MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR An unprecedented start to the fall 2017 semester to say the least. In my tenure as Director of TALH, our opening week activities reflected the normal activities of check-in, move-in, student convocation activities, meetings and time to welcome our new students to Lamar University and TALH. As we soon discovered, the beginning of fall 2017 was anything as planned. Hurricane Harvey caused much devastation to our region with catastrophic flooding leaving many without homes, cars, and personal items. The loss of electricity for many and the citywide water outage also presented a tremendous hurdle for local officials, first responders and all others associated with efforts to restore our community to an operational status. As we proceed with the fall semester, we begin to find a sense of normalcy in our daily routines and schedules. Students have met their professors face to face and are now beginning assignments and preparing for their first essays and tests. The TALH community is grateful that all of our students and staff were safe during the storm and were able to return to Lamar University. We would like to highlight several students from our senior class honored with recognition to the President’ s and Dean’ s List for the spring 2017 semester. Those students who earned a 4.00 GPA for the spring 2017 semester and listed on the President’ s List were Liz Kufour, Darreyl Landry, Sachi Kulkarni, Lauren Ocnaschek, Matthew Ratley, Shreya Vakil, and Suraj Vodnala. Students listed on the Dean’ s List with a GPA of 3.50 were Eric Chipimarquez, Mariah Harris, Isaac Wieland and Wenzel Ilustre. Congratulations on your academic prowess. Over the summer, senior Liz Kufour participated in the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business in the Chelsea Bunn McCombs High School Summer Program. Senior, Suraj Vodnala participated in undergraduate research at the University of Texas at Dallas in the Welch Summer Scholar Program. Suraj researched Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and as President of our STEM club, presented his research experience to his peers at our first STEM club meeting. Austen Cockerham, Darreyl Landry, Brittney McMillen and Lauren Ocnaschek served as camp counselors for our second annual HumanitiesScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (H/STEM) summer camp for rising 9th and 10th grade students. These students helped facilitate learning activities for high school campers culminating with a visit to NASA in Houston. As this semester begins, our students will embark on community service efforts here at Lamar University and throughout our greater community. In the fall, students are required to serve at least 20 hours of volunteerism at various service organizations. Some Other Place, The Garth House, the Southeast Texas Food Bank, The Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Baptist Hospital, the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, Gladys City Spindletop, and Charlton-Pollard Elementary are several service organizations in which we volunteer. At our annual service fair, students hear from representatives from these organizations so students can decide which service organization they prefer to serve. At the service fair, the TALH received a trophy from the Southeast Texas Food Bank for most volunteered hours for a student group totaling 271 .5 hours. Seniors, Liz Kufour and Jazmine Obregon were instrumental in this great honor. We want to thank our student government leaders, Brittney McMillian, President and Isaac Wieland, Vice President for their leadership at orientation. Although, due to the storm we did not get the opportunity to complete all tasks that were planned, the welcoming party gave students a chance to get to know one another in a fun and relaxed environment. Our captains (student leaders) for the 2017-18 academic years are Austen Cockerham, Mariah Harris, Holly Holloman, Shachi Kulkarni, Zoe Lovett, Suraj Vodnala, Isaac Wieland, and Jack Wilkins. We expect great leadership and guidance from each. It is my hope for each student that the semester is rewarding with new academic challenge and the opportunity to learn and apply new knowledge. I hope that all of you take advantage of the educational opportunities that Lamar University offers through its various programs and further your growth as a student. Juniors, this experience will be different from your traditional high school as many of you have already commented on the need to balance the rigor of course material, time management skills, responsible freedom with social and personal time. Remember these key words, balance, manage, and responsible. If you utilize these three areas with dedicated time to sound study skills your chances for successful outcomes are far greater. Seniors, this is an important time for you as well. Focus on this semester as being one of your strongest as you pursue college admittance and scholarship. Remember, hard work pays off! Courage is required for all other human virtues to blossom. Be courageous in all that you do.
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