Trevor’s Choice Awards The Office of Student Life host-ed their annual Trevor’s Choice Awards on April 12 in the Becken-dorf Conference Center. The event recognizes the outstanding achieve-ments of LSC-Tomball student clubs and organizations, as well as their individual student leaders and fac-ulty/staff advisors. This year’s party theme was Alice in Wonderland and attendees dressed in elaborate themed costumes. Guests sat at long Mad Hatter Tea Party-style tables and dancing followed the awards ceremony. The winners this year were:

Outstanding Student Organization – Student Occupational Therapy Associa-tionCommunity Service Award – Student Occupational Therapy AssociationLeadership Award – Tim Esry (Baseball)Advisor of the Year – Brenda Bauske (Deutsch Club)Emerging Student Organization – Deutsch Club (German Club)Collaborative Programming Award – STARSSpirit Award – Cheer Team

April 2012An Update from Dr. Susan Karr, President

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Mission

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Lone Star College System provides comprehensive educational opportunities and programs to enrich lives.

Student Success ...... P. 1

Star of the Month .... P. 2

Accolades ............. P. 3

Spotlights.............. P. 3

New Faces ............ P. 5

Community

Partnerships ......... P. 5

In this Update

Student Success & Engagement

Student-Directed Theater and “Sweeney Todd”

The LSC-Tomball theater stages lit up in April with different productions in multiple venues. First, the Drama Department presented “A Night of Short Plays” April 19-21 in the Black Box Theater. The evening featured several short plays directed by LSC-Tomball drama students. Then, April 27-29, the Music Department presented the contemporary classic “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” in the Performing Arts Center. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this Tony Award winning musical tells the story of Ben-jamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd. The skilled barber returns to London after serving 15 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Upon learning of his wife’s de-mise, he not only takes vengeance on the judge who sent him away, but also on the entire town.

Student Occupational Therapy Association with one of two awards they received.

Inkling Release and Book Signing

Students and staff eagerly attended the annual In-kling Release Party & Book Signing April 24 on campus. This ever-popular event marked the 22nd issue of Inkling, the LSC-Tomball creative arts magazine. Inkling contributors autographed copies of the magazine for attendees, including students, employees, and community members. The publi-cation, which features the original poetry, short fiction, photographs, and artwork of LSC-Tomball students, is produced from inception to publica-tion by an all-volunteer student staff, and is led by English Professor, Melissa Studdard, and Student Life Coordinator, Amy Hirsch, as advisors.

Volleyball Championship

On April 15, the LSC-Tomball Volleyball team won this year’s Houston Club Sports Conference Championship after winning their final game against Rice University. The Lady Timberwolves had an amazing undefeated season with a record of 11-0 including wins over University of Houston-Downtown, Univer-sity of Houston-Central, Rice University, Texas Southern University, Houston Community College, LSC-North Harris and LSC-Kingwood. This is the team’s fourth championship title in six years. Congratulations to the Lady Timber-wolves and their coach Darren Hamel.

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LSC-Tomball Volleyball Team

Top Row: Camry LaGrone, Courtney Moye, Coach Hamel.

Middle Row: Cindy Campos, Jessica Campos, Leslie Manluctao, Devin Bingham, Jacqueline Jenkins.

Bottom Row: Emily Robinson, Desiree Tutt, Achleigh Lowe.

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Star of the Month

Ana María Ibague

LSC-Tomball’s 17 year-old Star of the Month may be young, but she already has a keen awareness of the long-term benefits of a college edu-cation. Ana María Ibague, original-ly from Colombia, now a resident of Spring, TX, believes individu-als must take advantage of the re-sources available to them. “We are in a world full of opportunities,” she says, “but it is our responsibility to take them. The only way to do so is studying and preparing for the future.”

Ibague came to LSC-Tomball to study English as a second language. She hopes to eventually attend law school and study International Law. “I want to apply my degree to look for equal opportunities in the job market for immigrants, since they are an important factor in the United States labor force. I am not referring just to the Hispanic peo-ple, but also to minorities from all over the world.”

In addition to her studies, Ibague

Leadership Lone Star

On April 20, Leadership Lone Star College recognized LSC-Tomball students Rama Hardy, Numann Ismail, Margaret Mata, and Harrison Royalty for com-pleting the program. Leadership Lone Star College provides an opportunity to educate and mentor emerging student leaders for diverse roles of leadership

linking the Lone Star College Sys-tem (LSCS) and the community. The goal of the program is to de-velop and enhance the leadership skills of its student participants, while encouraging an appreciation for giving back to the community.

Intensive monthly sessions in the six-month program allow students to explore and examine the local economy, government, arts and cul-ture and more. Participants also re-ceive applicable skills training based

on the StrengthsQuest program, a national leadership training course. The pro-gram, which starts in October and concludes in April, also provides students the opportunity to work in a team environment during a community service project.

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Accolades

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LSC-T Assistant Dean for Instruction Lisa Morales, Numaan Ismail, Harrison Royalty, Rama Hardy, and LSC-T Executive Director for College Relations Nicole Finkbeiner. Not pictured: Margaret Mata.

Employee Awards

LSC-Tomball held its first annual Employee Excellence Awards on April 13 in the Performing Arts Center. President Dr. Susan Karr welcomed attendees and then presented the awards on behalf of the college. Also on hand to congratulate the winners were John Fishero, Vice President-Administrative Services; Dr. Lee Ann Nutt, Vice President-Instruction; and Ann Johnson, Vice President-Student Success. The recognized award recipients included the following:

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Faculty Excellence AwardJanie Filoteo

Stephanie JohnstonAlanna Tynes

Donna Willingham

Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award

Christine BarrDenise HammondHugh Hemingway

Debra Pallini

Staff Excellence AwardSandra Angel

Amanda DriskillKaren HaseBobbye Silva

20 Years of ServiceBarbara Lujan

Earl Staley

Student Success Grants

The Office of Student Success was recently awarded two grants that totaled over $49,000. On April 15, through the efforts of Ann Johnson, LSC-Tomball Vice President-Student Success, the college received $41,000 from Achieving the Dream to fund three part-time College Connection positions. These individuals will work with local schools to develop a fall cohort of incoming students, better preparing the students for success both at LSC-Tomball and in the future.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded LSC-Tomball with another grant for over $8,000. The funding is for a First Year Experience Call-ing Program (FYE). In the FYE program, student leaders are recruited to make a series of follow-up phone calls to new students throughout their critical first year of college to ensure student success. These student leaders will also assist with New Student Orientation and will arrange gatherings with their respective student groups at campus activities.

Spotlights

Faculty: Dr. Anne Johnson Benifield

Dr. Annie Johnson Benifield is one LSC-Tomball government professor who

practices what she teaches. Her classes, GOVT 2301 which focuses on constitutional principles, democratic theory and federalism, and GOVT 2302, which focuses on national and state institutions, as well as civil rights and liberties, teach students not only about the process of government, but about the responsibilities of a citizen to be engaged in the govern-ment. Benifield joined the LSC-Tomball faculty in the fall

of 1998 and is an active member in all levels of the college community. She is a member of the Social Media Learning Circle as well as the LSC-Tomball Faculty Senate. She actively participates in forums on political issues sponsored by the Student Government Association or other campus-based groups. Since 2000, she has served as the LSC-Tomball campus representative for the Texas Com-munity College Teachers Association (TCCTA) and since 2006 has served as an executive officer, including President of the TCCTA. Benifield says, “I am pas-sionate about teaching because it affords me with an extraordinary opportunity to serve as a facilitator so students will gain a more comprehensive understanding of our political system. Through the interactive process in the classroom, I learn as much from the students as they do from me. These are the two very important reasons why I teach.”

Staff: Connie Engebretson

Originally hired at LSC-North Harris in 1998, Connie Enge-bretson transferred to LSC-Tomball in 2001 as an adminis-trative assistant. Since 2006, she has served as the Division Operations Manager, Continuing Education. In her current position, Engebretson manages the CE Office and support staff, monitors the budget, and processes day-to-day business operations. “I consider each day a new adventure in serving our customers,” she says. She has enjoyed working at LSC-Tomball for over a decade. “I love the beautiful campus and value the friendships I’ve established. I think it’s wonderful that employees here take pride in their positions and depart-ments.” When not at work, Connie has many interests that keep her busy. “I love spending time with my family, which includes my 11-year-old grandson Nikolas. I also enjoy skiing in Colorado, Zumba, and, of course, shopping.”

Police: Sgt. Robert Newberry

Though he’s only been at LSC-Tomball for five months, Sgt. Robert Newberry already feels like he’s part of the family. Prior to coming to our campus, he served with the LSCS police department at the System Office in The Woodlands for 11½ years. Although he enjoyed his tenure at the System Office, he is also enjoying his new role. “There is lots of interaction with students and something new happens ev-

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Employee Awardscontinued from Page 3

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15 Years of ServiceKaren Hase

Terra Ruppert

10 Years of ServiceDavid Birch

Antonius BomRichard Burkey

John BurnsLindell ChapmanSteffani Frideres

Clark FriesenCarol HatfieldPamala KentVan Piercy

Robbie PowellSteven PrewittOliva Ramirez

Bo RollinsReyna Sirias

Maria ValenciaFrank Willingham

Patty Zachary

5 Years of ServiceSonia Aleman

Natalie ArmantroutDavid Beaulieu

Cynthia CasparisIvanola Ceasar

Lisa DavisGina de la Trinidad

Robert DurrettJanie Filoteo

Mark Hammerbacher Carrie Hillebrecht

Amy HirschSharon Jones

Elizabeth KingMarvin Lowery

Janet MooreKenneth Randle

Veterinary Technology Symposium

The Veterinary Technology program held its 24th Annual Lone Star College-Tomball Veterinary Spring Medical Symposium on April 14 in the Beckend-orf Conference Center. Over 150 attendees included faculty, staff, students and graduates of the Veterinary Technology program, Registered Veterinary Techni-cians, Certified Veterinary Assistants and Veterinarians from throughout Texas. The conference is provided annually to enable attendees to meet their continuing education requirements with Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Texas As-sociation of Registered Veterinary Technicians or other state veterinary medical associations. Topics of the day included prescription compounding, dental radi-ography and equine diseases.

Nicole Finkbeiner

Nicole Finkbeiner is the new Executive Director, College Relations. She joined the LSC-Tomball team on April 9 and will manage all external communica-tions for the college including marketing, advertising, print publications, online communications, and pub-lic relations. Prior to coming to LSC-Tomball, she was the Director for Public Information and Market-ing at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Finkbeiner has an Associate of Arts in Business from Kellogg Community College, a Bachelors of Business Administration from Western Michigan University, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Arts in Advertising from Michigan State University. She enjoys being very active in the community through various business organizations and community volunteer-ing. In her free time she also enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and working out.

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New Faces

Mary Dorease BrunerStaff Assistant I

Health Science Building

Community Partnerships

New Faces

eryday,” he says. Prior to working for LSCS, where his duties include adminis-trative tasks and patrol supervision, Sgt. Newberry worked for the Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct 4, where he supervised special operations. He says, “Our officers here at Tomball are close, unusually close, just like all of the other employees. There is a very special, close-knit vibe on this campus.” Outside of work, he describes himself as “the quintessential family guy” who enjoys spend-ing time with his wife, children, and young granddaughter.

is on the women’s basketball team. She and her brother, David, left their parents in Colombia to come to Texas and study at LSC-Tomball. “Being in an American atmosphere has allowed me to establish new roles and friendships,” she says. When the time comes to transfer, Ibague is considering the University of Houston. However, she is open to the idea of garnering a scholarship to a private university. She says that the world is currently witnessing a “revolution of ideas. Innovation sets the pace of the world.” She contin-ues, “I think college provides me with the necessary tools to be com-petent in order to achieve success.”

When asked what advice she would offer college-bound students, Iba-gue says, “The requirements and the competition to succeed grow higher and harder every day. There-fore, education is the best tool to ful-fill the qualities the market is look-ing for.”

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New Faces continued in side-bar on this page.

30555 Tomball Pkwy.Tomball, TX 77375

Phone (281) 351-3300LoneStar.edu/Tomball

Transformations

Upcoming Events

• 2012 CommencementMay 12

• GED GraduationMay 24

• Memorial Day HolidayMay 28

• Summer Session Ibegins June 3

• Summer Musical:

Fiddler on the RoofPerforming Arts Center

July 12-15

To see the most current events, visit LoneStar.edu/Calendars