This Thursday, December 12th A&M University-Texarkana will host its annual ring ceremony. The event will take place at 6 p.m. in the University Center on the 3rd floor in the Tri-State Iron & Metal Atrium.
The purpose of the ring ceremony is to acknowledge any current or former student who has completed 90 or more semester credit hours. Once they achieve the hour limit, the student would then be eligible to purchase their ring to wear.
The Texas A&M University-Texarkana ring has been a tradition for years. It serves as a reminder of a student’s achievement, memories, and accolades achieved while a student at the University. During the ring ceremony, the ring participants will be formally presented with their custom ring. Whenever the students are presented the ring and when the ring is ready to wear, the students wear the ring with the school name facing them. Then whenever the students receive their degrees at commencement, the new graduates turn the ring around, to symbolize that they are now ready to face the world.
At Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the time has come where finals has finally approached. For the past week and a half, students have been studying non-stop to prepare for their final exams. Students have been stressed and filled with anxiety, in hopes to ace their final exam. To omit this problem, Phi Lambda Chi, a fraternity at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, proposed a solution that would allow students to forget about their finals and be stress free.
Phi Lambda Chi, hosted a car smash right in front of the University campus. The brothers of the fraternity were able to get a hold of an old car that way students can unleash their inner stress on the car. The fraternity charged its users $1 for 4 hits, and $3 for 1 full minute on the car. Prices were really good for students as students kept coming in for more and kept supporting the fraternity to kill off all that unwanted stress. In the end, the event turned out to be a huge success as students were smashing the car all day with axes and sledgehammers.
Just recently, Spotify announced many awesome things to its users, to notify them about their top artists, their top track of the year, and their artist of the decade for the year of 2019. Spotify also announced users, top 5 songs of the year, top 5 artists of the year, and even made a presentation that was customized to user’s app experience.
Spotify is a digital music, podcast, and video streaming service that gives its users access to millions of songs and other content from artists all over the world. It was really interesting to see users from all over the world excited to share what their top music choices were. Users were tagging their favorite artists all over social media and some of the artists were even posting their fans online!
Spotify announcing it’s users their 2019 wrapped
Spotify announced content like this every year for its users, but with new technologies and interfaces, they way it’s presented gets better and better.
Last night, on December 8, 2019, the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Student Ambassadors had their annual Christmas party along with advisor Mark Missildine and Dr. Leanne Wright. At the Christmas party, the Ambassadors had partaken in the white elephant Christmas game, ate lots of food, and just appreciated one another for all of the hard work and dedication they accomplished this year as a team. The student ambassadors also surprised their advisor, Mark Missildine, with a gift basket to show him how appreciative the group is with having him as their advisor. “It’s because of you guys that makes me love what I do,” Mark told the ambassadors as he was given his gift.
Texas A&M University -Texarkana Student Ambassadors
The purpose of the student ambassadors is that it is a leadership program designed to refine leadership skills, foster intellectual growth, as well as enhance the relationship with A&M-Texarkana. Our student ambassadors will have the opportunity to represent the university and promote A&M-Texarkana through various activities. Applications for the student ambassadors open up in the summer of 2020 for the school year 2020-2021. If you are interested and feel like this is a fit, then you should definitely apply!
Rappers having their own shoe design or clothing line is nothing new, right? Right… unless you’re Post Malone. Post Malone (also known as Posty) has decided to collaborate with the shoe brand Croc. Crocs are not necessarily known for their flashy style or trend-setting looks but that did not stop the Texas-native rapper from designing his own pair and let me tell you, fans are loving it. Some fans bought Posty’s collab Crocs as their first pair of Crocs ever.
The shoes dropped Tuesday, December 10, at 10:00 A.M on the Crocs website for $59.99 a pair. They sold out in less than two hours. There has been no update on a restock happening so the shoes will definitely be in high demand online.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Greater Texarkana Young Professionals and Opportunities Inc. came together to share their Holiday cheer for Shop for Opp.
According to the Opportunities Inc. Facebook page their mission “is to provide developmental and support services which assist individuals in attaining a full life in the community.” A recent A&M Texarkana grad student, Rebekah Drennon is the Director of Development for Opportunities Inc. She has provided and organized for GTYP to adopt two families who can not afford Christmas gifts this year.
GTYP members met the families at Pecan Point at 5:30 p.m. From there the members and family will do their shopping. The cost was covered by each member bringing a suggested amount of $10-$20. Rebekah provided a list on the Facebook event page for the members to properly prepare for efficient shopping. Once the shopping was complete everyone met at Pecan Point for dinner and networking.
This event was a great example of Texarkana locals coming together to spread the Holiday cheer for the community. For more information visit the GTYP or Opportunities Inc. Facebook pages.
I’m going to say it. Not everyone knows this about me but…I have asthma. I know, I look like the most athletic and perfectly healthy specimen you have ever laid eyes on. But it is true; I have sports induced asthma. The “sports induced” part makes me sound a little cooler…right? A little less like Napoleon Dynamite?
When I was younger, about second grade, I would run to the sidelines of the soccer field with tears in my eyes wheezing uncontrollably. I would try to ask my coach for a sub, but I couldn’t speak… so he would tell me to put my hands on my head and shove me on my way. After a few of these episodes, my mom took me to the doctor to figure out what was happening.
I took a few tests; breathing into a tube for as long and as hard as I could. I remember standing in front of a computer with flickering cartoon candles, I was told to blow them all out by blowing into a device. I tried a few times but could never get them all out; I remember my mom telling me to try. I was trying! My little second grade lungs just weren’t a match for those digital candles.
The doctor prescribed me an inhaler to take once a night before bed plus another inhaler to take before soccer games and if I was having trouble breathing. Getting into the car after the appointment my mom squinted at me through her rearview mirror and asked “were you really trying your hardest? Giving it everything you could?” This lady thought I was faking it! She thought I wanted inhalers for fun.
I didn’t take the nightly inhaler for long, after a few months my prescription was adjusted to just the emergency inhaler with the preventive pre game “puff.” Let’s fast forward about thirteen years– my Advanced News Writing class took a field trip to look at the undergraduate independent research project presentations. I glanced over a few projects until something caught my eye: an Elmo inhaler.
The presenters saw me looking at their Elmo inhaler poster and began to explain their research question: is there a relationship between steroid inhalers and growth rates in children? To sum it up– in the few studies done there has been a correlation between steroid inhalers and children with growth deficiencies. My first question was how they came up with the research question, these two factors seemed completely unrelated to me. Both researchers had personal experiences with stunted growth and wanted to see if their childhood steroid inhalers were to blame.
This research information was really interesting to me. What if I had continued taking my nightly steroid inhaler? My height has played a huge roll in my personality, athletics, and career; so to imagine my nightly inhaler stunting my growth is mind boggling. We take for granted the medicine we have today, brushing off side effects and what we put into our bodies. An inhaler I was given to help my breathing could have had drastic effects on my life. What side effects are hiding behind your trusted daily routine?
The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness. We celebrate with our family and friends, sharing love and laughs, giving thanks and gifts. If you are anything like me, the holidays are also a time of introspection. It is a time to slow down and take a good look at your life. Many of us have an overabundance of things to be thankful for, even if we don’t always feel like we do. If you have a roof over your head, shoes on your feet, and food on your plate, you are doing better than many. Perhaps those things may not seem like luxuries, but there are a multitude of people in our very own community that do not have access to the things we often take for granted. That is why the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter of Texarkana needs YOUR help.
The Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter (RSOS) has been serving the citizens of Texarkana for over twenty-three years. Randy Sams’ aim is to help those struggling with homelessness and addiction to live a meaningful, happy, and productive life by equipping them with the necessary skills and support to do so. In addition to providing food and shelter at no cost, they offer many other services. Among these services are life skills classes, financial assistance programs, job training programs, prescription assistance, transportation assistance, and case management. They have bettered countless lives in their two decades of operation, and our community is incredibly lucky to have them.
With fall upon us, and winter closing in fast, RSOS finds themselves in great need of warm clothing items and accessories. Things like coats, jackets, scarves, gloves, headwear, socks, and blankets are in short supply.
In addition to these items, the Shelter has many other needs. They are always in need of cooking/serving and cleaning supplies. Their Be The Blessing Bakery also requires baking supplies. A complete list of specific needs can be found here. If you can help fulfill any, or all, of these needs, donations can be dropped off at the Shelter at any time between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. 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. For questions or concerns about donations, please contact the number below.
In addition to physical or monetary donations, there are other ways to lend a hand. If you are interested in donating your time, RSOS’ can always use volunteers. 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.
When it comes to donating, whatever it may be, you might think “I can’t give enough to make a difference,” but even the smallest gift can make a huge difference. You cannot change the world overnight, but you can do your part to make it a little brighter each day. Whatever you can do, or donate, will be greatly appreciated. After all, it is the least we can do for an organization that has been loving and caring for our community for over twenty years. While you are enjoying your holiday festivities with your family and friends, take a moment to spare a thought for those who are less fortunate. Spread joy and love wherever you can. Please make this holiday season a season of giving.
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.
Last night on December 3rd, 2019 at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the National Society of Leadership & Success hosted their Induction ceremony in Eagle Hall. The purpose of this ceremony is to celebrate in to letting their peers, parents, and the public share in the story of each member’s own leadership journey. Out of all the steps members completed: Orientation, Leadership Training Day, and the 3 Speaker Broadcasts/3 SNT Meetings, the Induction ceremony is the most important because members feel a sense of completion, success, and have established a new networked amongst their NSLS community. Members were able to share their commitment to inspire positive action among their other inductees. While inspiring positive action, Dr Del Doughty (Dean of the College and Liberal Arts), was the keynote speaker who spoke on the important topic of Leadership and how leadership can impact one’s life and Emily Page gave her success story. In addition at the ceremony, students were presented with their Certificate of Leadership Training, car decal, and a new member pin honoring their achievement and membership in the NSLS.
In addition to students receiving their membership certifications, faculty and staff were also presented awards to honor their dedication and passion towards students, The NSLS offered three different awards to 9 different faculty and staff. The awards that were given were the Honorary Membership Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Excellence in Service to Students Award.
The Honorary Membership award is given to a faculty or staff member who embody the mission of the NSLS while also demonstrate the leadership qualities in a personal and professional setting. These individuals have played an important role for impacting the life of not only students but their peers as well. Dr. LeAnne Wright and Ms. Vicki Melde was awarded with this honor.
Next, the Excellence in Teaching Award was given. This award is given to the individuals who teach with passion and inspire students beyond the classroom while also demonstrating dedication to developing students beyond the classroom. The teachers that were awarded this honor were: Dr. Drew Morton, Dr. Kevin Ells, Dr. Corrine Hinton, and Dr. Jialing Huang.
The final award that was given was the Excellence in Service to Students Award. This award was given to a faculty members on campus who exemplify leadership and mentorship, while demonstrating commitment to bettering the lives of students. The faculty that were given this honor was: Mr. Corey Robinson, Mrs. Brianna Taylor, and Mrs. Courtney Thomas.
The National Society of Leadership & Success lives by the mission of building leaders who make a better world and it is their passion in recognizing their members as well as faculty and staff who embody that mission.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana Counseling Services hosted an event to reduce stress amongst the lives of students and faculty on campus. As we all know, college can be a really tough time for many, which adds to the stress levels on an individual. To reduce this, alcohol tile painting was brought to campus.
A&M-Texarkana Counseling Services brought in a professional painter to give a one-on-one / private session to students. Students were given three tiles to make beautiful tile “paintings.” The tiles could have been used as a coaster, a painting, or however one would like it to be. After being given the tiles, the painter gave students a brief tutorial on how the process works. She gave them an apron, a various array of colors, paintbrushes, and alcohol so students could spread their colors to make a masterpiece.
The event lasted from about 11-2 in Eagle Lounge of the University Center and students left with an urge for more. Who knew that painting tiles could reduce stress?
