Congratulations were extended to two instrumental music students who took top spots in competitive auditions at the 2009 Texas Community College Band Directors Association All-State Symphonic Band and performed in concert with the honor band in San Antonio on Feb. 14. Victor Ramirez, clarinetist, and Ryan Arvo, alto saxophonist, earned the first-chair positions, marking them as the best classical musicians on their instruments from all of the community and junior colleges in Texas. Four high school students, also studying instrumental music at the college, earned positions in the Texas All-State high school band groups. Chris Rzeznik, from Hebron High School, made first-chair alto saxophonist in the 5A Symphonic Band for the second year in a row. Sol Park, an oboist from R.L. Turner High School, made second-chair in the 5A Philharmonic Orchestra. Nicholas Poulides (tuba player) and Matthew Solis (euphonium player) from Ranchview High School also earned first-chair in the top 3A All-State Band. Congratulations also are extended to Roy Allen Jr., director of instrumental studies and professor of saxophone, as well as adjunct professors Rose Obenhaus (clarinet), Donna Schmidt (oboe), and Clinton Sims (tuba and euphonium) along with the high school band directors from Hebron, R. L. Turner and Ranchview for their dedicated work in preparing these student musicians.
The Women’s Expo drew in more than 44 vendors with a focus on green living and recycling this year. “Women Taking The Lead to Save Our Planet,” is the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month and the focus on green opportunities was also the theme for this year’s expo. Led by Suzette Vaquera-Constantine, outreach and recruitment coordinator, Outreach Services partnered in the event with the Green Team, Health Center and SPAR. There were opportunities for students and employees to recycle everything from clothing, to household items, to plastic grocery bags and electronics.
Nursing students continue their tradition of outstanding performance with a 100 percent pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse, NCLEX-RN. The Texas Board of Nursing recently released its exam summary for first-time nursing candidates taking the NCLEX in 2008. With 56 students from the college’s Associate Degree Nursing Program who took the exam, their pass rate remained 100 percent throughout the year. Credit for the year-long success is attributed to the students for their commitment to hard work, the admissions process for selecting strong candidates, the faculty who teach the nursing and support courses and the academic rigor of the Nursing Program.
“The Ancient Maya: Art and History” was the topic of a special presentation by Adam L. Herring, Ph.D., associate professor of art history at SMU. Just less than 100 students gathered to hear the presentation, given during Edleeca Thompson’s humanities course, “Mexico: A Cultural Perspective.” Herring shared a brief history of the Mayan people, an outline of where they lived, and focused on the cultural information that can be gathered from their art.
For the first time in the college’s history, five sophomores and one freshman on the Brookhaven Bears basketball team recently received various levels of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Conference and All-Region recognition. Nosa Amadasun from Dallas Spruce High School was named First Team All-Region. Darian Tealer from San Antonio Marshall High School was named Second Team All-Conference. Brandon O’Bryant from New Waverley High School was named Third Team All-Conference. Craigory Christopher from Morgan City High School in Louisiana, Lance Johnson from Denton High School, and Chris Smith, freshman, from Royse City High School were all named Honorable Mention All-Conference.
