March 2009

Student Achievers

Any students consider the college experience a step toward the fast track for a good career or successful direction in life. Molly Banas ‘09, a political science major, redefined the fast track during her undergraduate career at Austin College, completing her degree in January 2009, two and a half years after enrolling.

“I know I’m entering the ‘real world,’ as my mom calls it, at a relatively young age (20), but I believe that my experiences at Austin College have equipped me not only to exist in this new world but to excel,” said Molly.

Molly shortened her time at Austin College, but she wasn’t short on experience. Interested in a career in law, Molly managed to find time between classes and activities to work for the past year and a half with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sherman.

She also participated on every Austin College Model United Nations team assembled during her college experience, traveling twice to both Chicago and New York City, and competing in Washington, D.C., and China conferences. “Every student at Austin College should do one semester of Model U.N.,” she said. “It teaches the art of compromise and creative thinking, two skills essential to all areas of work.”

Not one to miss an opportunity, Molly also was involved in the Campus Activities Board, Alpha Delta Chi social sorority, the Pre-Law Society, and was president of the Caruth Residence Hall Council during her sophomore year. She also was a Big Sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and was active in a local church, not only attending but teaching in the children’s department in a second service each week. Her sorority friends made fun of her because, with all the activity, she routinely slept eight hours a night and made time to work out every day.

The day after Fall Term 2008 finals ended, Molly began an internship at the Texas State House with Representative Ken Paxton, researching topics and issues of each bill that  arise in session, particularly tax policy.

Molly will work at the State House throughout the 81st legislative session this spring.  Then, what’s next? Law school is a possibility, but she doesn’t want to limit herself yet. She hopes to one day become a Foreign Service Officer, particularly in Asia, with the U.S. Department of State.

Whatever direction she chooses, it’s quite likely Molly will get there — and quickly. She’s built a good foundation.

“I knew that college would be the best years of my life, but Austin College provides more than that because your best years don’t end when you graduate,” Molly said. “Austin College can prepare students to have their best years after they graduate.”

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Rachel Dodd and others relaxed with a little Tai Chi in the Great Wild Goose Pagoda plaza before heading to the airport for the
long flight home.

ustin College students have participated in Model United Nations competitions since 1963, and for nearly 25 years routinely have traveled to Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City for conferences. In November 2008, their involvement went “extreme,” journeying halfway around the globe to Xi’an, China.

Fifteen Austin College students and Philip Barker, assistant professor of political science, left campus Thursday, November 20; “disappeared into the cosmos” on Friday, crossing the International Date Line; and ended the 25-hour flight to arrive in China on Saturday, November 22, for the first National Collegiate Conference Association   (NCCA) Model United Nations event held outside the United States. Model United Nations conferences are simulations of the actual working of the U.N. and the real issues before the international group.

The students had two days to acclimate and soak up the culture in the city of more than eight million people before getting down to business. They explored the Muslim Quarter with its food and shopping stalls, took guided tours of the ancient City Wall, visited the Buddhist holy site of Great Wild Goose Pagoda, and examined the Terracotta Warriors and museum.

When conference time rolled around, the Austin College group was back on very familiar territory. In Model U.N. circles, Austin College delegates are considered expert at  research and representation in committee of the positions of their assigned countries. Since 1984, Austin College delegations have received top honors at each competition.

In China, the Austin College students represented the United States and Libya, serving on the Security Council and several committees. Nathan Withers ’09 served as the Austin

College head delegate, assisting all his delegates in preparation and in rules of order for the conference. The 15 students were veteran participants — from a variety of academic disciplines. “Students of international relations and political science are drawn to Model U.N. because of its subject matter, but the benefits really are universal,” Barker said. “The key goals of any education — critical thinking, problem solving, research, and communication skills — are all central to the Model U.N. experience. And it’s certainly no drawback that students get to travel to China or New York City or similar places.”

Sophomores Willoughby Smith ’11 and Rachel Dodd ’11 already are seasoned veterans, each participating in two conferences as freshmen. Other students have competed in multiple conferences, though Austin College counts the program for academic credit only twice. “Model U.N. provides a real world application to a semester of study and hard work,” Smith said. “Almost every aspect has an application to the rest of your studies. Writing a resolution requires knowing policy and converting it into action statements in order to problem solve — it is critical thinking at its best. Model U.N. forces you to take charge of your own learning; the more you put into it, the more you get out.”

Austin College students put a lot into it. The students are responsible for a tremendous amount of information about assigned countries and must recall the details on the spot. Hours of class time, group and individual research, and practice sessions are part of the preparation. Adnan Merchant ’10 said the experience has the added benefit of “keeping student involved in the major global issues of our time.”

Withers participated in four conferences prior to taking on the leadership role of head delegate for the China event. He said the Model U.N. program helped him learn to write well and to remain calm, professional, and rationale in high stress situations. “You learn more about international community interaction in Model U.N. than you could ever learn in a traditional class setting. Not only that, you feel better prepared than most college graduates for public speaking, writing, working in a group, and interacting professionally.”

The China Model U.N. trip participants included, front row, left to right, Rachel Dodd, Molly Banas,
Willoughby Smith, Robert Likarish, staff member Marilyn Bice; second row: Daniel Leal, Alicia
Houser, Luis Cuevas, Nathan Withers, Monica Martinez, Adnan Merchant, and Wes Johnston.
Participants not pictured are Dallas Key, Caleb Cavazos, Uma Shah, and
Robert Henderson as well as faculty member Philip Barker (the photographer).

Students from many nations always participate in Model U.N.; the conference in China was no exception. Though the official language of the conference was English, some communication difficulties arose. Austin College students took that in stride. “The communication gap presented problems we were not expecting,” said Rachel Dodd. “Getting around the language difficulties was a fun challenge.” Nathan Withers enjoyed the display of culture. “The best part was walking through the markets in China, seeing all the foreign items for sale and watching the locals interact. And, I learned that riding in a taxi in China is like riding an intense roller coaster!” he said.

Like many international travelers before them, the students also found similarities  between themselves and the people of the foreign city. “You realize that despite the countless differences between the U.S. and China, the fundamentals of life are the same,” Barker said. “There is, at the core, more in common than different.”

For Daniel Leal ’11, Model U.N. experiences have been eye-opening. “I’ve become more cognizant of the international world, which has sparked my interest to work not solely in the U.S., but everywhere,” he said. “I dream to see this entire world within the next five years. I just want to go!”

The Austin College participants were named Distinguished Delegations and received Outstanding Position Paper honors for General Assembly Plenary and Security Council, as well as Security Council Outstanding Delegation recognition.

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Austin College students elected new Student Assembly leadership in November, with new officers installed and ready to take the helm at the start of the January Term. Heading the new executive committee are student body president Dallas Key ’10 and vice president Redwanul Hoque ’10.

A political science major (pre-law studies) from Lubbock, Texas, Key is a member of the Pre-Law Society, Rotaract, Young Democrats, Chi Tau Chi social fraternity, and the Bryan Apartments/Johnson ‘Roo Suites Hall Council. He has participated in several Model United Nations Conferences, including the China conference in November.

Hoque is a business administration and economics major from Bangladesh, active in the Indian Cultural Association, Student International Organization, Muslim Student Association, Asian Student Association, Chi Tau Chi social fraternity, and the Student Conduct Council.

ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

• Stephanie Almanza ’11, secretary, Spanish and psychology major, San Antonio, Texas

• Rindcy Davis ’11, Public Relations Chair, undecided major (pre-medical studies), Irving, Texas

• Karen Edwards ’09, Elections Committee Chair, biology major (pre-medical studies), Rockwall, Texas

• Vikas Mandadi ’10, Charter Review Committee Chair, computer science major (pre-medical studies), Coppell, Texas

• Maggie Marshall ’10, Budget and Finance Committee Chair, exercise and sports science and psychology majors, Dallas, Texas

• Preetha Swamy ’11, treasurer, political science major, Plano, Texas

New Student Assembly executives are, front row, left to right, Dallas Key and Redwanul oque;
seated around them, left to right, Stephanie Almanza, Karen Edwards, Vikas Mandadi,
and Maggie Marshall; and standing Rindcy Davis and Preetha Swamy.

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Jeffrey Czajkowski, assistant professor of economics, and four members of his environmental economics class presented “Valuing Ecosystems Services: Ecologists vs. Economists” at an Austin College Center for Environmental Studies forum in November.

The basis for the presentation was the question of the value of existing ecosystems. A group led by ecologist Robert Costanza attempted to answer this question in a 1997 Nature article entitled “The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital.” A group of economists took issue with Costanza et al.’s valuation effort and told the world why in a 2000 Environmental Science and Technology article “On Measuring Economic Values for Nature.”

In the November forum, Cara Marusak ’10 and Brittany Nail ’11 offered the ecologists’ position and Sunna Quazi ’10 and Ena Sharma ’09 presented the economists’ view. The Center for Environmental Studies, directed by Professor Peter Schulze, hosts a number of forums on a variety of topics throughout the year.

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Brandon Stevenson-Mathews ’11 was the student speaker at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Community Celebration co-sponsored by Austin College and local Rotary clubs in January. Brandon has been very involved at Austin College, including service as a member of Student Assembly, Student Development Board, Los Amigos, Young Democrats, Model United Nations, and Zeta Chi Beta fraternity. A Dean’s List student, Brandon worked on political campaigns for Barack Obama in Atlanta, for Hillary Clinton in Las Vegas, and for John Edwards in Mason City, Iowa, over the past year. A Spanish and international relations double major, he plans to study abroad in Argentina and Spain during the 2009–2010 academic year.

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The Alpha Delta Chi social sorority held its third annual Cupcake Eating Contest and fundraiser in November 2008, raising $170 in support of Sherman’s Boys and Girls Club. Campus organizations sponsor individuals in the contest to eat as many cupcakes as possible in a defined time period. Seventeen students participated and winner among the women was Ashleigh Johnson ’11, sponsored by the soccer team, eating 10 cupcakes in two minutes. Big eater for the men was Kerry Van Zant ’09, eating 20 cupcakes in three minutes. Van Zant, also last year’s “cupcake champion,” entered on his own to defend his title.

Members of the sorority baked cupcakes and Mom’s Bakery of Sherman donated cupcakes for a bake sale held in conjunction with the contest.

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March 2009  

Feedback?

The Germiston Rotaract Club in South Africa asked Rotaract clubs around the world to send postcards to the chapter endorsing peace in support of the International Day of Peace on September 21. The group created a Peace Wall with the postcards.

Austin College’s chapter created a card showing members joining the South African chapter in denouncement of violence and crime and in hope for a world of peace.

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women. The Austin College chapter is sponsored by Grayson County Rotary, but it works with other local Rotary clubs as well.

Rotaract members are, front row, left to right: Alicia Houser, Brittany Edwards, Montine Garcia, Cherie Blaylock, Esther Hahn, Tiffany Shim. Top row: Rija Siddiqu, Daniel Jackson, Ashley Overturf, Carolyn Stone, Taylor Knapp, and Ashley Johnson. 

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