Texas A&M-Commerce News Release: TAMUC Faculty Named Prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar
A&M-Commerce Faculty Named Prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Will embark on an eight-month research excursion
COMMERCE, TX, August 19, 2024— Texas A&M University-Commerce Assistant Professor Eralda Lameborshi, Ph.D., received the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. The Fulbright Award allows higher education faculty, as well as artists and professionals from a wide range of fields, to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects overseas.
The Fulbright educational exchange program, established in 1946 by former U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, awards approximately 8,000 grants annually to students, teachers and more. The list of Fulbright recipients includes 42 heads of state, 90 Pulitzer Prize recipients and 62 Nobel Laureates. Scholarships are awarded through the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Lameborshi, who teaches world literature in the Department of Literature and Languages, is the second A&M-Commerce professor to receive a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award this year. Fellow Literature and Languages faculty member Maia Lamarque, Ph.D., also received the award.
Continuing a legacy of education
Born and raised in a small mountain town in Albania, Lameborshi was exposed to the world of education at a young age by her mother, a literature teacher.
When she was 17, Lameborshi stepped out in a big way by coming to the U.S. as an exchange student. She remained in the U.S. to continue her studies, earning a B.S. in Computer Science from Harding University in 2003, an M.A. in English from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2009 and a Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University in 2017. She has taught at A&M-Commerce since 2021.
Lameborshi said she initially intended to earn her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, but she grew to love studying English and literature.
“Some of the theoretical texts we were studying really just made sense to me and opened up the world in a way I hadn’t experienced before,” Lameborshi said. “I really fell in love with the discipline and decided to pursue my Ph.D. in English as well.”
A study of Southeastern Europe
Lameborshi’s main focus of study is the literature and film of Southeastern Europe, as well as the legacy of the former Ottoman Empire and how it shaped the region’s future. She has published several scholarly articles on the subject and received recognition from the National Endowment for the Humanities for her work.
“The topics that I have engaged with include nationalism, citizenship and national belonging,” Lameborshi said. “In my academic pursuit, I find out more about my own upbringing and the kind of contexts that have affected my own cultural belonging.”
She said that many of the questions that arise from her research are very important for the young nation of Kosovo. Kosovo is a 4,200-square-mile republic in southeastern Europe that has experienced a turbulent history both before and since its relatively recent declaration of independence in 2008. Only holding diplomatic recognition from 104 member states of the United Nations, the developing country is still finding its footing and identity on the world stage.
“When academic work focuses on such small nations, it features these countries and their contributions both regionally and on the world,” Lameborshi said.
Traveling to Kosovo
As part of her Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, Lameborshi will leave in January 2025 for an eight-month research excursion to Kosovo. While there, she will work with faculty at the University of Pristina—an institution in the nation’s capital with more than 20,000 students—and other academics to create a cultural history of the capital and research how art in the region has been affected by the country’s former connection to Yugoslavia.
“My mother exposed me to the works of Kosovar intellectuals, and from a very young age, I wanted to understand why there was such upheaval in the region,” Lameborshi said. She hopes that studying the art, film and literature produced by Kosovars can create a better understanding of the region and its culture.
In addition to writing a book on Kosovar films, she intends to create connections between Kosovo and its diaspora population in America.
Creating understanding
Lameborshi says that the purpose of the Fulbright program is ultimately to foster understanding and stability between the U.S. and the wider world.
“The program works to create mutual understanding, cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue,” Lameborshi said. “The ultimate aim is to create global stability through these cultural alliances.”
Going beyond just academic publications, Lameborshi hopes to bring back experiences and knowledge from Kosovo that she can share with her students at A&M-Commerce.
“My hope is that my experience will be one that can expand their horizons beyond a local context,” Lameborshi said.
Learn more about the Fulbright program and Literature and Languages at A&M-Commerce
The Superintendent of SSISD Visited and Gave an Update on This Episode of A Second Cup of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark had a visit with Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Dr. Deana Steeber. The two discuss the development plans of the new building projects coming to the Sulphur Springs ISD area, a new policy for medications recently introduced to Texas schools, safety procedures in the Sulphur Springs ISD, and much more. Give it a watch down below!
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report 8-12-2024 – 8-18-2024
Arrests:
Calls for Service:
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 168 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations:
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 39 citations and 67 warnings during this reporting period.
Venue Changed: Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce to Host Apex Clean Energy at Pacific Park
August 19, 2024 – Due to the level of response to this meeting, the venue has changed. The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce has promised to release that location today. The date and time will remain the same.
August 12, 2024 – The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is set to host Apex Clean Energy for a lunch and learn in September. The informative meeting will help educate the public about wind power plants and their roll in Hopkins County.
Find out more about APEX Clean Energy by clicking here.
See a map provided by APEX of the scale and location of the proposed wind power plant by clicking here.
You can submit your RSVP by clicking here.
Foreign National Heads to Prison for Trafficking over 17 Kilograms of Meth
Friday, August 16, 2024 – U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury deliberated for less than five hours before convicting Alberto Ramos-Nogueda Feb. 7.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Ramos-Nogueda to serve 210 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In imposing sentence, Judge Lake noted that credible evidence showed Ramos-Nogueda played an essential role in the conspiracy and made the choice to participate in the distribution of a large quantity of a dangerous substance that affects many people.
“Seventeen kilos of crystal meth is a lot of deadly meth for any size city, no matter how large,” said Hamdani. “Had Ramos-Nogueda been successful in bringing the drugs into Conroe, many there and in other nearby communities north of Houston, such as The Woodlands and Kingwood, could have fallen victim to meth’s deadly effects. Thanks to law enforcement’s surveillance and hard work, including chasing him down into the woods, Ramos-Nogueda’s efforts to destroy lives for his own personal profit came up short and left him in prison.”
In May 2022, law enforcement conducted surveillance at a hotel in north Houston believing a large amount of meth was going to be transported through Houston into the Conroe area. Authorities observed Ramos-Nogueda arrive at the hotel carrying a large cardboard box into one of the rooms. Shortly thereafter, he left with Hector Hernandez-Velasquez.
He then placed the box into his vehicle and began to drive north on Highway 45 toward Conroe with Hernandez-Velasquez. When authorities attempted to stop them, both fled on foot. Law enforcement quickly took Hernandez-Velasquez into custody, but Ramos-Nogueda fled into a wooded area. They were able to apprehend him as well just a few hours later.
Law enforcement seized the box and discovered over 17 kilograms of crystal meth.
Hernandez-Velasquez, 49, illegally residing in Pharr, previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing Oct. 24. At that time, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Ramos-Nogueda will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Houston Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Conroe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Stabe and Jimmy Leo prosecuted the case.
Celebrity Judges Announced for 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards
August 18, 20204 – With the Fair season in full swing, that also means it’s time to crown the next winners of the 20th Annual Big Tex® Choice Awards. It’s no easy feat to make it to this point, considering there were 65 total entries submitted. These were then whittled down to 24 semi-finalists. Now, it all comes down to the final 10 that will compete live in the final round at this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards event. The esteemed panel of judges must choose which dishes can take home the titles of “Best Taste – Savory,” “Best Taste – Sweet,” and “Most Creative.” The panel of judges comes from a variety of culinary fields, from local celebrities to chefs; each person will have the enviable task of tasting these deep-fried delicacies at the Big Tex Choice Awards event on Thursday, August 22.
And now the moment that everyone has been looking forward to, the State Fair of Texas is proud to present this year’s judges who will serve as taste-testers for the iconic competition:
Brad Batson — Karbach Brewing Company
Brad Batson, a Dallas resident, is one of the Co-Founders of Karbach Brewing Company. Brad was part of the group that launched Karbach in 2011 and has been a pivotal contributor to its ascension to the second-largest brewery in Texas. Prior to founding Karbach, Brad led a beer import/export company named BELUKUS (Belgium, United Kingdom, United States), where thanks to his hard work and contribution to the Belgian Beer Industry he received the Riddeschap van de Roerstok der Brouwers, the Knighthood of the Brewer’s Mash Staff.
Leslie Brenner — Food and Beverage Personality
Leslie Brenner is a writer, editor, publisher, consultant, entrepreneur and food-and-beverage community thought-leader. Winner of two James Beard Journalism Awards and author of six books, Leslie founded her award-winning cooking website, Cooks Without Borders, in 2015, winner of a People’s Choice Webby Award this year. Previously, she directed food & beverage programming, marketing and media for Rebees, a Dallas-based place-creation company; there, she helped create and open Billy Can Can, Hatchways, and numerous other projects around the country. She was The Dallas Morning News’ longtime restaurant critic and dining editor and won a long list of prizes as food editor at The Los Angeles Times. She also runs her restaurant consultancy, Leslie Brenner Concepts.
Calvin Golden — Franchise Expert & Business Consultant
One of the most trusted and experienced franchise leaders in the DFW market, Calvin Golden is a prolific and multi-generational public speaker reaching young and more mature audiences alike. Calvin Golden joined the founder of Wingstop Restaurants Inc. in 1997. Their mission was to make Wingstop a viable franchise concept. He developed the first training program and manual, established construction standards, and negotiated the first product distribution agreement with a national food distributor. In 2005, Calvin was honored by Wingstop with their Lifetime Achievement Award and now serves on the board of Wingstop Charites. His mission is to share his story in hopes of inspiring and motivating others with the message: It’s Possible. Married to Shelia for 30 years, they have three adult children and 11 grandchildren.
Donovan Lewis — 96.7SportsRadio/1310 The Ticket Host
Donovan Lewis is the host of the World’s Most Dangerous Midday Show, The Invasion, on SportsRadio 96.7/1310 The Ticket station which airs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donovan was born in Dallas and graduated with a degree in Radio/TV from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) in 1993. Donovan has worked at 570KLIF from 1993 to 2003 and 93.3 The Bone from 2003 to 2006 before starting at The Ticket in May of 2006. Donovan lives in Duncanville with his wife Yolanda and their very first date was at The State Fair of Texas back in 1993, and they still go multiple times during the run of the Fair every year.
Nikky Phinyawatana — Founder of Asian Mint Restaurant Group and ChefNikky.com
Nikky Phinyawatana is the charismatic chef behind the Chef Nikky lifestyle brand and the Asian Mint restaurant group, celebrating 20 years with five bustling locations in Dallas. Her passion for Thai cuisine and culture shines through in her award-winning cookbook, “Thai Food and Travel with Chef Nikky: Easy Thai Recipes to Feed Your Soul”, and her YouTube series, Thai Takeover, which demystifies Thai and Asian fusion cooking. In 2021, CultureMap’s Tastemaker Awards named her one of the Top 10 Best Chefs in Dallas. Nikky’s dedication to giving back is evident through her support of over 100 charities, schools, and nonprofit organizations. Nikky lives in Dallas with her husband and two children, always ready for the next delicious adventure.
The 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards will take place on Thursday, August 22 at 2:00 p.m. Although this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards event is closed to the public, the winners will be revealed live on our social media channels – @StateFairofTX. The 2024 State Fair of Texas opens Friday, September 27, and runs through Sunday, October 20. You can purchase season passes and premium tickets online at BigTex.com/Tickets.
Attorney General Ken Paxton and 23 Other States Ask SCOTUS to Allow Arizona Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voting to Go Into Effect
August 18, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined a coalition of twenty-three other attorneys general to file an amicus brief in support of an Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship in order to vote, asking the Supreme Court of the United States for an emergency stay of a federal district court’s injunction against the law.
Arizona’s state constitution, like many other state constitutions, stipulates the commonsense requirement that only American citizens are qualified to vote in American elections. To ensure this requirement is met, Arizona passed a law that everyone registering to vote must provide documentary proof of United States citizenship. A Federal district court ruled that Arizona’s law was preempted by the federal National Voter Registration Act. Opponents to the Arizona law claim the NRVA does not permit proof of citizenship requirements by States. Attorney General Paxton urged the Supreme Court to issue an emergency stay of the district court’s ruling which intentionally misrepresents the NVRA and ignores that States have the sovereign right to regulate their elections.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has intentionally flooded our country with illegal aliens. Without proper safeguards, foreign nationals can and will illegally influence elections at the local, state, and national level,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The States have a constitutional right and responsibility to ensure that only legal votes from American citizens are counted. I hope the Supreme Court recognizes the urgency of this situation and moves to protect our national elections. Lawmakers in Texas must also make every effort to secure our elections and prevent noncitizens from voting. I urge them in the next legislative session to prioritize election integrity in Texas after millions of illegal aliens entered the state under the Biden-Harris Administration.”
The brief explains: “There is every reason to believe this problem of non-citizen voting has gotten worse, as the number of illegal immigrants in the United States has undeniably grown… Each of those illegal aliens represents another possible opening for voter fraud, for each represents a probability—no matter how small—that they will vote illegally.”
Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church to Hold a Hamburger Fundraiser August 23rd
August 18, 2024 – Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church will hold a hamburger fundraiser Friday, August 23, 2024. The event will be held from 10:00am to 3:00pm. You can get a hamburger with, or without cheese, chips, a drink, and a cookie. Cost is $12 a meal. The fundraiser will be held at 711 Fuller Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas. Proceeds benefit Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church Building fund. For more information, please call 903-335-4345. Rev. D. K. Young, Pastor-Founder
Hopkins County Genealogical Society Joint Meeting with Hopkins County Historical Society to be Held August 22nd
August 18, 2024 – It is August again and time for the annual joint meeting of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society and the Hopkins County Historical Society. The historical society will host the genealogical society once again and dual member, Paula Altenbaumer, will present in first person and costume the early pioneer of Hopkins County and wife of Dr. Stephen Beasley Longino, Mary Edna Young Longino.
Mary Edna Young Longino passed away at the early age of 42 years, but she left behind a loving husband, a sweet daughter and niece, two noble sons and many friends to mourn her greatly.
Join us in the Winifred Building, Hopkins County Heritage Park & Museum, 416 N. Jackson St., Sulphur Springs, TX., at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024, for Paula’s delightful presentation of this lovely and historically significant lady!
Paris Junior College Starts 100th Fall Semester on August 26
This fall semester starting August 26 at Paris Junior College is significant for a number of reasons. One hundred years ago, PJC’s first fall semester began on September 14. Special events and celebrations will be held throughout the 2024-2025 academic year to mark the anniversary. “Last chance registration” will be held August 19-22.
In addition to the over 70 certificates and degrees offered, this fall PJC has added Occupational Skills Awards (OSA) that are designed to meet specific employment needs of
the community. Students who enroll in an OSA are generally interested in upgrading job-related skills in order to enhance employment specialization. Most of these awards lead to certifications.
This fall OSAs are available in Autocad Associate, Mechanical Drafting, Certified Medication Aide, Certified Nurse Assistant, CISCO Certified Network Associate, EMT Basic, Helpdesk Support Professional, Metal Arc Welder, Network Support Professional, Phlebotomy Technician, Pipe Welder, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and Stone Setting.
It is the first fall semester for the College’s ninth president, Dr. Stephen Michael Benson, who began his presidency using the phrase, “Together We Can.” He has been conducting internal listening sessions and external meetings to to gain input from as many constituents of PJC as possible to help set the College’s future course.
This fall semester also means 100 years of innovation and improvement for student success and meeting the timely needs of the residents, businesses, and economy in PJC’s five-county service area. Especially in the last 10 years, PJC has received both state and national recognition in the Guided Pathways movement.
Last December PJC was recognized as the first community college in Texas to meet all four goals of the Texas Success Center’s Texas Pathways strategy. PJC was also one of 150 community colleges – out of 1,000 – shortlisted to compete for the $1 million Aspen prize. That puts PJC in the top 15 percent of community colleges, something our students, alumni, faculty and staff and area residents may be very proud of.
To aid students in registering for fall, PJC offices will be open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, August 19-22, for “Last Chance Registration.” Offices will also be open until 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, August 26-27, to help students get their classes.
Students may register online at www.parisjc.edu/apply and email [email protected] with questions. Go to www.parisjc.edu/programs to see all the programs the College offers. For 100th anniversary events, go to www.parisjc.edu/100-events.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
