A&M-Commerce Opera Production of “Serse” Wins National Competition
COMMERCE, TX— The A&M-Commerce Opera production of George F. Handel’s “Serse” has been recognized by the National Opera Association’s Opera Production Competition. A&M-Commerce was one of only three universities in Texas to receive the honor in 2018.
“This is a very prestigious award and a wonderful honor for all involved,” said Jennifer Glidden, assistant professor of music, voice and opera. “It takes a village to put on an opera production and I am so grateful to have such wonderful and dedicated students and colleagues.”
Entries in the Opera Production Competition are judged on musicianship, quality of singing, diction, dramatic credibility and characterization, production concept, staging and execution, and quality of the production.
David Estrada, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s in music education, played the lead role of Serse. He reflected that it was his most challenging collegiate role. “Playing that role encouraged me to pursue a career in opera performance,” he said.
When Estrada heard about the NOA award, he felt honored. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication to put on the production. I saw a lot of passion in my fellow cast members. The award is well deserved.”
The competition helps NOA further its mission by encouraging and rewarding creative, high quality opera productions at academic institutions, music conservatories, summer opera training programs and opera outreach programs. Winners will be honored at the NOA Annual National Conference in January 2019.
“A&M Commerce Opera is so excited to be recognized by the National Opera Association,” Glidden said.
NOA promotes excellence in opera education and pedagogy through its support of a diverse community of opera educators and professionals.
Santa, Lights, A Bright Monday Night in the City
Under clear skies and a temperature in the mid-40’s, the Sulphur Springs Lions’ Club Christmas Parade sponsored by Carriage House Manor provided a variegated display of light and beauty to the night. Prior to the parade, the Downtown Business Association sponsored the lighting of the city Christmas Tree by Santa.
Under the bright lights of the tree Santa visited with the children present for both a photo op for parents and the opportunity for the children to make their Christmas requests. Along with Santa, there were white tigers and a number of other fun venues for the family oriented night. Vendors sold items inside Celebration Plaza including one glow light vendor permitted to sell on the plaza. A few vendors were selling glow lights south of Davis Street along Connally Street although some of those vendors encroached on areas of the parade route for which they were not permitted.
Music by Ice House Band featured jazz and various vocals for the evening prior to the parade and following.
The parade was filled with bands and cheer groups that wore lights on uniforms and band instruments. Cars and trucks were illuminated by rope lights of various colors and several of the vehicles pulled trailers that served as floats filled with children, adults, and various trees and lights. Churches, businesses and organizations entered floats including the Carriage House Manor Rocker-ettes. The parade ended with a honor guard of fire trucks and EMS vehicles escorting the city fire engine carrying Santa.
A & M University-Commerce Fall Commencement Set for December 14 and 15, 2018
COMMERCE, TX—Texas A&M University-Commerce will hold its Fall 2018 Commencement on December 14 and 15, the largest in the last six years, where 1,378 students are eligible for graduate and undergraduate degrees. Among these candidates, 268 will graduate with honors including 94 cum laude, 98 magna cum laude and 76 summa cum laude.
Fall 2018 Commencement Dates and Times:
- December 14 at 4 p.m. – Master’s and Doctoral Students
- December 15 at 8:30 a.m. – College of Business and College of Humanities, Social Sciences & Arts
- December 15 at 11:30 a.m. – College of Science & Engineering and College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
- December 15 at 2:30 p.m. – College of Education & Human Services
All ceremonies will be held in the University Field House at 1804 Lee Street, Commerce, Texas. Doors will open one hour prior to the start of each ceremony. The Pride Room on the second floor of the Rayburn Student Center will be available to accommodate any overflow.
Two distinguished graduates of East Texas State University, now A&M-Commerce, will speak at the commencement ceremonies:
Rita Garcia Ransdell received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in 1975 and a commission in the U.S. Air Force. She is currently a licensed attorney and vice president of human resources for Center Operating Company at the American Airlines Center. Ransdell will speak on December 14 and 15.
D.W. “Dan” Bobst graduated in 1990 with a degree in marketing and was a student-athlete on the men’s basketball team. Bobst is founder and owner of TrendHR in Rockwall, Texas. He will speak on December 15.
An alumni reception for graduates and their families will be held immediately following each ceremony across the street from the Field House at the edge of the parking lot. Light refreshments will be served.
Fall 2018 Graduate Profiles
Evan Luecke will receive his bachelor’s degree with a concentration in journalism. Evan said his experience at A&M-Commerce has been both positive and challenging. “I am very proud of my successes as a student-athlete on the track and field team and as a campus photographer. I am especially proud to have done all these things and still kept my grades up.” He will start his career in January at Southern Utah University as a marketing and promotions assistant in the Athletic Department.
Rebecca Tuerk, director of Student Disability Resources and Services at A&M-Commerce, will receive her doctorate this fall. “Receiving this degree completes a personal goal I set for myself several years ago,” Tuerk said. “Professionally, my hope is that this degree will allow me to have an even greater positive impact on student lives and A&M-Commerce.”
More details and information can be found on the Registrar’s Office website.
Coach Tisdell Looks Back at Lady Cats Play in Edgewood Tourney
Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell said for the Lady Cats, the Edgewood tournament last weekend (December 6-8) was not as good as they would have liked but was not bad. The Lady Cats took third place in the tourney with 3 wins and 2 losses.
The Lady Cats defeated Wills Point, lost games to Gilmer and Edgewood and then defeated Kaufman and North Forney. Coach Tisdell said she would have liked a different ending for the double overtime loss to host Edgewood. She added things just did not go the Lady Cats way in that one. Coach Tisdell said third place in still not bad. The Lady Cats ended the tournament with a win over North Forney that gave them third place.
Coach Tisdell said she was worried after the first half of that game. The Lady Cats trailed 19-16 at halftime and she said her team looked dead. Coach Tisdell said the Lady Cats seemed to wake up at the half and then came out well in the third quarter on their way to a win, 40-33. The Lady Cats outscored the Lady Falcons, 16-4 in the third quarter.
The Lady Cats, now 11-3 for the season, have two home games this week. Idabel, Oklahoma comes in for a Tuesday game and Princeton will be in Wildcats Gym Friday. Both games should get underway at around 6:15 p.m. after a JV game at 5 p.m.
Panthers Win Freeman Parish Boys Tournament
The North Hopkins Panthers won their own Freeman Parish Boys Basketball Tournament Saturday (December 8) with a 52-39 victory over Prairiland. The Panthers won all four games they played in the tournament.
One more county basketball note, the Saltillo Lady Lions earned a big win Friday night (December 7) at home against Union Grove, 47-39. Union Grove, the #15 ranked team in Class 2A, suffered their first loss of the season. The Lady Lions are now 9-8 for the season.
In other Saturday scores in the North Hopkins tournament, Cooper defeated Yantis, 62-49 and Campbell won the tournament Consolation Championship with a 65-36 win over Sam Rayburn.
The Saltillo Lions took third place with a win over Roxton, 60-39. The Lions went 3-1 in the tournament and improved their season record to 9-5.
Cipoletta Prepares Wildcats for District and Playoffs with Tough Games
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said the Forney ISD Winter Classic was a great experience for the Wildcats who again played some really good teams.
For the second straight tournament, the Wildcats won 2 and lost 2. They won their pool Thursday (December 6) with wins over North Mesquite and McKinney Boyd. Friday the Wildcats lost to Wylie, up to #13 this week in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Poll. Coach Cipoletta called the Pirates really athletic and he added they play hard. He said the 54-41 loss was a great learning opportunity. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats dug themselves into too big of a hole with turnovers and by not shooting well. Wylie jumped out to a 16-1 lead to start the game. Coach Cipoletta said he was proud of the Wildcats for battling back in the game. The Wildcats got to within 11 points in the fourth quarter. Saturday the Wildcats lost a third place game to Lake Highlands 55-53. Coach Cipoletta said Lake Highlands was a good team from top to bottom. He compared them to the Prosper team the Wildcats played last year in the playoffs that had five good players instead of one dominating player.
Coach Cipoletta said cold shooting, especially from three point range, hampered the Wildcats against Lake Highlands. He said the Wildcats only shot 13% from behind the arc for the game. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats’ played good enough defense to win.
The Wildcats, ranked #8 in Class 5A, are now 10-4 for the season. They face their biggest challenge of the season Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. as they travel to Denton Guyer, the #1 ranked team in Class 6A. Coach Cipoletta said Guyer has several major Division 1 players. He said it’s a challenge the Wildcats are looking forward to and he again called it a learning opportunity.
The match up with highly ranked Class 6A teams continues for the Wildcats Friday as they visit Jesuit of Dallas, ranked #6 in Class 6A.
SSISD Board Approves Personnel Changes in December Meeting
During their regular meeting Monday, December 10, 2018, the Sulphur Springs School board approved the following personnel changes:
Retirement
Hillary Young Head Start Director Douglass ECLC
Mynder Kelly SAC Teacher High School
Resignation
Whitney Helfferich Kindergarten teacher Barbara Bush Primary
Jennifer Friddle Nurse High School
New personnel
Miranda Anglin SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Shelby Polk SpEd Aide Middle School
Joey Chastain SAC Teacher High School
Beverly Mayo Nurse High School
Amber Perry World History Teacher High School
Lighted Christmas Parade Monday Night at 7 p.m.
Lights, floats, fun will be found at the Sulphur Springs Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade Monday at 7 p.m. The parade and city planned events set for last Friday night were moved to Monday due to weather issues. Events include the annual city tree lighting ceremony and an EMS sponsored tree decorating contest. Music and other entertainment will also be available.
The parade begins at Buford Park traveling Connally Street to Celebration Plaza to Church Street to Houston Street to Prim Stadium parking.
Volunteers walking the parade will receive toys for Blue Santa to fill the Blue Santa float. Toys will be given to Hopkins County children based on need.
