WORD the
Spring 2016
A Life of Dedication
Dear Friends:
the
WORD Spring 2016
Credits Managing Editor Debra Del Toro Coordinator Brance Arnold ’10 MA Art Director Michael Hood Graphic Designer Marisol Martinez Contributing Writers Brance Arnold ’10 MA Rebecca Esparza ’99 BBA ’03 MBA Ashley Festa Margaret Garcia Brian Hudgins Crystale Lopez Sr. Helena Monahan, CCVI ’68 BA Mercedes Moreno ’13 BBA Sr. Mary Pezold, CCVI ’68 BA Tricia Schwennesen Photography Brance Arnold ’10 MA Steve Holloway Carl Myers Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. President Sr. Kathleen Coughlin ’67 BSN Vice President for Institutional Advancement Vincent Rodriguez Chief of Staff to the President Dr. Lisa McNary ’91 BA ’95 MA Dean of Alumni & Parent Relations Debra Del Toro Director of Communications and Marketing The Word is published by the Communications and Marketing Office of the University of the Incarnate Word for the alumni, parents, benefactors and friends of the Incarnate Word community.
Time really flies when you’re doing what you love. At least it has for me during the 30 years I’ve been president of Incarnate Word College/ University of the Incarnate Word. So on the eve of the 30th anniversary of my inauguration as president – March 25, the feast of the Annunciation - I’d like to offer the following reflection. When I began working at Incarnate Word College in August of 1985, I was privileged to follow Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery as the College’s eighth president. But as a 34-year-old, I couldn’t have foreseen that I would still be president of Incarnate Word in 2016. Like my native Brooklyn, San Antonio offers rich cultural and ethnic diversity. I relate with many of its residents due to our shared values and immigrant experiences; for me, it’s that both of my parents are from Italy. From an early age they, just like countless parents in San Antonio, provided me with an understanding of the importance of faith and family, as well as demonstrating the value of work and personal ethics. San Antonio is full of people eager to reach for the American dream, but often lacking the educational and financial means to do so. This is what makes Catholic institutions such as UIW so important. We are the educational and spiritual conduits for that dream. Not surprisingly, one of the proudest moments of my career occurred in 1996 when I was chosen as the national Hispanic Educator of the Year, even though I’m Italian-American. In 1985, Incarnate Word offered 56 majors and no doctoral programs. We were limited to the corner of Broadway and Hildebrand. Our enrollment was under 1,300 and Incarnate Word was the 19th largest private university in Texas. Today, UIW offers over 80 academic programs from the undergraduate through the Ph.D. levels. We also offer doctoral programs in pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy, nursing practice and business administration. Next year we’re opening a School of Osteopathic Medicine at Brooks City Base that in the not-toodistant future will help address a shortage of primary care and family physicians in Texas. Plus, it will provide opportunities for minorities to enter the medical field, particularly Hispanics, who are severely underrepresented nationally as physicians. Being at Brooks also has great symbolic meaning to us because we’ll be at the same site that once housed the U.S. Air Force’s School of Aerospace Medicine. If you want to listen to something inspiring for its uncanny and extraordinary ability to see into the future of medicine, search online for President John Kennedy’s speech at the school’s dedication in 1963, which sadly turned out to be the last major public event of his short life. With nearly 11,000 students, UIW is now the third-largest private university in Texas based on global enrollment. We have nine locations in San Antonio; academic sites in Killeen and Corpus Christi; a study center in Heidelberg, Germany; and two campuses in Mexico where students earn UIW degrees that are recognized by the accrediting agencies of both countries. Our most notable achievement, though, aligns with our historical mission of offering access, opportunities and choices to populations historically underserved by higher education. UIW is top in the nation among private universities in conferring the most bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics. A great many people have accompanied me on this incredible 30-year journey, including UIW employees and trustees who’ve shared our vision and carried it forward. While there isn’t space here to name them all, they have my eternal gratitude for having had a positive impact on my life. I do want to single out three very special people - my wonderful wife, Mickey, and our children, Louis III and Nancy. I’m blessed to be where I am because of their love, patience and support. Finally, let me express my appreciation to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word for their trust and encouragement during the last three decades. Let me close with the following: I’m often asked, “What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned as president?” Whether I’m speaking with students, faculty or CEOs, my answer is always the same – that the greatest gift we have from God is time, so use it wisely. Special blessings on you and your loved ones for the remainder of 2016. Best Wishes,
Louis J. Agnese, Jr., Ph.D. President
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contents Campus News
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A Life of Dedication
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Upcoming Events
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Exploring a Legacy
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A Bright Spot
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UIW alumna embraces new community, strives to make a difference
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Among the Wildflowers
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Birth of a Tradition
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On Writing Right
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University Collective
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Class Notes
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Moment for Reflection
12 Board of Trustees Spring 2016
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Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr. Charlie Amato Ernesto Ancira J. Scott Beckendorf Michael Belz Gayle Benson Mike Beucler Suzanne Cheever Goudge Sr. Brigid Marie Clarke Sr. Martha Estela Perez Curiel Catherine Dulle Veronica Edwards John Feik Paula Gold-Williams Gary Henry Sr. Mary C. Henry Winell Herron Ricardo Hinojosa
Kimberly Ibarra Gary Joeris Nancy Kudla Edward Leos Jack Lewis Charles Lutz Sr. Maricela Martinez Aguilar Sr. Teresa Yolanda Maya Sr. Rose Ann McDonald John Miller Carmen Nava Dr. Ramona Parker John Peveto Bobby Rosenthal Richard Schlosberg Sr. Teresa Stanley Sr. Yolanda Tarango
campus news
President of the Republic of Namibia visits UIW The board of trustees of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio hosted a visit from the President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob, on the University of the Incarnate Word campus. This fall, Geingob delivered an exclusive preview of his address to the United Nations in the McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room. Geingob is the third and current president of Namibia, in office since March 2015. He was the first prime minister of Namibia from 1990 until 2002 and served as prime minister again from 2012 to 2015. Since 2007, he has been vice president of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), Namibia’s ruling (Pictured L-R) Mickey and Dr. Louis Agnese, Jr. share a photo with President of party, and he was minister of trade and industry from the Republic of Namibia Dr. Hage Geingob and his wife Monica Kalondo. 2008 to 2012. Namibia, formerly German South-West Africa and then South-West Africa, is a country in southern Africa democracy. The basis of Namibia’s economy includes agriculture, herding, whose western side borders the Atlantic Ocean. The tourism and the mining industry – including mining for gem diamonds, country shares land borders with Zambia and Angola uranium, gold, silver, and base metals. It is one of the least densely populated to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa countries in the world given the presence of the arid Namib Desert, which to the south and east. Namibia has a population of 2.1 stretches more than 1,200 miles along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, million people and a stable, multi-party parliamentary and South Africa.
UIW medical school to offer new master’s program
The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is offering a new Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) degree. The M.B.S., an innovative one-year program, is designed to enhance scientific knowledge and professional preparation for students seeking to attend medical school or other health professions training. The program will help to strengthen academic credentials to ensure success as students pursue 2
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advanced degrees. M.B.S. faculty and staff are committed to moving students toward future educational and professional goals. The generalist study program provides the background necessary to pursue a variety of careers in the health professions. The program is intended for students who need to bolster their competitiveness for D.O./M.D., P.A., P.T., O.T., and other health care careers.
Students will complete preparatory coursework prior to entry into health profession schools or the biomedical workforce. The program will include foundational graduate-level courses, team-based learning, patient-centered learning, and professional development. To learn more, visit www.uiw.edu/mbs/index.html
campus news
UIW wins 2015 National Night Out Competition For the second consecutive year, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) was awarded first place in the college/university category for the 2015 National Night Out Competition, organized by the City of San Antonio Police Department. On Oct. 6, UIW’s Office of Campus Life collaborated with various university departments to host UIW’s National Night Out. Marked by the theme “Let’s Flock the Block,” students, faculty and staff enjoyed an evening of games, activities, music and free food and received valuable information on campus safety, healthy living, sexual assault prevention and drug and alcohol awareness. Nationwide, San Antonio ranked #2 in National Night Out’s official competition. The UIW community lines up to participate in National Night Out.
UIW’s Alumni of Distinction creates community alliances
Dr. Louis Agnese, UIW president, presents Brune with the Alumni of Distinction award.
The University of the Incarnate Word’s 2015 Alumni of Distinction for Service in Mission recipient is Rebecca “Becca” Brune ’91 BA, the senior vice president of strategic planning and growth at Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM). Prior to joining MHM, Brune was vice president of strategic alliances at Goodwill Industries. She spent eight years at United Way as director of family self-sufficiency and served on the national United Way of America Strategic Planning Committee. Throughout her career, Brune has sought to build innovative, strategic partnerships and promote public-private collaborations to improve programming and inspire systems change within the communities and organizations she serves. Her drive for parity has fostered 20 years of experience creating innovative, evidence-based, community-wide, regional, national and international initiatives in the areas of social service delivery, community development, health care and economic sustainability. Brune has worked and informed research projects in Bangladesh, India, Mexico and Nicaragua. She has been a part of several medical mission teams providing eye care, wound care, and women’s health education in Costa Rica, Mexico, Ghana, and West Africa.
Graduating magna cum laude, Brune had many formative academic and leadership experiences at Incarnate Word. In 1989, she spent a year as an international exchange student in Kumamoto, Japan, attending Kumamoto University and in summer of 1990, Brune attended Carnegie Mellon University, School of Public Policy and Management. After graduation, as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Brune earned a master’s degree in public affairs from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. In 2009, as a Bill Greehey Scholar, Brune earned a master’s degree in business administration from St. Mary’s University, commissioned as a distinguished graduate. She is married to Devlyn Lovell, and they have two children, daughter Rory and son Ryder. Brune was awarded the Alumni of Distinction award during a commencement ceremony held at the Joe & Harry Freeman Coliseum on Dec. 6. UIW conferred degrees to nearly 1,000 professional, doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students making it the university’s largest fall commencement to date. The commencement address was delivered by Moody Professor Dr. Elda Martinez, associate professor of teacher education.
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campus news
29th Annual
Light the Way
Over 7,000 guests attended Light the Way at Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium for the official lighting of the campus for the holidays. To take a photographic tour of the holiday fun, visit www.thewordonline.org
UIW awarded Clinical Research Initiative The University of the Incarnate Word along with Lackland Air Force Base have been awarded a Clinical Research Initiative (CRI) Intramural Research Award to fund a project titled: “Athletic Trainer Integration in U.S. Air Force Basic Training: Reducing Injury and Related Costs.� The project will be led by UIW Athletic Trainers Dr. Shandra Esparza and Dr. Reid Fisher in partnership with Lackland. The 30-month, $980,000 project will embed two certified athletic trainers within an Air Force Squadron of 1200 Trainee Airmen at the base in San Antonio, Texas. The project expects to demonstrate the efficacy of applying a sports-medicine model of patient care to Air Force basic training, thereby reducing the costs associated with musculoskeletal injury and subsequent recycling and attrition. Activities such as gait analysis and early injury intervention will be the focus in order to reduce stress pathologies from progressing. 4
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Alumni and athletic trainers Jarod Spraggins (left) and Art Gonzalez (right) pictured with Esparza at Lackland AFB. The results of the study will be used as proof-of-concept for the newly established Air Force Versatile Injury Prevention and Embedded Reconditioning (VIPER) program which plans to expand the use of athletic trainers throughout military conditioning and injury recognition under their purview.
campus news
Spinning yarn of stewardship This fall, Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing students donated, for the second consecutive year, a large bag of skeins of yarn to Maggie Jones, Chaplain at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa New Braunfels Hospital, where the students are conducting clinical rotations. Jones has volunteers who crochet small “prayer blankets” that she lays over patients when she is praying with them. Jones visits any patient in need of comforting or prayer. “I realized that the small cost of a skein of yarn is nothing compared to the powerful impact of having something soft and warm as a memento of prayer,” said Laurie Singel, nursing instructor, who has supervised clinical students at the hospital for over 17 years. “Maggie cried with happiness and the students even teared up a little, knowing they contributed to something that is very special.”
UIW’s default rate below national average For the 2014-15 academic year, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) awarded $96.1 million in financial assistance to students including grants, loans, work programs, and other forms of aid. At UIW, 95 percent of students receive some form of financial assistance. UIW’s student loan default rate is currently 7.5 percent, well below the overall national rate of 11.7 percent. In fact, the university’s default rate has dropped 2 percent every year since 2009’s 13.1 percent. As recorded by the U.S. Department of Education, the current rate reflects students who left UIW in 2012, including those who have graduated, transferred, or withdrew, and have defaulted on their loans before Oct. 1, 2015. UIW’s low default rate is a result of several, proactive resources the Office of Financial Assistance provides students to help support their financial wellbeing. “Number one, we are targeting very specific areas of students who we consider at high risk,” said Cristen Alicea, assistant director of financial assistance. “Number two, we’ve hired a company called American Student Assistance (ASA) who
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provides default management, meaning they have an outreach program for our students to help contact them before they miss payments and offer free counseling if they miss payments.” Before withdrawing, main campus students are required to meet with representatives from the offices of both Financial Assistance and Student Success for one-on-one meetings to review their loans, discuss consequences of withdrawing, and talk about next steps after they leave and what they need to do to manage their loans. Another part of ASA is the financial literacy program $ALT. “What schools across the board are discovering is that part of the problem is that students don’t have enough financial skills,” explained Alicea. “They are coming into college not knowing how to balance a checkbook or how to create and follow a budget. So we are trying to instill a lot of that before they ever leave school, years before default is ever even on the table and to give them the skills they need to never be in that position.”
Financial resources are available to alumni. For information on these resources, visit Financial Assistance’s website at www.uiw.edu/finaid/
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A LIFE OF
DEDICATION Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. 30th Anniversary as UIW President
By Sr. Helena Monahan, CCVI ’68 BA
30 Milestones of Agnese’s Presidency
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1985
1986
Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr., a 33-year-old native of Brooklyn, N.Y., is hired as the eighth President of Incarnate Word College.
Agnese is inaugurated as the eighth President of Incarnate Word on March 25
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smile when I tell people that I was enjoying my first European trip with my dear friend Sr. Dot Ettling when Lou Agnese was hired. I had nothing to do with it! I did, however, work with the man for 26 years in at least five different capacities. As I write, I’m in St. Louis, Mo., 900 miles from San Antonio, serving my fourth year as the president of Incarnate Word Academy. From these clarifying perspectives of longevity, distance and time, not to mention the inevitable passage of years, the history/myth/portrait of the man honored in this publication for his 30-year leadership of UIW emerges. The underlying concept that anchors Lou Agnese’s legacy is singular dedication. Nobody, with the exception of Mother Columkille Colbert, who literally built Incarnate Word College, and Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery, who shaped it into a modern institution of academic excellence, has worked harder or maintained more constant focus on building the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) than Lou. His tenure has been the unfolding of an early marketing message: “How A College Develops A City’s Brainpower.” Only now this development reaches far beyond San Antonio! Dedication has been coupled with another characteristic of Lou’s leadership—respect for the foundation and sustained sponsorship of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Some reading this might not realize that Lou recognized the importance of naming the residence halls in the Village of Avoca and other campus landmarks after Sisters who had dedicated their lives to Incarnate Word College. Similarly, not a Commencement, Light the Way, or any other public event goes by without the acknowledgement of the Sisters’ presence in and influence on the soul of UIW. This respect has been recognized by the congregational leaders
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1. Agnese visiting with students in the late 1980s. 2. Agnese with daughter, Nancy, and son, Louis III. 3. Agnese with former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros (left) and Roger Staubach (right). 4. Agnese with Dennis O’Malley, friend and former board member. 5. Lionel Sosa (left), who served as El Rey Feo; Sr. Walter Maher, VP for Mission & Ministry; and Agnese; during Fiesta in the early 1990s.
Light The Way celebrated for the first time
1987 Intercollegiate athletic programs are added
Establishment of the first international “sister school” agreement for reciprocal education
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1998
Agnese named one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the World
Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCaP) begins, which allowed working adults to complete college at an accelerated pace in the evening
Incarnate Word College becomes the University of the Incarnate Word
Opening of first academic site outside of San Antonio (Corpus Christi)
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3 who have danced upon the precipice with Lou—a skill and art required to steer the Mission through challenging cultural changes as well as events over which no one had much control. Sr. Dorothy Ettling, Sr. Carol Ann Jokerst, Sr. Teresa Stanley, myself, Sr. Yolanda Tarango, Sr. Teresa Maya—all working alongside Lou to balance the interests of a campus and city shared by many CCVI ministries, each working to “make God’s love real in the world by the promotion of human dignity.” Even for those most doubtful of Lou Agnese’s vision, the sheer expansion of UIW and its growth in size and prestige cannot be denied. I was there when the enrollment numbered 1,900. I joined many other voices, questioning the use of marketing techniques to “sell” a college education. I lamented the rapid growth and speed with which changes emerged. Challenge is good, and Lou experienced plenty of it! But recognizing UIW as the third largest private university in Texas, with an enrollment of 10,984 students in three countries, certainly silences any negative voices. Let there be no doubt. Progress and years have taken their toll. In my mind’s eye, I fondly see the friends we’ve lost. I’ve lived through the moments of doubt and hurt, times of serious illness, misunderstanding, and costly conflict. And I’ve witnessed the resilience of the man and, even more, the resilience of the community he leads. Some special people need to be mentioned here. No president can function without the support of a strong board of
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1. Agnese during a community service project. 2. Agnese with the final graduate of IWC, Joy Ann Walker. 3. Grand opening of the Wellness Center. 4. Agnese with Tom Plofchan, former VP of institutional advancement. 5. Agnese during one of his early trips to Vietnam.
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Start of first doctoral program (Ph.D. in Education)
Opening of China Incarnate Word
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Launch of the Virtual University (online)
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Dedication of the Dreeben School of Education. It becomes the first named school at UIW
Opening of Centro Universitario Incarnate Word in Mexico City
Men’s soccer team attains a No.1 national ranking, the first time that any UIW sports team has been ranked No.1 in an NCAA poll
James “Fully” Clingman becomes the first male chairman of the board of trustees
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trustees chair. I invite you to pause for a moment, remembering the legacy of Dr. Amy Freeman Lee, Dolores Mitchell, Kathleen Martin Watson, Ruth Eilene Sullivan, James “Fully” Clingman, Charles Amato, and Charlie Lutz. How much credit these fine individuals deserve for their steady governance oversight and balanced approach! The decision to hire Lou in 1985 was a risk. He was a bold young man from Brooklyn, thankfully accompanied by a wife and family we loved immediately. Risk has been a constant over the past 30 years. But risk is what the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word do best. I think it is that pioneering spirit that stokes the fire of the CCVI Mission and has transformed Lou’s early interest in becoming a college president into a life-long vocation of service. And that brings me to the last quality of Lou that has contributed to his success. He has consistently surrounded himself with extremely talented people who share that commitment to service. These are too numerous to mention, but we all know who they are. A tenure of 30 years is a tribute to many people. Lou would be the first to acknowledge that. We who have worked with him over this era take pride in the UIW of 2016. To live a life dedicated to helping students “make the world a better place”—a phrase Lou uses at almost every Commencement—is a gift indeed. For that, we say “Thank You, Lou. We salute you! It’s been a wonderful ride!”
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6. Dedication of the renovated nursing building. 7. Agnese with Charlie Amato, board member, and Cisneros. 8. Dedication of the AT&T Science Center. 9. Agnese serves during the annual President’s Spaghetti Dinner. 10. Feik School of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony 2006. 11. Bowden Eye Care & Health Center dedication.
2007 The Cardinals adopted as the new school mascot
Groundbreaking for the Feik School of Pharmacy
Agnese receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ford Salute to Education
2009
Rev. Father Mateo First football Ma. J. De Jesus is game at UIW named president of San Beda College in the Philippines, becoming the first graduate of the Ph.D. program to become a university president
2012 Classes start at the Rosenberg School of Optometry
UIW accepts invitation to join NCAA Division I
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2 Sr. Helena Monahan, CCVI, is currently the president of Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis, Mo. She is a graduate of Incarnate Word College and retired from UIW in May 2012 after 31 years of service to the university. She holds the title of Chancellor Emerita. Monahan served the university in many capacities, first as a professor of English and later becoming the assistant to then Incarnate Word College President Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery, CCVI. She later served as executive vice president of UIW before being elected Congregational Coordinator for the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Prior to her retirement, she held the position of chancellor at UIW.
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To view more photos of Agnese through the years, visit www.thewordonline.org
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1. Agnese awarded honorary doctoral degree from Woosong University. 2. Agnese with Papa Agnese. 3. Agnese with Spurs legend David Robinson. 4. Renovation kickoff for medical facility at Brooks. 5. Agnese visits with students in 2010. 6. Agnese and Sr. Helena Monahan.
Opening of the Saidoff Center, home to UIW’s new School of Physical Therapy
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Opening of the European Study Center in Heidelberg, Germany
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2014
UIW announces plans to build a medical school at Brooks City Base
2015
Opening of campus in Irapuato, Mexico
Global enrollment reaches nearly 11,000. UIW is the largest Catholic university in Texas and the third largest private university in the state based on global enrollment
For second consecutive year, UIW is No. 1 nationally among private universities in conferring the most bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics
UIW named a Great College to Work For in the United States for the seventh consecutive year
UPCOMING
EVENTS • Incarnate Word Day, Monday, April 4, UIW campus • UIW Part-time Job Fair, Thursday, April 7, McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room • Cutting Edge Fiesta Fashion Show, Monday, April 11, McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room, 6 p.m. • UIW Tech Fair, Wednesday, April 13, McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room • 39th Annual Swing-In Auction Party, Thursday, April 28, McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room • 39th Annual Swing-In Golf Tournament, Friday, April 29, Republic Golf Course • Corporate Cup 2016, Saturday, June 4, UIW campus For more details on the UIW events listed and other events open to the public, visit www.uiw.edu/calendar/
ALUMNI EVENTS Information & registration for all alumni events can be found at the Cardinal’s Nest at www.uiwalumni.org
Important alumni dates for Spring 2016 • • • •
Alumni & Parent Relations - Easter Egg Hunt, 9-11:30 a.m., March 20, McCracken House Cinderella - 7:30 pm, April 7, Majestic Theatre Alumni & Parent Relations Mixer - 5-6:30 p.m., April 15, McCracken House Alumni & Parent Relations - 1st Annual Ring Ceremony, 2 p.m., April 16, McDermott Convocation Center
Update your email with the alumni office! Have you missed a few alumni events recently and wish you had known about them? If so, please update your contact information on the Cardinal’s Nest at www.uiwalumni.org You can login for the first time by clicking on ‘first time login,’ finding your last name and then entering your old student ID number. If you don’t remember it, call us at (210) 829-6014 and we can help get you signed in.
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Exploring a Legacy By Brance Arnold ’10 MA
Sisters in 1964 on their way from San Antonio to establish a mission in Cimbote, Peru. Images courtesy of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Archives
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Cinquin and Chollet, circa 1870.
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hroughout the textured lines of history, a spirit of adventure has remained as innate to the human experience as love or dreaming. From their early beginnings, this adventurous spirit has run deep in the founding congregation of the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Like Srs. Madeleine Chollet, St. Pierre Cinquin, and Agnes Buisson, who embarked in the 1860s from Lyons, France, to Texas to help the sick and poor, eight UIW students set out on a journey to explore the pioneering legacy of the congregation. As part of a Religious Studies course offered this fall, led by Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, professor of religious studies, and Donna Guerra, director of archives and records management for the CCVI Sisters, students researched the congregational archives and created an exhibit program, “Sisters’ Stories: A Living Legacy.” The budding researchers presented their discoveries to the community at the Sisters’ new Heritage Center located at the Village of the Incarnate Word on Dec. 4. “While in conversation with Sr. Martha Ann, I communicated my desire to engage the UIW students with the materials available in the congregational archives,” explained Guerra. “She shared my enthusiasm for the effort, and the Sisters’ Stories class was born.” “First, I was feeling out things and learned that Donna believed that teaching research in archives is a valuable part of archives work,” Kirk agreed. “Then I was grateful when our department and dean were willing to allow a class with the history of our Sisters as the content.” Kirk added that this is the first time such a class has been offered at UIW. She began the semester telling the students how fascinating it can be to conduct research and in the following
class shared a drama that she had developed researching the Sisters’ letters. The students also visited the Institute of Texan Cultures to consider the content there and methods of presenting. Educated by the Sisters, Dr. Angelica Docog, the institute’s director, talked to the students and even joined them for lunch at the Sisters’ convent. There students had the opportunity to converse one-onone with Sisters. “The students were fascinated by women who looked like sweet little grandmothers, but were as strong as marathon runners,” shared Kirk. With the guidance of Kirk, Guerra, and Erika Valle, archives assistant, the students explored the approximately 1,000 linear feet of the archives and developed specific topics of the congregational history based on their interests and scopes of study. “Each of the students taking the class chose a different topic that appealed to them,” said Mariella Metz-Yeverino, UIW English student. “We all began uncovering really interesting anecdotes and pieces of history that really showed the spirit of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.” For Metz-Yeverino, the topic she chose was personal. “I discovered the Sisters’ first ministry in Mexico began in Saltillo, Coahuila, where my mother is from, and I felt that this connection was really special so I began looking into the history more,” recalled Metz-Yeverino. “Promises to Keep: A History of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word,” written by Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery, CCVI, served as an invaluable resource for the students. In fact, Slattery spoke about the book before the students’ presentation. Topics included a number of milestones in the congregation’s history ranging from the origins of the Sisters’ health care ministry with Reverend Mother Mary Angelique to religious persecution in Mexico at the turn of the century to the Sisters in the 1960s to an endearing look at three Sisters’ love of writing poetry, among others. “How interesting to examine the place of prayer for the Sisters’ over time – from the early, regular use of traditional, Europeanderived prayers to the marked transition since Vatican II to the creation of unique liturgies and prayers as common practice,” said
Metz-Yeverino (second from left) and fellow students pose with Kirk (center) before presenting “Sisters’ Stories: A Living Legacy” at the Heritage Center. Guerra. “What is fascinating and profound to me is that the archives provide the evidence that congregational ministries and practices adapt and change with social and cultural needs over time,” continued Guerra, “yet the purpose remains constant – to make God’s love, as revealed in the person of Jesus, a real and tangible presence in the world.” Metz-Yeverino said she found the Sisters’ passion and dedication fascinating and evident in the writing and pictures included in the archives. “It truly helped me to see the vision of the university and how the Sisters exemplified this in everything they did and continue to do,” said Metz-Yeverino. “I have learned that the Sister’s legacy still lives on in the university and we are all a part of it.” “Sisters’ Stories: A Living Legacy” is currently on display in the Mabee Library, and Kirk said that they would happily lend the exhibit posters for display.
To view the nine posters featured in the exhibit, visit www.thewordonline.org
Cinquin and Sisters in Saltillo, Mexico. THE WORD | SPRING 2016
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A Bright Spot By Rebecca Esparza ’99 BBA ’03 MBA
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r. David A. Ortiz has been thanked by countless numbers of students over the years. But he will never forget one special encounter with the grandmother of a recent graduate. Ortiz, the founding director of the University of the Incarnate Word’s Graduate Support Center, said it happened last spring, when a first-generation Latina graduate student walked into his office and introduced him to her family. “No one in her family had a bachelor’s degree, much less a master’s degree. At the end of our conversation, her grandmother gave me an impassioned hug and whispered in my ear: “Un mil gracias.” Translated, that means 1,000 thanks. Many students have said thanks to me during my time at UIW. But I can honestly say I will always vividly remember that one,” he recalled. A unit within the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, the Graduate Support Center at UIW was established in 2010, through a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Education. The center was created to increase the graduation rate of all graduate students, with a particular emphasis on Hispanic students.
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“The center was charged with creating academic support services and a revised orientation. Our data analysis in 2015 revealed that since the creation of the Graduate Support Center, graduation rates for Latino graduate students had increased by over 20 percent,” Ortiz marveled. Ortiz said, specifically, the Fall 2011 cohort experienced a 74 percent four-year graduation rate compared to the Fall 2006 cohort, who had a 52 percent rate. While comprehensive national data on master’s students’ completion rates has not been collected, the data that does exist suggests the center has raised graduation rates to nationally competitive levels. “We’ve singularly ushered in a new era of success and a sense of belonging for our graduate students,” he said. “We are often the first line of questions for everything ranging from parking questions to graduation procedures.” Carlos de León, a graduate assistant at the Graduate Support Center for the past three years, said the center helps students know they are not alone. “As staff, it’s a great feeling to know we’ve created a graduate culture that has never been experienced at UIW before. We’re proud to bring together such a strong support network for our graduate students that includes family members, professors and advisors,” de León said. A native of Guatemala and raised in San Antonio, de León said his history as an immigrant has helped inspire other graduate students at the center. He will graduate in May with his Master of Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the International School of the Americas and UIW with a Bachelor of Arts in Government. “I’ve been fortunate to share my story with fellow immigrants pursuing their graduate degrees. Here at the center, we take time to build relationships with our students and truly understand their needs. We appreciate different cultures and backgrounds. Bringing these perspectives together makes the learning environment richer for everyone,” de León added. He feels fortunate to have worked on a variety of projects at the center, like the planning and execution of various workshops for students. Currently, his focus has evolved into working on special projects, such as social media outreach and video productions geared at engaging students with an online presence. The hard work and dedication of the staff at the Graduate Student Center has not gone unnoticed. Last fall, the center was recognized as a “Bright Spot in Hispanic Education” by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. The center is now part of an online database of over 230 programs that place a high priority on Hispanic-focused education. “Among the recipients of this award, we were the only awardee that was exclusively dedicated to graduate education. This Bright Spot award singles out UIW as one of the nation’s leading
innovators in graduate education, not only among Hispanic serving institutions, but all institutions,” Ortiz noted. In October, Congressman Joaquin Castro highlighted the center in his House Floor speech as he spoke about the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and the office’s designation as a Bright Spot. The Graduate Support Center was also honored by Excelencia in Education as the nation’s top program for increasing achievement for Latino students in graduate school. Ortiz added the center’s services and programs were created from the ground up by the staff, making their success rate and notoriety all the more prestigious. “Sometimes we have two-hour staff meetings, where we debate and discuss programs and strategies. I often refer to the Graduate Support Center team as my work family. We have built an unprecedented amount of trust and faith in each other. This has permitted us to take high risks in our programing efforts and as a result we have yielded high rewards.” To view video of Castro’s address to the House Floor, visit the www.thewordoneline.org To view the “Bright Spot in Hispanic Education” online database, visit www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/ hispanic-initiative/bright-spots.html
UIW’s Graduate Support Center staff: (front row) Trinidad Macias, graduate assistant; Jessica Mesa, graduate assistant; (back row) Carlos de León, graduate assistant, and Dr. David A. Ortiz, director. THE WORD | SPRING 2016
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Tombo with Nath (left) and Andrade (right) while visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
UIW alumna embraces new community, strives to make a difference
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By Crystale Lopez
orn and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iréne Tombo ’15 BA along with her parents and eight siblings, fled the war torn country known for its conflict ridden environment and poor treatment of women. “Throughout the time I lived in Goma, the most unstable region in the country, my family and I frequently fled to neighboring countries because of different wars that broke out,” Tombo explained. “In 2005, when I was 13-years-old, my parents finally decided to leave the DRC permanently.” As a newly resettled refugee family, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio provided Tombo and her family with the necessary services to help guide them toward a path of self-sufficiency. To ease the family’s transition, Catholic Charities scheduled and transported the family to appointments for social security, immigration, and medical checkups and follow ups. The organization also enrolled Tombo and her siblings in school and her family in government assistance programs. “The help we received from Catholic Charities had a tremendous impact on me and throughout my four years at UIW,” Tombo said. “To this day, Catholic Charities, continues to play a crucial role in my education journey.” Through the UIW Center for Refugees Project, the university has collaborated with Catholic Charities, and with their support has been able to reach out to and work with refugees.
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Tombo during her course-based study abroad trip to India in the Summer 2014.
In the Nitze Building at the School of Advanced International Affairs in DC. “The UIW Center for Refugees Project came into being as a result of UIW’s involvement with the Refugee Resettlement Program in San Antonio and beyond,” said Dr. Lopita Nath, associate professor and chair of the UIW department of history, and coordinator of the Asian studies program. “In the last five years, UIW students and faculty have developed programs, service learning courses, panel presentations, and a general awareness for refugees in San Antonio.” Tombo feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to earn her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs at UIW. “Words would never begin to express my gratitude,” Tombo said. “Without attending UIW, I would have never had the chance to meet and know various students, and university faculty and staff, who have played a crucial role in helping me as I integrated and became accustomed to the United States.” While pursuing her degree at UIW, Tombo had the opportunity to take part in course-based study abroad, and assist fellow students and refugees as a peer minister. Tombo and her fellow classmates traveled to India with professors, Nath; Dr. Lydia Andrade, chair of the department of government and international affairs; and Dr. Scott Dittloff, associate professor in government and international affairs. Andrade and Dittloff also led Tombo and her classmates to St. Kitts in the Caribbean. “Iréne came to UIW with more of a global perspective than some of our other students, but the study of international affairs entails more than personal experience in two countries,” Andrade said. Andrade explained by studying Asian politics, Indian history, Latin American politics and international organizations, and traveling to India and St. Kitts, Tombo truly gained a global, political, and cultural perspective and understanding – key components of the UIW Mission. “Studying abroad in India was one of the most enriching learning experiences that enabled me to learn new things about the world and myself that I never would have had the chance to discover by simply attending classes and listening to lectures,” Tombo said. Tombo’s reach outside the classroom only prospered from
there. During her Global Refugee course at UIW, she was assigned to help a family from the Congo. Over the semester, she found the ability and confidence to open up about her experiences through the story of her refugee family. Following this, she wrote a paper and presented at several conferences including the National Gathering for the President’s Interfaith Dialogue and Community Service Challenge in Washington, DC. Faith has always been an important aspect in Tombo’s life, as was being regularly involved in a worshiping community that brought people of diverse backgrounds together. “After taking the emerging leaders course, I knew I wanted to be a peer mentor as I admired those who mentored me through the class,” she said. Tombo felt something was missing from being a peer mentor alone and understood what was missing when she found out she could be a peer minister through University Mission and Ministry (UMM) at Incarnate Word. “I strongly believe that as we navigate through life, we or our lives may be the only bible someone might read and UMM’s Mission to ‘make tangible the Incarnate Word of God in the university’ was truly a calling for me as an individual,” she said. Tombo is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations with concentrations in International Political Economy and African Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Affairs. “After graduating, I would like to secure a job that will enable me to conduct more research in my field of study, with the hope of pursing a Ph.D.,” she said. Tombo truly admires the UIW community that welcomed her, a stranger, with open arms, and feels blessed to have attended an institution that aims to “educate men and women who will become concerned and enlightened citizens within the global community.” “Throughout my journey, different people have taken me under their wings and this has helped me find the true definition of the word ‘community’ in my life,” Tombo said. “Community is the human race regardless of color, gender or religion, and it is my life purpose to give back to this community.”
Tombo presenting as a cultural ambassador at the grand opening of St. Peter’s School Going Global Learning Center in Spring 2014. THE WORD | SPRING 2016
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Among the Wildflowers By Ashley Festa
Jacobson in front of her gallery in Wimberley, Texas.
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inda Calvert Jacobson ’90 BA says she’s led a backwards life, but it seems to have taken her exactly where she wanted to be. “Most people get a degree, then a job, then they open a business,” said Jacobson, a Floresville native who is best known for her Texas wildflower paintings. “I did mine backwards. I owned a business, then started teaching, then got a degree, then a master’s degree.” She didn’t want to waste money in college without knowing what to study, so instead, she followed her love of art by opening Linda’s Ceramic Supply in Floresville with her siblings at age 19. She also taught oil painting and children’s and beginners’ ceramics classes. Her career as an artist blossomed from there.
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An economic recession forced Jacobson to close the ceramics shop in the early 1980s, so she began teaching art part time at the high school and junior high levels. At the same time, she started taking classes at a local community college. When she was about 30 years old, it came time for her upper level credits, so she began searching for a school to attend full time. She found a fit at Incarnate Word College, now UIW. “On one of the commercials, I saw an African American woman in her 40s or 50s giving a testimonial,” Jacobson said. “She said she had always wanted to study singing. It wasn’t until she found Incarnate Word that she had the opportunity after she raised a family. That commercial showed me I wouldn’t feel like I’d be out of place there. I found a home at Incarnate Word.”
For the past two years, Jacobson has donated a painting to the annual UIW Swing-In Auction Party, a fundraising event for student scholarships. Considering that each painting can take as long as two months between putting brush to canvas and being ready to sell, it’s a significant gift. “It’s my sense of paying it forward,” she said. “I could never have gone to school there if it hadn’t been for people who make scholarships available. It’s my privilege and honor to contribute back to the school.”
Jacobson poses with her artwork. Jacobson remembers in particular the support of the faculty and administration. On one of her first days as a student, she remembers university President Dr. Lou Agnese visiting one of her classes. She had chosen a seat near the back of the half-full room, along with several other students, and she can still hear Agnese’s words. “He looked at us sitting in back of the room, and he said, ‘You’re spending a lot of money to get an education here. Why sit in the back of the room? Sit up here where you can get the most out of it.’ So I got up and moved up front. That was the last time I sat at the back of the room.” Her dedication to her studies served her well, and she double majored in art and communication arts. After graduation, she followed both passions. For her journalism career, she worked at the Logos while at Incarnate Word, then as a newspaper professional at the San Antonio Light and the Canyon Lake Times Guardian. It was at the Guardian that she began painting again, and eventually realized she had to choose which career she truly wanted. So she walked away from her editor job in 2003 and began to develop her signature wildflowers series. Today, when Jacobson is in the mindset to paint, she arrives at her studio around 8 a.m., well caffeinated, to spend three or four hours “splattering and experimenting.” Rather than working on location or using photographs, she lets her emotions and imagination guide her paintbrush. “My husband, David, has been an amazing force behind the scenes and encouraged me to pursue it,” Jacobson said. “One thing he said when I got into this series—his background is horticulture—he said, ‘Those two flowers wouldn’t be blooming at the same time.’ And I looked at him and said, ‘In my world, they do.’” Her customers appreciate her abstract style. “Whenever people see my art,” Jacobson said, “something I hear over and over—it’s happy.” She’s sold hundreds of wildflower paintings to art lovers around the world. These days, she continues to teach painting classes at Casa de Linda Art Studio in New Braunfels, Texas, and she and her husband also opened the Wildflower Art Gallery in Wimberley, Texas, where she sells her paintings along with other items printed with her artwork. She has also licensed her work to sell internationally.
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Birth of a Tradition By Brance Arnold ’10 MA
The Marching Cardinals and Red perform during the first football game of the 2015 season.
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s with every great university, a strong fight song resonates proudly through the course of time. With the addition of new uniforms and a new name, the Marching Cardinals now proudly claim their own fight song. “I thought, well, new uniforms, new name, and things work well in threes, so we should have a fight song,” said Dr. Brett Richardson, coordinator of music education/band director and assistant professor of music. “I had heard from athletics staff and many others asking when we were going to have our own.” Prior to Richardson’s arrival in 2014, UIW had adopted Notre Dame’s fight song to perform at athletic events. But shortly after Richardson assumed his current role, he met UIW Registrar Bobbye Fry whose husband Tommy is a nationally known composer, band director, conductor,
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teacher, and has worked in the music publishing business. Soon Richardson learned that Tommy had arranged the Hymn of the Incarnate Word that is played by UIW’s beloved carillon and he requested Tommy arrange the hymn for the band to play during pregame programs as UIW’s school song. Richardson was pleased to learn he had also written a fight song. “I talked to Tommy and he sent me a recording of it and I just fell in love with it,” explained Richardson. “It follows the form of a fight song. It had a great tune to it and had some themes that were very interesting harmonically.” Tommy wrote the song for band instruments and Richardson adapted the composition for the Marching Cardinals. The fight song was debuted along with the new uniforms last spring at the Fiesta
Flambeau Parade and is now played at UIW athletic events. Richardson stressed that the development of the fight song was a collective effort by not only band members, who worked on its adaptation, but others in the UIW community. “This has all been really organic,” he said. “The students have created it and the Spirit Teams have helped with the chant at the middle and end. The best part is that it is written by Tommy who is well respected in our state and has a close connection to the university. Everyone that has something to do with the fight song is connected to UIW.” Though Richardson believes creating tradition takes time, he is already seeing what he calls the “spirit barometer” rising. “Actually the football team and basketball team at the end of the game
Making his pitch Photo courtesy of Cardinal Athletics.
By Brian Hudgins
Encina pitches at Sullivan Field.
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will come over before they go into the locker room and put their cardinals (hand symbol) up as we play,” added Richardson. “I can also hear it in the videos I record, the fans are clapping as we play the fight song and it’s starting to take on a life of its own.” Richardson said he hopes the fight song and school song will eventually have lyrics and welcomes suggestions from the UIW community, including alumni. If you have lyrical ideas you would like to share, email Richardson at barichar@uiwtx.edu
To view video of the Marching Cardinals performing UIW’s fight song, visit www.thewordonline.org
ome athletes wait forever for a chance to fulfill their professional dreams. For UIW senior Geno Encina, his dream became a reality last summer with a phone call from the Toronto Blue Jays. Encina is the eighth player in UIW history to be drafted by a major league team. The Toronto Blue Jays turned his professional dream into reality when they picked Encina in the 18th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. “Getting that call was the feeling of a lifetime,” Encina said. “I am fortunate the Blue Jays called and we worked it (the signing details) out.” Encina established his college pitching credentials for UIW by sticking to a cardinal rule: He wanted to give hitters as few free passes as possible. Encina finished as the school’s all-time leader in walks per nine innings (1.60) and earned run average (2.70). Throwing strikes is a top priority Encina has carried with him. “If you throw strikes – even at the pro level – guys will get themselves out,” Encina said. While that rule has stayed constant, his first year of pro ball has been a learning experience. Encina served as a starting pitcher for the Cardinals, but his initial taste of the pros included bullpen duty as a reliever. That learning process led to a handful of starting assignments. “Frankly, I didn’t do well at the beginning as a reliever and then I started picking it up,” Encina said. “They gave me four or five starts. The coaches were great up there and they helped me make a couple of adjustments.” As a rookie with the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League in West Virginia, Encina had a 1-3 record with a save and a 3.86 ERA in 13 games (five starts). The Bluefield Blue Jays, a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia, are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. One area where Encina pleasantly surprised himself was his strikeout rate. He fanned 45 batters in 44.1 innings. Encina’s next goal is to be assigned to a minor-league team for a full season of roughly 150 games. As part of his signing agreement with Toronto, the Blue Jays organization will cover the financial cost of his last couple of semesters’ worth of courses as a communication arts major, which Encina plans to finish at UIW. Although Encina’s journey has taken him far from San Antonio, he still sees some friends and former foes from the Southland Conference. “I definitely enjoyed the competition we faced at Incarnate Word and Head Coach (Danny) Heep and the assistant coaches helped prepare me for this,” Encina said. “We played good schools and playing with or against those guys now, I thought I faced great competition.”
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By Tricia Schwennesen
To be or not to be...
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riters write, right? And accountants and scientists work with numbers and data, right? It turns out that’s not so clear cut. Educators at the University of Incarnate Word recognize that many professions require the ability to write well. Attorneys must write legal briefs and affidavits, scientists must report on findings, and accountants must summarize balance sheets and craft audits. So, how can teachers across a wide variety of disciplines better teach writing well to their students? That question became the focus of UIW’s Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP, a special five-year initiative designed to improve an area of education identified during the university’s compilation of a 10-year comprehensive report. The
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report looks at about 100 standards that the university must comply with in order to earn its regional reaccreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College (SACSCOC). The university received its accreditation results in December and, “We passed with flying colors,” said Dr. Glenn James, associate provost for institutional effectiveness. Part of passing was a detailed QEP, “Think, Learn and Share,” that looked at the broader issue of writing and defined a plan for how the university could offer more writing opportunities in disciplines that don’t traditionally require a lot of writing and how they could teach writing skills more effectively. UIW held a year-long campaign to identify the QEP focus area by asking everyone – students, faculty, staff, alumni and even parents – what they thought was needed, James said. “The faculty noted that student writing needed improvement and the students observed they were not writing very much. Published articles told us that better writing is a great way to improve learning and retention,” James said. “It ends up that the more a student practices writing, the better they write, the better they learn and the more likely they are to stay in college and graduate. We expect all those pay-offs.” Through the QEP, educators and administrators defined a three-prong approach to teach stronger writing skills, said Dr. Tanja Stampfl, associate professor of English. The Center for Teaching and Learning has intensified focus on writingbased workshops and the English department is offering all composition classes in computer labs. The composition component for the QEP is not only the labs but also monthly two-hour workshops for all composition instructors with such topics as responding to student writing, using technology in the composition classroom, and teaching in Learning Communities. But the third prong, a Writing Academy for teachers, is the most intensive, while also being cross-disciplinary, in changing how students learn stronger writing skills. Stampfl, who is spearheading the academy, said for example that her writing composition class previously would not prepare a student for their Capstone project, or the final project in their respective disciplines. “Communication skills are always something you need,” she said. “This is not just UIW, it’s a nationwide outcry that writing needs to be improved.” The academy is a big commitment for the first 15 crossdiscipline faculty members who have signed up — it’s twice a month for three hours at a time. They represent five disciplines: philosophy, accounting, criminal justice, English and vision science/optometry. Each year, for the next four years, there will be a new cohort of teachers in the Writing Academy. For this first cohort, the fall semester was spent exploring how those in the academy could get students writing more, writing more effectively and writing more consistently across the disciplines. “Most of the time when you get an essay you get a first draft,
and first drafts usually aren’t great,” she said. “You need to write regularly. You need to get feedback without getting a grade on it. You need to practice in class and reflect on the (writing of) last class.” In the second semester of the academy, teachers are defining and implementing two strategies into their classrooms that they think will strengthen students’ writing skills. Assistant Professor Dr. Doshie Piper, who teaches criminal justice courses and is part of the first Writing Academy cohort, said employers are seeking a higher level of writing skill. And she’s seen the reasons why in her life before she began teaching. “I saw reports filled with grammatical errors and typos, reports that lacked style and structure, and lacked proof-reading skills.” And it wasn’t just lawyers, she said, it was police officers too. “I’ve seen cases dismissed because the gender was incorrect in a report. If the gender is incorrect, well then the identity must be incorrect.” She wants her students to learn how to proofread but also the importance of proofreading. Piper said because of her real life experiences she was really interested in being a part of the Writing Academy. “I don’t want to produce students who perform badly in their profession,” Piper said. “If they don’t have the skills, it really looks bad on the institution.” Assignments in her class now require more writing, more discussion and less fill in the blank or multiple choice. Stampfl said the academy has changed how she teaches but also how she views herself as a professor. Now she’s more writing coach than someone who assesses students’ writing. “Instead of putting them on the bike, we tell them all about the bike, show them the bike, compare bikes, get the history of the bike, and now as a test I’m going to put you on the bike and you’re going to go down.” It takes practice, she emphasized.
Stampfl speaks to faculty members at a Writing Academy workshop.
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university collective Dr. Renee Bellanger, associate professor of pharmacy instruction, presented “Drugs and Nutrients: Clinically-Important Interactions” at the Texas Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (TASPEN) monthly meeting, San Antonio, Texas, in August and presented “Impact of Drug Nutrient Shortages” at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Texas chapter annual symposium, San Antonio, Texas, in October. She also served on the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Poster Review Committee to choose and grade posters for Clinical Nutrition Week 2016, August-October. Dr. Zenon Culverhouse, assistant professor of philosophy, and Dr. Jeff Crane, associate dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS), secured a $100,000 grant for HispanicServing Institutions from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant is for a three-year project titled “Trauma: Conflict and Aftermath,” which has UIW
faculty from disciplines across the humanities collaborate on research and design interdisciplinary and serviceoriented humanities courses. The project will also bring distinguished speakers to campus. Last fall, Dr. Ann David, assistant professor of teacher education, presented at the annual conferences of the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education and the Literacy Research Association on her research with kinesiology majors who are working toward their teacher certification in physical education. The research focuses on how kinesiology majors use reading and writing in their own health and fitness routines, and how they might use these subjects with their future students. The research is funded through the UIW Faculty Endowment Research Award. David, with her colleague Dr. Melody Zoch at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, published an article titled “Understanding Writing
UIW bid farewell to two longtime Interior Design faculty in December, John Lodek, associate professor of interior design, and Judy Broughton, associate professor of interior design. Lodek served as a faculty member at UIW since 1978 as well as a private design consultant for residential and commercial projects for nearly 40 years. He earned his M.Ed. from Incarnate Word in 1984. Broughton, who earned a M.Ed. in 1988 and a BA in 1980 from Incarnate Word, taught at UIW for 35 years and has worked as a self-employed registered interior designer since 1983.
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Teachers’ Perspectives on Being Researched: A Case Study of Two Teachers” in “Teaching/ Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education.” The article examines how participation in research benefits K-12 teachers’ instruction. The article can be found at http://scholarworks. wmich.edu/wte/ Among other recently published works, Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, professor and associate dean for social accountability, School of Osteopathic Medicine, had published “Occupational Therapists’ Views of Nussbaum’s Practical Reason and Affiliation Capabilities,” in “Occupational Therapy in Mental Health,” Mousavi T., Forwell S., Dharamsi S., Dean E. 2015;31(1):1-18, as well as “And do Nussbaum’s ten central human functional capabilities extend occupational therapy’s construct of occupation? A narrative review,” in the “New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy,” Mousavi T., Forwell S, Dharamsi S., Dean E. 2015; 62(1):21-27. Dr. Jean Dols, associate professor of nursing, and Kimberly Harris, director of Health Care Access San Antonio, presented a one-hour program entitled, “Nursing and the Health Information Exchange,” on Nov. 18. The program was designed to enhance the registered nurse’s knowledge of HIPPA compliant cloud-based community Health Information Exchange (HIE). By understanding the
structure and benefits of HIE in the patient care setting, the registered nurse is in a position to more effectively educate the patient and community on the HIE elements. In December, Dr. Beth SenneDuff, associate professor of nutrition, and dietetic intern Priscilla Benavides participated with Women’s Global Connection, UIW Ettling Center for Civic Leadership, and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in a joint immersion trip to Chimbote, Peru. They presented a workshop on nutrition in palliative care to the staff of Hospicio Santiago Apóstol. They also conducted health fairs in association with the UIW sponsored eye care clinics in Chimbote and Cambio Puente. Dr. Caroline Goulet, founding dean of the School of Physical Therapy, was elected a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice – Physical Therapy. Founded in 1981, the National Academies of Practice is dedicated to quality health care for all by serving as the nation’s distinguished, interprofessional policy forum that addresses public policy, practice, education, research and inquiry in health care. NAP is comprised of distinguished, elected members in 14 health care academies. Dr. Jessica Ibarra, former assistant professor of biology, began a new appointment
university collective UIW is proud to announce the selection of Jennielle Strother as the university’s new dean of enrollment. Strother comes to UIW from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin where she served as vice president for enrollment management/financial aid. She will advise the vice president for enrollment management and student services on internal and external data trends that contribute to the development of a successful UIW student profile and will lead the Office of Admissions including 18 administrators and support staff. Strother will also serve as a member of UIW’s Enrollment and Student Services leadership team, University Planning Commission (the principle UIW strategic planning body), Graduate Council, Honors Council and the University Branding Committee. She holds a Master of Education in Enrollment Management from Capella University, a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Dallas Baptist University, and is currently working toward a Doctorate of Education from Northeastern University.
as assistant professor of anatomy, applied biomedical sciences, School of Osteopathic Medicine, in December 2015. She was also selected to be recognized as a “30 for 30” alumni of Palo Alto College (PAC). In celebration of the 30th anniversary of PAC in San Antonio, PAC selected 30 exceptional former students who are achieving great success in their professional and personal endeavors. Dr. Sara Jackson, associate professor of international business, and Dr. Michael Forrest, associate professor of business law, along with students from the Cross Border Forum course visited the new UIW campus in Irapuato, Mexico. The group spent four days visiting the campus, making a presentation to students in the mock courtroom and visiting with prospective students. They also met with the directors of Economic Development for the City of Irapuato, toured the world’s largest General Motors plant and visited a transmission factory.
Professor of Health Administration Dr. Kevin LaFrance spent the beginning of the semester traveling to support the Mission of UIW. As part of The Los Quijotes Medical Missionaries, LaFrance visited Oaxaca, Mexico to provide health care services to the impoverished community. This year’s Los Quijotes Medical Missionaries consisted of a blend of UIW student volunteers, professors and medical practitioners from the San Antonio community. The team delivered care to 2,800 patients and performed over 6,000 medical procedures during the visit. In the fall, Paulina Mazurek, assistant director of university events and student programs, was recognized by the National Society of Leadership and Success for her outstanding achievements in effectively motivating UIW’s Society members to attain individual goals, demonstrate leadership and continually strive for
success. The recognition noted that Mazurek’s involvement not only improved student leadership skills and helped prepare them for success in the real world, but her desire to hold members to a high standard of leadership helped to solidify UIW’s chapter as an example to others across the nation. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, UIW Faculty Senate, and Mission and Ministry, the 2016 Faculty Award Reception was held Jan. 5 at the McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room. The 2015-2016 faculty award recipients are: • Robert J. Connelly Faculty Leadership Award: Theresa Tiggeman, professor of business administration • Sr. Maria Goretti Zehr Award for Innovation: Adam Watkins, professor of animation and game design • Sr. Eleanor Ann Young Award for Truth: Dr. Roger Barnes, professor of sociology and criminal justice • Sr. Margaret Rose Palmer Award for Education: Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia, associate professor in the Dreeben School of Education • Mother Columkille Colbert Award for Service: Dr. Craig McCarron, assistant professor of math • Sr. St. Pierre Cinquin Award for Faith: Dr. Brian McBurnett, professor of chemistry • UIW Nominee for the Piper Professor Award: Dr. David Campos, associate professor of teacher education Cynthia Richardson, instructor of nursing, and Yvonne Davila, instructor of nursing, debuted in supporting roles in the UIW theatre production of “Reckless” during the second half of November.
Dr. David Trevas, visiting assistant professor of engineering, applied for a grant from Siemens for Computer-Aid Design (CAD) software and UIW was awarded licenses for their software with a commercial value of $14.7 million. This software represents the top echelon of packages used in industries that include mechanical design. Trevas plans to propose a Design Automation course, which would be the first of its kind in America. Design Automation combines CAD design, engineering, analysis, computer programming and mathematics. Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Nursen Zanca received the Competitive Paper Award for her paper presentation, “Lecture vs. Lectureless: A META Analysis,” from the “Journal of Economic Education (1969 to 2015)” at the Financial Education Association’s (FEA) 2015 Conference in September. The goal of FEA is to share and learn about ways to enhance students’ learning experiences and best practices in business education. Alejandra Zertuche, senior analyst of educational assessment, Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP), served as a presenter at the Conference for the Rocky Mountain Association of Institutional Research (RMAIR) in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 8. Zertuche’s presentation was entitled “Transforming Student Perception Data into Actionable Data Using Interactive Dashboards.”
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C lass
notes
The window of UIW’s success stories. Submissions: alumni@uiwtx.edu
Photos submitted for Class Notes may be included on the online alumni community site.
1960s
James G. Van Straten ’61 MEd has written and published a riveting and poignant memoir describing the author’s military service as the senior medical advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. It focuses on the ancient culture of the Vietnamese people as well as their traditions and values. The book is entitled “A Different Face of War: Memories of a Medical Service Corps Officer in Vietnam.” At the conclusion of his military career, Van Straten served as the first dean of the Division of Professional Studies at Incarnate Word College from 1987 through 1990 (www. tamupress.com/product/Different-Face-ofWar,8269.aspx). Teddy Jones ’66 BSN received the First Prize Gold Medal for Short Story from the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition sponsored by the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society of New Orleans. Jones received her award in a ceremony at the Society’s annual Words and Music Festival, Oct. 31, 2015. Her story, “Clean Getaway,” will appear in the next issue of the Society’s journal, “The Double Dealer.”
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1970s Maria Angelica Pena-Rocha ’78 BSN presented a webinar in Spanish in January. Pena-Rocha was honored to present the webinar on behalf of the Aetna Hispanic Employee Resource Group which has more than 300-plus members.
1980s Andrea Atkins Boldt ’84 BS completed a Master of Arts in Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., in May of 2012, and was recently approved as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas. Boldt and her husband Gary recently moved to College Station where she has opened a private practice.
1990s Rebecca Ford ’90 MS released her first publication, “How to Survive Your Hospital Stay,” written in memory of and dedication to her father. Ford shared that if he and her mother would have had the information contained within the book, they could have prevented the tragic consequences of his hospitalization. The book is a guide, a tool, and a workbook to help prevent the common complications of hospitalization that take the lives of thousands of patients every year. To learn more, visit www.redemption-press.com/ shop/product/101810 Rose Martinez ’94 BS is coach to the McCollum High School Varsity Volleyball team who have won their second consecutive District Championship.
Pastor Keely H. Petty ’95 BA was appointed as commissioner on the Mayor’s Status of Women in San Antonio, Texas, and was sworn in on Oct. 7, 2015. The commission is comprised of members appointed by the mayor to three year terms and the commission serves as a catalyst for moving all women forward.
Amalia Ortiz ’96 BA had her book, “Rant. Chant. Chisme.,”published by Wings Press in September 2015. The book has received positive reviews from the San Antonio ExpressNews and The Texas Observer. Ortiz was also selected to speak at TEDxMcAllen in October 2015. Her talk, “Scaling Walls With Words,” is available for viewing on the TEDx YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCnJ0QZ-YnM
Asia Ciaravino ’98 BS recently left her role as president and CEO of San Pedro Playhouse to serve as chief operating officer for the city’s Tricentennial Commission. To learn
Sr. M. Rita Prendergast, CCVI, a longtime English professor at Incarnate Word, has published a book of her poetry called “Gleanings.” She was born in Ireland and Allison T. Hybner has worked there and in Peru and Afri’99 BBA ’02 MEd is ca. Prendergast was assisted in the the editor of Today’s production by alumnae Srs. Margaret Catholic in San Patrice Slattery ’52 BA and Louise Delisi ’67 Antonio, Texas. BA ’85 MA, CCVI, and Ruth Fowler ’71 BA ’74 MA.
more, visit www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/Playhouse-CEO-leaving-towork-for-city-6665386.php
Weddings and Anniversaries Karla J. Auresto ’14 BS married Fredrik 2000s Jennifer Uriegas ’02 BA received her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Fall 2015 semester. She currently serves as the collaborative learning leader at Southside ISD.
Safstrom on June 18, 2015.
Amy Cassandra Zepeda ’14 BA and Miguel Angel Martinez ’14 BA were married Dec. 19, 2015 in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word.
Ann Islas ’08 BA ’10 MA was promoted from academic coordinator in medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) to manager Former and current students of of academic programs in pediatrics at the UIW Interior Design program UTHSCSA. came away with numerous awards for projects they submitted to Rachel Cywinski ’09 MA contributed the American Society of Interior information from her doctoral research on Designers (ASID) – San Antonio mathematics anxiety among community for the Pinnacle of Design Awards college students during the Joint MathCeremony held Sept. 17, 2015. ematics Meeting (JMM) of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America in Seattle, Wash., on Jan. 9, 2016. Cywinski completed her Master of Arts in Teaching degree at UIW in 2009 and began the doctoral program in mathematics education. She completed the mathematics anxiety research study in 2013 as part of the requirements of the doctoral program and presented findings from her dissertation research, completed in 2013, to the JMM. The JMM was attended by 6,300 mathematicians.
Leslie Alan Psencik ’05 BA ’15 MAA married Belquis Cabrera.
Future Cardinals Alana Walsh Trammell ’99 BS is proud to announce that she and her husband Cody gave birth to their second future Cardinal, Brady, on Sept. 10, 2015. Sophia A. Briones ’04 BA and Justin Horn celebrated the birth of their child, Jaxson Francisco, born on Nov. 4, 2015 in Chicago, Ill.
Commercial Design Category • 1st Place: Jocelyn Lopez ’14 BA and Sophia Karbach-Morales ’08 BA with Chessney Morales & Associates, Inc. Residential Remodel • Honorable Mention: Margarita Gonzalez ’14 BA and Kim Kramer with K. Rue Designs Student Design Competition • Honorable Mention: Arianna Hayward ’15 BA
Celeste Paredez ’09 BA is working as a fine arts teacher for Southwest Independent School District.
2010s Kristen Brockett ’13 BA has recently accepted the position of case manager for a grant-funded family violence prevention program in San Antonio. Brockett continues her work for non-profit organizations in the city, promoting healthy families and relationships.
The design team who won first in Commercial Health Care design and in Historic Preservation design: (L-R) Ashley Hinojosa, and alumnae Karbach-Morales and Lopez.
THE WORD | SPRING 2016
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Correction to class note listing: Frank Quintana ’06 BBA and Gilda Aldaco Quintana renewed their vows and blessed marriage at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico on June 5, 2015, with Fr. Francis McHugh, St. Pius X, San Antonio and witnesses, Andrea Quintana and Alonso Ortega. The renewal of vows did not take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flowers in San Antonio, Texas, as previously noted in The Word Fall 2015 issue.
In Memoriam Thomas Drought, benefactor Elaine Scharlack Davis ’51 IWHS, nondegreed 1955 Ruth Gurwitz ’54 BM Sherron Laray Cook ’80 BA
Sr. Florence Zdeb CCVI ’65 BA Darlene Rose (Schacherl) Brown ’64 BSN Martha M. Salazar Lozano ’80 BS Med Tech Vivian F. Condel ’65 BA Mabel Specia Wolfe ’37 IWHS ’41 undeclared Marynell Maloney, attorney and UIW friend Dr. York Clamann ’66 MA Elizabeth Simmons “Bettie” Patton, former student Patricia Yarborough Reed ’74 BA G. (Jim) Hasslocher, benefactor Doris P. Gimmeson Sinclair ’68 BSN Maria Mercado, RN ’41 ALSR Joan D. Mileau Jacob ’52 BS Vivian Eva Rundle Gaschen ’68 MA Adell Ferguson Polk ’56 BA Jean L. Winans Weigand ’65 BS Robert N. Corrigan III, former student Dr. Thomas Lee Baumgarten ’77 MA
Rebecca Lillian Wittliff ’74 BS Dr. N. R. Pemmaraju, former faculty Dr. Irene McCrystal ’51 BA Opal Irene Jennings Walker ’71 BS Sr. Bernice Knapek, SSND, Pastoral Studies Certificate, non-degree Joseph Robert Devine ’83 MS David R. Stark ’69 MA Nena Bonilla Padilla ’71 BA, former faculty Sr. Virginia Walsh, ASC ’71 BSN Deacon Cesar M. Ponce ’96 MA Joseph D. Jamail, benefactor Patricia Heck Aschenbrenner ’43 IWHS Kellie Byrd Fleming ’55 IWHS ’78 BSN, former faculty Col. Gordon Abbott Spencer, USAF Ret., ’75 non-degreed art Tina Kahlig, former Development Board member Elvira Kahlig (Flores), donor
Moment for Reflection The Jubilee Year of Mercy
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
By Sr. Mary Pezold, CCVI ’68 BA Chair of the Ministry Council of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
On Nov. 29, 2015, when Pope Francis visited the Central African Republic, he broke with the centuries–old tradition, and opened the Jubilee Year of Mercy in Bangui’s Cathedral. Once again, Pope Francis gave priority attention to what he called the peripheries: situations of conflict, injustice, suffering and exclusion. He told the people, “Today Bangui becomes the spiritual capital of the world. The Holy Year of Mercy arrives in advance in this land that has suffered for several years from war, hatred, incomprehension, and the lack of peace” and “in this suffering land there are all the countries in the world that are suffering the cross of war.” Pope Francis is inviting each of us to strike out on a yearlong spiritual journey to recognize a loving God who’s already waiting for us. He wants to usher in a “revolution of tenderness.” Let’s take this invitation seriously and contribute personally to making a difference by taking positive steps to being kind, loving and caring persons in our families, communities, neighborhoods and workplaces.
Prayer for the Jubilee Year of Mercy Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord. May we, with renewed enthusiasm, bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives
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and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. (-taken from the Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee Year of Mercy)
A Path of Inspiration
M
ary “Ninfa” Villegas Tannen ’57 BSN found inspiration for her career path through the encouragement of one who not only held family ties, but was a former Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the University of the Incarnate Word’s founding congregation. “My Aunt Julia (Sr. Eusebius) Villegas encouraged me to consider a career in nursing,” said Tannen. “She belonged to the congregation and taught at schools in San Antonio.” Villegas recommended Tannen apply for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program in her hometown of Brady, Texas. Upon completing the program, she realized her passion for nursing and set her sights on continuing her education at UIW, then Incarnate Word College (IWC), at the suggestion of her aunt. Tannen said that because her parents were hardworking, dry-land cotton farmers and she came from a large family, they did not have the means to send her to Incarnate Word. “A dear family friend, Fr. Joseph Petsch, alerted me to the then recently established Lozano Scholarship,” explained Tannen. The scholarship was offered through “La Prensa,” the Spanish speaking daily newspaper owned by the Ignacio Lozano family. She applied for the scholarship and became its first recipient. She began studying nursing at Incarnate Word in 1953, graduating in 1957. “Without the scholarship and Julia’s encouragement, I would not have been able to attend and graduate from IWC,” said Tannen. She fondly credits her nursing residency at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa in conjunction with the IWC degree program as providing her a strong background for her career. “Throughout my career as a nurse in the United State Air Force, a VA nurse, and an ICU/CCU nurse later on, I came to realize the value of the excellent education I received at Incarnate Word,” she recalled. Though she has been retired from nursing for 28 years, she admits she misses the profession dearly. “I miss taking care of patients,” shared Tannen. “It was truly a rewarding career.” In fact, her legacy continues as one of her youngest sons is now studying to be a registered nurse (RN) in New Mexico. And with seven grandchildren attending college and pursuing degrees in a variety of fields, education is a value close to her heart. Tannen’s aunt eventually left the congregation and married. The couple generously provided for Tannen in their will and, inspired by the encouragement and assistance Villegas gave her at the start of her career, she decided to use a portion of the inheritance to aid deserving students so they might be able to complete their education. “I have been greatly blessed and I feel very strongly that now that I am comfortably retired, I need to assist future generations to the best of my abilities,” said Tannen. She also has a scholarship fund to help students attend college at a high school in Kansas, inspired once again by her aunt who taught at a local school there. Her gracious scholarship, the Tannen Scholarship, given in memory of Julia Villegas and Eugene Bell, provides emergency funds to students who qualify to help offset costs of completing their education at UIW. Tyler Taylor, a single parent and registered nurse for over 20 years, is a recipient of the scholarship, which allowed her to graduate in December 2015. “During this last semester of my schooling, I ran into some financial challenges that made it difficult for me to see the light at the end of the tunnel since I was so close to finishing my degree,” said Taylor. “This scholarship came at the right time and I am truly grateful.”
Mary “Ninfa” Villegas Tannen
Mary “Ninfa” Villegas visiting with Sr. Eusebius in Seguin, Tx.
Fr. Joseph Petsch
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID San Antonio, Texas Permit # 1822
University of the Incarnate Word 4301 Broadway San Antonio, Texas 78209
The 2016
Please join us for the
39th Annual Swing-In Auction Party on Thursday, April 28 & Golf Tournament on Friday, April 29 All proceeds from this two-day event go towards student scholarships at UIW.
Monday, April 11 Doors open: 6 p.m. Show starts: 7 p.m.
McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room 847 E Hildebrand Ave San Antonio, TX 78212
Tickets from $35 – $125 Grab your hat and boots and two-step the night away during this year’s “Wild West” Silent & Live Auction Party. Then hit the greens the next day for 18 holes at the gorgeous Republic Golf Course. For more information, contact UIW Development:
210-829-6013
development@uiwtx.edu facebook.com/uiwdevelopment
For tickets call (210) 829-6013 or visit cuttingedge-sa.com