C A M P U S
SANTIAGO NAMED MBA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA Gwen Santiago, ’78, MBA ’88, was recently awarded the 2001 MBA Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Edward’s University. Santiago is the executive director of Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO). She is affectionately referred to as a ‘double Hilltopper’ because she received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from St. Edward’s. Prior to TASBO, Santiago was the chief financial officer for the Round Rock Independent School District for 25 years and for the North East Independent School District in San Antonio for seven years. She received
the Outstanding School Business Official of the Year Award in 1994. Santiago also served as chair of the TASBO Legislative Committee for 10 Santiago years and chair of the lead staff for the Texas School Alliance, a consortium of 24 of the largest school districts in Texas. When asked for one of her greatest personal accomplishments, Santiago said, “being able to complete my bachelors while juggling a full-time job, a husband and two teenagers.”
HOMECOMING 2001
BHADRI VERDUZCO, ’02
With the increased spirit awareness of students, faculty, and staff, St. Edward’s celebrated the first homecoming in recent university history. Homecoming Week included a string of nightly events, highlighted by a “We Have Spirit” parade, a homecoming basketball game and homecoming gala at the Omni hotel in downtown Austin. To foster an added element of fun for students, a point system was created so student teams could compete for the homecoming trophy, which was given out to “The Most Spirited Group” during halftime of the homecoming game. The eight teams competing for “Most Spirited Homecoming Group” included B.T.C. (East Hall), Delta Sigma Pi, Rowdy Hilltoppers, SEU Cheerleaders, SEU Elite Dance Team, Psychological Society, and University Programming Board (UPB). By all accounts Homecoming Week was a success in increasing school spirit. Students, faculty and staff worked together to establish a new St. Edward’s University tradition that will be celebrated for years to come.
Spirit activities, including a parade full of decorated cars, highlighted Homecoming Week.
B E A T
NOT JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL “Live justly and work ethically.” That’s the mantra of Anita Roddick, who addressed the St. Edward’s University community this spring in Jones Auditorium. Her address was part of the Austin’s Leading Women Entrepreneurs’ Forum. Anita Roddick is the founder of The Body Shop, a skin and hair care retailer that provides quality products based on Roddick’s values of ethical treatment of workers as well as environmental and animal rights. Roddick imparted those values to the audience in her speech, which focused on business and ethics. In her speech, Roddick said that businesses can be successful and have high-profit margins while remaining socially responsible for their actions. She said that The Body Shop’s rise from mediocre beginnings to global success stands as proof that business and ethics can work hand in hand. Roddick has used her company as a sounding board to raise awareness of human rights abuses and the need for animal and environmental protection. She said she is committed to shattering the stereotypes cosmetic companies have created for consumers. Roddick’s speech set the tone for other speakers of the evening, which included Carolyn Carlson, chief operating officer of Journee Software; Robin Loving, principal of Communication Results; Kerry Tate, president of TateAustin; and Deborah Vollmer-Dahlke, chief operating officer, president and co-founder of Zilliant.
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