Austin College Professor Named to Fulbright Committee

SHERMAN, TEXAS

Kevin Simmons, Austin College professor of economics, has been selected

Kevin Simmons

to the Fulbright Specialist Program Peer Review Committee for applicants who are economists. The Fulbright Specialist program awards grants to U.S. faculty and professionals in select disciplines to engage in short-term collaborative projects at eligible institutions in over 140 countries worldwide. Shorter grant lengths of two to six weeks give specialists greater flexibility to pursue projects that work best with their academic or professional commitments. Simmons holds the Clara R. and Leo F. Corrigan, Sr., Chair in Business Administration and Economics at Austin College, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2003.

Simmons was named a Fulbright Scholar for 2009-2010 and spent spring 2010 in research at the International Centre for Geohazards in Oslo, Norway. The centre carries out research on the assessment, prevention, and mitigation of geohazards, including risk of landslide in soil and rock due to rainfall, flooding, earthquakes, and human intervention, as well as the geological risks in deep waters, especially underwater slides. He also worked with the U.S. Geological Survey before and after his Fulbright research in Norway. Both situations allowed him to expand his research—most of which had been on wind hazards—to consider other geohazard sources.

In January 2014, Simmons served as a Fulbright Specialist, lecturing to classes at the University of Western Ontario. He returned there in July 2014 to work on a research project with Greg Kopp, a wind engineer at the university, and Paul Kovacs, executive director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction in Toronto. Paul also is a member of the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change that shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.The three men wrote a paper on their research, which is currently under peer review.

In his position on the Fulbright Specialist Program Peer Review Committee, Simmons and other experts will evaluate applications and recommend candidates for further consideration by bi-national Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies in more than 100 countries around the world. The presidentially-appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board makes final selection of Fulbright Specialist candidates.

Internationally known internationally for his work on the economics of natural hazards, Simmons’ research has been highlighted and he has been interviewed by the New York Times, CBS Evening News, Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, Christian Science Monitor and USA Today, among others. He has published more than 60 articles that are widely cited and have appeared in academic journals from a variety of disciplines including engineering, sociology, law, meteorology, and economics. In 2011, Simmons published the book Economic and Societal Impacts of Tornadoes, and in 2012, Deadly Season: Analyzing the 2011 Tornado Outbreaks. Both books are co-authored with Daniel Sutter, published by the American Meteorological Society, and distributed by the University of Chicago Press.  

Having served as an advisor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and as a consultant to the property insurance industry, Simmons has participated in Weather Ready Nation, the U.S. Weather Research Project, and as a member of the steering committee for the National Conference on the Great Tornado Outbreak of 1999. He has presented papers at academic conferences in the U.S. as well as in 11 other countries.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Vargas-O’Bryan Publishes Co-Edited Book on Disease and Healing in Asia

SHERMAN, TEXAS—

Ivette Vargas-O’Bryan, Austin College associate professor of

religious studies, and her colleague Zhou Xun of the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, have edited the book Disease, Religion and Healing in Asia: Collaborations and Collisions, published by Routledge Publications in January 2015. Vargas-O’Bryan also contributed the chapter “Balancing tradition alongside a progressively scientific Tibetan medical system” based on her historical and ethnographic work in Tibetan areas of China.

The book is part of the Routledge Studies in Asian Religion and Philosophy Series. The vision for the book began during Vargas-O’Bryan’s tenure as a Fulbright Scholar in Hong Kong in 2009, when she and Dr. Zhou Xun decided to organize an international conference to explore these issues. In 2010, their conference on the intersection of religion and medicine entitled Convergence and Collisions: Disease, Religion, and Healing in Asia www.chm.hku.hk/convergence.html received wide support from medical and liberal arts faculty at the University of Hong Kong.

The book itself arose from a long-term concern in scholarship in studying culturally-embedded healing traditions that incorporate religious viewpoints in order to better understand local and global healing phenomena.

The volume in three sections (disease management in medical and ritual contexts, religion and medical explanatory models, and cultural interfaces and collisions) covers diverse models of healing and perspectives on health in local and institutional medical contexts that interplay with culture and religion in Asia. It is particularly concerned with the convergences and collisions a society must negotiate, especially the symbiotic relationship of disease, religion, and healing and their colliding values. Vargas-O’Bryan said original studies by renowned scholars across the globe challenge the reader to rethink predominantly long-held Western interpretations of disease management and religion. The book, she said, especially draws attention to religious, political, and social dynamics; issues of identity and ethics; practical and epistemological transformations; and analogous cultural patterns in the study of religion and health in Hong Kong, mainland China, Tibet, India, and Japan.

Vargas-O’Bryan is known for her work on the intersection of religion with medical traditions and local illness cults in Indian and Tibetan cultural contexts as well as historical and ethnographic work in Buddhist monastic and fasting traditions. She has authored several publications and presented papers on religion and healing, Asian monasticism and devotional movements, animals in religion, and religion and the environment. Her proposals for two other book projects, one on the lineage of the Indian nun Dge slong ma Dpal mo and the bodhisattva Avolokitesvara in South Asia and Tibet, and the other on snake-demon cults, illness, and the environment in Indian and Tibetan religions, have received favorable reviews from Brill Publications.

Awarded several prestigious awards and grants Vargas-O’Bryan served as a Fulbright Scholar in Hong Kong in 2009. During her Fulbright assignment, she was a lecturer at City University of Hong Kong and collaborator and consultant for the Fulbright General Education initiative. She was invited to be co-conveyor of the Health in Asia cluster at the newly established Centre for the Humanities and Medicine, a collaborative center at the Faculty of Arts and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. Related projects have been supported by the Fulbright Scholar Program, the Mellon Foundation, The Wabash Center; Asia Network Title VI Grant, the Fritz-Thyssen Foundation, and Austin College Cullen and Richardson Grants. She earned master’s degrees in Buddhist studies and in Sanskrit and Indian Studies, as well as a Ph.D. in Buddhist studies at Harvard University.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Children’s Learning Program at Austin College this Saturday

SHERMAN, TEXAS—

Area children are invited to participate in Austin College’s ’Roo Bound program

Photo J Marquez

Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event begins with an interactive lesson on the heart and circulatory system, organized by the members of Chi Tau Chi (XTX) fraternity. Afterwards, students will have lunch in the Austin College dining hall in Wright Campus Center, courtesy of the Service Station and Aramark Food Service. The Austin College’s women’s soccer team will host a kid-oriented soccer clinic in the Sid Richardson Center of Mason Complex for the second half of the program. The program, designed to provide a fun learning experience, is free and open to all children in kindergarten through 8th grade.

Participants should be dropped off at the by 11 a.m., and parents must sign students in at that time. The event is sponsored by the Austin College Service Station.

Registration will be at the Wright Campus Center main entrance off Brockett Street and parents may arrive a few minutes in advance to have their child signed in by 11 a.m. Advance registration is not required, but is appreciated. For more information or to reserve a spot for the program, contact the Austin College Service Station at 903.813.2333 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays or email servicestation@austincollege.edu.

In addition to the special learning opportunity for children, ’Roo Bound, coordinated by the Austin College Service Station but involving many students across campus, is designed to expose children to the idea of college in a safe, fun environment. The organizers hope that the program makes college attendance (at any college, not just Austin College) seem accessible to children, particularly those who might be the first in their families to consider college.

’Roo Bound events are scheduled each month at Austin College. For details contact the Service Station staff at 903.813.2333.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Theatre Production Aims to End Violence Against Women

SHERMAN, TEXAS—

The Austin College Theatre program will present a stage reading

Ida Green Communication Center

of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues Friday, February 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Ida Green Communication Center’s Ida Green Theatre in conjunction with V-Day events nationwide. Tickets are $5 each for all audience members with proceeds benefitting the Grayson Women’s Crisis Center.

V-Day is a global activist movement to raise awareness of—and end—the violence against women and girls by promoting creative events that raise money and generate attention for women subject to violence worldwide. According to a United Nations report, one of every three women on the planet will be physical or sexually abused in her lifetime.  The organization says that because art has the power to transform thinking, the performances are held around the world to create lasting social and cultural change. Begun in 1998, V-Day now includes more than 5,800 events each year.

The award-winning play is based on V-Day founder and playwright Eve Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women and their survival stories, celebrating women's sexuality and strength. According to the V-Day website, they play has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public and brought a deeper consciousness to the conversation around ending violence against women and girls.

Kathleen Campbell, emerita professor of theatre, will direct the performance. Sophomore Caroline Hodge of Carrollton, Texas, daughter of Donna and Cynthia Hodge, will serve as stage manager.

Members of the cast include Liz Banks assistant professor of theatre, and Renee Countryman, associate professor of psychology, as well as the following students:

Epiphany Arvie of Grand Prairie, Texas, daughter of Joe and Felicia Haynes of Grand Prairie and Murphy Arvie of Baytown, Texas;

Cyndi Coon of Indianapolis, Indiana, daughter of Charlie and Caryn Coon;

Sarah Davis of Sherman, Texas, daughter of Cheryl Davis of Sherman, Texas and Tony Davis of Dodd City, Texas;
Suzanne Francis of Fort Worth, Texas, daughter of David and Sandy Francis of Dr Congo;

Johanna Hunter of Whitewright, Texas, daughter of Pamela Hunter;

Tabatha Keton of Baytown, Texas, daughter of Bert and Tina Keton;

Sarah Klawun of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, daughter of Christoph and Elizabeth Klawun;

Noelle Low of Sunnyvale, Texas, daughter of Jim and Tammy Low;

Kendall Nibert of Houston, Texas, daughter of Philip and Ainslie Nibert;

Audrey Rose of Round Rock, Texas, daughter of Terri Rose;

Rebekah Urban of Whitesboro, Texas, daughter of Brad and Barbara Urban;

Kathryn Van Dinh of Austin, Texas 78739, daughter of Dieu and Alyson Van Dinh;

Sarah Wilhelm of Arlington, Texas, daughter of Susan Chandler of Arlington, Texas and Alan Wilhelm of Cotopaxi, Colorado;

Sarah Wilhelm of Cotopaxi, Colorado, daughter of Alan Wilhelm of Cotopaxi and Susan Chandler of Arlington, Texas; and

Marissa Wilkinson of Portland, Oregon, daughter of Judy L. and Mark A. Wilkinson.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Texoma music hall of fame exhibit now open

(SHERMAN, Texas) January 25, 2014

The Sherman Museum announced today that a new exhibit entitled, “Texoma Music Hall of Fame” is now open. The exhibition will run from January 16 through May 30 and highlights the lives and careers of several famous musicians that have ties to the Texoma region. Vintage records, instruments and other music related artifacts are also on display.

Sherman Museum

Seven artists are featured in the “Texoma Music Hall of Fame”, including: Bomar Cramer, Buddy Tate, Reba McEntire, Gene Autry, Miranda Lambert, Buck Owens and
Blake Shelton. Musicians such as, Randy Travis and Johnny Perry are also included in the exhibit. “It’s exciting to have so many important musicians with roots in this area and we wanted this exhibit to celebrate their lives and honor their accomplishments,” said Executive Director Dan Steelman.

Museum visitors will find an acoustic guitar that once belonged to Sherman native and Country Music Hall of Fame recipient, Buck Owens, on display during the exhibit.

Owens donated the guitar to the City of Sherman in 1996 and it is part of the permanent collection on display in the upstairs lobby at Kidd-Key Auditorium. The city has generously loaned it to the museum for the exhibit, along with two large scale paintings, one of Buck Owens and another of saxophonist Buddy Tate.

The Sherman Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is: $5.00 for adults; $3.00 for seniors (Ages 60+); $2.00 for students (age 6-18) and for those with a college ID; FREE for children 5 and under and FREE for museum members.

About The Sherman Museum
The Sherman Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to collecting, preserving and interpreting objects of historical significance to Grayson County and the Greater North Texas Region. The museum was previously known as The Red River Historical Museum prior to a name change in March 2011.  The Sherman Museum is located at 301 S Walnut St, Sherman, TX 75090.

For more information about The Sherman Museum, visit us on the web at
www.theshermanmuseum.org.

Austin College hosts MLK Day Celebrations in 2015

The eleventh annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Breakfast

will be held at 7:15 a.m. Monday, January 19 in Mabee Hall of the Robert J. and Mary Wright Campus Center at Austin College. Sherman and Grayson County Rotary clubs, Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center, and Austin College are sponsoring the event. Members of the community may attend the breakfast at a cost of $15 per person, payable at the door.

The keynote speaker for the breakfast is the Honorable Angela Tucker, Collin County Judge. In 2012, Tucker became the first African-American judge to be elected in Collin County. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin and attended law school at Southern Methodist University. Prior to becoming a judge, Tucker became a private attorney after working as an assistant district attorney in the Collin County District Attorney’s Office.

Dr. Marjorie Hass, president of Austin College, will welcome guests and senior Tre Stewart, of Dallas, Texas, will present a student address. The Sherman Federated Choir, directed by Ella Childs, will provide special music.

The Grayson County MLK Celebration Parade will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 12:00 noon in downtown Sherman. The parade route will begin at 400 S. Travis at the First Baptist Church and end at the Austin College campus. A community service will follow the parade in Wynne Chapel. The parade is free and open to the public.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Children’s Learning Program at Austin College this Saturday

SHERMAN, TEXAS | January 16, 2015

Area children are invited to participate in Austin College’s

’Roo Bound program Saturday, January 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. After a free lunch on campus, the afternoon learning session will focus on prairie ecosystems. The program is free and open to all children in kindergarten through 8th grade.

Participants should be dropped off at the Wright Campus Center main entrance off Brockett Street, and parents must sign students in at that time. The event is sponsored by the Austin College Service Station.

Austin College student volunteers work with the children to provide a fun learning experience. They will look at some of the plants that grow even in the dreary winter weather. The children will decorate pots, which they will take home with them. Children will be provided lunch in the Austin College.

Advance registration is not required, but is appreciated. For more information or to reserve a spot for the program, contact the Austin College Service Station at 903.813.2333 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays or email servicestation@austincollege.edu.

Students will have lunch in the Austin College dining hall in Wright Campus Center, courtesy of the Service Station and Aramark Food Service.

In addition to the special learning opportunity for children, ’Roo Bound, coordinated by the Austin College Service Station but involving many students across campus, is designed to expose children to the idea of college in a safe, fun environment. The organizers hope that the program makes college attendance (at any college, not just Austin College) seem accessible to children, particularly those who might be the first in their families to consider college.

’Roo Bound events are scheduled each month at Austin College.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Austin College Theatre Students Presents "a feminine ending"

SHERMAN, TEXAS

The Austin College theatre program will present Sarah Treem’s a

feminine ending in Ida Green Communication Center’s Ida Green Theatre October 30 through November 1 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8 per person or free to students with an Austin College ID. Tickets may be purchased at the box office before each performance.

Directed by senior Anika Payne of Fort Worth, Texas, the comedy focuses on Amanda, a 25-year-old musician who has wanted to be a great composer all her life. The publisher describes the play as a gentle, bittersweet comedy about a girl who knows what she wants but not quite how to get it, noting “Her parents are getting divorced; her fiancé is almost famous; her first love reappears; and there's a lot of noise in her head but none of it is music. Until the end.” The play has been described as a coming‐of‐age narrative with an unconventional structure, directly related to the problems of identity, work, and finding and answering one’s calling in life. The title refers to a musical term for a phrase or movement that ends in an unstressed note.

Payne, the student director said, “I think that the show will help people my age look at their choices and realize that the prospects ahead of us may be daunting, but that doesn't mean we should stop following our dreams. We’re going to be playing with the use of live music representing Amanda's subconscious; I think it's going to be a fun night for everyone!”

The cast for the production includes senior Sarah Wilhelm of Arlington, Texas, as Amanda Blue; sophomore Nikhil Jaisinghani of Plano, Texas, as Billy Theebles; sophomore Keaton Raney of Paris, Texas. as Jack Handel; senior Epiphany Arvie of Grand Prairie, Texas, as Kim Blue; junior Greyson Sanders of Springfield, Ohio, as David Blue; and junior Phillip Friedman of Temple, Texas, as Amanda’s Subconscious.

Stage Manager is junior Tabatha Keton of Baytown, Texas, with assistant stage managers sophomore Caroline Hodge of Carrollton, Texas, and freshman Marissa Wilkinson of Portland, Oregon. Other production staff members include senior Edgar Rodriguez of Odessa, Texas, and freshman Gavin Haubrich of Carrollton, Texas, completing set design, and senior Liz Banks of Arlington, Texas, as light designer. Senior Stefany Cruz of Plano, Texas, and sophomore Noelle Low of Sunnyvale, Texas, did costume design with consultation from junior Johanna Hunter of Plano, Texas. Junior Reed Cook of Owasso, Oklahoma, and junior Phillip Friedman of Temple, Texas, did sound design. Props were arranged by junior Travis Kannarr of Richardson, Texas, and sophomore Kelvin Lane of Plano, Texas. Board operators are senior Emily Everts of Fort Worth, Texas, and senior Braedon Mitchell of San Antonio, Texas.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Austin College ’Roo Boo Comes Early This Halloween

SHERMAN, TEXAS  | October 26, 2014

The 15th annual ’Roo Boo at Austin College, hosted by the local chapter of Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity, will be held Wednesday, October 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Sid Richardson Center of the Robert T. Mason Athletic-Recreation Complex, off Brockett Street and just east of the football stadium. The event is held earlier than usual this fall due to Homecoming activities on the campus October 30 and 31.

Children 12 and younger are invited to wear their costumes to this free event. Parental supervision is required. Austin College Police will be on patrol during the event.

The event is a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating and will include many tables set up by campus organizations offering various games, booths, and prizes. Plenty of free candy is available for participants. Austin College student volunteers will be dressed in costume for the Halloween celebration.

Local businesses are asked to make donations of gift certificates for the Austin College event by contacting Alpha Phi Omega event organizers Victoria “Tory”  Gary at vgary13@austincollege.edu and Karisma Sheth at ksheth13@austincollege.edu, or call the Office of Public Affairs at 903.813.2891.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

For more Halloween Events in the Texoma area, visit TexomaConnect. 

Austin College fall symposium: “Mesoamerica and Beyond: A Look at Origins and Lifeworlds”

The Austin College Center for Southwestern andMexican Studies is hosting two lectures this week for its annual fall symposium, focusing this year on “Mesoamerica and Beyond: A Look at Origins and Lifeworlds” and examining ancient México, the Caribbean, and South America. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

Austin College Wright Center

Dr. Robert Kruger will present “Seeds of a Civilization: Mesoamerica and the Mighty Corn Plant at its Heart” on Wednesday, October 22, at 4:30 p.m. in Wright Campus Center, Room 231.

Dr. Iván Márquez will speak Thursday, October 23, at 11 a.m. in Wright Campus Center, Room 231, sharing “Philosophical Reflections on Indigenous Mesoamerican, South American, and Afro-Caribbean Lifeworlds.”

Kruger holds a Ph.D. in anthropology, specializing in Mesoamerican archaeology, from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a specialist in Olmec culture, with research interests in the socioeconomic organization of the household and how they integrate into larger sociopolitical structures, as well as early uses of domesticated plants, especially Zea mays (corn) among the Olmec. He teaches archaeology at the Universidad Veracruzana in Veracruz, Mexico, and is the resident director of BCA Study Abroad Mexico – Xalapa, Veracruz, where he has developed interactive experiences in social justice for BCA students through cooperative efforts with Matraca A.C., an organization working with child workers on the streets of Xalapa.

Márquez is a member of the faculty at Texas State University where he teaches a wide range of philosophy courses. He received his doctorate from Indiana University. His recent research focuses on contemporary Latin American social and political thought, hybridization, postoccidentalism, postdevelopment, and transmodernity.

Julie Hempel, associate professor of Spanish at Austin College, is director of the College’s Center for Southwestern and Mexican Studies.

The Austin College Center for Southwestern and Mexican Studies promotes collaborative learning between students of the College and faculty members, with special emphasis on the historical, cultural, social, economic, and political issues facing Texas and Mexico. The Center seeks to prepare its students, and the College community at large, to meet challenges and opportunities focusing on the relationship between Mexico and the southwestern United States.

About Austin College

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

For more events in the Lake Texoma area, visit www.texomaconnect.com

Austin College Lecture Will Examine Johnny Appleseed

Austin College will host 1985 alumnus and history professor William Kerrigan presenting the address, “Johnny Appleseed: St. Francis or Steve Jobs?,” Friday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium of Sherman Hall. The lecture, sponsored by the ‘Roos Who Write Conference and the Austin College History Department, is free and open to the public.

Kerrigan, the Cole Distinguished Professor of American History at Muskingum College in Ohio, wrote the book Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard: A Cultural History, published in 2012. The book tells the story of Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman’s life, as discovered during Kerrigan’s 15 years of research that included following by boat, on foot, and by kayak several portions of Appleseed’s path.

The Amazon.com review of the book includes, “Creating a startling new portrait of the eccentric apple tree planter, William Kerrigan carefully dissects the oral tradition of the Appleseed myth and draws upon material from archives and local historical societies across New England and the Midwest. The character of Johnny Appleseed stands apart from other frontier heroes like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, who employed violence against Native Americans and nature to remake the West. His apple trees, nonetheless, were a central part of the agro-ecological revolution at the heart of that transformation. Yet men like Chapman, who planted trees from seed rather than grafting, ultimately came under assault from agricultural reformers who promoted commercial fruit stock and were determined to extend national markets into the West. Over the course of his life, John Chapman was transformed from a colporteur of a new ecological world to a curious relic of a pre-market one. Weaving together the stories of the Old World apple in America and the life and myth of John Chapman, Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard casts new light on both.”

Kerrigan is visiting Austin College in connection with the ’Roos Who Write Conference that will continue during Homecoming Weekend on the campus and involve numerous alumni engaged in writing—from novelists to song writers to academics. Austin College Professor of English Carol Daeley is coordinating the event. For more information on the conference, see www.austincollege.edu/rooswhowrite.

At Muskingum, Kerrigan teaches courses in American history and his research interests are in the antebellum and Civil War eras, as well as American cultural and environmental history. He is the author of numerous articles and oral history projects. The teacher, who has won several Muskingum teaching and service awards, participated in a five-week National Endowment for the Humanities Seminar on American Maritime History in Mystic, Connecticut, in 2012. He also serves a Muskingum archivist and, with students, has completed several archive projects and exhibitions, including “Muskingum: The First 175 Years” during the 2011-2012 academic year.

After completing his Austin College degree, Kerrigan earned a master’s degree at Texas Christian University and a Ph.D. at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter

Kris Rutherford to give “Baseball On The Prairie” lecture Oct. 17

(SHERMAN, Texas) October 14, 2014

Kris Rutherford, author of Baseball on the Prairie, will give a FREE

lecture on Friday,October 17, at 12:00 p.m. at the Sherman Museum, in the community room downstairs. Guests are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch and eat during the lecture. Seating is limited so the public is encouraged to arrive early. The author will be autographing copies of his book, which will be available to purchase at the event.

Mr. Rutherford’s book documents the early days of Texas League Baseball. The League was centered around seven small-town teams, including, Sherman, Denison,Paris, Corsicana, Cleburne, Greenville and Temple. Rutherford pieces together a recordof the people and towns that shaped the Texas League history. “Baseball is the classicAmerican game, and we are excited to have Kris speak to us about the Texas League’srole in the history of the game,” noted Executive Director, Dan Steelman.

My Dad played in the Texas League and my childhood memories are full of ball parks (and swimming pools) in small towns all across North Texas.  These players didn't earn the huge salaries that baseball players earn today, they barely made expenses.  These men played for the love of the game.

Team members, with families in tow, would meet and travel to the game locations in a caravan of cars.  In fact, that is how I came to be born in Sherman.  As they tell the story, just as Dad rounded third base, the announcer called out "Bob Wooten, you are the father of a baby girl!"

The Sherman Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is: $5.00 for adults; $3.00 for seniors (Ages 60+); $2.00 for students (ages6-18) and for those with a college ID; FREE for children 5 and under and FREE for museum members.

About The Sherman Museum
The Sherman Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted tocollecting, preserving and interpreting objects of historical significance to Grayson County and the Greater North Texas Region. The museum was previously known as The Red River Historical Museum prior to a name change in March 2011.

For more information about The Sherman Museum, visit us on the web at www.theshermanmuseum.org.  If you would like to learn more about the Lake Texoma area and area events, visit my website, http://www.texomaconnect.com.

 SHERMAN, TEXAS | Austin College

Austin College will offer free grant-research training Tuesday, October 14, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and Thursday, October 16, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. Both sessions, open to the general public with advance registration, will be held in the SISD Training Classroom on the first floor of Jackson Technology Center at Austin College. To register, email Brittany Derebery, session leader and Austin College director of foundation relations, at bderebery@austincollege.edu or call her at  903-813-2423.

Jackson Technology Center at Austin College

In the sessions, “Introduction to Finding Funders,” participants will learn how to use the Foundation Directory Online (www.fdo.foundationcenter.org) to find potential funders for nonprofit organizations. At the end of the session, attendees will have opportunity to try the resources, ask questions, and network with other attendees.

Austin College is now a Funding Information Network partner with the Foundation Center of New York, making a collection of resources available to grant seekers in the region. Announcing the partnership, Austin College President Marjorie Hass said that providing this resource is an additional way in which Austin College seeks to be a good partner with the larger community.

Find directions to campus and a campus map: www.austincollege.edu/about/campus-info/.

Two computers in Abell Library Center on the campus are dedicated exclusively to the Funding Information Network. Staff at the Circulation Desk can direct individuals to the computer stations. No logins are necessary to access the information database.

Funding Information Network partners provide under-resourced and underserved populations in need of vital information and training with tools they can use to become successful grant seekers. Located throughout the country and around the world, Funding Information Network partners offer free access to the Foundation Center’s detailed information on grant makers and applying for grants. The Center’s core collection of resources includes Foundation Directory Online, profiling more than 110,000 U.S. grant makers; Foundation Grants to Individuals Online; Philanthropy In/Sight; print directories; and proposal writing guides. Funding Information Network locations also hold training sessions on how to effectively use these resources and identify potential funders. Find more information:http://www.austincollege.edu/library/funding-information-network/

The partnership with the Foundation Center of New York is part of the newly developing Austin College Center for Community and Regional Development.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Sherman Police Department needs volunteers for the annual Fright Fest

The Sherman Police Department is seeking groups to participate in its

annual Fright Fest trick-or-treat event scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, on the Sherman Municipal Grounds (400 block N Rusk).

Each participating group is asked to set up a booth and bring enough candy to hand out to anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 trick-or-treaters. Groups are not charged a fee to participate and advertisements are allowed at the event.

Booths may be as simple as a card table and chair, or as elaborate as an on-site haunted house! The "Spooky Booth" trophy will be awarded to the group with the best display. Set-up begins at 12:00 pm (Noon) the day of the event. Booths MUST be set-up no later than 5:00 pm. Vendors will not be able to sell items during this free event.

The group Willy Kickit will perform live music during the event.

The Sherman Police Department presents Fright Fest to provide kids and parents with a safe, controlled environment in which to trick-or-treat. It was started after the attacks on 9-11 to give parents a feeling of security.

Groups interested in participating should contact Sgt DM Hampton (dmh@ci.sherman.tx.us) at 

903-892-7365. The deadline to sign up is 12:00 pm (Noon), October 27, 2014.

Looking for fun things to do during the Halloween season?  Find Haunted Houses, hayrides, carnivals, community trick or treat events and more on TexomaConnect.com.  Watch the Hatch and Kraven's Slaughterhouse video if you dare!

DINO DAYS 2014 EXTENDED

(SHERMAN, Texas) September 25, 2014

The Sherman Museum announced today that their popular dinosaur

exhibition, DINO DAYS, will be extended through October 4. The one-week extension will give visitors a last-minute chance to see the exhibit before it moves on.

“We’ve had an outstanding summer with the dinos. I hope that anyone wanting to see them before they leave will take advantage of this extension,” noted Museum Director, Dan Steelman. “Thousands have visited the dinosaurs this summer, but it not too late for anyone who hasn’t.”

This year’s exhibition includes four complete skeletons – the most ever displayed during DINO DAYS – as well as casts from various other dinosaurs. DINO DAYS 2014 features two Jurassic heavyweights, Allosaurus (25-feet long) and Stegosaurus (about 20-feet long). Returning for a second visit will be Velociraptor and Protoceratops. New to DINO DAYS will be two footprint casts donated to the museum earlier this year, both from individual animals believed to be Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. The original footprints from which the museum casts were made are estimated to be 113 million years old, dating back to the early Cretaceous period, and were discovered in Hamilton County, Texas.

Other popular DINO DAYS attractions are the DINO DIG and the 3-D Dino Theater. The dig allows children to search for fossils using paleontological techniques. The theater displays dinosaur documentaries and feature-length movies like Walking with Dinosaurs in 3-D.

Museum hours for DINO DAYS will be 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Cost for the exhibition is $5.00 for persons 6 years and up. Museum members and children 5 and under get in for free.  The Sherman Museum is located at 301 South Walnut St Sherman, Texas 75090

About The Sherman Museum
The Sherman Museum is a non-profit 501(c) (3) educational organization devoted to collecting, preserving and interpreting objects of historical significance to Grayson County and the Greater North Texas Region. For more information about The Sherman Museum, visit us on the web at www.theshermanmuseum.org.

For more information on special events in the Sherman-Dension area, visit www.texomaconnect.com.

Sherman Community Players present Wyatt Earp: Life on the Frontier

September 24, 2014 | Sherman, Texas

“The story Hollywood didn't tell!”

The contemporary Wyatt Earp is a descendant of the

historic lawman Wyatt Earp and has toured the one-man play throughout the Southwest, as well as performed in Alaska, England, Ireland, Budapest, Hungary, and Scotland.  The Scotsman, a major Edinburgh Newspaper, gave this one-man play a four star review calling it an “authoritative cultural phenomenon.” 

Written by award-winning Arizona playwright, Terry Earp (the contemporary Mrs. Wyatt Earp), the play is set in the mid-1920s, where an elderly Wyatt Earp tells of his adventures during the final days of the American Frontier from Arizona to Alaska.  The play premiered in 1996 in Scottsdale, Arizona and won the 1997 AriZoni Award for Best Original production.

The performance is being held in conjunction with the Sherman Autumn and Arts Festival on September 20, 2014 at the Finley Theatre, 500 N. Elm, Sherman, TX 75090.  Ticket prices are $12 per person, cash or check at the door.  Season members will receive a 25% discount.  Doors open at 6:30 pm and the performance will begin at 7 PM.

Mr. Earp will also be the featured speaker at the Lunch Lecture Series, on Friday, September 19^th.at the Sherman Museum, 301 S. Walnut, Sherman, TX 7090.   Mr. Earp will be discussing his other one-man play, Doc Holiday. 

For more information about the Sherman Autumn and Arts Festival visit http://www.texomaconnect.com/Sherman-Fall-Festival.html

SHERMAN, Texas | September 12, 2014

The Sherman Museum announced today that the actor Wyatt Earp will give a free public lecture entitled “Wyatt Earp: Stories of Life on the Frontier,” on Friday, September 19 starting at high noon, 12:00 p.m. Mr. Earp will speak in the downstairs community room. Seating is limited and guests are encouraged to arrive early for best seat selection. Lecture guests are invited to bring a brown bag lunch and eat during the event. Guests wishing to attend the lecture are asked to go directly to the basement level.

Mr. Earp is the first cousin twice removed from the famous Old West lawman. An actor, he is in town to perform his one-man show about his famous namesake on Saturday night. The Saturday night performance is presented by the Sherman Community Players and sponsored by Austin College. “We are pleased to have Mr. Earp speak at The Sherman Museum,” said Dan Steelman, Museum Director. The original Wyatt Earp was a Pima County, Arizona Deputy Sheriff, and Deputy Town Marshal in Tombstone, Arizona. He took part in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral during which lawmen killed three outlaw Cowboys. After this famous shootout, Earp’s name became synonymous with the stereotypical image of an Old West lawman, and a symbol of American frontier justice.

The Sherman Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. DINO DAYS continues upstairs through September 27. The lecture is free, but persons wishing to view DINO DAYS will be charged an admission fee: $5.00 for ages 6 and up and FREE for children 5 and under and museum members.

About The Sherman Museum

The Sherman Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to collecting, preserving and interpreting objects of historical significance to Grayson County and the Greater North Texas Region.

The Sherman Museum is located at 301 South Walnut, Sherman, TX 75090.  For more information about The Sherman Museum, visit them on the web at www.theshermanmuseum.org.

The Texas and Oklahoma counties that border the Red River, and what is now Lake Texoma, have a rich history dating back to the Wild West.  Find historical sites, more museums and cultural centers on TexomaConnect.com.  

Grayson County Tax Rate to remain the same

Grayson County Texas | August 25, 2014

For the twelfth year in a row, property tax rates in Grayson County will stay the same.

Commissioners say property valuations came back higher than usual this year,

which is effectively a 2.31 % increase, but tax payers won't see a change in their rate.  Does this mean Grayson County residents won't see an increase in their taxes? Not necessarily.

Local taxing authorities in Texas are required by law to re-evaluate property values  in their district every five years and bring the taxable value of the property up to fair market value.   Determination of taxable value is calculated by comparing the property to recent sales data in the surrounding area.   The law places restrictions on how much the property value can be increased in a single year but it can continue to rise in subsequent years until fair market value is obtained.  These notices of re-evaluation were sent out by the Grayson County Appraisal District in May.  Tax billing is sent out in October of each year.

Property owners have the right to appeal.   You will need to present property information to justify your claim - condition of the property, sales data in your immediate area, sales contract or appraisal.   Appeals will be reviewed by a Tax District appraiser or presented to the Appraisal Review Board who will then determine county taxable value.

Several exemptions area available that help reduce taxes.  The most widely used is the Homestead Exemption.  Senior citizens are also eligible for the Over 65 exemptions.  Disabled veterans also have exemptions and in some cases can be exempt from paying all real estate taxes.  You can contact the Grayson County Appraisal District for more information on which exemptions you are eligible to receive.

There will be two public hearings on the proposed tax rate, at 10 a.m on September 2nd and 9th, and commissioners will formally adopt the measure in their September 16th meeting.

The Sherman Museum Sponsors Second Annual History Comes Alive Tour

The Sherman Museum
Sherman Texas | Auugust 24, 2014

For the second year in a row, The Sherman Museum will sponsor

Photo courtesy of This is Texoma

“History Comes Alive at West Hill Cemetery,” a historical tour of Sherman’s West Hill Cemetery. The event will take place on September 27, 2014 and consists of timed tours through the cemetery with stops at specific locations.

Costumed actors will share informative and entertaining stories about individuals interned in the cemetery or about that section of the cemetery. Tours begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue at staggered times until 3:30 p.m. Tours are suitable for all ages. One tour will offer handicapped accessibility.

The event will serve as The Sherman Museum’s major fundraising event for 2014. Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for museum members; $10 for students with ID; and children under 12 are free. Tours are limited to groups of 25, so advanced ticket purchase is encouraged. Tickets can be purchased online at the museum’s website www.theshermanmuseum.org or in person at either the Touch of Class Antique Mall (118 W. Lamar Street, Sherman) or at The Sherman Museum (301 S. Walnut Street, Sherman). Any tickets remaining on the day of the event can be purchased at the event.

Museum volunteers carefully selected the grave sites in hopes of offering something for everyone. “The tour will feature eight stops in a relatively small area of the cemetery making the walk easy, but focusing on cultural diversity and some really unique individuals,” said event planner Shelly Morgan.

Among the notables in this year’s tour include Andrew Lawrence Randell, a world-famous Mason; Thomas Jefferson Shannon, “The Father of Sherman;” and John Brooke, a businessman from England, known for his descriptive letters relating life in his adopted country. Also featured is Elisha Baker, a soldier who served for both North and the South during the Civil War. Other stops include the grave of Texas Ranger Francis Marshalk, and the headstone of Electra Waggoner Biggs, famed Texas sculptor and oil-and-ranching heiress.

Early Sherman culture is the focus of a stop in the Jewish Cemetery, as well as at the headstone of Dr. Anthony Prince, a Black physician whose home was burned in the riot of 1930. Njoki McElroy, author of a book on the life in Sherman during this era, will be the presenter, and her books will be available for purchase.

West Hill Cemetery is located at 1304 W Lamar St, Sherman, TX 75092.  Parking and check-in for all tours will be at Texas Health-Wilson N. Jones Hospital parking lot on Houston Street between Bryant and Highland streets with TAPS bus transportation to the tour’s starting location inside West Hill Cemetery. Tour participants should arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour time departure.

For more information, contact the Museum at 903-893-7623.
For more information about Historical Sites and area Museums visit Texomaconnect.com

About The Sherman Museum
The Sherman Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to collecting, preserving and interpreting objects of historical significance to Grayson County and the Greater North Texas Region.

Memories of Elvis Tribute with Kraig Parker

Enjoy an afternoon with Elvis at Kidd-Key Auditorium in Sherman on

August 24, 2014.

Wold renown tribute artist Kraig Parker has it all - the looks, voice, moves and charisma of Elvis.  Kraig performs at sold out audiences in Las Vegas, London, and Paris and he is a  local favorite at Winstar Casino.

Kraig and his Royal Tribute band hit the stage rockin' and it's a non-stop, world class electric two hour show. For millions of Presley fans who know there will never be another like him, Parker has left packed audiences around the world stunned, thrilled and hungry for more. MEMORIES OF ELVIS delivers the absolute best of Elvis Presley, the golden years of Vegas and the music Elvis loved most, his gospel favorites.

Premiere seats are $25 and all other reserved seats are $20. The Kidd-Key Auditorium is located at 400 N. Elm Street in Sherman, Texas. Audio and video clips are available online at www.thekinglives.com.

Kidd-Key Auditorium has been a part of the Sherman community since the late 1930s, when it began as a stage for Kidd-Key Women’s College. The college closed in 1935 and a few years later, the City of Sherman purchased the current property. In 1938, it was designated as a municipal auditorium. Some 75 years later, it continues to be a beacon of cultural and performing arts in Sherman. Today, Kidd-Key Auditorium hosts cultural performances, such as the Sherman Symphony Orchestra and Nutcracker ballet, as well as concerts, plays and other events throughout the year. www.shermantx.org

For ticket information, call 1-800-838-3006 or purchase online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com and search on "Kraig Parker."

It seems there is always live music in the north Texas area known as Texomaland.  The communities that surround Lake Texoma are home to national recording artist, as well as local musicians who have won awards from the music industry and have raving fans.  Find out where you favorite musician is playing on http://www.texomaconnect.com.