June 2019

Salute to summer

Dear Friends:

While our campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston may be just a bit quieter in the summer, there’s still a lot going on—from summer school courses and community camps to special library exhibits. Summer is also a time when our university faculty, students and alumni continue community volunteer work and scholarship—near and far!

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Summer camps draw thousands to campus

There are more than 30 camps on our Denton campus this summer, drawing more than 3,500 students, from preschool to high school, and even parents. Nearly 850 of these are drawn to sports camps hosted by our gymnastics, basketball, volleyball and soccer coaches and student-athletes, with the remainder of the camps offering opportunities that include learning about theatre, nutrition, dance and even “how to become digital citizens in the new media age.”  

While most of these camps are over this month, be sure to check the summer camps website next March for a list of TWU camps for summer 2020.

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TWU commemorates Texas' ratification of women’s right to vote

A century ago on June 28th, Texas became the ninth state to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. TWU has a strong historical link to the Texas suffragist movement. Our university’s development and growth aligns with the most active early period of reform for women’s rights in Texas. Three original members of our board of regents—Helen Stoddard, Eleanor Brackenridge and Eliza “Birdie” Johnson—were the first women appointed as regents anywhere in Texas. They all served as president of various women’s clubs who encouraged social reform. In fact, Eleanor Brackenridge was president of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association.

This month, we commemorated this important event in history through a series of activities sponsored by the Institute for Women's Leadership.

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Denton firefighters undergo health, fitness assessment with TWU team

We are pleased to be working with about 170 Denton Fire Department first responders on a three-year health and wellness program that includes testing and assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition, bone density, vision and hearing. 

Our graduate and doctoral students and faculty perform these tests, under physician supervision, following standards set by the National Fire Protection Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. We enjoy working with Battalion Chief David Boots and his firefighters—and an added advantage to the city is that our wellness services are discounted compared to similar ones offered through private providers. If you’re interested in participating in a similar health and wellness program, please call us at 940-898-2785.

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Students pursue summer learning, volunteerism — near and far

From managing pop-up dental clinics in South America to engaging with nurses in other countries, our students this summer are extending their classroom work with community outreach and volunteerism. Denton students are building on their classmates’ $400,000 worth of volunteer hours over the past year with 68 community partners by working with Keep Denton Beautiful and helping to register voters. To request TWU student volunteers, contact Chris Scanlan, cscanlan1@twu.edu, 940-898-3593.

In addition, more than 100 students are participating in education abroad programs that include engagement with nurses in Vietnam, Peru and London, and managing mobile dental hygiene clinics in Peru. There’s also a group of Project PIONERAS students who for the past several years have worked with Professors Holly Hansen-Thomas and Mandy Stewart to become experienced bilingual educators through a variety of service learning and volunteer activities—including volunteer teaching in a multilingual middle school in Lewisville ISD and in Pre-K and kindergarten bilingual summer school classes in Denton ISD. When in Playa Samara in Costa Rica this July, 13 TWU undergraduates will donate their time and provide bilingual books to the Samara Pacific School as part of their class requirements.

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Dallas, Denton campuses host STEM-based 'Eureka Girls' program

TWU’s Dallas and Denton campuses hosted a group of 50 girls in the Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas Eureka! STEM Program earlier this month to stimulate their interest in high-demand science, technology, engineering and math career fields. Faculty, staff and students associated with our Office of Technology, Office of Student Life and nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy academic departments worked with the eighth and ninth graders covering topics such as CPR training, what to do in a Code Blue situation, college admissions and financial aid options, and hands-on laboratory experiences. 

On the last day, the students visited our Library’s Special Collections, where they viewed TWU’s Florence Nightingale exhibit and learned about the Women Airforce Service Pilots and the important role they played in World War II. We look forward to hosting Girls Inc. again next year, in what we hope becomes a regular community outreach program with this special organization.

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Alumna helps veterans, disabled children and adults become competitive equestrians

This summer, TWU education alumna Mandy Cleveland, founder and program director of Stable Strides Farm in Flower Mound, continues to grow the number of veterans and disabled children and adults who are becoming competitive equestrians.  

Three of her riders recently returned from the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi—with one of them (Spencer Roberson, who has autism and ADHD) winning three gold medals. Mandy says horse riding has many physical and mental health benefits, including improved muscular strength, self-esteem and enhanced confidence and patience.  

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Looking for cool things to do this summer?

Trip Advisor has a number of recommended places to visit on our Denton campus in its “top 10” list, including our Blagg-Huey Library and our historic, popular wedding destination, Little Chapel in-the-Woods We also have a growing butterfly garden, with nearby large, friendly turtles that like to sun on the water’s edge. In addition, please check out our special Florence Nightingale exhibit and see our expanded Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II national exhibit, as well as a “Read Out Loud Program”—one hour of fun in the library. For other ideas, check out our “things to do” attractions website to add to your memorable summer activities.

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And speaking of summer fun…

If you’re fond of posting on social media, you might enjoy seeing the new TWU-branded “GIF” stickers. The university’s Giphy account now features TWU mascot Oakley! See Oakley pumping iron in the Fit & Rec Center, kayaking, getting ready to ride (with a helmet — safety first!), or relaxing in a hammock. Please also check out our Pioneer Printables and Swag.

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LATEST NEWS

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Going into summer, we received some positive news for TWU when the Texas Legislature passed a budget that includes roughly $1 million more in operational funds for the university, which we intend to use for salary increases. Additionally, legislators authorized $10 million in new funding for our Institute for Women’s Leadership, which will help expand programs and better position the institute as a premier center for women’s leadership in the state. We very much appreciate Rep. Lynn Stucky, Sen. Pat Fallon and Sen. Jane Nelson for their strong support of our university during this legislative session. 

In closing, I wish you and your families a fun summer. I’m visiting my hometown in Belgium in July, so I’ll be back in touch with you in August as we welcome students back to our campuses.

Thank you for your interest in Texas Woman's. I invite you to email me if you have any comments or questions, and I am delighted that you have spent a few minutes with me today. 

Warm Regards,

 

 

Page last updated 3:45 PM, February 9, 2024