On Nov. 23, Phi Theta Kappa had its fall induction ceremonies. Growing from 68 charter members at its first induction in 1979, the Alpha Delta Pi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa welcomed 120 new members at the induction. The Early College High School was represented well among the new PTK members, with 22 ECHS students as new inductees. The chapter began this fall semester with 161 continuing members, so with 281 student members it is now the largest student organization on campus. Aaron Ostrom, executive dean of special programs, advises the organization. Along with more than 40 students and several family members, Richard McCrary, executive vice president and chief instructional officer; Oscar Lopez, vice president of enrollment management and student success; and, Rodger Bennett, interim vice president of instruction, also attended. Chapter officers presented awards, certificates and roses. The new inductees took the membership pledge and registered in the chapter’s book of members. A new, honorary member - school mascot Mr. Petie K. Bear - was on hand to be inducted, as well. Adriana Gomez, ECHS principal, and Pam Geisinger-Sandy, ECHS counselor, attended to offer encouragement to the students they serve. “While I am always happy to see any of our students inducted into this honor society,” said Dr. McCrary, “the fact that 22 of them were also ECHS students speaks to the academic excellence of those students.”
Congratulate the Business Office if you didn’t hear the news earlier. Barbara Neal, administrative assistant, submitted a piece that the office staff worked on together to create for the DCCCD Virtual Art Museum. The submission was part of the DCCCD Second Life Committee’s “Express Yourself in Red, White and Blue Virtual Art Exhibit and Avatar Fashion Show.” Their work, titled Flag, was selected “Best of Show” and is featured prominently in the DCCCD Virtual Art Museum on the DCCCD Second Life Island for the semester. The office has expanded their creative talents with displays for “Take Care of Business Week” and their continued efforts with a December theme to “Celebrate Your Education.”
The Emergency Medical Services Program at Brookhaven College exhibited at the Texas EMS Conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center, Nov. 23-26. Sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services, more than 2,500 EMS and fire professionals attend this convention each year. Alex Stadthagen, program director, said he was able to use the exhibit to speak with many of the EMS chiefs and administrators from around the state and tell them about the EMS Program at the college. Jason Thornton, Richard Campbell and DeMoss Collins, EMS professors; Karen McCarthy, clinical coordinator; and David Dunafan and Damon Johnston, adjunct faculty members, all attended, helped staff the exhibit and participated in various workshops and seminars.
The ceramics department got a special notice in the Nov. 30 edition of The Dallas Morning News article, “Foodies flock to sample marshmallow soup.” The article focused on a special soup that looks like a marshmallow but in reality is a tomato carrot bisque. Chef Cherif Brahmi’s newest menu item at Rise No. 1 is served in what the article deemed “fanciful bowls” which were created by the college’s ceramics department. Lisa Ehrich, art professor and department chair, worked with the restaurant’s owner in one of her courses last spring to create special pieces, and Susan Mollet, adjunct instructor and instructional associate, has continued working on the project in her class this fall. In 2006, Ehrich and Mollet team-taught an advanced-level ceramics course that gave students the same unique opportunity to put their artistic lessons to practical work by creating ceramic pieces for another Dallas restaurant, Urbano Paninoteca. Read The Dallas Morning News article.
The Art Club at Brookhaven College had its annual holiday sale this week on Dec. 3 and 4. Each year, the Art Club offers one-of-a-kind pieces that are produced by students for purchase in the ceramics, printmaking, painting, jewelry making, sculpture, drawing and photography courses over the fall term. Tables were filled with pottery, sculpture, jewelry, prints and paintings in a wide range of colors, sizes, shapes and tastes. The sale benefits Art Club student awards that are presented each year. In addition to the art, the club also was accepting $5 donations, for the opportunity to win one of two sets of 10 handmade art ornaments created by Art Department faculty members. The drawing benefits the Adjunct Art Faculty Staff Development Fund.
Effective Jan. 1, 2009, the mileage reimbursement rate for the district will be 55 cents per mile. The new rate will be effective for travel on or after the Jan. 1 date. Travel on and between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2008, will be reimbursed at the former rate of 58.5 cents per mile. The district’s mileage reimbursement rates are set by board policy equal to IRS standard mileage rates. Eligibility criteria for mileage reimbursement can be found in the District’s Business Procedures Manual.
