7 minute read
new Opportunities to Brag About Being a War Hawk
by McMurry
Model un to Attend unique Conference in Galapagos islands
Model United Nations at McMurry has received a coveted assignment for the upcoming National Model UN conference on the Galapagos Islands January 11-20, 2013. Only 26 slots were available, and McMurry University’s Model UN program has been selected to represent Argentina at the conference.
The conference—the first of its kind—will be held at the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS) on San Cristóbal Island, directly adjacent to Galapagos National Park. During the 9-day conference, students will focus on environmental issues that impact fragile ecosystems, engage in cultural visits in Ecuador and on the Galapagos Islands, as well as work on a community service project on San Cristóbal. Of the 26 schools selected for the conference, nine (35%) are from non-US universities. ❖
McMurry alumnus and former head football coach Grant Teaff, now executive director of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), was voted the recipient of this year’s Selig Mentoring Award by the McLendon Scholarship Steering Committee, composed of 18 minority athletics directors.
The award was established in 2007 and named in honor of Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig and is presented biennially to a person in athletics administration who has been at the forefront in creating equal opportunities for minorities in the field of athletics. Selig has placed diversity and equal employment opportunity among his top priorities throughout the years to great effect in Major League Baseball. Today, 31 percent of all on-field coaching positions in baseball are held by minority group members, and female front office representation throughout the league is 30 percent. During Selig’s tenure as Commissioner, minority representation among front office positions has grown from two to 24 percent.
“Grant Teaff’s name is synonymous with not only college football, but intercollegiate athletics as a whole,” said Warde Manuel, Chair of the McLendon Scholarship Steering Committee and Director of Athletics at the University of Connecticut. “His dedication and service to our industry are unparalleled and right in line with the core values of the McLendon Foundation.”
Coach Teaff, a native West Texan reared in Snyder, attended San Angelo Junior College (now Angelo State University) and earned his undergraduate degree in physical education at McMurry College in 1956. One year later, he earned a master of science degree in Administrative Education. He received a Doctor of Humanities degree from McMurry in 1975.
Teaff played center and was a captain for the McMurry football team. In 1960, he was named the head football coach at McMurry, one of the youngest head football coaches in the country at the time. Teaff had an outstanding coaching career with head coaching stints at McMurry, Angelo State and Baylor, placing him in eight halls of fame. ❖
texas Chiropractic College and McMurry university sign Articulation Agreement
McMurry named One of the Best Colleges to Work For
Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) and McMurry University are excited to announce the signing of an articulation agreement between TCC’s doctor of chiropractic (DC) degree and the McMurry University Department of Biology’s bachelor of science degree. The agreement was formally signed on July 26 and goes into effect for the Fall 2012 academic term.
“The articulation agreement through McMurry’s Department of Biology would allow students to complete their prerequisites in three years and have early admission to the Texas Chiropractic College Doctor of Chiropractic program,” said Dr. Larry Sharp, associate professor of biology at McMurry, who negotiated the agreement with TCC. “As the students finish their first year at TCC, they would send McMurry the transcripts and we would award them a degree in biology, essentially saving them a year’s worth of undergraduate expense.”
Texas Chiropractic College is located in Pasadena, part of the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area, and is the fourth oldest chiropractic college in the United States. In addition to the doctor of chiropractic degree program, TCC students have the opportunity to earn their master of science degree in fitness and human performance from the University of Houston–Clear Lake as part of the organizations’ dual-degree program.
“We were very excited to be approached by McMurry University’s Dr. Larry Sharp about forming a partnership between our institutions,” said Dr. Clay McDonald, TCC Provost. “This is a great opportunity for students interested in health care to more quickly and economically earn a bachelor’s from McMurry and a doctor of chiropractic degree from TCC, making this a win-win for everyone. It is always a pleasure for us to partner with quality educational institutions such as McMurry University, and together create valuable learning opportunities.”
McMurry University is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The results, released in The Chronicle’s fifth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of more than 46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities.
In all, only 103 of the 294 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with McMurry included among the small universities. McMurry University won honors in two categories this year: • Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship • Work-Life Balance “This is a very satisfying affirmation of McMurry, but our real goal is not recognition— it’s being a community that values the needs and contributions of every individual. In that sense everyone at McMurry helps to make this a great place to work,” said McMurry University President Dr. John Russell.
The Chronicle is the nation’s most important source of news about colleges and universities. “The institutions that the Great Colleges program recognizes provide innovative educational experiences—while also offering their employees outstanding workplace experiences—and we are eager to help readers learn more about them,” said Liz McMillen, editor of The Chronicle. ❖
small changes can make a big difference for our students!
By making one small change—foregoing fast food lunches for one week, skipping your daily soda or making other small spending changes—you could contribute $50 to the McMurry Annual Fund.
if every alumnus gave $50, we could raise $500,000.
That’s full tuition for 21 students, or books for 416 students, a life-changing mission trip to India for 178 students, or a Model UN trip to the Galápagos Islands for 125 students.
Texas has a special place in the barbeque world. It is well known that for authentic barbeque, Texas is the place to be. From Austin to Dallas to Houston and all points in between there are multitudes of restaurants, shacks, roadside stands, and even convenience stores that will serve up a tasty barbeque meal. And Abilene itself is well known for the quality of its barbeque restaurants. McMurry has also contributed to the barbeque tradition. A group of McMurry alumni has been teaming together since their days on campus to cook barbeque, rehash stories, and continue the camaraderie they developed playing football for Spud Aldridge in the early eighties. Known as the Pigskin Smokers, they have entered cook-offs (they’ve qualified for the national cook-off four years running and have won numerous awards), catered events such as corporate appreciation events, tailgate parties, and celebrations such as weddings and anniversaries, church and school picnics. They take any opportunity to feed and spread good cheer. “We just pass on blessings from Christ.”
Brian Mirau ’83, master chef, spearheads the group. Brian draws a crowd when he pulls up with his thirty foot trailer that holds a rotisserie grill capable of cooking over a thousand pounds of meat in a day, a second smoker, a flame burner for burgers, dogs, and sausage, as well as a bean cooker and fish fryer. Brian’s pulled pork sandwiches are a regular staple on Friday nights at Grapevine Faith Christian football games, as well as numerous other school and church events.
David Davee ’81 serves as an additional barbeque chef. He was instrumental in putting the team together with Brian and is responsible our team name and logo. David was legendary during his days in Abilene for cookouts in the backyard that attracted friends and neighbors. Additional “teammates” include Brad Woods ’82, Mark “Red” Behrens ’82, Richard Spencer ’82, David Spencer ’83, Mark Cox ’81, Cliff Odenwald ’78, Marvin “Big M” Williams ’83, and Ron King ’84. They welcome any of their fellow McMurry teammates to the “team.” It seems that the “ties that bind” extend beyond the years for these McMurry alumni. ❖
