Highlights: 2007 Annual Meeting in Corpus Christi & Kingsville

Century Council members toured the Early Childhood Development Center at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, led by Principal Christine Marroquin. The group visited several classes to observe the students.

CCC members and guests traveled to the sunny Texas coast for this year’s annual meeting, taking in the sites and sounds of Corpus Christi and Kingsville, and touring the beautiful campuses of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Flavius Killebrew

After checking in at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi Thursday, February 15, members headed out to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI). There they were entertained with a musical program by children from the Early Childhood Development Center. During lunch, the group heard presentations from CCC chairman Charlie Mattei and A&M-Corpus Christi Researcher Richard J. McLaughlin, who spoke about marine research at the institute. McLaughlin’s recent areas of research interest include: laws and policies governing the development and protection of ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon resources in the maritime boundary region of the Gulf of Mexico; improving ecosystem-based management in the Gulf Region; regulatory issues pertaining to offshore renewable energy; coastal management issues; and the international law of the sea.

HRI is a newly endowed and developing research institute. Edward H. Harte, philanthropist and former publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, gave a $46 million endowment for the establishment of HRI, the second largest marine lab endowment in the United States.

After lunch, the group toured the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi campus, including the new Early Childhood Development Center and the new Performing Arts Center, where they were treated to a performance by the Lichtenstein String Quartet. University President Flavius C. Killebrew gave the group an overview of the university. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is the nation’s only university located on its own island, with enrollment reaching 8,585 in fall 2006. The university continues to grow rapidly, and plans are underway to expand academic programs, increase research capabilities and enlarge the campus to meet its increasing space requirements. Meeting participants had the chance to meet the university’s Island Ambassadors and Student Ambassadors. president of the Legislative Ladies Club, said, “Most of us knew A&M was a great university, but I don’t think we understood the depth, and the business opportunities that research here can generate—all the ways the A&M System can help our companies in Texas.”

Rumaldo Juárez

On Friday morning, the CCC headed to Kingsville for a full schedule of events. The group started its day at the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, which was established in 1981 and has grown into one of the leading wildlife research programs in the United States.

Texas A&M-Kingsville President Rumaldo Juárez welcomed everyone to the campus and gave them an overview of the university. Texas A&M-Kingsville’s enrollment surpassed 6,700 in fall 2006, and the university continues to grow. Freshmen retention rates also remain high, reaching 64 percent in 2005-06. The university has increased its research expenditures 46.96 percent since 2002, and strives to increase research opportunities for its students and faculty.

Nancy and Jack Matz are greeted by the Javelina’s mascot upon arrival at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

After the CCC business meeting and an update from Guy Diedrich, vice chancellor for technology commercialization for the A&M System, the group had lunch at the Student Union, where they were entertained by the student jazz trio.

Nancy Dickey, president and vice chancellor for health affairs, speaks at the dedication of a statue honoring the late State Representative Irma Lerma Rangel.

After lunch, the group attended the dedication ceremony of a statue at the entrance of the Rangel Pharmacy School honoring the late State Representative Irma Lerma Rangel, who was a driving force behind the creation of the school on the A&M-Kingsville campus. After the dedication, Dean Indra Reddy took the group on a tour of the pharmacy school, which is a part of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and the first stand-alone professional school south of San Antonio.

Ruth Weidenbach, Sandra Griffith and Mildred George chat at the banquet.

John Perez, director of the Natural Toxins Research Center, led a tour of the facility, which keeps more than 400 venomous snakes from 12 species and 24 sub-species. Snakes are housed in computer-controlled cages and rooms that replicate their native environments.

At Friday evening’s annual banquet, Chancellor Michael D. McKinney gave an update on the A&M System and discussed his immediate priorities, including working with the Texas Legislature to help ensure adequate funding for the universities and agencies in the System. He also discussed increasing enrollments at the smaller universities, improving diversity in faculty, staff and students, and placing more emphasis on research and technology commercialization. Marion and Gayle Moore were recognized at the banquet for their service on the CCC Executive Committee.

Tyson Voelkel

On Saturday, the group heard a variety of briefings from around the System. Student Regent Emeritus Tyson Voelkel, a graduate student at Texas A&M University, spoke about his experience as the first student regent and the importance of the role of students. “Everything within the A&M System is focused on students,” he said. “We show them not only how to make a living, but how to make a life.” Voelkel said the A&M System stands out from other university systems because it teaches students who they are and what they stand for.

A&M System Political Action Committee Trustee Chuck Ellison discussed the newly formed committee, which was established to thank legislators who serve higher education. He reported that as of the meeting date, the PAC had collected $53,000. Ellison emphasized that the PAC represents all of the universities in the A&M System and urged CCC members to make a donation or recommend others who might like to do so.

CCC Member and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Vice Chair Neal Adams gave a report on the board’s initiatives to improve college readiness and performance. He said higher education represents 12.5 percent of the statewide budget and there are 1.2 million students in our state’s higher education institutions today. He discussed the need for public and higher education to work more collaboratively, as the state needs to add 630,000 more students to our colleges and universities by 2015 to ensure that Texas has an educated workforce for the future.

Dennis L. Christiansen, director of the Texas Transportation Institute, provided an informative report on the role of this agency, which is one of the seven agencies in the A&M System. TTI is the largest transportation research agency in the U.S. that is affiliated with higher education. The agency worked on 574 projects in 2006, comprising all modes of transportation: highway, air, water, rail and pipeline.

The McKinneys, the Matteis, Brooke Clinton and the Moores show off their winning sand sculpture.

The morning concluded with J. Patrick O’Brien, president of West Texas A&M University, giving an update on the university. He reported that 25.4 percent of the university’s students are minorities; 14 percent of whom are Hispanic. He also said that 75 percent of teachers and 50 percent of school administrators in the Panhandle earned their degrees from West Texas A&M. Research is a growing area at the university, with leading researchers in mad cow disease and wind energy, among other areas. O’Brien’s goal is to grow the enrollment from the current 7,400 students to 9,000 by 2010.

Following a free afternoon to enjoy the sites of Corpus Christi, the meeting concluded with a Hawaiian luau hosted by Flavius and Kathy Killebrew. The event included dancing and music, and a competitive sand sculpturing contest.