Names in the news

WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT
>> Katie Keith, daughter of Ronny and Carolina Keith, attended the 54th annual Youth Range Workshop at the Texas Tech University Center-Junction June 15-20.

County selection of participants involved in 4-H and FFA programs was based on outstanding projects, leadership and interest in range and natural resource management   

Keith's local sponsor is Sandhills SWCD No. 241, a strong supporter of range education and leadership development of local youth.

The weeklong Youth Range Workshop, sponsored by the Texas Section Society for Range Management, is held annually to recognize outstanding Texas youth and to provide them with an opportunity for complimentary training in range and natural resource management, stewardship and leadership.

Participants learned principles of ecology, ecosystem level management, total resource management, range and watershed management and gain an understanding of the plant-soil-water relationship. Hands-on activities and lectures conducted by sixteen staff members provided training in plant identification, evaluation of rangeland potential/health, determination of stocking rates and the decision making process relative to livestock production, wildlife habitat and multiple uses of Texas rangelands.

Leadership training included communications skills and conflict resolution as related to ecosystem management field trips for hands-on training at the Mason and Menard County ranches, the Kerr wildlife management area, Texas Tech University Center Lands and the South Llano River State Park.

Range Workshop instructors include Texas Cooperative Extension specialists, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists, County Extension agents, teachers from major Texas Universities, ranchers, consultants, land stewardship consultants, personnel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas General Land Office and other members of the Texas Section Society for Range Management involved in the management of rangeland resources and youth education.

The workshop began in 1955 and has provided training and has benefited more than 1,950 Texas youths.

BAR-SR-BAR AWARD

>> ALPINE Joe Ray Ramirez, a building maintenance worker for Physical Plant is the most recent recipient of the Sul Ross State University Bar-SR-Bar Award for Employee Excellence.

The distinction includes a cash award and certificate in recognition of exemplary performance. Ramirez has been employed at Sul Ross since March 2002.

"Joe Ray...understands the importance of efficiency and quality work for our students," Ramirez' nomination stated. "He has established a positive relationship with housing staff and the students of Sul Ross."

Ramirez, who serves the new Lobo Village Residential complex, has worked in the Residential Living area for five years.

He was praised for his hard work, dedication and "is quick in responding to residential concerns and this type of response is what our students expect and deserve," the nomination continued.

Ramirez enjoys the Sul Ross environment, particularly the student contact.

In addition to his regular duties, he and his wife, Corina, serve as advisers to the Newman Club.

"I enjoy working with the students," he said. "As time goes on, I get to know most of them in Lobo Village on a first-name basis. It's fun getting to know people from different areas."

"Sul Ross has been a good place to be," Ramirez said. "It's small, comfortable and we're in a vacation spot all year around."

An Alpine native, Ramirez moved with his family to Holbrook, Ariz., then to Marathon, where he graduated from high school.

He and his wife, Corina, his high school sweetheart, have one daughter, Alayna, 12. He spends much of his spare time coaching his daughter's athletic endeavors.

PUBLICATION

>> ALPINE Articles by a Sul Ross State University faculty member and a Sul Ross graduate are included in recent issues of prominent wildlife magazines.

The first installment of "Borderlands News," an every-other-month column by Louis Harveson, associate professor of Natural Resource Management, was published in the May issue of Texas Wildlife, the magazine of the Texas Wildlife Association. "Borderlands News will feature articles about wildlife-related topics from the Borderlands Research Institute for Natural Resources at Sul Ross.

Sul Ross graduate Selma Glasscock authored "Desert Divide: Transboundary Conservation in the Southwest" in the summer issue of Fair Chase, the official publication of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Glasscock is a professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club and assistant director for the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, Sinton.

DEAN'S LIST

>> SHERMAN Daniel Price of Odessa and Sophia Kuiper of Midland were named to the Dean's List at Austin College for the spring semester.

To be eligible for the dean's list, students must have earned at least a 3.767 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Price is the son of son of Jim and Anita Price and a graduate of Odessa High School.

Kuiper is the daughter of Randy and Pam Kuiper and a graduate of Midland High School.