Outstanding student staff member

David Dunnington - Campus Recreation
David is a Student Coordinator for Outdoor Pursuits and is responsible for planning, preparation and management of the outdoor adventure trips. He is a junior Environmental Science major. David’s nominator describes him as the “go-to” student employee in Outdoor Pursuits.

Gretchen Doegnes - Orientation & Family Programs
Gretchen is a senior Education major who has worked for Orientation & Family Programs for three plus years with increasing responsibilities each year. Currently, she is a Student Coordinator, working as a Peer Supervisor to 26 Orientation Leaders, serving as a Peer Instructor for the OL Training Class and assisting with Roadrunner Adventure Trips and Roadrunner Camp.

Yesenia Villegas - Student Activities
Yesenia is a senior Architecture major who has worked in Student Activities for two years. She has drawn award winning designs for Rowdy Wing Fling, Party on the Paseo, Safe Spring Break, Alcohol Awareness Week and more. Her nominator describes her as someone she would hire full-time in an office. “She is creative, a team player, and professional. She serves as a leader and an example for her peers.” Another nominator stated, “Yesenia is an outstanding Student Affairs employee because she exudes the 4 C’s. She connects with people in a genuine way and represents UTSA with great pride.”

Outstanding support staff member

Melissa Rodriguez - Office of the Registrar – SIS Operations
Melissa Rodriguez is a Senior System Analyst who has served at UTSA for 13 years. She is described by her nominator as a Go-to Person, a person to whom one turns for support. She is there for her colleagues with help and support when there are issues regarding Banner hiccups or errors. She not only fixes the problem but also works with her colleagues to understand what happened and how to handle a like problem in the future. Melissa is a hard worker, dedicated, attentive, dependable and with a positive attitude.

Outstanding new professional staff member

Jared Jones - University Center
Jared Jones is the University Center’s Assistant Director for Marketing and Communication. In this role, he currently oversees the UC strategic planning process, the department’s assessment initiatives, all UC marketing and communication and the Information Center. He has coordinated several high profile and successful programs, collaborating with various University departments. Jared’s nominator states, “he has contributed significantly to raising a positive awareness of the UC through diverse marketing endeavors.

Outstanding Student Affairs Team

Undergraduate Admissions Freshman Recruiting Team - Evelyn Betancourt-Martinez, Georgina Martinez, Jeanette Francovich, Patricia Tyler, Lee Canales, Alice Newman, Tracy Lopez, Jeff Mayo, Tiffani Hoot, Cassandra Delgado, Ashlie Mckenzie and Valeria Acosta
The undergraduate freshman recruitment plan is multi-faceted and complex and requires a dedicated team to accomplish it. The team of Evelyn Betancourt-Martinez, Georgina Martinez, Jeanette Francovich, Patricia Tyler, Lee Canales, Alice Newman, Tracy Lopez, Jeff Mayo, Tiffani Hoot, Cassandra Delgado, Ashlie Mckenzie and Valeria Acosta, worked diligently this year to do just that. This group of individuals is the face of UTSA. It takes a team to provide a UTSA presence in as many of our Texas high schools as possible, to provide proactive programming for visitors to the Main Campus, to be available for visiting or calling families. Mailings, e-mails, phone calls are sent to encourage and inform as well as to clarify and support. The team works to identify the needs of students and families in this important transition process as first-time Freshmen and to find ways to address those needs.

Transformational Leadership

Barry McKinney - Student Activities
In the words of Barry McKinney’s nominators, Barry McKinney personifies the characteristics of a transformational leader. He is full of energy, passion and desire, relates well to students and wants each student to have the best collegiate experience possible. His vision is to have every student involved on campus. One of this nominators stated, “ I look forward to working with Barry as I know there will be a successful outcome. Not only is he part of the UTSA team, but he is willing to lead. Barry is one of those people who make you better by having to step up your game and keep up with him. He strives daily to make student life at UTSA the very best it can be.”

(May 11, 2011)--FOX Sports Southwest will launch a new reality sports documentary series this week that will chronicle the start of The University of Texas at San Antonio inaugural football season.

"UTSA Football: The Birth of a Program" will premiere at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, May 14, with the first of six 30-minute episodes that will follow the Roadrunners to their inaugural season opener on Sept. 3 against Northeastern (Okla.) State.

For the full article, visit: URL

By Jennifer McInnis - Express News

Cathy Bodenstedt will be the first to tell you she has a lot to learn about wine. The story behind how she became the owner of CapRock Winery in Lubbock sounds somewhat like a Texas tall tale — except it's all true.

CapRock Winery was built in 1987 with big dreams of producing up to 80,000 cases per year, but the winery has twice gone into bankruptcy and has never realized its full potential, although CapRock wines have won more than 400 awards over the years.

The winery most recently filed for bankruptcy last July, and her husband Jim came across the auction listing when he was looking up contact information for someone with the CapRock investment group that he had previously met.

For the full article, visit: URL

UTSA sophomore Keith Benford won the high jump at the Southland Conference outdoor track and field championships. Benford cleared 6-10 3/4 to edge Sam Houston State's Louis Hedgeman thanks to three fewer misses.

Texas State senior Katherine Evans set a school record by winning the heptathlon with 5,007 points. The meet ends today in Natchitoches, La.

For the full article, visit: URL

The Staff Development Team provides Student Affairs staff opportunities to learn more about ourselves and our coworkers in areas such as leadership approaches, management and supervision styles, career enhancement, and numerous other professionally-related categories. These experiences could occur at the Student Affairs Council meetings, special retreats, or through a series of planned classes, seminars or conferences. Programs the Staff Development Team have presented this year include: the Student Affairs Orientation, FERPA workshop, Dimensions of Success, and the recent Student Affairs Conference (third annual).

The Staff Development Team, “gives me the opportunity to creatively think and program with others across campus as well as better my understanding of other areas and processes for the institution.” ~ Steve Kudika

“This team is one of the best in Student Affairs because of the service provided by each member of the group to brainstorm and help provide the best information through creative programs such as FERPA, employee development events and the major undertaking of an annual Student Affairs Conference. The collaboration and communication within the group and outside the group has proven very successful. The connections made at all the events and especially the Student Affairs Conferences have created stronger bonds among Student Affairs colleagues to enable our students get the right information and direction as they grow at UTSA.” ~ Anne Macintosh

“I enjoy working on the Staff Development Team because it really provides the opportunity to give back to UTSA employees. I love working with students and supporting them in their education, but I also think it’s great we show our investment in our own staff. I know not everyone’s going to want to attend the events we plan, but it’s really great to see the people who do attend enjoy and learn something from those events.” ~ Eric Cooper

Our team is looking to bring fresh new ideas and experiences to the group. If you are interested in joining the Staff Development Team please email StaffDevelopment@utsa.edu. We do ask that all interested staff respond to a set of questions that will be sent once you have initiated your interest.

Further questions please contact Keri.Shiplet@utsa.edu or 210-458-7299.

A casual gathering in the JPL near Starbucks.

YOU are invited, will you come?
We all know that networking is beneficial to both our professional and personal lives.
Often the structure of our jobs doesn’t allow for networking between 8 to 5.
Drop by beginning at 7:15 am

We are currently meeting the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month.
Future Dates and Times TBD by participants

Organizer: Christine Bachman X6207 Student Affairs Staff Networking Team

Our friends in Video Production have submitted two videos for this competition for the People’s Telly Awards. Please click the following links, give the video a thumbs up…and of course…SHARE with Friends! You can vote MULTIPLE TIMES too!

UTSA Best Fest
http://www.youtube.com/tellyawards?x=lguk6I6oDH8

UTSA: My Apps
http://www.youtube.com/tellyawards?x=vYb0neqFRcQ

Voting for this round of the competition ends June 10, 2011!

The People's Telly Awards Presented by YouTube®
The People's Telly Awards consists of special categories whose entries will be featured on our custom built Telly YouTube® Channel. The Telly community will rate your videos and commercials to choose winners. Now, in addition to recognition from the Silver Telly Council, you can earn a stamp of approval from the "people", your peers and enthusiasts throughout the industry, as well as have your work promoted by the Telly Awards on YouTube®.

There will be multiple rating periods based on the date you enter and People's Telly entries will be up for a period of four weeks.

During the rating period anyone will be able to view and rate your video. The Telly Awards will be promoting the People's Telly Awards rating periods within our community to help spread the word. The rest is up to you. Promote your entry to your clients, peers, friends and fans.

By Kyle Stephens
Assistant Athletic Director of Communications

(May 5, 2011)--UTSA announced Thursday that all six home football games for the 2011 season will kick off at 1 p.m. at the Alamodome.

The Roadrunners will host Northeastern State on Sept. 3, McMurry on Sept. 10, Bacone College for the Homecoming Game on Sept. 24, South Alabama on Oct. 8, Georgia State on Oct. 29 and Minot State on Nov. 19 in their inaugural season....

For the full article, visit: URL

Dear UTSA Community,

Orientation and Family Programs is now accepting table reservation forms for both Summer School and Fall 2011 Roadrunner Roundup Information Fairs (Main Campus). Please see the attached information sheets for all of the details and deadlines for requesting a table. The reservation forms are also attached.

Here is some information at a glance:

Summer Roundup (Freshmen, Transfer and Family) Programs:
May 10th and 17th

Fall Programs:

Transfer Roundup (Transfers and Family):
June 6th and 13th

Roadrunner Roundup (Freshmen & Family):
Every Tuesday
First- May 31
Last-Aug 2
*There is a program the week of the 4th of July

Reservation Forms:
2011 Summer Information Fair Reservation Form
2011 Summer Information Fair Info Sheet
2011 Fall Information Fair Reservation Form
2011 Fall Information Fair Info Sheet

By Jared Jones
Assistant Director Marketing & Communication

The University Center (UC) has published its revised Fee, Labor and Resource rates for the 2011-2012 academic year. These rates go into effect September 1, 2011 and can be viewed in the online UC Handbook of Operating Procedures. Fees were approved unanimously by the UC Advisory Council (UCAC). Prior to fee approval, UC staff educated the UCAC regarding current UC fees and provided fee benchmark comparisons. Benchmark fees were gathered from event facilities and service providers in the San Antonio community as well as university center facilities around the nation that are similar to the UC.

“These fees allow us to be wise stewards of our student-generated funds and ensure we are able to provide a wide range of services for years to come,” said UC Director Lowa Mwilambwe.

The UCAC voting members are elected, appointed, or selected from specific student organizations and the general student body through an application process. Two faculty members, appointed by President Romo, also have voting privileges. The full UCAC membership can be viewed on the UC website.

Please note the following UC fee schedule highlights:
· The new fee schedule includes separate fee schedules for specific groups. With this change, the UC hopes to eliminate confusion as various groups seek the information that applies specifically to their needs.
· There are now easier-to-understand A/V packages for special events.
· Most room rental rates have remained the same.

Inevitably, there are some fee increases for certain areas. These increases were put in place after analyzing the use of facility resources and considering the wear, tear and eventual replacement of technology that is increasingly expensive. Fees are subject to change.

In observance of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, the UTSA Police Department will host a ceremony to commemorate the service and sacrifice of peace officers at 10:00 a.m., Friday May 20, 2011 at Bill Miller Plaza on the Downtown Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The National Police Officers Memorial Day ceremony brings together the branches of San Antonio's law enforcement community including local police, special jurisdictions such as college campus police and park police, military police and federal agencies including ATF, DEA, FBI, Secret Service and U.S. Marshals. The ceremony will include a reading of a proclamation from Vice President for Business Affairs Mr. Kerry Kennedy and a reading of the names of the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Texas in 2010. Additionally, there will be a wreath laying and playing of taps. Speakers will include Michael Heidingsfield, Director of Police for the University of Texas System. Throughout the week, UTSA departments and student organizations will honor National Police Week with visits to the UTSA Police Department, cards from students and other events. The UTSA Police Department also will send representatives to participate in the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony in Austin.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy designated the week encompassing May 15 as National Police Week. Police departments across the nation observe the week in different ways including open houses, SWAT demonstrations and memorial services. Through the efforts of Concerns of Police Survivors Inc., a half million blue ribbons have been distributed to law enforcement agencies to tie to their car antennas to call national attention to this day.

Every 57 hours, a law enforcement officer gives up his or her life in the line of duty. In 2010, Texas lost 19 law enforcement officers. Since 1963, 31 university police officers nationwide have died in the line of duty. Reference: UTSA Today archive articles