Inclusion to the fund moves the university a step closer toward its ultimate goal of becoming a nationally competitive research university. In March, Texas Tech President Guy Bailey unveiled a 10-year business plan for the university with the end goal of inclusion in the Association of American Universities (AAU).

“NRUF eligibility is a crucial part of tier one,” said Texas Tech President Guy Bailey. “It is a benchmark recognizing the progress toward excellence we have made in recent years. Our faculty, students and staff are to be commended for their efforts in our achieving this designation.”

The notification paves the way for additional research funding from NRUF, which could range from $8-10 million annually, effective in the upcoming fiscal year.

“I am pleased that Texas Tech is being recognized as a nationally competitive and elite academic institution,” said Senator Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock), who authored and introduced the legislation. “Texas Tech’s administration, faculty and students have worked diligently to meet the high standards required to receive this designation. I am confident that Texas Tech will continue on this path of success to be among the nation’s top universities.”

Texas Tech is one of seven institutions initially designated by the state legislature in 2009 in an effort to boost the research capacity of the state’s public universities. To qualify for NRUF, universities must meet statutory criteria established by the Texas legislature. Of the seven, only Texas Tech and the University of Houston have met the criteria.

“We appreciate Sen. Duncan for his vision and determination to boost the state of Texas as one of the leaders in higher education research in the country,” said Texas Tech System Chancellor Kent Hance. “We also want to thank Rep. Dan Branch, Sen. Judith Zaffirini and all the other members of the legislature that worked to make the legislation a reality. Through their efforts, Texas Tech University will continue its ascent as a leader in research.”

Provided by members of the Whitacre College of Engineering Dean’s Council,  this award was established in memory of James A. McAuley, an active member of the Dean’s Council and a Texas Tech Distinguished Engineer.

Disser, originally from Montgomery, competed for this honor and was selected because of his outstanding academic achievements, honors, activities, interests and aspirations. He is a May 2012 petroleum engineering graduate with a 3.8 GPA.

Disser serves as the president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the college’s largest student organization. He has worked to increase the number of community service events that SPE participates in from four to six per semester and has implemented a mentoring program for underclassmen. He previously served as the external vice president of SPE and  also is a member of the American Association of Drilling Engineers and Ducks Unlimited.

In the summers of 2010 and 2011, Disser worked for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. as a production engineering intern in Vernal, Utah and a completions engineer in Denver.

Before coming to Texas Tech, Disser completed a bachelor of science in corporate communications at the University of Texas at Austin. After completing his degree, he worked at an oil and gas company in Conroe, where enjoyed the technical aspects of his job so much  he decided return to school to pursue a degree in petroleum engineering at Texas Tech.

Disser has accepted a job after graduation with Anadarko in The Woodlands, Texas. He will begin work as a drilling engineer at the Eagle Ford Shale play designing well plans and monitoring drilling activities.

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CONTACT:   Jeff Sammons, director of marketing, College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3451, or jeff.sammons@ttu.edu.

“The Rawls energy commerce (EC) program is considered, by industry and universities alike, to be the premier program in the country,” said Debbie Laverie, senior associate dean.

The bump from program to area reflects the fact that the complexity of the industry has expanded far beyond the petroleum land management focus of previous years, said Terry McInturff, area coordinator.

“While oil and gas operations still are our backbone and many of our graduates do become in-house landmen, we are also educating students to enter the industry as energy lenders, gas marketers, commodity traders, energy accountants and alternative energy consultants – the list of opportunities is virtually endless,” McInturff said.

Due to the close proximity of Texas Tech to the Permian Basin and the number of students attending the university from families employed in the energy industry, it is vital, he said, that the Rawls College of Business continues to be a leader in the area.

“As the only such program in the state of Texas, our EC program has a unique niche which draws companies such as Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, Exxon and others to recruit at Texas Tech for EC, as well as non-EC majors,” McInturff said. “Further cooperation between the Area of Energy Commerce and our Career Management Center will be fruitful for the program and the college.”

According to Laverie, the designation shows a commitment to the program by the college to grow it with tenure-track faculty with an increased emphasis on research.

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CONTACT: Terry McInturff, area coordinator, Area of Energy Commerce, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University, (806) 834-1609 or t.mcinturff@ttu.edu; or Kellie Estes, operations director, (806) 834-2046 or kellie.estes@ttu.edu.

“Texas Tech’s newest graduate degree program builds upon two strengths of the Rawls College – executive-style graduate education and energy-focused education,” said Steve Buchheit, international MBA (iMBA) program director.

The 20-month program brings together a diverse group of up-and-coming energy professionals using a week-long residency format. The format allows working professionals to earn a graduate business degree without having to leave their jobs or families. The program also has enabled Texas Tech to attract non-local students to campus.

The iMBA program will use many unique teaching methods, a requirement of the two-year U.S. Department of Education development grant which funds the program. The grant has allowed Rawls College faculty to become Harvard-trained in case-method instruction. In addition, Department of Education funding has brought energy experts to campus for public speaking and to enhance the faculty’s industry knowledge.

“For most of our cohort of students, this will be their first exposure to Texas Tech,” Buchheit said. “I’m excited about that, because we know something about energy in West Texas. Committing to a 20-month program is a major decision for busy professionals, and word-of-mouth is critical in the energy industry. I see the Rawls iMBA program as a great opportunity to show others why Texas Tech is a great choice for graduate education.”

In fewer than two years, the group will complete four residencies in Lubbock and two international residencies. The European and South American stays abroad highlight the global nature of the energy industry from developed- and developing-world perspectives.

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CONTACT: Archie Pitsilides, Rawls iMBA administrative director, Rawls College of Business, (806) 834-1827 or archie.pitsilides@ttu.edu.

Ron Kendall, director of The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech, said researchers tested only the muscle tissues consumed by people. When concluded, they found that about 10 percent of the 30 samples tested contained evidence of three antibiotics.

Though the sample sizes were small, he said finding antibiotic residues at all is cause for concern. Todd Anderson, a professor of environmental toxicology, and instrument manager QingSong Cai conducted the shrimp analyses.

In the study, researchers discovered the antibiotic nitrofuranzone, a probable carcinogen, in two of the samples purchased in New York – one from a farm in India and the other from Thailand. Both samples were 28 and 29 times higher than the amount allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The limit is 1 part per billion.

“Finding this particular antibiotic is of great interest, especially considering someone could have been eating an item that would have been banned,” Kendall said. “Nitrofuranzone is a genotoxic substance. It can affect the DNA of cells and result in genetic toxicity that can possibly result in cancer. You don’t want to ingest it. That’s why the FDA has adopted a zero tolerance stance with it.”

The antibiotic chloramphenicol showed up in one sample at 150 times the current FDA required detection limits on prohibited antimicrobial agents in seafood. Trace amounts of enrofloxacin showed up in a sample purchased from a store in Washington, D.C.

“With chloramphenicol, 45 parts per billion is considerably higher than the .3 parts per billion,” Kendall said. “It’s a very powerful, broad spectrum antibiotic. There is a reason why the U.S. FDA and other countries have set a very low tolerance for this product. You shouldn’t be consuming this.”

ABC contacted TIEHH to test the shrimp about a year after the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) raised serious questions about the safety of imported seafood. In their 51-page report, they cited that half of the seafood imported into the U.S. comes from fish farms, and that these animals, when grown in confined areas, may require antibiotics to treat infections.

The GAO questioned the FDA’s oversight program to check for unapproved drug residues in imported seafood samples and called it limited, especially when compared to programs in the European Union.

Samples were purchased from grocery stores in New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Los Angeles.

“These findings were pretty surprising to me,” Kendall said. “Considering someone may walk in to a grocery store to buy shrimp to eat, I think that’s worth further investigation, and more extensive testing should be done. This was a grab-bag sampling, and we reported what we saw. I don’t know yet if it’s a greater problem or a lesser problem, but it should be looked into at this point.”

See the clip here: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/imported-shrimp-tested-chemicals-16382541.

CONTACT: Ron Kendall, director, TIEHH, Texas Tech University, (806) 885-4567 or ron.kendall@tiehh.ttu.edu; Todd Anderson, professor of environmental toxicology, TIEHH, Texas Tech University, (806) 885-4567 or todd.anderson@tiehh.ttu.edu.

“We invested a significant amount of time and human capital to insure that our grant application would be highly competitive,” said Juan Munoz, vice president of the division. “Clearly, it was. It is also worth noting that Upward Bound remains a specific programmatic criteria, referenced by the Coordinating Board, for being NRUF eligible.”

The Upward Bound program has been continuously offered at Texas Tech since 1967.

Upward Bound is designed to provide the skills, tools, and motivation for high school students to enroll and complete college. The local program serves first-generation college-going students in 20 school districts within a 50-mile radius of the Lubbock area. The program is open to high school students who would be first-generation college students from limited-income families, and exhibit a high-level of academic commitment and achievement through their high school course work.

“It takes a strong commitment to succeed in this program,” said Jesse Jalomo, managing director for Upward Bound at Texas Tech. “With the skill sets that Upward Bound provides, these students will be successful in post-secondary education. They have a hunger – a strong desire to go and complete a college degree.”

The program receives 100 students at a time and exposes them to the collegiate life through college visits and prepares them for the academic rigors of college through tutoring sessions and supplemental instruction in core subjects, as well as enrichment courses.

The grant will help fund various Upward Bound services, including:

• College-prep classes

• Tutoring sessions

• College tours

• Academic advising

• Financial aid advising

• Career counseling

• Volunteer opportunities

The Texas Tech Upward Bound program also is in competition for two math/science grants in the amount of $2.25 million per grant.

For more information on Upward Bound, visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/upwardbound/.

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CONTACT: Jesse Jalomo, managing director, Upward Bound, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3616 or jesse.jalomo@ttu.edu.

Ceremonies can be viewed online at www.commencement.ttu.edu/livestream.

A ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences will take place at 3 p.m. Friday. The Graduate School ceremony follows at 7 p.m.

Commencement exercises for the Whitacre College of Engineering and the Colleges of Education, Architecture, Human Sciences and Visual & Performing Arts begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Colleges of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Mass Communications, Honors College, University College and the Rawls College of Business hold their ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mark Lanier, a 1984 Texas Tech School of Law graduate and benefactor of the Mark and Becky Lanier Professional Development wing of the law school, will speak at the Friday ceremonies.

Jerry S. Rawls, a 1967 Texas Tech graduate in mechanical engineering, and for whom Texas Tech’s College of Business is named, will speak at the Saturday ceremonies.

The School of Law Hooding Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Saturday. Robert A. Black, Texas Tech School of Law class of 1980, will speak. Black is the managing shareholder of the law firm of MehaffyWeber P.C., in Beaumont and the 2011-2012 president of the State Bar of Texas.

Honored students

Outstanding students, selected based on all-around achievement, will carry banners representing their respective colleges.

 The following students are banner bearers: Laurie Bellah Strebeck, an agricultural communications major from Throckmorton, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources; Brenda Berenice Alcantar, an architecture major from El Paso, College of Architecture; Nathan Andrew Wolcott, a classics and philosophy double major from

Lubbock, College of Arts and Sciences; Brittany Lane Hoffman from Lubbock, and Abigail Ann Jacobson from Sugar Land, both multidisciplinary studies majors, College of Education; Katherine Jane Albus, a nutritional sciences and dietetics major from Whitharral, College of Human Sciences; Bryan David Munson, an electronic media & communications major from Albuquerque, N.M., College of Mass Communications; Lauren Kathryn Spangler, a music major from Albuquerque, N.M., College of Visual & Performing Arts; Wade Lawrence Jansa, a mechanical engineering major from Garden City, Whitacre College of Engineering; Kelsey Nichole Dunn, an accounting and finance major from Lubbock, Rawls College of Business; Rebecca Sofia Chapman, a doctoral candidate in higher education, from Wichita Falls, Graduate School; Neil R. Hester, a psychology major from Lubbock, Victoria A. Crawford, a nutritional sciences  major from San Antonio, and Caroline L. Courtney, double major in honors arts and letters and journalism from Bartlesville, Okla., Honors College; Brenda Vera Grafton McCall, a university studies major from Leander, University College.

The highest ranking May graduates for each college include:

• College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources: John Nolan Duff, an agribusiness major from Levelland; Jerra Fay McMath, an animal science major from Estancia, N.M.; Loni Denise Woolley, an animal science major from Grandview; and Laurie Bellah Strebeck, an agricultural communications major from Throckmorton

• College of Architecture: Brenda Berenice Alcantar, an architecture major from El Paso

• College of Arts & Sciences: Leslie Marie Aguilar, an English major from Abilene; Maria M. Andazola, a psychology major from Tokio; Shane Lawrence Edmonson, a philosophy major from El Paso; Shelby Elizabeth Epperson, a health major from Coppell; Megan Elaine Galindo, a biology major from Monahans; Nicholas Zachary Grimberg, a political Science/Sociology double major from Carrollton; LaTreshia Arieon Hamilton, a psychology major from Houston; Melissa Cary Handley, an exercise and sport sciences major from Round Rock; Todd Paul Hemelstrand, a history major from Amarillo; Jennifer Jasso, a Latin American and Iberian Studies major from Killeen; Sarah Jane Kennedy, a geography major from Tomball; Bryan David Munson, an English major from Albuquerque, N.M.; James Alexander Murchison, a biochemistry major from Lubbock; Thomas Charles Rooklidge, a history major from Flower Mound; Stephen Patrick James Small, an economics major from Orange; Sofia Teresa Symcox, a sociology major from Fort Worth; David Rodolfo Valdes, a biology major from San Antonio; James Oliver Walls, a biology major from Elkhart, Kan.; and Neil R. Hester, a psychology major from Lubbock

• College of Education: Rissé Seye Ashburn of Wolfforth; Breanna Kathleen Daniels of Allen, and Laura Ashley Scarborough of Silverton, Brittany Lane Hoffman from Lubbock and Abigail Ann Jacobson from Sugar Land, all multidisciplinary studies majors

• College of Human Sciences: Kadee Lynn Albritton, an early childhood major from Colleyville; Jordan Leigh Bice, an early childhood major from Odessa; Mackenzie Leigh Gabel, a nutrition major from Panhandle; Loren Evelyn Lemmon, an early childhood major from Longview; Lisa Christina Lis, an early childhood major from Rowlett; Katherine Michelle Salazar, a human development and family studies major from Houston; Sarah Catherine Taylor, an early childhood major from Midland; Beth Renee Thompson, an interior design major from Christianburg, Va.; and Katherine Jane Albus, a nutritional sciences and dietetics major from Whitharral

• College of Mass Communications: Trevor Mathew Bell, a public relations major from Lubbock; Jennifer Dale Lord, an electronic media & communications major from Lubbock; Kristen Catherine Carr, a public relations major from Colleyville; and Bryan David Munson, an electronic media & communications major from Albuquerque, N.M.

• College of Visual & Performing Arts: Julia Kaye Keller, an art major from San Antonio; Sarah Elizabeth Kyrouac, a dance major from San Antonio; Noemi Margarita Martinez, an art major from Mullin; and Lauren Kathryn Spangler, a music major from Albuquerque, N.M.

• Whitacre College of Engineering: David Russell Bell, a mechanical engineering major from Lewisville; Alan Brian Bullick, an electrical engineering major from Lakeside; Shane Patrick Furlong, a mechanical engineering major from San Antonio; Logan Elliott Walker, an electrical engineering a major from Borger; and Wade Lawrence Jansa, a mechanical engineering major from Garden City

• Rawls College of Business: Stephanie Dawn Auge, an accounting major from Bedford; Bianca Campos, an accounting major from Batesville; SaiprasannaReddy Yarramalla, a business economics major from Plano; Joshua Garrison Schaeper, a management information systems major from Dallas; Christoffer Thomas Moden, a Marketing major from Korlstad, Sweden; and Kelsey Nichole Dunn, an accounting and finance major from Lubbock

• University College: Gita Sri Kant Rao, a university studies major from Plano

For more about commencement, including information on maps, guest seating, college receptions, parking and hotels, visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/commencement/.

Joseph Acaba launched May 14 for a four-month tour of duty aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft as part of the team for Mission 31/32 to the International Space Station. He also has been accepted to Texas Tech’s new Blended Delivery Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with Specialization in Science Education for the cohort starting this fall.

Follow Acaba’s mission via Twitter and a blog both linked to www.nasa.gov/station.

Texas Tech Provost Bob Smith was delighted to learn that the College of Education has successfully recruited a second U.S. astronaut to be a Red Raider.

“When we hired our first Red Raider astronaut, Dean Al Sacco Jr., we underestimated the benefits his appointment would bring to Texas Tech,” Smith said. “We understand that Dean Sacco did play a role in recruiting astronaut Acaba to Texas Tech. Also, we know that both astronauts Acaba and Sacco have a passion for education of youth in science, engineering and technology. Our collective hope is that our Red Raider astronauts will be reaching greater numbers of young learners as astronaut Acaba joins us and progresses in his program.”

Acaba will take classes online in his own personal time after he returns from the mission, said Walter Smith, Helen DeVitt Jones Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and advisor for the doctoral program. The nature of the online classes allows for flexibility.

“Joe has outstanding experience as a science teacher and seasoned astronaut,” Walter Smith said. “He’s joining a cohort of exceptional educators who already possess exemplary science education credentials and will make a difference in the world as a result of their Texas Tech doctorate.”

Raised in Anaheim, Calif., Acaba earned a bachelor’s in geology from the University of California-Santa Barbara in 1990 and a master’s in geology from the University of Arizona in 1992. Acaba was selected as a mission specialist by NASA in 2004 and completed Astronaut Candidate Training in 2006.

Acaba serves in the United States Marine Corps, Reserves, and spent two years in the United States Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. He also was manager of the Caribbean Marine Research Center at Lee Stocking Island in the Exumas, Bahamas.

Juan Munoz, Texas Tech’s vice provost for Undergraduate Education, vice president for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Com­munity Engagement has known Acaba for more than 25 years, as a schoolmate, a U.S. Marine, a teacher, and now NASA astronaut.

“In every aspect of his life, Joe has distinguished himself,” Munoz said. “I am not surprised that he has carefully selected Texas Tech to begin this new chapter of his life, at one of the country’s great public research universities. We are proud to welcome Joe to Texas Tech, and the Red Raider family.”

Acaba’s space flight experience includes STS-119 Discovery (March 15-28, 2009), the 125th shuttle flight, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 28th shuttle flight to the International Space Station. He accumulated 12 hours and 57 minutes of extravehicular activities in two spacewalks. STS-119 landed at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, having traveled 202 orbits and 5.3 million statute miles.

His teaching experience includes one year of high school science at Melbourne High School, Florida and four years of middle school math and science teaching experience at Dunnellon Middle School, Florida.

Acaba is a member of the International Technology Education Association, the Florida Association of Science Teachers, and the Association of Space Explorers.

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CONTACT: Walter Smith, professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-1998 ext. 446, or walter.smith@ttu.edu.

The Student Organization Recognition Awards recognizes advisors and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the Texas Tech and greater Lubbock community.

Overall Student Organization of the Year is Tech Habitat for Humanity

Overall Most Improved Organization of the Year is RaiderThon.

Organization of the Year:

Academic: Association of Information Technology Professionals

Departmental: National Society of Black Engineers

Fraternity/Sorority: Kappa Delta Chi

Graduate: Association of Biologists

Honorary: Gamma Beta Phi

Multicultural: Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Religious: Catholic Student Association

Residential: Residence Halls Association

Service: Alpha Phi Omega

Special Interest: Knight Raiders

Spirit: High Riders

Sports Club: Tech Judo Club

Outstanding Organization Advisors are:

Academic: Mead Bond Wetherbe, Association for Information Technology Professionals

Departmental: Stephen Bayne, National Society of Black Engineers

Fraternity/ Sorority: Jason Biggs, Interfraternity Council

Honorary: Jerry Hudson, Mass Communications Dean’s Student Council

Multicultural: Janie Ramirez, Hispanic Student Society

Residential: Craig Kuehnert, Residence Halls Association

Service: Jon Mark Bernal, Alpha Phi Omega

Sports Club: Mario Pitalua, Tech Judo Club

Most Improved Organizations are:

Departmental: Tech Collegiate FFA

Multicultural: Sri Lankan Students Association

Religious: Chi Rho

Criteria for the awards are available here.

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CONTACT: Elizabeth Massengale, Greek Life and Student Organizations, Center for Campus Life, (806) 742-5433 or elizabeth.massengale@ttu.edu.

A total of 68 dancers completed the preliminary audition process, with 34 named as finalists for the 16 available slots.

Erin Harold, who came to Texas Tech in April as the new pom coach, posted all of the audition material to a private YouTube account and sent the links to the candidates one week prior to the preliminary auditions. The prelim round consisted of fight song/chant, audition routine and individual technique.

Named for next year’s squad are Brittany Brossman, a junior from Houston; Kelsey Buckner, a junior from Rowlett; Kathleen Busch, a senior from Plano; Jackie Choi, a junior from Carrollton; Courtney Craig, a freshman from Flower Mound; Lexie-Paige Dierker, a freshman from Allen; Kristen Graham, a sophomore from Austin; Rachel Graham, a sophomore from Austin; Nailah Jones, a freshman from Houston; LaShey Lanford, a senior from Allen; Peyton Ratliff, a junior from Victoria; Kortani Rettig, a junior from Mesquite; Kelsey Schneider, a sophomore from Katy; Dawn Stecklein, a freshman from Flower Mound; Christa Widjaja, a freshman from Carrollton; and Sydney Wilson, a sophomore from Lubbock.

Finals consisted of across-the-floor combinations that were taught on the spot and then performed, individual interview, and then a call-back for some individuals at which they had to do the audition dance and fight song again.

“We were extremely overwhelmed with the talent at the pom squad audition this year,” Harold said. “It was very close for every spot on this year’s team, and we had to make some tough decisions. I am so excited about the squad that we have chosen, and look forward to working with them this season.”

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CONTACT: Erin Harold, Texas Tech pom coach, (806) 742-5433 or erin.harold@ttu.edu; or Stephanie Rhode, Spirit Program supervisor, (806) 742-5433 or stephanie.rhode@ttu.edu.