Campus News
UIW dedicates Alonso Ancira Tower
Dr. Louis Agnese, UIW Board of Trustees chairman Charlie Amato, District 3 County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, Alonso Ancira, his wife Susana Ancira and Archbishop José Gomez cut the ribbon to officially open the new Alonso Ancira Tower.
The University of the Incarnate Word dedicated the campus’ newest structure, the Alonso Ancira Tower, on Nov. 24. Faculty members and students gathered on the ICC hill to celebrate as Archbishop José Gomez blessed the new parking facility.
“We are honored to dedicate the Ancira Tower, and we are grateful to Alonso Ancira and his family for their friendship and support of Incarnate Word, without which this tower would not have been possible” said Dr. Louis Agnese Jr., UIW president.
Benefactor Alonso Ancira is chairman of the board of Altos Hornos de Mexico, the largest steel manufacturing company in Mexico and one of the largest in the world.
Construction on the structure began in early 2008 and opened for use in stages beginning in August. The nine-level, 292,000-square-foot structure features covered parking for 800 vehicles.
Feik School of Pharmacy receives antique collection
Dr. Louis Agnese Jr. (center), UIW president, Billy Walker, chairman of the Pharmacy Museum Foundation of Texas, and Dr. Arcelia Johnson-Fannin, FSOP founding dean, gathered with several foundation board members on Oct. 29 to commemorate this important gift.
UIW is proud to announce that the Pharmacy Museum Foundation of Texas has donated its inventory of more than 4,000 early pharmacy artifacts, dating between 1850-1950, to the Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP). The artifacts are valued at more than $250,000.
When the Feik School of Pharmacy was under construction, Billy Walker, chairman of the Pharmacy Museum Foundation of Texas, approached FSOP Founding Dean Dr. Arcelia Johnson-Fannin about bringing the collection to UIW. “It is with the greatest of pleasure and honor that the Feik School of Pharmacy was selected to house and maintain this collection for future generations to study and appreciate,” Johnson-Fannin said.
Walker collected Texas pharmacy-related items during his nearly 34-year career in pharmaceutical sales. Many of these old drug stores had been in business since the early 1900s and were closing with the movement away from small town living and the growth of large, superstore pharmacies.
Light the Way illuminates campus
More than 4,000 guests celebrated the 23rd annual Light the Way.
Christmas festivities kicked off at the University of the Incarnate Word as more than 4,000 guests gathered at the university’s McDermott Convocation Center for the 23rd annual Light the Way ceremony on Nov. 22.
Mass was celebrated in Our Lady’s Chapel to begin the evening’s events. During the Light the Way ceremony, there were performances from the choirs of the Brainpower Connection schools and the St. Anthony Catholic High School jazz band. Santa Claus joined the event, and a special appearance by the Spurs Coyote had the crowd in stitches. Local Tejano singer Patsy Torres performed with the Sol de Tejas mariachis to end the ceremony.
Dr. Louis Agnese Jr., with help from two Brainpower Connection students, flipped the switch to illuminate a million twinkling lights across the campus. Guests followed the mariachis on a candlelit procession through the campus to event sponsor H-E-B Central Market for refreshments.
Thanks to the generosity of the San Antonio community, more toys were collected for the Elf Louise toy drive than ever before.
UIW honors veterans with ceremony
A U.S. Air Force veteran and MSE dean Dr. Glenn James welcomed the UIW community to the annual Veterans Day ceremony held on Dubuis Lawn each year.
The 6th annual UIW Veterans Day Ceremony was held Nov. 11 in conjunction with ceremonies throughout the nation. This year’s event was planned by the new Student Veterans Association, under the direction of president Will E. Velazquez, a student veteran. U.S. Air Force veteran Dr. Glenn James, dean of the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering and adviser to the student group, emceed the event.
At the start of the ceremony, the UIW Army ROTC Color Guard presented the colors, and James announced that UIW was one of only 10 schools in the nation to receive part of a million-dollar grant provided by the Walmart Foundation because of the university’s dedication to veterans. UIW will receive a $100,000 grant, which will be used to provide scholarships.
U.S. Air Force veteran Michelle Martin and active duty U.S. Army command sergeant major Fernando Rodriguez-Ramos, both students at UIW, spoke at the ceremony. They told those gathered on Dubuis Lawn how important UIW has been for them since leaving the armed forces.
The Incarnate Word High School Madrigals, who sang the national anthem at the ceremony, also performed Dec. 17 at the White House for President George W. Bush.
UIW marks new “firsts” at December Commencement
Saturday evening graduates listen as UIW Moody Professor Margaret Mitchell delivers their “last class” at the spring Commencement.
For the first time, UIW Commencement ceremonies were broadcast with live streaming over the Internet, allowing graduates’ family and friends who were unable to attend to participate in the event. Also a first for the university, there were three Commencement ceremonies, instead of two, in order to accommodate the growth of the university.
Texas Secretary of State Esperanza “Hope” Andrade addressed graduates on Friday, Dec. 12. She is a leader in the San Antonio business community and serves as Texas’ chief elections officer, chief international protocol officer and the governor’s chief liaison on border and Mexican affairs.
UIW Moody Professor Margaret Mitchell spoke at both ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 13. The Moody Professor traditionally delivers the Commencement address to the December graduates and this address is often considered the students’ “last class.” A full professor since 2004, Mitchell has been a member of the UIW Theatre Arts department since 1992.
Nearly 600 students received their degrees at the fall ceremonies.
The Universe is still expanding
Dr. Agnese officially opens the Northeast Center at Rolling Oaks. Visitors toured the facility while Mariachi Sol de Tejas played.
The Northeast Center at Rolling Oaks has become the newest location for the extended academic programs, as UIW opened its latest Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCaP) location in January. The grand opening was celebrated by the entire UIW community on Feb. 17 with a blessing, mariachis and refreshments.
The 5,500-square-foot learning center is equipped with four classrooms, a computer lab, two advising offices and a reception area.
“We are very excited about this new ADCaP location. The Northeast Center provides greater access to UIW programs for those living or working in the northeast area of greater San Antonio,” said Vincent Porter, dean of the School of Extended Studies.
Donor gives international collection to university
Dr. Agnese officially opens the Northeast Center at Rolling Oaks. Visitors toured the facility while Mariachi Sol de Tejas played.
At her death at age 87, longtime donor Shirley Sterling made a generous bequest to the university to create the Sterling International Art and Artifact Collection. This collection is now housed in the Sterling Room of the Mabee Library and the Grossman International Conference Center (ICC). During their lifetimes, Shirley and her husband, Leonard, traveled around the world 12 times, and they assembled a special collection of foreign treasures from their voyages. It was this collection that made up part of Sterling’s final gift to UIW and included a gift to establish an endowment for the collection. In her will, Sterling left everything of an international nature to UIW. Her travels included India, Brazil, Thailand, Nepal, Mexico and Japan, among many other places. There were so many items from Africa that a conference room in the ICC was named the Africa Room and is now used to display the assortment. The collection includes indigenous art, carvings, furnishings and other artifacts.
Citywide disaster drill trains nursing students
A member of the moulage team applies mock burns to a UIW nursing student who graduated in December. She will be treated as a victim by the emergency care team.
As part of their coursework, 36 UIW nursing students participated in a mock disaster drill held by the San Antonio EMS/Hospital Disaster Group (EHDG) Exercise Committee as a function of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma (STRAC). Students had the opportunity to observe and practice the skills needed by a healthcare professional in a disaster setting such as physical assessment, stabilization of injuries, dealing with psychological stress and providing life support measures. Additionally, the students witnessed the organization, communication, critical thinking, priority setting and actions needed both for the treatment of the victims and the management/staging of this practice drill.
Serving as “victims” in the drill, the students expressed amazement at the realism of the practice, the skills of the moulage (mock wound application) team, the roles of the health professionals and disaster management team coordination. They were asked by the UIW nursing faculty to discuss their assessments and plans of care that they would have carried out had they been actual care providers. Many students have never been a patient and were amazed at how they felt in this role. They identified positive nursing behaviors they appreciated and those behaviors they would not want to practice as nurses working with patients.
Dr. Jennifer Cook, Robert Sackett and Michael Moon, all members of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, were involved in this drill effort.
Cardinals join the Lone Star Conference
The Cardinals’ membership in the nine-school Heartland Conference is coming to an end. Beginning in summer 2010, UIW teams will join the Lone Star Conference (LSC), an NCAA Division II entity. The decision was made Jan. 16 at the annual NCAA convention as the Lone Star presidents unanimously voted to admit all UIW teams. Men’s and women’s swimming teams will not be affected because the LSC does not sponsor swimming. Those teams compete as associates of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
“You can tell by the vote of our presidents that we stand united in welcoming Incarnate Word,” LSC Commissioner Stan Wagnon said.
The Cardinal football team will play their first game Aug. 29 and will compete as an independent before beginning a Lone Star schedule in 2010.
“We are all excited here about this new venture,” UIW Athletics Director Mark Papich said.
UIW gives the LSC a membership of 16 schools in three states. This is the first expansion for the league since 1995 when four Oklahoma schools were accepted.
Asian New Year
Student model Asian attire during the Asian New Year celebration honoring the Year of the Ox.
Students, faculty members and staff celebrated the Year of the Ox at the Asian New Year festival before a capacity crowd on Jan. 26. Visitors sampled a variety of Asian cuisine and enjoyed Asian music and performances. The lion dancers performed twice, and there were other traditional Asian dances. Guests were able to have their names written in Japanese calligraphy and get henna tattoos. A themed competition with traditional celebration attire rounded out the event. The Asian New Year celebration helped to provide a feeling of home to the diverse Asian population attending the university while showcasing Asian culture to the local community. The UIW International Program’s Institute of World Cultures sponsored event.