Our New Digital Backpack

Texas A&M University- Texarkana evolves to better serve its student body. TAMUT added both The Patterson Student Center and Business Administration & Student Services building last spring to match the growing student population and their needs. However, opening a new building is not the only way to aid students in their scholastic journey. The university’s I.T. system engineers brought a Digital Backpack (an online portal) to our campus which allows students, faculty, and staff to access multiple applications. 

This new platform will continue to evolve; adding new applications as IT works to better equip our campus, such as Office 365, NBCLearn, and DocuSign. Click here for the full list of pending applications. App ideas are accepted via email to digitalbackpack@tamut.edu

Applications that are currently available on the Digital Backpack:

  • Blackboard
  • AceMail
  • EagleSync
  • EagleTech
  • iSITE
  • Library Lab
  • Software.tamu.edu

Robert Leitgeb is a part of TAMUT’s IT department and was able to share a little about the project: “The Digital Backpack is really part of a significantly larger technology implementation. You do not see it, but IT is working to improve your experience here. For example, you may have seen changes in certain computer labs around campus- this was part of the project, too.” Leitgeb explained the process of building such a program: IT worked with several business partners like VMWare and Dell for over a year to create a package suitable for our campus. Leitgeb said, “Other schools may have Digital Backpack, but what you see here at TAMUT is our unique technical experience.”

This backpack will make students, faculty, and staff’s lives a little easier. Users can access their backpack anywhere they have an internet connection; allowing more freedom in their schedule. This Digital Backpack is just another example of how TAMUT works to improve student’s educational journey, sometimes it’s a new building, and sometimes it’s a streamlined online learning experience.

Bringle Lake: Jewel of Texarkana

Texarkana has many things to offer in the form of outdoor living. For the avid outdoorsman, look no further than Bringle Lake in Texarkana, TX. Outdoor activities at Bringle Lake include trail running, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, and cooking out.

The park is divided into three different areas, Bringle Lake Park West, East, and the Wilderness Area. Bringle Lake is located on University Drive across from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. This is an ideal location for college students looking for some relaxation. Bringle Lake Park West and East have fishing piers that are ideal for any fisherman. They also have playgrounds and pavilions overlooking the lake which are perfect for a family cookout, with barbeque grills located in the park. Parking is also free, and pets are welcome.

The Wilderness Area includes 144 acres of nature. There is a 10-foot-wide wilderness bike/walk trail that begins at Bringle Lake East and runs to the Waterworks Spillway. “The 6-mile loop around Bringle Lake is surrounded by woods with a few views of the lake,” commented Nick Duke on the All Trails website. “The trail is well-maintained.”

Bringle Lake trails are ranked #50 in the state rankings with an average trail rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, according to Trailforks.com. Bringle Lake Trail is ranked #8 of 20 things to do in Texarkana, according to Trip Advisor. For those who prefer the water, bring your fishing boat or kayak. I have fished at Bringle Lake and have caught several big bass. It is definitely a must-try spot. Kayaks are welcome on the lake for a relaxing paddle through the calm water.

Bringle Lake is maintained by the Texarkana, Texas Parks and Recreation department. If anyone has any questions or comments regarding Bringle Lake, they welcome any feedback on the Bringle Lake Facebook page or at 903-798-3978. They are always striving to make Bringle Lake a place that everyone can enjoy.

The Perot Theatre

Image result for perot theatre

For anyone looking for something to do, or see, in Texarkana, take time to visit the Perot Theatre at 3rd and Main Street in downtown Texarkana.

The building has been a permanent fixture in the downtown area since 1924, when it was the Saenger Theatre. It was fully restored in 1979-1980 by the City of Texarkana with the help of H. Ross Perot and his sister, Bette.

The Perot Foundation took care of most of the restoration costs in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Ross Perot. The theatre was named in their honor by the City of Texarkana, Texas city council for their generous contributions. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

They have several different events taking place this holiday season. On December 15, they will host the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Christmas. It is a traditional holiday concert for the whole family. The Perot will also bring back the Holiday Traditions Festival for the second year. It will be a day of fun with food trucks, vendors, crafts, refreshments, Santa, snow, and festive movies including The Grinch and The Santa Clause.

The Perot Theatre has something for everyone. The Perot Theatre recently announced its 2020 series of events to the public. The Perot Theatre Series has been offering shows that are nationally and internationally well-known for 37 years.

Shows coming to the Perot next year include Menopause the Musical, Potted Potter, and The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.  The Perot Theatre has 4.5 stars out of 5 on TripAdvisor based in 85 reviews.  Make this a priority when making future plans. You will not be disappointed.

More Than Just Books

This is the time of the year when everyone is looking for something special for a family member or a friend. How about trying Books-A-Million? They sell lots of books, but did you know they offer a variety of other things. They have an enormous number of gifts; coffee mugs, games, inspirational items, toys, candles, clothing wear, collectible items, magazines, comic books, and of course lots of books. There is an array of different assortments you are sure to find for that special someone. If you cannot find anything in the store, try checking out their website.

If you do not know what to get, they offer gift cards as well. If you have someone in your life that enjoys reading books, perhaps you could get them a membership card that offers 10% off anything they buy in the store. Get 40% off of Hardback Bestsellers and 20% off of featured items too.

There is a coffee shop within the store called Joe Muggs Coffee. During the holiday season, they are offering several specialty coffees. If you or someone you know loves playing games get together at Book-A-Million for an enjoyable time playing with friends and make new friends. Some customers are already gathering to play the game Magic of the Gathering. If playing games is not your style, you can pick up a book and read it as you decide rather you want to purchase that book while enjoying a cup of coffee. You can use your gift cards and membership card when purchasing a drink or snack as well as using them on their website.

Looking to get a little extra cash for the holiday, Books-A-Million offers buyback books at their store. You can bring up to fifty books at a time of gently used books for cash during certain times. After the new year, they will be buying used DVDs and blue rays too. “If you need any help with buying back books just ask for me the ‘book broker’ and I will get you set up for cashback” a staff member said.  Some books they cannot take are dictionaries, bibles, textbooks, and dated books.

Need to study or have a group or club? Books-A-Million loves to have groups come into their store to gather. “Study groups are usually our regular customers, especially Nursing Majors. Some of our regular customers bring in their own mugs for an added discount.” Tiffany, who works at Joe Muggs Coffee said. Wi-Fi is available for students who need a different environment for studying or writing a paper for class.

Come check out Books-A-Million for that special someone or for yourself. You will find something for everyone on your list. Or maybe just come by and check out what all this store has to offer. You will be surprised by the many things they have in their store.

Membership fee:  $25.00 with any purchase.

Gift Cards:  Starting at $5.00 up to $500.00

Hours of Operation: Mon.-Thurs. 8am-10pm; Fri. – Sat. 8am-12am; Sun. 9am-9pm

Buy Back Book Hours:  Sunday-Thursday 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm.

TXK Entertainment District Now Open

Good things come to those who wait. The Entertainment District in downtown Texarkana is now officially open. Thanks to the hard work of the Texarkana, Arkansas Planning Commission, it opened to the public on October 16, 2019, beginning with a toast by locals at Hopkins Icehouse.

The district spans across a fourteen-block area of downtown Texarkana. The roads are marked with green stripes to distinguish the boundaries, and signs are posted with hours of operation at the corners of the district. Anyone 21 and over can now walk around outside with an open container of alcohol, as long as it is purchased at a downtown establishment. No underage drinking will be allowed.

The bars and restaurants included in the district include Hopkins Icehouse, Zapata’s, Broadway Sports Bar and Billiards, Verona’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, and The Flying Crow. District hours are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.

This new district is an exciting addition to downtown Texarkana, Arkansas and is expected to draw guests from surrounding areas. The city’s goal is to bring more visitors and businesses to the downtown area.

This is just one more step the city is taking to revitalize downtown Texarkana. “Entertainment Districts have been known to spur economic growth,” says City of Texarkana, Arkansas City Manager Kenny Haskins. “The better businesses do, the better off we will be as a city.”

The ordinance was possible due to a new state law which allows cities with boundaries to designate areas for outdoor alcohol consumption. The city will provide trash cans and daily garbage pick up to keep downtown clean.

The Entertainment District has rules that will be enforced. No open containers can be carried out of liquor stores or taken into vehicles. No open container alcohol may be carried into any business, and no glass open containers are allowed.

Go on down and experience all that downtown Texarkana has to offer. As Adger Smith of the Planning Commission pointed out, “This is the culmination of years of gradual work by the Planning Commission, it’s an evolution.”

Randy Sams’ Fundraisers in Full Swing

If you frequently browse Eagle Eye, you may have seen an article that I recently posted about the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter (RSOS) in Texarkana. If you have not heard of them, they are a non-profit organization that specializes in providing aid to the homeless in our area. They provide shelter, housing, clothing, case management, health appointments, job training/search assistance, life skills classes, life-sustaining medication coverage, and transportation. They have been serving our community selflessly for over two decades, and they need our support. In fact, they need even more support than usual, as they were not awarded a very large grant (175k) that they needed to support their operation. Historically, they have been awarded this grant annually, so this is a significant loss. If you have never given to RSOS, please consider doing so this holiday season. In addition to accepting regular monetary/material donations, RSOS has two exciting fundraisers happening now…

  • RSOS’ Be The Blessing Job Training is a bakery program that employs homeless or formerly homeless people and teaches them commercial kitchen/baking skills. They are currently taking orders for Christmas cookies. Ranging from $15-$20 per dozen, they offer chocolate chip, peanut butter, pecan praline, sugar cookies, or a mixed box. If a box isn’t enough, they also offer a tray of four-dozen cookies for $40. These tasty treats are sure to be a hit at your family gathering or Christmas party! Are you looking for a fun and yummy activity for the family? For $25, you can order Be The Blessing’s Santa Cookie Kit! Each kit comes with two icing bags, two sprinkle cups, and a dozen Santa-shaped sugar cookies that you can decorate yourself. Orders can be placed online now! You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram. By participating in this fundraiser, you are directly supporting local people who are acquiring the skills they need to get a job in the food-service industry. Giving back to the community, and having a delicious snack? It’s a win-win! (I actually ordered some immediately after I submitted this article!)
Wright (L), Brisco (R), and Arnold’s (B) original artwork for Hope for the Homeless TXK.
  • Looking for unique Christmas gift ideas? Look no further! RSOS’ kicked off a new annual art event this year called Hope for the Homeless TXK. The organization asked local artists Taylor Arnold, Nicole Brisco, and Joel Wright to interpret homelessness. Each artist created beautiful and touching original pieces which are being framed and raffled off on December 15th. If you are interested in entering for a chance to win one of these gorgeous creations, you can buy ten entries for $10, thirty entries for $25, or 75 entries $50, although you have the option to purchase as many entries as you wish. In addition to this raffle, prints of the paintings and t-shirts featuring Arnold and Wright’s designs are also for sale. All proceeds from this event go toward the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter. This fundraiser is an excellent chance to support both RSOS and our fabulous local artists.

If you would simply like to make a monetary donation, those are also welcome. Donors have the option to make a one time donation, or sign up to give monthly or annually. Besides physical or monetary donations, you can also donate you time. There are many ways to volunteer, such as hosting donation drives for shelter needs, or providing evening meals at the shelter. To volunteer your time or services, you can sign up online.

For more information on the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter and its programs, please visit them online or call 903-792-7024. You can also follow them on Facebook, and Twitter.

Stars Send Head Coach Packing

In an unexpected turn of events, the Dallas Stars have dismissed Head Coach Jim Montgomery (pictured below) according to an article released at  9:30 A.M. Tuesday, December 10. This was Montgomery’s second year coaching in the NHL and many fans are shocked at the sudden dismissal of the former head coach. Assistant Coach Rick Bowness will serve as Interim Head Coach effective immediately. 

(photo from dallasstars.com)

After a live-streamed press conference at 11:00 A.M., the answer to the question “What exactly happened?” is still unclear. General Manager Jim Nill stated that he would not discuss the incident “…out of respect for those involved.” Although the whole situation is still unclear, we know that as of right now there is no timeline on hiring a new coach and the interim staff will remain in place for the rest of the season. 

For more information and updates make sure to follow the Dallas Stars on Twitter and Instagram (@DallasStars on both) and check dallasstars.com for regular updates.

A New Era Is Coming

Dua Lipa may be, if not, one of the world’s biggest pop stars out right now. Just recently, Dua Lipa has released her brand new hit single, “Don’t Start Now” on Halloween of this year. Ever since Lipa has released this worldwide smash hit, she has been traveling the world everywhere! 

Just within a short span of two-weeks, Lupa has performed Don’t Start Now at the: MTV EMA’s in Spain, ARIA Awards in Australia, AMA’s in Los Angeles, MNet Asian Music Awards in Japan, Hamilton Island Australia, Mumbai India, and the Graham Norton show are just a few to name at the moment.

Dua Lipa is also set to release a brand new album titled, “Future Nostalgia” in 2020. The brand new album will include genres of disco and pop while also incorporating a new version of Dua Lipa as a pop star. Lipa wants to give her fans something as she called it, “Futuristic & Fresh”. She wants to give them something they have never seen or heard before. In other words, she wants to have it where her fans can just get up and dance while also feeling the lyrics at the same time. 

Lipa performing Don’t Start now at the EMA’s

In the meantime, Dua has announced that she will be going on tour in Europe mid 2020. The new tour will showcase her brand new album that she is expected to released in 2020.

If you have not checked out “Don’t Start Now” yet, check out the brand new worldwide sensation or a.k.a., the best song out right now below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oygrmJFKYZY

A&M-Texarkana in Christmas Parade

The annual Christmas parade of Texarkana, Texas will take place tonight, December 9th 2019 at 7:00 p.m. It is the 35th year that this parade has taken place in Texarkana.

Tonight the community is in for a treat. Over than 100 entries are supposed to walk the parade with a plethora of excitement to give within the Texarkana community. A&M Texarkana is one of the entries. Texas A&M University-Texarkana plans to walk through the parade with its student ambassadors and other local organizations on the campus as well. In addition to the colorful floats and beautiful Christmas lights. There will be a variety of vendors selling Christmas themed merchandise like balloons, glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces.

35th Annual “A Twice as Nice Christmas”

The theme this year for the 35th Annual Parade this year is “A Twice as Nice Christmas. This will be a fun event for all ages and you should make your way over to downtown!

Ready! Set! Graduate!

The time has finally come for students here at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the moment every first year student has on their minds as soon as they get to college, and that is graduation! 

Graduation this year will be held Friday, December 13, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lois and Cary Patterson Student Center on the campus at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. This will be the third graduation held in the brand new student center on campus. 

In order for the students to graduate, all students applying to graduate must complete the online graduation application through their Web for Students account. Following the application, the graduate is going to be confirmed for their graduation in the upcoming semester. 

The purpose of this commencement is to acknowledge all of our University students who have completed all of their graduation requirements in the time allocated.

Graduation ceremony will be held this Friday December 13, 2019 @6:30 p.m.

Live streaming video of commencement will be available December 13, 2019.