior to, or during his presentation Sept. 8 for the Presidential Lecture &

Performance Series

WHERE:         The 2 p.m. book signing and the 3:30 p.m. program will be at the Allen Theatre in the Student Union Building on the Texas Tech campus

EVENT:          Callahan is willing to be interviewed prior to his visit or during his Texas Tech visit on Sept. 8.  Contacts can be made by calling (845) 626-7449. Callahan can be contacted via e-mail at dcallahan@demos.org. His agent and wife, Wendy Paris, can be contacted at WendyEParis@aol.com. For more on the book, visit www.cheatingculture.com.

During his stay in Lubbock, Callahan will meet from 9-11 a.m. with student leaders and directors and managers in Student Affairs.  From noon to 2 p.m., he will speak to deans and vice presidents and the university’s Quality Enhancement Program Committee.  Callahan will sign books from 2-3 p.m. in the Allen Theatre Courtyard.  He speaks at 3:30 in the Allen Theatre, which is a free event and open to the public.

CONTACT: Mary Jane Hurst, faculty assistant to the president, Texas Tech University, (806)742-2121 or maryjane.hurst@ttu.edu.

“It’s no secret that Texas Tech has a huge impact on Lubbock County,” said Michael Shonrock, Texas Tech vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “This study provides some insight into just how big an impact. Reaching Chancellor Kent Hance’s goal of 40,000 students by 2020 will not only benefit the university, but this study also shows that there are significant economic implications for the community as well.”

Bradley Ewing, Rawls professor of operations management in the Texas Tech Rawls College of Business, completed the study for the university’s Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. So that direct comparisons can be made, all dollar figures presented in the report are expressed in 2008 dollars. The study looks only at Texas Tech and does not include the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

“Students spend much of their money locally,” said Shonrock. “An increase in enrollment translates to a boon for the community’s economy. The survey shows that one Lubbock County job would be created or sustained from the spending of every 14 new Texas Tech students. That’s a significant impact on our community.”

Ewing used a computer model called an input-output model to do the study. The model looks at several factors to identify the demands for products and services in Lubbock County. The survey looks at the dollars spent in Lubbock and does not include spending outside the county. Ewing looked at three areas: how much the university spends, how much employees spend and how much students spend.

“We looked at how much students spend specifically so that we can see their impact on the community,” said Ewing. “As the university moves toward adding 12,000 students, we wanted to know how those numbers will impact the community. When you hear someone say students help local businesses, it’s not just the T-shirt store or sandwich shop on University Avenue across from campus, it’s almost every business. Without the current level of student spending, Lubbock might not have as many Wal-Mart stores or some of the retail businesses that have opened recently.”

[EDITOR’S NOTE: An executive summary of the 2008 Economic Impact Study is available at http://today.ttu.edu/2008/08/economic-impact]

The award recognizes Sedeno’s efforts to bring historically underutilized businesses together with state agencies and the Texas Tech University System’s efforts to increase minority participation in Texas Tech’s procurement process. The award was presented Aug. 2 at TAMACC’s annual convention in Austin.

“This award recognizes the work of a lot of people,” said Sedeno. “While I am extremely honored to receive this award, it is the work of many offices at our universities that made it possible. Texas Tech has worked hard to not only increase our own HUB numbers, but to also reach out to small businesses in West Texas to give them a way to make connections with state agencies.”

Sedeno has served as vice president of the State of Texas Historically Underutilized Business Discussion Workgroup Committee, and has put on five workshops in Lubbock, El Paso and Midland/Odessa to teach small business owners how to do business with the state.

“By offering these workshops, we have saved small business owners time and money and hopefully increased their ability to acquire state contracts,” said Sedeno. “It is difficult and expensive for these small business owners to travel to Austin. These workshops have brought as many as 65 state agency procurement officers to the businesses.

“Mr. Sedeno was one of several persons who were submitted as candidates for the award,” said Frank Cortez, TAMACC president and CEO. “Mr. Sedeno was chosen as the winner by an independent committee for his tireless efforts to increase minority HUB participation in all of Texas Tech’s contracts and as a strong proponent of minority procurement programs across the state of Texas and for his involvement with non-profit organizations and TAMACC.”

Texas Tech’s use of HUB vendors also has dramatically increased in the last six years. Jim Brunjes, chief financial officer for the Texas Tech system, credits Sedeno’s work with bringing the systems HUB utilization from 3.5 percent in 2002 to 23.1 percent in 2007.

“It is a priority of all of our universities to do business with historically underutilized businesses,” said Brunjes. “Recognition for all our efforts by an organization of TAMACC’s stature tells me that we are proceeding in the right direction. Bubba has played a key role in our success as have all our HUB coordinators, he deserves the recognition.”

Sedeno, a Lubbock native, joined Texas Tech in 1997. He became manager of HUB operations in 2002. Before joining Texas Tech he served as district manager and legislative assistant to State Senator John T. Montford for 13 years, handling numerous assignments, from working on his legislative program to overall management of the senatorial district offices in Lubbock, Big Spring and El Paso.

For more information about HUB operations go to www.depts.ttu.edu/procurement/hub/.

TAMACC is a private non-profit corporation founded 32 years ago by a small group of Hispanic business persons interested in increasing business opportunities for themselves and other similar business owners. The association, with headquarters in Austin, acts as the organizational umbrella providing advocacy, technical support, programs and services to the network of local Hispanic chambers.

CONTACT: Lorenzo “Bubba” Sedeno, Texas Tech University manager of HUB operations, at (806) 742-4440 or via e-mail at bubba.sedeno@ttu.edu.

The announcement was made Tuesday (Aug. 19) that Texas Tech University will be the first university partner, joining Temple College and Texas State Technical College as the higher education partners slated to bring expanded new college and workforce training programs to the area. Other educational partners include the Taylor and Hutto ISDs and the Legacy Early College High School which allows students an opportunity to complete a high school diploma and 30-60 college credit hours while still in high school.

“Temple College is pleased to be the lead institution for the East Williams County Higher Education Center and welcome Texas Tech University to the partnership,” Glenda Barron, Temple College president said. “EWCHEC is an integral part of Temple College, and we are pleased to be able to work will all of the partnering institutions to bring excellent educational opportunities to all of East Williamson County.”

Initial plans call for Texas Tech to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program. The program will complement the associate degree nursing program offered by Temple College.

“Texas Tech University and the TTU Health Sciences Center are proud to be joining the partners of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center,” Bob Hickerson, chief operating officer for Texas Tech’s division of off-campus sites, said. “Both institutions see great potential in this collaboration and the fast-growing Williamson County area it will serve.”

“Williamson County is booming and with that growth comes the need to expand our education horizons,” U.S. Rep. John R. Carter (R–Round Rock) commented. “The East Williamson County Higher Education Center and its institutional partners will help meet these goals by providing the educated workforce needed to keep our region growing and competitive now and in the future.”

Created just over a year ago by the Texas Legislature, EWCHEC is a visionary partnership of local school districts, community leaders and higher education partners. An outgrowth of Temple College’s Taylor Center, new educational programs have already begun with the implementation of the Legacy Early College High School and workforce and technical training programs offered through Texas State Technical College Waco.

EWCHEC will expand to its own campus on a 70-acre site at HWY 79 and FM 973 in Taylor. Construction is expected to begin in September on Phase I which will be a 24,000 square-foot building which will house a library, bookstore, administrative offices and classrooms. Instructional space at the Taylor Center will also be available for EWCHEC programs.

Designed specifically for CPA planners who want to attain a financial planning credential, the new PFS Pathway program will officially launch in June 2009.

“Building the educational pathway to the PFS credential is an extraordinary opportunity for Texas Tech University to partner with AICPA. We believe this goes a long way towards increasing professionalism in the financial planning industry,” said Vickie Hampton, program director of the Division of Personal Financial Planning

In advance of the 2009 rollout, the AICPA and Texas Tech will conduct a PFS Pathway beta program – or test program – Nov. 10–14 at the AICPA offices in Dallas. The five-day program will consist of a four-day, hands-on financial planning case study program and an eight-hour multiple-choice exam of approximately 200 questions.

The PFS content will comprise 12 technical areas, including estate planning, employee benefits, investment planning, financial independence and income tax planning.

Applications to participate in the beta program will be accepted until Aug. 31. For further information about the PFS Pathway beta, visit http://pfp.aicpa.org/Memberships/BetaProgram.htm.

Participants in the beta will receive approximately 32 continuing professional education credits.

The AICPA introduced the PFS credential in 1987. It is the only financial planning credential available exclusively to CPAs.

“The PFS Pathway reinforces the AICPA’s commitment to this important credential,” said Steve Winters, the institute’s director of specialized communities and practice management. “As our personal financial planning community continues to grow, we want to support those seeking to obtain the PFS by providing them with a strong educational path specific to their needs as CPA financial planners. We’re very excited about working with Texas Tech, which is widely recognized for its financial planning education.”

The Division of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University is the only program in the nation to offer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in financial planning. “With its comprehensive approach to personal financial planning, the Texas Tech faculty is uniquely qualified for this partnership with AICPA,” Hampton said.

CONTACT: Deena Katz, associate professor, Division of Personal Financial Planning, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-5050 ext. 237 or deena.katz@ttu.edu.

Sean Kern, who is from Wichita Falls and received his master’s degree in sport management in May, began a semester-long internship in Colorado Springs, Colo. with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) in January that has now taken him to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games.

“The atmosphere surrounding the games is ridiculous,” he said. “I’ve never been involved in something of this magnitude, so experiencing the entire atmosphere and all the excitement is what I’m looking forward to the most. The work experience in this environment is something that I don’t think I could get anywhere else. I mean, this is one of the largest sporting events in the world. Overall this experience has been incredible. I still can’t believe I’m out here.”

Throughout his internship in Colorado, he kept dropping hints that he would like to go to Beijing for the games, but he did not think a spot would become available. About three days after graduation his hopes became a reality.

Kern said he first learned of the opportunity through a friend who worked as an intern with the USOC in 2007. His graduate program required an internship, and he thought that the committee would be a great place to start. He applied last November, and after a phone interview, he was awarded a position with the Member and Event Services department.

He said that when the head of the department called him into her office and asked if he would like to join her team for the games, he already knew the answer.

“I didn’t even have to really think about it,” he said. “I told her yes immediately. I was really excited to get to experience something like this.”

On July 14, Kern arrived in Beijing and will remain until Aug. 30.

“To come to the Olympics is a great honor for me,” he said. “I never thought that I would be doing something like this. I feel really blessed because I get to experience a few of the events, as well as the behind-the-scenes action.”

Kern works at the U.S.A. House, which offers hospitality to the board of directors, donors, VIPs, sponsors and athletes from the USOC. He said for the first two weeks they were busy setting up the house that is staged in a building that once housed a night club and a restaurant.

Once the house was set up, he began working with a team of three others on their transportation pool, where they are in charge of getting their board of directors, donors and others to the different venues and events that they have to attend.

“This doesn’t seem like a very difficult job, but we can’t speak to any of our drivers because they all speak Mandarin, while we speak English,” he said. “Along with that, the people we are responsible for are constantly moving from place to place for different events. Plus, our staff has transportation needs as well. It’s not such a bad job though, I’ve loved being out here in the mix since day one.”

Kern said that he gets along well with the team of people he works with, and they are able to make their work enjoyable.

“The people that I’ve been working with are awesome. It really is like a second family,” he said. “We all know what our job is, and we get it done, but we have a lot of fun in the process.”

Since arriving in China, he has been to Tiananmen Square, and hopes to visit the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven after the games are finished. But, his favorite memory so far was getting to see the Great Wall.

“The pictures that I’ve seen don’t do it justice,” he said. “That place is incredible.”

John Miller, associate professor of sport management, was Kern’s graduate advisor and professor. He said Kern was one of eight to 10 interns with the USOC asked to go to Beijing.

“This provides global exposure not only for the sport management graduate program, but also for Texas Tech overall as a place that students can learn and grow,” Miller said. “When you consider that Sean was among a select group to be asked to do this, I believe it puts Texas Tech in a very positive light nationally and internationally.”

CONTACT: Sean Kern, alumni, Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, native of Wichita Falls, sean.kern@ttu.edu

The title honors individuals or entities for championing the cause for education in and around Lubbock and will be awarded Aug. 16 at the Back to School Fiesta in Texas Tech’s Student Union Building.

LEARN is a non-profit agency providing free educational services to help disadvantaged students and adults attend college. Services include enrollment assistance, academic advisement and career guidance, and the agency operates two federally funded outreach programs: Educational Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center (EOC).

Back to School Fiesta Committee Chairwoman Janie Ramirez said that LEARN members have volunteered for the outreach event since 2000.

“They give tirelessly of themselves and go beyond expectations in every regard,” said Ramirez, who herself benefitted from LEARN counseling while in high school.

Talent Search has served students grades six-12 in Lubbock and surrounding counties since 1969, and LEARN EOC has served adults at least 19 years old since 1991.

The programs serve a diverse mix of at least 2,650 students and adults each year. Last year, 73 percent – or 1,892 – of participants enrolled in post-secondary education programs and attended through nearly $8 million in financial aid dollars – or an average $4,227 per student.

The Back to School Fiesta is an annual outreach event to help thousands of K-12 students prepare for fall classes. The three-hour celebration – a collaboration between Raiders Rojos National Alumni and Texas Tech University – spans much of the Student Union and offers free school supplies, lunch and activities intended to entice young adults to pursue higher education.

CONTACT: Rosa Gallegos, senior administrator, The Office of Institutional Diversity, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-8682, or rosa.gallegos@ttu.edu.