16 May 2018 | prestonhollowpeople.com
Community
PEROT CEO LEADS MUSEUM INTO FUTURE
Linda Silver embraces evolution of science, looks to ‘refresh’ exhibits By Tim Glaze
People Newspapers
T
he lure of working at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science was too much for Linda Silver to pass up – even from her post in Abu Dhabi. Silver was hired as the museum’s chief executive officer in March 2017 after a highly successful stint in the United Arab Emirates, where she helped the country establish plans for its first-ever science center.
TOP: COURTESY PHOTO; LEFT: IMANI CHET LYTLE
Linda Silver, left, developed science museums in Abu Dhabi before accepting the CEO position at the Perot Museum in Dallas.
“Science is always evolving and changing, so it’s important that our exhibits represent that.” Linda Silver, Perot CEO
With her son set to begin school at Jesuit and her daughter enrolled at St. Alcuin, it was a natural choice for Silver and her family to settle down in Preston Hollow. “My children were used to such an in-depth education in Abu Dhabi, and I was blown
away by how quality the schools [in and around Preston Hollow] are,” she said. “The job [at the Perot] was perfect, but if I had to move two teenagers to Texas, it was important for me to find schools that could match what I wanted for my kids. And the
people of Preston Hollow are so wonderful.” With her children happily settled in school, Silver turned her attention to the ever-expanding, never-static nature of Dallas’ 180,000 square-foot facility that, among 11 other permanent ex-
hibits, hosts a renown dinosaur exhibit featuring a full-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. Since Silver began, the museum has set in motion plans for several more dinosaur-related events, including an “Ultimate Dinosaurs” exhibit in June, “DinoFest” over Labor Day weekend, Star Warsthemed exhibits and activities on May 4 and 5, and the continuation of Social Science Nights, where adults 21-years-old and older can enjoy a different approach to touring the museum. It’s all a part of the museum’s plan to “refresh” the existing exhibits over an eight-year period,
while also adding new ones, Silver said. “One of the pillars of this museum is to show that science is never static,” she said. “Science is always evolving and changing, so it’s important that our exhibits represent that.” In 2017 alone, the museum served more than 600,000 people with workshops, stations, lectures, school field trips, and other demonstrations. Those are numbers Silver is used to: She once organized a science festival in Abu Dhabi that drew 150,000 people in 10 days. It’s imperative that children become enthusiastic about science at a young age, Silver said, as studies have shown, that’s when the seeds are planted for the eventual pursuit of a career in the fields of technology, science, engineering, and math. That’s one of the reasons why Silver lights up when talking about Fridays at the museum – the busiest day of the week for school field trips. “ There’s always examples you hear of these scientists who, at a young age, saw an exhibit that stuck with them, or learned something at a museum that really peaked their interest,” Silver said.
New Location, Same Mission for AT&T Byron Nelson Tournament
PGA event celebrates 50 years, keeps raising money for children’s center By Tim Glaze
People Newspapers The skyrocketing popularity and national exposure of the AT&T Byron Nelson has not stymied the joy tournament officials get from giving back to the community. In fact, this year’s beneficiary stands to receive a huge contribution as the 50th anniversary of the tournament commences. Connected at the hip with Momentus Institute – an organization focused on transforming the lives of children through therapeutic work in social and emotional health – the Byron Nelson tournament has raised $155 million since 1968. With aid from the tournament, Momentus has been able to impact 6,000 kids a year since 1997. Originally dubbed the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the organization began tailoring to children with a focus on developing self-regulation, communication, problem-solving, empathy, and optimism. With a major backer in the Byron Nelson, the school has grown to two campuses in Dallas. The Byron Nelson raised a tournament-re-
cord $6.8 million in 2017. This year’s tournament will be played at Trinity Forest Golf Course, a links-style course that sits on 150 acres, after a highly successful run of years in Irving. Dates for the tournament are May 14-20. “Over the past 50 years, this tournament has helped transform the lives of more than 100,000 children in our community through Momentous Institute,” said Eddy Moore, tournament chair. “We can’t wait to start this new chapter in Dallas and see what the future beings for our tournament and the children we serve.” Moore spoke at a Rotary Club of the Park Cities meeting, stressing the importance of Momentus in the community and expressing his personal excitement at bringing the Byron Nelson to Dallas, where the new course sits atop a closed landfill. “It’s pretty cool that we’re taking a space that was previously unused and turning it into a real landmark that will help a lot of people,” he said. “There are no trees or water on the actual course, and there’s golf on every side at the venue. So, spectators will get to enjoy as much golf as they want, whenever they want.”
Spanning more than 150 acres, Trinity Forest Golf Course in Dallas is the new home of the AT&T Byron Nelson Tournament. COURTESY PHOTO
Moore added that Jesuit and University of Texas-alum Jordan Speith has committed to play at the tournament, along with many others from the top 144 PGA money-list golfers. “[Speith] is really excited to play here,” said Moore. “This is his hometown. Plus, one of his personal instructors teaches at Trinity Forest, so he’s been around the course a lot.”
2 0 1 8 AT&T BY R O N N E LS O N WHERE: Trinity Forest Golf Course WHEN: May 14-20 COST: $45 PARKING: General parking at Fair Park