Community students getspecialized academiccounseling and tutoring bypeers. A pilot group ofstudents received laptopcomputers providedthrough a partnershipwith Compaq ComputerCorporation.

The Jesse H. JonesAcademic Institute will receive$441,000 from Houston Endowment tocontinue its summer enrichment program.

A Star for UHDUH-Downtown is in step with Texas andthe state’s efforts to help more of its citizens go to a college or university. The Jesse H. JonesAcademic Institute, a collaboration of public and private institutions, received the Star Awardfrom the state of Texas for “bridging the gap” to higher education. The Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board recognized the effort that answered Governor Rick Perry’s direct appeal toeducational institutions to help put a college degree into the hands of more Texans.

“The Jesse H. Jones Academic Institute is a star example of what higher education can do in collaboration with community groups and private and public funders,” says Dr. Castillo. “As apre-collegiate program, it epitomizes UHD’s commitment to improving the college-going ratesand academic performance of high school students.”

Students who successfully complete the institute and enroll in college preparatory courses receivea $1,000 annual scholarship, renewable for up to four years. If they enroll at UH-Downtown,

the university matches the annual scholarship.

UHD was in competition statewide with 87other higher education initiatives. Only fouruniversities received a Star Award. Theyinclude Texas Tech University, Southwest TexasState University, and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The Texas Association ofCommunity Colleges was also recognized.

There’s more good news inside!

• Meet the Red Rose Scholars............................ p. 2• PIE for a professor ......................................... p. 3• Teachers in the spotlight ................................. p. 8

$1.1 Million for AcademicOpportunity and Success

Houston Endowment, a valued UH-Downtown partner, will give $1.1 million to the university for two innova-

tive programs designed to cultivate studentsuccess.

UHD’s Learners Community will receive$703,000 to help strengthen its program forfreshmen, most of them identified as first-gener-ation college students. Because they comefrom families unfamiliar with higher education,these students may need additional support toreach their goal of earning a college degree.

The Learners Community uses a variety of suc-cess strategies for its students. Many studentstravel from class to class in assigned groupsso that they develop a sense of community.Faculty work together to link topics and assign-ments between courses to provide continuity.

In addition to the individual attention that allUHD students enjoy as a result of theuniversity’s small classes,Learners

Ready for RosesPreparing for UHD’s premier scholarship gala are Red Rose Ball honoree Rosie Zamora,CEO of Telesurveys Research Associates, and Elijio Serrano, Chief Financial Officer ofEagle Global Logistics, Inc. Scheduled for April 13 at the Westin Galleria, the event willshowcase 25 of UHD’s finest students who have earned Red Rose Scholarships. Meetthe scholars and learn about those who are making the scholarships a reality on page 2.

UHD received the Star Award at a conference of higher education officials inAustin. UH System Board of Regents Chair Morrie K. Abramson (from left)proudly joins Branden Kuzmick, Jesse H. Jones Academic Institute programdirector, Jane Thielemann, program coordinator, UHD President Max Castilloand Texas Governor Rick Perry.

New HorizonsNew HorizonsU n i v e r s i t y o f H o u s t o n - D o w n t o w n

SPRING 2002

Continued on page 7

Continued on page 7

Heroes on CampusA tattered American flag ripplingabove the towering pile of debrisand wreckage. Smoke-smudgedfaces under yellow helmets.Firefighters. Heroes.

While images from September 11remind us of horrific loss, they haverenewed our appreciation for those

2

Pictured at right are the out-standing students who willreceive Red Rose Scholarships

this year. A total of 25 individualswill receive $3,000 for the nextacademic year, funds that can liftthe burden of worry about payingfor costs such as tuition, fees andbooks. As one scholar noted,“This scholarship means that Iwon’t have to work during mysenior year. I can just concentrateon my studies.”

They represent UH-Downtown’sfinest, honored for academicachievement, leadership potentialand community service. Manyare the first in their family to attendcollege, often while working, sup-porting a family and attendingevening and weekend classes.All will have their moment in thespotlight at the Red Rose Ball onApril 13. Here are just a few.

Monica Cardenas is currentlyworking with the Houston Museumof Natural Science and NASA/Johnson Space Center as an“ambassador” to make sciencefun and interesting for kids. Like

Generous Friends SupportRed Rose Ball 2002No doubt you’ve heard the expression “We couldn’t havedone it without you!” That saying holds true — and then some— for the volunteers working on UH-Downtown’s Red RoseBall.

Led by chair Elijio Serrano with Eagle Global Logistics, theball committee is a roster of enthusiastic corporate and commu-nity leaders with a demonstrated commitment to improving thequality of education in the greater Houston area. Thanks tothe energy of committee members, the ball is on target to raise$300,000.

They are planning an evening that will highlight the accom-plishments of the men and women who have competed for

and won the right to be called Red Rose Scholars, acoveted honor at UH-Downtown.

The committee will honor a special friend of UH-Downtown, Rosie Zamora with Telesurveys

Research Associates. She is a founding co-chair of UHD’s President’s Advisory Council.

Serving on the ball committee are JackBlanton, Sr.; previous ball honoreeJonathan Day, Andrews & Kurth,Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton, L.L.P.;Jenard Gross, Gross Investments; previ-ous ball honoree Joe Hafner, RivianaFoods Inc.; Tom Harper, TheProcurement Centre; President’s AdvisoryCouncil Chair and former ball co-chair

Larry Jones, Deloitte & Touche; Linda P.Lay; Yolanda Londoño, JPMorgan Chase;

Graciela Martinez, El PasoCorporation; Trinidad

Mendenhall, Fiesta Mart, Inc.;Frank Michel, Houston Chronicle; Rob

Mosbacher, Mosbacher EnergyCompany; Cindy Olson, ENRON; Beth Robertson,Cockspur, Inc.; and Bill Swanstrom, Locke, Liddell & Sapp.

Thanks to volunteers, the Red Rose Ball net income hasgrown 86% in the last three years and now provides thefunds for not only Red Rose Scholars, but also for theScholars Academy, transfer student scholarships and acad-emic discipline-based scholarships.

The ball is scheduled for Friday, April 13 at the WestinGalleria. For information on tickets or to sponsor a table,contact Karen Alfaro-Chamberlin at 713-221-8045.

many UHD students,she is using her edu-cation as a spring-board for graduatework. As a junior,she’s alreadybeen acceptedinto the U.T.Medical Branchfor Physical Therapy.

Claude Baldree has a fulltime jobwith the Harris County Tax office,where he has put the knowledgegained through UHD’s computerinformation systems degree pro-gram to good use. Claude is anactive committeeman with theHouston Livestock Show andRodeo. He has a 3.8 gradepoint average (GPA).

Dawn Wilton is an accountingmajor with a 3.8 GPA who par-ticipates in UHD’s ProfessionalAccounting Society. She volun-teers at her daughter’s school andis active in church activities as amember of the Women’s Ministryand the Christian Workers.Dawn works fulltime for theHouston Community CollegeSystem and plans to pursue agraduate degree.

The 2002 Red Rose Scholars represent UHD’s brightest and best students, chosen for the competitive

scholarship on the merits of their academic achievement and community involvement.

Red Rose

2

Scholars

From Roses,

More Gifts Bloom

Generous friends of UHD are ensuring the success of the

Red Rose Ball for years to come by setting up permanent

scholarship funds for Red Rose scholars.

The Marian and Speros Martel Foundation and

Ralph S. O’Connor have both set up $60,000

endowments that will fund two scholarships

each year.

Martel Foundation President O’Connor is

chairman, chief executive officer and

president of a Houston-based investment

firm that carries his name. O’Connor is

known for civic, business and philanthropic

endeavors. He has assisted the University of

Houston-Downtown with its fund-raising activities,

most recently through the Marian and Speros Martel

Endowed Professorship in Computer Information Systems.

(see related story on page 3)

Named after Marian and Speros Martel, the Martel

Foundation has touched the lives of many Houstonians

since its founding in 1952.

The

Bragging Rights

UH-Downtown volunteers will helpgraduates gain a competitiveedge in seeking jobs through thesecond annual Partners inExcellence (PIE) campaign, chairedby Suzanne Hauser, special eventsplanner and community leader,and Carolyn Lightfoot, president ofChero-Key Piping Company andUHD alumna.

Through the campaign, PIE volun-teers will raise funds to support stu-dents performing internships orother forms of field experience nec-essary to building a good resume.The PIE campaign seeks to raise$50,000 and increase the num-ber of people who will serve aschampions for UHD.

UHD has a long history of providing students with opportuni-ties for practical experience, butfrequently, financial issues can bea roadblock. In many cases, theremay be no stipend, which can bea necessity for some students.Some may be hard-pressed to

cover transportation costs, or theymight be unable to give upincome from part-time jobs inorder to commit to the hoursrequired for an internship.

UHD connects students with a variety of field work. For exam-ple, a social sciences major couldwork in a county agency, becom-ing familiarwith the ser-vices availablefor familieswith emer-gency needs.

Thanks to PIEfunds, these stu-dents will nothave to giveup opportuni-ties for practi-cal exposure intheir chosenfields.

The inaugural PIE campaignattracted a number of new donors to UHD. (See relatedstory this page)

In recent years, one in five UHDgraduates got their degrees incomputer information systems(CIS), a program in the Collegeof Business that combines hightech savvy with business know-how.

A group of enthusiastic volunteersrecognized UHD’s role in fuelingthe workforce with qualified,knowledgeable employees.Through their efforts in thePartners in Excellence (PIE) cam-paign, chaired last year by AnnEarnest with AT&T, business lead-ers generated a total of$450,000 in funds for a profes-sorship in the CIS program, schol-

New Professorship a Resultof Partners in Excellence

arships and faculty and staffdevelopment. The total includes a matching grant from the MartelFoundation.

Thanks to PIE volunteers, UHD’s excellent business facultyexpanded this year with the addi-tion of Dr. Pete Chong, the newMartel Professor in ComputerInformation Systems. His last posi-tion was at Gonzaga University inSpokane, Washington.

Of special interest to Dr. Chong isdetecting and interpreting patterns that occur in business settings and understanding theimplications of implementing technology. “In the turbo-charged

business world, if you don’t firstmake sure you know what you’redoing, you just run off the clifffaster.”

UH-Downtown CIS majors are in demand by Houston areaemployers who must keep pacewith changing technology inorder to remain competitive.

Dr. Chong’s expertise in the field

is matched by his love for teaching.“My teachers changed my life,” saysDr. Chong. “I love to see studentshave those ‘aha!’ moments, whenthey connect with the subject matter.”

Like many UHD faculty members, Dr. Chong has practical experiencein the business world, whichenhances the classroom experiencefor his students.

3

Engineered for Success

UHD Engineering TechnologyDepartment student Kevin O’Dellwon a national award for a pre-sentation at an American Societyfor Engineering Education confer-ence. O’Dell, a major in theprocess piping design program,received the Oppenheimer Awardfor his presentation of a paper co-authored with assistant professorGilbert Groendyke.

This is just one example of theunique opportunities offered atUH-Downtown to undergraduatestudents who work side-by-sidewith faculty members in researchsettings.

Groendyke, like many UHD pro-fessors, has years of experienceworking in industry.

Students in UHD’s engineeringtechnology program work full time

Dr. Pete Chong is UHD’s new Martel Professor in Computer Information Systems, a position made possible thanks to volun-teers who raised funds for the Partners in Excellence campaign.

during the day and attend classesat night and on the weekends.Most, like Kevin O’Dell, arealready employed in the field.He works at ABB Vetco Gray,which manufactures oilfield equip-ment.

The Write Stuff

Dr. Ann Jennings, associate pro-fessor in UHD’s professional writ-ing program, was honored for thebest paper published in a year’stime in the Institute of Electricaland Electronic Engineers (IEEE)’sTransactions on ProfessionalCommunication. The award waspresented by the IEEE ProfessionalCommunication Society.

Dr. Jennings wrote on ethical andlegal issues facing employed stu-dents in higher education.

UHD’s professional writing pro-gram alumni work in fields suchas corporate communications andscience and medical writing.

Dr. Ann Jennings’ award is a reflection of the quality of the faculty inUHD’s professional writing program, which turns out qualified writers whofrequently go on to jobs in technical, medical and science fields.

2002 PIE Leadership

PIE chair Suzanne Hauser, left, and Carolyn Lightfoot, president of Chero-Key Piping Company

Assistant professor Gilbert Groendyke, left, in UHD’sEngineering Technology Department talks with nationalaward-winning student Kevin O’Dell, a major in the processpiping design program. Engineering technology studentsattend evening classes to accommodate their mostly industrial daytime jobs.

Continued on page 5

Contributions to UH-Downtown arevital to fulfilling our mission ofproviding quality educational

opportunities to all students and openingdoors to many who might not otherwise beable to pursue a college degree. We greatlyappreciate the generosity shown to UHD bythe following corporations, foundations andindividuals between September 1, 2001and February 15, 2002. Please notethat numbers following a name signify theyear of graduation from UHD.

$1,000,000 and AboveHouston Endowment Inc.

$250,000 to $500,000Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation

$20,000 to $100,000Fondren Foundation

$10,000 to $20,000AIG American GeneralRay C. Fish FoundationUnited Way/ENRON

$2,000 to $7,500El Paso Corporation The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Open Door Education Foundation Rockwell Fund, Inc.Shell Oil Company Foundation Ann Bradshaw Stokes Foundation

$750 to $1,000Estelle and Arthur Alpert Chantal FoundationHobby Family FoundationHarold L. SidesEmily and James E., ‘90, Stafford

$100 to $250 Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. ChangDr. Michael R. DressmanPatrick C. Eason, ‘84Thomas N. Edmonds, Jr., ‘97Karen J. Hill, ‘95David B. Hoffman, ‘86Linda Bailey PierceGeorge S. Wong

Below $100Jamilah Richardson Cummings, ‘00Evelyn Jacobs-Olowu, ‘00

ANNUAL FUND

$500 and Above Debbie, ‘94, and Bill, ‘79, Taff

$100 to $150 Nadeem Altaf, ‘92Tiffany T. Doan, ‘96

Patrick C. Eason, ‘84Marie S.J. Howell, ‘90Louise Lindsey, ‘88Clyde D. Miller, ‘96

Below $100Donald J. Barnett, ‘86Pamela J. Batiste, ‘86Angelia BelsanMark W. Bullock, ‘90Utonda K. Croomes, ‘92Verna Mae Hagen, ‘96Irma Morales, ‘98Scott Mueller, ‘88Paulina Cook Stagg, ‘00

PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE

$250 and AboveConsultants’ Choice Bryan Emerson Ergos Technology Partners M. Anne Murphy Yava and Milton Scott

FACULTY/STAFF CAMPAIGN

$500 to $1,000Chaney AndersonBetsy BallardMax Castillo Roger and Gail EvansPo-Chu Anges LeungM. Anne MurphyCarl R. Ruthstrom

$100 to $250Karen Alfaro-Chamberlin Linda CoblentzPhyllis B. GriffardGail KellersbergerGeorge PincusRobert G. Westerfelhaus Celeste Zamora

Below $100Bill Pogue

21st ANNUAL RED ROSE BALL(Gifts received as of February 15, 2002)

Endowed Scholarships ($60,000)Marian and Speros Martel

FoundationRalph S. O’Connor

Platinum Underwriter Tables($20,000)AnonymousDuke EnergyLinda & Ken Lay Family Fund

of the Greater HoustonCommunity Foundation

4

Generous Friends

of

Gold Underwriter Table ($10,000)El Paso Corporation

Silver Underwriter Tables ($5,000)AndersenAndrews & Kurth

Mayor Day Caldwell & Keeton, L.L.P.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Blanton and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wareing

Deloitte & Touche, L.L.P.H-E-BCarol and Tommy HarperJPMorgan ChaseLocke Liddell & Sapp, L.L.P.Ocean Energy, Inc.Reliant EnergyRiviana Foods Inc. and Vaughan,

Nelson, Scarborough &McCullough

Union Pacific RailroadUniversity of Houston

Bronze Underwriter Tables ($3,500)AT&TBank OneCingular WirelessDynegy Inc.EGL, Inc.Ray C. Fish FoundationFoley’sHouston ChronicleDavid HuckinBeth and Charles MillerTejas Office Products, Inc. and

Mir Fox & Rodriguez, P.C.The University of Texas Health

Science Center at Houston Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.John L. Wortham & Son, L.L.P.Rosie Zamora

Special Gifts$1,000 and AboveJoan and Stanford AlexanderBJ Services CompanyGail and Jenard GrossHINES

The Procurement CentreSmith Graham & Co. Investment

Advisors, LPBeth Robertson W.E. Robertson Fund of the Greater

Houston Community Foundation

$250 to $500Michael D. FabianArtie Lee HindsMitchell Energy & Development

CorporationBarbara and Corbin J. Robertson, Jr.F.T. (Chip) Webster

Below $250Action Handling Systems, LLCAshton CompanyCam and Rod CanionPeter J. FluorHoward Frazier Barker Elliott, Inc.Robert H. Sheridan

MEMORIAL AND HONORARY GIFTS

In Memory of Jay Anderson Jo Jean and Chaney Anderson Jeff Anderson Phyllis Rusk

In Memory of Donald Engstrom Geneva Illinois High School

Class of 1961

In Memory of Edith Jones Bob Rose and M. Anne Murphy

In Memory of Evelyn Rambo Missy Larson UHD Criminal Justice Dept. Roger and Gail Evans

In Memory of Chaya EfratyRoger and Gail Evans

In Honor of Barbara and GerryGunnin

Allison Scales, ‘96

GIFTS-IN-KIND

Bison Building Materials Karen Alfaro-Chamberlin

MATCHING GIFTSListed beneath the company names are the donors whosecontributions made these matching gifts possible.

ChevronTexacoRoberta L. Perry, ‘85

Compaq Matching Gifts ProgramPatrick C. Eason, ‘84

Dynegy, Inc.Milton Scott

ENRON Matching Gifts ProgramGilda A. Bartz, ‘93Stacey L. Neuweiler, ‘96Susan D. Trvino, ‘90 & ‘98R. Leon Ulrich, Jr.

Halliburton Foundation, Inc.James E. Stafford, ‘90Andrew Giang Thai, ‘87

JPMorgan Chase FoundationKatherine Augustine, ‘98Patricia Dominguez, ‘82Tommie Jo Grant, ‘98Ava Marie Holland, ‘83Thomas R.F. Lee, ‘85

Harris and Eliza Kempner FundEstelle and Arthur Alpert

Monsanto FundDwayne Edward Yount, ‘95

SBC FoundationNadeem Altaf, ‘92

State Farm Companies FoundationJames L. Saunders, ‘80

9/11 Follow-upStudents says that UHD’s student diversity is one of the university’s greatest strengths. As a result, students were uniquely equipped to copewith the turmoil following the national tragedy of September 11. Following a recent forum on Muslims and the West, students were eagerto continue the discussion with panelists: (from left) student Penny Vick, Dr. Zoubir Bouchikhi with the Islamic Society of Greater Houston,UHD Professor Emeritus Dr. Ray Wright, student speaker Mahvish Akhtar, and fellow students JoAnn Coronado and Ericka B. S. Morales.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Teresa Tapp : health and fitness event, March 24, advanced session 9 a.m.-1 p.m., beginner’s session 2-6 p.m., Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center,Ticketweb.com

Janis Ian: in concert, March 30, 7 p.m. cash bar, 8 p.m. performance,Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium, 3rd floor, Academic Building,Ticketweb.com

Red Rose Ball 2002: April 13, 7 p.m., Westin Galleria, 713-221-8045

Social Sciences Alumni Lecture: featuring civil rights figure RogerWilkins, April 27, 7 p.m., Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium, 713-221-8014

An Opportunity to Support Your Alma MaterUHD alumni will soon be receiving letters and phone calls about the AlumniAnnual Fund, and the university is hoping for a particularly warm response.

All expenses associated with the fund drive have already been covered, soevery penny contributed to the Alumni Annual Fund will go to the targeted programs. Donations are tax-deductible, of course.

The 2002 Alumni Annual Fund will support programs that are vital to UHD.Gifts to the fund will help:

• provide scholarships and program funds in the Learners Community,Community Justice Institute and Scholars Academy

• support a speaker series to continue forging links between UHD curriculum,faculty, students and community interests, and

• enhance faculty and staff development throughout the university.

Additional information about the Alumni Annual Fund is available from theUniversity Advancement Office, UH-Downtown, One Main Street, Suite 990-S,Houston, TX 77002, 713-221-8045.

5

Let other alumni know where you are and what’s happening in your business and personal life by submitting an itemfor the next Alumni Notes column. Your information will also be posted on www.uhd.edu. Just e-mail your informa-tion to Alumni@uhd.edu or complete the special form on this page and mail it to Alumni Relations, University ofHouston-Downtown, One Main Street, Suite 990-S, Houston, Texas 77002, or fax it to 713-221-8509.

“Alumni Notes” Update Form

Name: __________________________ Student Name: __________________________(if different)

Graduation Year: ________________________________________________________

Home Address: __________________________________________________________

City: __________________ State: ____ Zip: ____ Home Phone: ______________________

Employer: ____________________________________________________________

Business Address: ________________________________________________________

City: __________________ State: ____ Zip: ____ Bus. Phone: ______________________

E-mail address(es): ________________________________________________________

News for the “Alumni Notes” page in the next publication and at www.uhd.edu: ____________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

ALUMNI TAKE NOTE:

ALUMNI NOTESfication from UHCL. Julia married inSeptember of last year.

Jamilah Richardson Cummings (‘00)graduated with a BBA from UHD. She has13 years of engineering industry experience,over 12 of which were with NAK &Associates, Inc. Since graduation she wasemployed by DBR Engineering Consultants,Inc., as director of human resources andbecame certified as a Professional in HumanResources (PHR). She looks forward tobeginning work on her MBA.

In MemoriamJohn M. Golden, CPL/ESA(‘85) passed away October 26,2001 after a seven year battlewith Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.He graduated with a B.S. inPetroleum Land Management.

You are welcome to submit a recent photograph.

David Tolkov (‘92) is working as a techni-cal account manager, managing multipleFortune 500 accounts with Microsoft PremierSupport Agreements. His focus is on customersatisfaction by understanding and managingsupport needs, and helping the customerunderstand Microsoft’s future direction. David provides or assigns support softwareengineers to assist in remote consulting ser-vices while building and maintaining strongclient relationships.

David’s brother Murray Tolkov (‘92) andwife Sonia Tolkov (‘99) also graduatedfrom UHD and have been very successful intheir personal and professional lives. “We are all very proud to have graduated fromUHD!!!”

Sean Meyer (‘97) is a graduate of theNatural Sciences department. Since gradua-tion he has worked as a critical care technicianin the ICU of Conroe Regional Medical Centerand as an aseptic technician for Pfizer inLincoln, Nebraska. In December he became agraduate of Creighton University in Omaha,Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science inNursing and will begin working as an RN inthe surgical intensive care unit at UTMB inGalveston.

Julia Pace-Hutcherson (‘98) would liketo let everyone at UHD know what she hasbeen doing recently. Julia currently works atMeyer Park Elementary as an elementaryschool principal. This coming summer sheplans on finishing her Master’s in Educationalong with obtaining a reading specialist certi-

At a news conference held at UH-Downtown, UHD lecturer and freelancewriter Vanessa Leggett told reporters thatshe defended the first amendment of theU.S. Constitution by spending more thanfive months in jail for not turning overinformation gathered from interviews ina murder investigation.

She asked UHD to host the pressconference held immediately fol-lowing her release. In atten-dance were her attorney MikeDeGuerin, U.S. RepresentativeSheila Jackson Lee and Leggett’shusband, Doak.

Jailed Writer on UHD FacultyLeggett was incarcerated for the longest period of any writer in U.S.history for refusing to reveal informationor share her notes with prosecutors in agrand jury.

During her research on her book, shespoke exclusively with Roger Angleton,jailed for suspicion of murdering his sis-ter-in-law, Doris Angleton. He committedsuicide, leaving investigators unable toquestion him; therefore, they turned toLeggett for her notes. When she refusedto release her findings, she was takeninto custody.

The FBI has since arrested RobertAngleton, Doris Angleton’s husband, tobe tried in a federal court. Leggettcould still be subpoenaed to testify in the trial.

Her immediate plans include writing abook about the murder of Doris Angletonand spending time with her family andfriends. Leggett is taking a break fromlecturing this semester. She teaches inthe Department of English.

Promoting the Power of Peers

UHD’s Halbert Sykesis advisor, counselor,coordinator andbuddy to members ofstudent organizationswhose chief goal is tohelp others. And, heis one of a handful ofindividuals to receivenational recognitionfor his efforts.

Sykes was honored asan outstanding advisor by the Bacchus and Gamma Peer EducationNetwork, the national organization for a UHD group called BacchusPASS Peer Educators.

PASS stands for “Preventing the Abuse of Substances and Self.” Studentmembers of the group use programs and events to communicate withtheir peers about student health safety issues, positive lifestyles and deci-sion-making skills.

“Our students are dedicated, committed individuals who are open tolearning,” says Sykes. “Through their participation in Bacchus PASS,they develop leadership skills.”

GIS at UHDGIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology was the focus of GIS Day, an exposition and conference at UH-Downtownheld in partnership with the Houston/Galveston Area Council. UHD President Max Castillo (left) chats with David Dignum withEnvironmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. GIS technology is used throughout our planet in areas such as law enforcement,urban planning, banking and real estate. UHD students use GIS in the Department of Engineering Technology.

Continued from page 3

Members of Bacchus PASS staff a booth during their alcohol awareness program.They are (from left) students Harry Ogbogu, Rosa Rodriguez, Donovan Brown,advisor Halbert Sykes and student Esmerelda Del Fierro.

Vanessa Leggett

Bragging Rights

T-Tapp atUHDHealth and fitness guru

Teresa Tapp willbring her exercise program to UH-Downtown. Known as T-Tapp, the pro-gram uses basic movements with noequipment such as weights. It’s basedon Tapp’s studies in exercise physiology.She describes the program as “a no-non-sense, common sense approach to fitness.”

Tapp will hold two sessions. The first is exclusive and free to UHDstudents, faculty and staff on Friday, March 23. The public canpurchase tickets for an advanced session on March 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., or a beginner’s session, 2-6 p.m.

All classes will be held in UHD’s Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center,a health and fitness facility that houses two gymnasiums, workoutand weight rooms and a dance studio.

Tickets for the public sessions are $100 from Ticketweb.com. Learnmore by calling 713-221-8225.

6

Women’s Month

Educated and a gentle-man, Roger Wilkinsworked as a Washington“insider” to fight racismand as a journalist and

educator to “give a voice to thevoiceless.” Wilkins will be theguest speaker at the 2002 UH-Downtown Social Science AlumniLecture, 7 p.m., Saturday, April27. He is the Clarence J.Robinson Professor of History andAmerican Culture at GeorgeMason University, a Pulitzer Prizewinner and former assistant attor-ney general during the Johnsonadministration.

Wilkins first drew the attention ofthen-president John F. Kennedy bycriticizing the Justice Department’slack of African-American adminis-trators. He testified before theWhite House Council and hisinfluence played a part in the cre-ation of the Civil Rights Act of1964. Wilkins won a PulitzerPrize for his work at theWashington Post during theWatergate investigation. Heserved as past chair of the Boardof Trustees of the Africa AmericaInstitute. He is also a member ofthe Board of the NAACP LegalDefense Fund and an appointedmember of the District of

Folk singer Janis Ian is one of the highlights of UHD’s Women’s Month.She will perform a live concert, 7 p.m., Saturday, March 30 in theWilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium.

Janis Ian burst on the music scene at age 15 with “Society’s Child.”Ian has been featured on “The Tonight Show” and in Life, Look, Timeand Newsweek. Her debut album garnered her the first of her nine

Grammy nominations. Since then, she has produced 17 albums.

Her songs have also been recorded by musi-cians and singers such as Stan Getz, BetteMidler, Cher, Hugh Masakela, Joan Baez andEtta James.

Tickets are available to the public for $25.50 atwww.ticketweb.com. The event is sponsored bythe UHD Campus Activities Board.

Janis Ian comes to UHD’sWilhelmina Cullen RobertsonAuditorium on March 30.

Janis Ian toPerform at UHD

Native Americanwriter andactivist Linda

Hogan will per-form for UHDaudiences at a

Women’s Monthliterary reading, 7

p.m., March 27 in theWilhelmina Cullen RobertsonAuditorium. Hogan is a recipientof numerous fellowships andawards and was recognized as aPulitzer Prize finalist for her fiction,Mean Spirit. Her performance isco-sponsored by the UHD CulturalEnrichment Center, the Women’sMonth Committee and theDepartment of English.

Check the Women’s Month calen-dar on the UHD web site,www.uhd.edu, for a completeschedule. Activities opened in

March with a presentation byNigerian artist, OtobongNkanga. Writing workshops anddiscussions of literature, business,theoretical, health, gender andacademic issues are scheduled.Women’s status in Islam andSeptember 11 topics are alsoincluded.

Musical presentations include:Janis Ian (see related story) andPamela York with the UHD CivicJazz Orchestra, 7 p.m.,Wednesday, April 3 in theWilhelmina Cullen RobertsonAuditorium. The evening perfor-mance is a celebration of womenin jazz with artists Carol Morgan,Erin Wright and Andra Havilandand featuring the Young Soundsof Houston Teen Jazz Orchestra.Admission to York’s concert is freeand open to the public.

Columbia Board of Education.Wilkins holds a law degree fromthe University of Michigan.

Wilkins’ new book, Jefferson’sPillow: The Founding Fathers andthe Dilemma of Black Patriotism,will be available at a book-sign-ing reception with the author fol-lowing the lecture.

Over 600 are expected to attendthe lecture in the UHD WilhelminaCullen Robertson Auditorium. Theevent is free and open to the pub-lic. Reserve your seat by contact-ing the UHD Department ofSocial Science, 713-221-8014.

Civil Rights Leaderand Educatorto Speak

Roger Wilkins

multitude ofimages. The resulting array ofsmall snapshot-sized prints is thenplaced side-to-side and top-to-bot-tom on a wall. The completedworks form large undulating fieldsthat disappear into abstract over-all compositions. Kress is a veryrecent graduate of the Universityof Houston MFA program.

Kress is currently a resident ofLeague City. Her recent exhibi-tions include a solo effort, “SpaceWithout Room,” at Small ProjectsGallery in Houston.

“Zephyrs, the Romance of theSky, Cloud Paintings by PeterAndrew,” an exhibition of land-scape paintings, enthralled theUHD community with its peacefuland beautiful works.

“Color is used to lift the spirit. Myintention is to evoke a feeling ofbeing ‘in the clouds’ for the view-er,” says Andrew.

Andrew is currently a professor ofart at Stephen F. Austin StateUniversity in Nacogdoches.

7

“Black and Blue,” an exhibit ofworks by Lisa Marie Kress, will be in UHD’s O’Kane Gallerythrough April 4. “Black andBlue” is part of this year’s FotoFest2002, The Ninth InternationalBiennial of Photography.

O’KaneTheatreThe UH-Downtown UniversityTheatre will present A Few GoodMen, a dramatic thriller involvinga military courtroom, cover-up andconfrontation. Dr. Thomas J. Lyttle,director of theatre, is in charge ofthe production.

Performances are at 8 p.m. March29-30, April 3-6, and 3 p.m.March 31. Matinee student per-formances are scheduled as well.

The play is written by AaronSorkin, whose recent TV creditsinclude Golden Globe-nominated“West Wing” and “Sports Night.”The idea for the plot came from aconversation with his older sisterDeborah, a Navy lawyer sent toGuantanamo Bay on a case inwhich Marines were accused ofkilling a fellow Marine. Sorkinspent the next year and a half writ-ing A Few Good Men, whichlater became a movie starring TomCruise and Jack Nicholson.

The O’Kane Theatre is located onthe third floor of the One MainBuilding. For more information,call 713-221-8104

$1.1 MillionBegun 13 years ago, the program encour-ages academic excellence, graduation andcollege enrollment for students from Jeff DavisHigh school. Participants come to the UHDcampus for special programs taught by UHDfaculty.

The institute is part of the Jeff DavisEducational Collaborative, which combinesthe resources of UH-Downtown with HoustonEndowment, Project GRAD, HISD and ElPaso Corporation.

Continued from page 1

Lisa Marie Kress, Bleeding Heart, part 2, 2001,Gelatin Silver Prints, 41" X 64"

Fine Arts at UHDEach spring, UHD’s Fine Arts Festival celebrates the per-forming and visual arts at campus venues. Here’s a sam-ple of the music, drama and exhibits available:

A Few Good Men: a play by Aaron Sorkin, March 29-31and April 3-6, O’Kane Theater, 713-221-8104

“Black and Blue”: photographs by Lisa Marie Kress,through April 4, O’Kane Gallery

A Celebration of Women in Jazz: concert by jazz record-ing artist Pamela York and the UHD Civic Jazz Orchestra,April 3, 7 p.m., Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium,free admission, 713-221-8574

who make the brave commitment to life-savingservice. That spirit of self-sacrifice, combined withtechnical knowledge, wascelebrated at UHD at aconference co-sponsored by the Houston FireDepartment.

Local fire and law officialshosted retired New YorkFire Department ChiefVincent Dunn at the four-dayevent. Dunn is an expert ofbuilding construction underfire conditions. He spokeabout his experience in thefield and at the WorldTrade Center collapse.Regional fire chiefs, policechiefs and local elected officials attended.

UHD offers a safety and fire engineering technologyprogram structured to meetthe needs of safety and firepersonnel who desire atechnical degree and professional advancement.It explores current trends in industrial safety, fire sciences and an overviewof equipment operation inpractice and through computer simulations.

Heroes on Campus

Continued from page 1

Peter Andrew

Since the program began, academic testscores at Jeff Davis have improved dramatically.To date, 4,228 students have participated inthe Academic Institute and more than 800 JeffDavis graduates have entered college since1992 on scholarships from Collaborative part-ners Tenneco or El Paso Corporation.

The summer program was honored by theTexas Higher Education Coordinating Boardwith an inaugural Star Award (see storypage1).

Much of Kress’past work cen-tered aroundpainting. In recentworks, however, photography has become an integral part ofher expression and captures a

: Where theTeachers are StarsUniversity of Houston-DowntownOffice of Communications and MarketingOne Main StreetSuite 624-SouthHouston, Texas 77002-1001

Address Service Requested

non-profit org.U.S. Postage

PAIDHouston, TexasPermit No. 9078

New Horizons is published by the Office of Communications and Marketing, University of Houston-Downtown, and distributed to friends of the university with updates on campus activities. Call 713-221-8010 for more information or e-mail: ballardb@uhd.edu.

Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betsy BallardWriters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celeste Zamora, Karen Alfaro-ChamberlinDesigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe WynnePhotography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UHD Staff and Others

Paparazzi and red carpets wel-comed the stars of the UHD urbanteacher education program inHollywood style at “Evening withthe Stars,” the AIG-VALIC teacherappreciation dinner. The spotlightwas on mentor teachers in publicschools who provide UHD teach-ers-in-training with field-study guid-ance. Public school principalsand community partners were alsorecognized.

UHD’s urban teacher educationprogram was established in 1992 in direct response to thestate’s need for more public school teachers.

UHD’s Department of UrbanEducation has been recognized asa leader in preparing teachers forurban settings by emphasizingfield-based instruction. Mentorteachers from Alief, Aldine,Houston, Fort Bend and Staffordschool districts willingly share theirtime and energy in preparingteachers to work with inner-citychildren. The retention rate ofUHD-trained teachers (88%) duringthe first three years of teaching ishigher than the national projected

rates of 78% for all teachers and50% for urban teachers. This success would not have beenpossible without the supportiverelationships UHD has built withits partner school districts over thelast five years. And UHD is build-ing on its success at the under-graduate level by establishing aMaster of Arts in Teaching degree program.

AIG-VALIC’s donation will alsohelp provide materials and soft-ware for UHD’s teacher educationfaculty and publicschool teachers andinspire continuedexcellence in allareas of the universi-ty’s urban teachereducation program.

Teachers receivedtokens of apprecia-tion donated byRiviana Foods,made possible byRiviana Presidentand CEO JoeHafner, a foundingmember and formerchair of UHD’sPresident’s AdvisoryCouncil.

Black History MonthAs part of UHD’s Black History Month observance, Houston City Councilmember Ada Edwards (center) spoke at the Soul FoodLuncheon, chaired by Dr. Bernadine Duncan (on left), assistant director of UHD’s Counseling Services. Brenetta Brooks,University College Administrative Office, chaired the month’s events.

We’ve Moved!UHD’s University Advancement offices, including Communicationsand Marketing, Alumni and Development staff, are now locatedon the 9th floor of the One Main Building, in suite 990-South.The main phone number is the same: 713-221-8045.

Building UpdatePlanning is underway for UHD’s new building, which will be funded by $18.3million in tuition revenue bonds approved by the 77th Session of the TexasLegislature. Administrators are reviewing options for the location and design ofthe facility, which primarily will house classrooms and faculty offices. If all goesas planned, construction could begin in a year.

In the meantime, UHD’s financial, human resources and administration offices are now centralized, along with the president’s office, on the newly-renovatedninth floor of the One Main Building. Bricker + Cannady Architects designedthe space to resonate with the building’s third floor that houses all of UHD’s student services.

To come soon: enhancements to the North and South Decks of the campus,including shade structures, benches and tables, and a renovation of the MainStreet entrance that will blend with METRO’s light rail station.