In a study conducted by Ohio State University, agricultural educators ranked 82 programs in the country they held in highest professional regard.  

Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communications ranked ninth, with its faculty, range of programs and its communications program listed as its distinguishing features.

Ohio State University professor  Robert Birkenholz published the study, titled Characteristics of Distinguished Programs of Agricultural Education, in American Association for Agricultural Education Research Conference Proceedings.

Florida State University claimed the top spot based on weighted responses. Texas A&M University, Ohio State, the University of Missouri, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, North Carolina State University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Arizona completed the list of schools claiming distinguished programs.

“It was unique that we were the only non-land grant institution in the top 10,” said Steve Fraze, Department of Agricultural Education and Communications chairman and Garrison Professor of Agricultural Education and Communications.

“It is a great compliment to the faculty in our department for their dedication to teaching and research,” he said. “We reached an all-time high of graduate students enrolled this fall, with students coming from eleven states as well as from Canada and Greece.  We are receiving inquiries from potential graduate students on a daily basis.  It is obvious to everyone here that this recognition is being noticed by numerous people.”

Texas Tech students with an interest in agricultural education major in interdisciplinary agriculture in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications. Interdisciplinary agriculture has two tracks: teacher certification and agricultural leadership.

For a copy of the study, visit http://www.aaaeonline.org/files/national_09/papers/22.pdf 

CONTACT: Steve Fraze, chairman, Department of Agricultural Education and Communications, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2816, or steve.fraze@ttu.edu

Richard Rosen, vice dean and professor at Texas Tech University’s School of Law, is a military law expert available to discuss what those issues might be and how in a military setting, legal issues are approached differently than in a civilian setting.

“As a soldier, the perpetrator will likely be tried by court-martial,” Rosen said. “Most of Fort Hood is on land on which the federal government exercises exclusive jurisdiction. Therefore, state courts will not be involved.

 “Soldiers wounded or killed have no legal recourse against the Army or federal government—their claims are barred by Supreme Court precedent.  Whether civilians may sue depends upon their status.” 

Rosen is willing to address the issue of the potential lawsuits if necessary.

Rosen was Staff Judge Advocate of III Armored Corps at Fort Hood from 1999-2001.  He also had a previous assignment as Staff Judge Advocate of the 1^st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood from 1992-1994.

Rosen can be reached at (806) 742-3990 ext. 303 or at richard.rosen@ttu.edu.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu.

CONTACT:  Leslie Cranford, senior writer, Office of Communications & Marketing, (806) 742-2136, or leslie.cranford@ttu.edu. 

The reception runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday (Nov. 6). It is free and open to the public. This new exhibit features poster designs from some of the top letterpress artists from around the nation, and will remain on view until Dec. 19.

During these times of digital imagery, it is increasingly difficult to find printed work created by hand. However, there is a small group of dedicated craftsmen who refuse to let the age-old art of letterpress printing die. Contents Under Pressure focuses on these craftsmen as well as artists creating large- format posters using simple, bold images and unique, expressive typography to communicate contemporary messages.

The exhibit is curated by Dirk Fowler, associate professor of communication design, and includes works by Jules Remedios Faye of Stern & Faye Printers (Sedro-Wooley, Wash.); Bennett Holzworth (Lincoln, Neb.), Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. (Gordo, Ala.); Casey McGarr of Inky Lips Press (McKinney); and Brady Vest of HammerPress (Kansas City, Mo.).

The programs at Landmark Arts and the Texas Tech University School of Art are made possible in part by grants from the Helen Jones Foundation and The CH Foundation. Additional support comes from the College of Visual & Performing Arts.

The Art Building is located at 2802 18th Street (near the corner of 18th Street and Flint Avenue, just east of the Architecture Building on the Texas Tech campus). Visitor parking is available in the small lot adjacent to the Art Building.

Parking also is available on the fourth floor of the Flint Avenue Parking Garage for $1.20 per hour. Parking is free on weekends. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The galleries are closed on all university holidays.

CONTACT: Joe Arredondo, director, Landmark Arts, 806-742-1947, or joe.arredondo@ttu.edu

Jeffrey N. Wherry, director of the Institute for Child and Family Studies, was appointed to the workgroup following House Bill 2196 of the 81^st Legislature.

Wherry said the workgroup will recommend best practices in policy, training and service to promote the integration of health and behavioral health services in Texas.

“Workgroup members will assist the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in developing a report describing the best practices for health and behavioral health integration, barriers to implementing best practices in Texas, and policy considerations for improving integrated service delivery to the citizens of Texas,” Wherry said.

Wherry said he was appointed by the Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission as an expert in the field with experience in integrating health and behavioral health.

“I am excited to serve on the workgroup and look forward to making contributions that address the needs of children and families, especially those impacted by child abuse and domestic violence,” Wherry said.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu.

CONTACT: Jo Ann Altman, supervisor of college development and external relations, College of Human Sciences, (806) 742- 3264, or joann.altman@ttu.edu

It’s the third year in a row for the Red Raiders to walk away as national quiz bowl champions.

The competition hosted more than 20 teams from across the nation, including Kansas State University, Iowa State University, University of Illinois and Purdue University, officials said. Participants competed in oral and poster presentation events, as well as the Quiz Bowl.

Team members include:

• Justin Cave, a junior from Ackerly

• Ward McCown, a senior from Wolfforth

• Heath Reeves, a senior from Hale Center

• Galen Roberts , a senior from Brownfield

Texas Tech’s Agronomy Club team is coached by Craig Bednarz, a professor of crop physiology in the plant and soil science department with joint appointment with Texas AgriLife Research. The annual competition, which began in the 1960s, is held in conjunction with the American Society of Agronomy International Annual Meeting.

SASES, an undergraduate student organization of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, is composed of chapters located at colleges and universities that provide a curriculum in agronomy, crops, soils and environmental sciences.

A variety of programs and activities are offered on the local and national level for students to become professionally involved and to prepare for their future careers, officials said.

CONTACT: Craig Bednarz, professor of crop physiology with joint appointment with Texas AgriLife Research, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-1631 or craig.bednarz@ttu.edu

The event, held in collaboration with Bannari Amman Institute of Technology in India (BIT), will run Dec. 7-9 at the institute’s campus in Sathyamangalam, state of Tamilnadu, South India. The conference will feature papers from natural fibers to fashion design and nonwovens to technical textiles.

The conference is expected to attract more than 250 people from around the globe, said Seshadri Ramkumar, the organizing secretary for the conference and an associate professor of nonwoven materials at TIEHH. The international conference seeks to enhance professional interaction, enable future collaboration and improve business opportunities in fiber and textile disciplines.

To date, more than 90 abstracts from different parts of the world have been received. Leading experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the Czech Republic, China and other nations are expected to attend. Invitations have been extended to the Indian Government’s federal minister of textiles to inaugurate the event.

International and national organizations supporting the conference include Plains Cotton Growers, The Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry (INDA), Industrial Fabrics Association International, Nonwoven Engineers and Technologists division of TAPPI, all from the United States; The Southern India Mills Association, Tiruppur Exporters Association and the Society of Dyers and Colorists (EC), all from India; and The Textile Institute from the United Kingdom.

More information from the ATNT 2009 website: http://bit-atnt09.com

CONTACT: Seshadri Ramkumar, manager of the Nonwoven and Advanced Materials Laboratory, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University, (806) 445-1925 or s.ramkumar@ttu.edu.

Texas Tech posted a 108-point victory over its nearest competitor, Oklahoma State University. South Dakota State University, Kansas State University and Texas A&M University rounded out the top five teams at the competition.

The Red Raiders placed first in the beef judging, lamb judging, overall beef, total placing and total reasons divisions.

“The team won its fifth contest in a dominating fashion,” said Mark Miller, professor and San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. “I am proud of the excellence and focus the team members are displaying at each contest.”

Individually, Matt Bruton, a junior from Throckmorton, won the contest by 19 points. Team members Meagan Igo, a junior from Plainview, and Collin Corbin, a junior from Webster, finished third and fourth overall. The team also boasted eight of the top 10 individuals in the alternate division.

In addition to Bruton, Igo and Corbin, team members include:

• Sarah Calhoun, a junior from Weatherford
• Adam Copeland, a junior from Katy
• Tate Corliss, a senior from Estancia, N.M.
• Kelsey Fletcher, a junior from Universal City
• Josh Hasty, a senior from Cleburne
• Kelly Hutton, a junior from Castle Rock, Colo.
• Amber Krause, a junior from Florence
• Abby Long, a junior from Boerne
• Josh McCann, a junior from Newport, Va.
• Brandon O’Quinn, a junior from League City
• Henry Ruiz, a senior from Eagle Pass

The team is coached by Miller and Travis O’Quinn, a meat science graduate student.

The win at the American Royal follows a 150-point victory at the Eastern National Meat Judging Contest in Pennsylvania and victories at the National Western Stock Show, the Southwestern Livestock Exposition and the Houston Livestock Show last spring. The team will compete in one more contest before the international competition Nov. 15 in Dakota City, Neb. 

CONTACT: Moriah Beyers, coordinator of meat science programs, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2805, or moriah.beyers@ttu.edu.

Prosthetic vision is a medical breakthrough that opens up new possibilities for sight, providing independence to people with certain types of retinal disorders.

Matt McMahon is senior principal scientist at Second Sight Medical Products, a company founded in 1998 to create a retinal prosthesis providing sight to patients blinded from outer retinal degenerations, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa and Macular Degeneration. His background in vision science has included research in visual psychophysics, retinal imaging and retinal physiology.

Prosthetic vision is making an impact on the fields of medicine, neurology, rehabilitation, and education. Medical professionals, students, educators and leaders in adult rehabilitation are welcome to come and learn about a prosthesis.

The lecture series allows professionals working with the visually impaired, hearing impaired or deafblind to continue education in the field and stay current with emerging research, technology and teaching trends.

The lecture is hosted by the Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education for Visual Impairment.

After winning the Springs Swing in Colorado Springs, Colo., Brian Horton, a senior political science, French and geography major from San Angelo, and Adam Testerman, a junior mass communications major from Springfield, Mo., have won 36 debates and lost only four.

The Springs Swing consists of two debate tournaments in a three-day span. Horton and Testerman were favorites to win both tournaments, but illness prevented them from completing the first tournament despite winning their first three debates.

At the second tournament, however, they returned to the field and won 10 consecutive debates to claim the victory, defeating teams from Lewis & Clark College, the University of Wyoming and the U.S. Air Force Academy before winning the final debate round against a team from William Jewell College.

“We’re continuing a very strong season of debate at Texas Tech,” said Joe Gantt, debate team coach and director of forensics. “I was proud of Brian and Adam for battling through the disappointment of illness in the first tournament to win the second tournament in such a dominating fashion.

Testerman was named the top individual speaker at the tournament, while Horton was right behind as the second place speaker.

Other Texas Tech varsity teams added strong performances for the entire program. Senior political science major Nicole Brown of San Angelo and senior mass communications major Paul Williamson of Crosby finished in the top 10 teams at the first tournament and in the top five teams at the second tournament.

Sophomore communication studies major Lauran Schaefer of Sonora and sophomore political science major Cameron Harris of Houston finished among the top ten teams at the first tournament.

Texas Tech also excelled at the junior varsity level of competition.

In the first tournament, the team sophomore English major Alexandria Newsom of Forsan and freshman communication studies major J.T. Seymore of Holliday “closed-out” the tournament with the Texas Tech team of freshman mechanical engineering major Matt Pippen of Monahans and sophomore political science major Sean Riegert of Houston.

A “close-out” occurs when the two finalist teams are from the same school; thus, the two Texas Tech teams tied for first place.

These teams were advanced to the varsity division for the second tournament, opening the door for the junior varsity team of junior political science major Jacob Jones of Hamilton and junior political science major Libbie Richards of Midland to win second place at the second tournament. It was Jones and Richards’ first weekend competing in collegiate debate.

“Nicole, Paul, Lauran and Cameron continue to make strides to establish themselves as top pairs, and all of our junior varsity debaters keep showing us at every tournament that it will not be long until they are winning at the varsity level,” Gantt said. “It is an exciting time to be part of Texas Tech debate.”

As a whole, Texas Tech was named the top debate squad at both of the tournaments.

Texas Tech competes in parliamentary debate, a format of debate which changes topics in every debate round. During the weekend, Texas Tech debaters addressed issues such as Internet regulation, immigration reform, U.S. policy in Africa, and protection of the Arctic Circle.

Texas Tech debate is housed in the Department of Communication Studies. The team next travels this weekend to a tournament held at the University of California at Berkeley. For more information on Texas Tech debate, please contact Director of Forensics Joe Gantt at 806-742-1328 or joe.gantt@ttu.edu.

CONTACT: Joseph J. Gantt, director of forensics, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-1328, or joe.gantt@ttu.edu.

The annual awards recognize individuals for contributions to various areas of Texas agriculture. This year’s recipients are Gordon Davis of Lubbock for agribusiness, Jimmie Ruth Evans of San Antonio for public service, and Dave Hopper of Hereford for agricultural production.

Davis is founder and chairman of CEV Multimedia Ltd. Company officials note that agricultural education and agriculture teachers are the cornerstone of CEV’s customer base, contributing to more than 50 percent of CEV’s sales annually.

Davis previously served as an assistant professor and associate professor at Texas Tech and currently works as an adjunct professor with CASNR’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences. In 1985, 1996 and 2005 Davis co-founded three endowments for meat science excellence administered by Texas Tech, including the Gordon W. Davis Regent’s Chair in Meat & Muscle Biology currently held by muscle biologist Bradley Johnson.

He coached two national championship meat judging teams (Texas A&M University 1973; Texas Tech 1989) and was the recipient of Distinguished Master’s Graduate Student, Texas A&M (1975). He is the recipient of an outstanding teacher award and hall of fame distinguished service awards from the Department of Animal Science (Texas Tech 2004; Washington State University 2008); along with the Tom Glazier Award for Texas FFA (2008) and Passion for Excellence Award-Texas FFA Foundation (2008).

Evans is a native of San Antonio. Raised on the Wittenburg Ranch near Rocksprings, Evans graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in 1971. Her major was elementary education and her minor was American history. She began her career as a fifth grade teacher at Randolph Air Force Base following graduation from Texas Tech.  She is a life member and volunteer for the San Antonio Livestock Exposition. She has served as president and senior vice president for the organization in the past. 

Evans has served on Texas Tech’s Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management Advisory Board, Agrifood Education Council and the 4-H Foundation Board. She also has worked with the 4-H Scholarship Advisory Committee, International Agritech Center, and the West Texas Boys Ranch Foundation Board. She is a member of the Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association, and currently is co-chairman of the Girl Scouts Capital Campaign.

She is the recipient of the Freeman Award for commitment and support of Texas Agribusiness, Texas Tech’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the Appreciation Award for Area III from the Career and Technology Administrators of Texas, an honorary FFA degree and the Texas 4-H Alumni Award.  Evans has been inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in Agriculture, and been recognized for her lifetime of exemplary volunteer work by the Texas Senate. 

Hopper earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas Tech in 1955 and a Bachelor of Science in agricultural education in 1957.  He was a member of the Texas Tech National Intercollegiate Championship Rodeo Team in 1955 and was the 1957 National Intercollegiate Bareback Riding Champion.

He traveled the rodeo circuit for 14 years as a professional rodeo cowboy. In 1967, he began working as a mill manager for Easley Feedyard in Hereford. After two years he moved to Fort Worth to become a buyer and sales representative for the Vann-Roach Cattle Company. He moved back to Hereford where he served as president and partner of Champion Feeders for more than three decades.

Hopper has served on the board of directors for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and the National Cattlemen’s Association, as well as working on a variety of committees for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. His community service includes working with the Hereford Lion’s Club, Deaf Smith County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Whiteface Booster Club Board of Directors, and the Hereford YMCA Board of Directors. Hopper served on the board of directors and as president of the Texas Tech Red Raider Club, as well as receiving CASNR’s Natural Resources Distinguished Alumnus Award (2000).

CONTACT: Memory Bennett, coordinator of alumni relations, Tech University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, (806)742-2802 or memory.bennett@ttu.edu