Compiled by Mike Davis, Associate Director of Marketing & Communications.

International and National Media Highlights

American Institute of Physics | May 2024 
The Austin College Society of Physics Students (SPS) was awarded as a 2022-23 Distinguished Chapter by the National Office of the SPS. Club officers Deedee Jansen ’25, Demi Held ’26, and Justus Fagan ’24 discussed their efforts to help connect the organization with new students on campus.  

Playbill | May 5, 2024 
Sarah Reynolds ’15 co-created and currently stars in The Twenty-Sided Tavern, an Off-Broadway show at Stage 42 in New York City, New York. This unique production is an officially licensed Dungeons and Dragons live experience, which engages audience participation through a mobile app to choose their own quest at each performance. 


Dallas and Regional News

Covering Katy News | May 25, 2024 
Maddox Prentice ’28 of Katy, Texas, committed to continue his education and play baseball at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

Everything Lubbock | May 21, 2024 
Laney Lambert ’28 of Lubbock, Texas, committed to continue her education and play soccer at Austin College in the coming academic year.  

Hays Free Press | May 8, 2024 
Jocelyn Rodriguez ’28 of Buda, Texas, committed to continue her education and play soccer at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

Jacksboro Herald-Gazette | May 8, 2024 
Jackson McComis ’28 of Jacksboro, Texas, committed to continue his education and play baseball at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

KETK - Tyler | May 9, 2024 
Kyle Adee ’28 of Whitehouse, Texas, committed to continue his education and play baseball at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

Lewisville ISD | May 9, 2024 
Ashlynn Brothers ’28 of Flower Mound, Texas, committed to continue her education and play softball at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

The Messenger | May 29, 2024 
Terry Duncan ’28 of Justin, Texas, committed to continue his education and play football at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

Midland Reporter-Telegram | May 8, 2024 
McKenzie De La Rosa ’28 of Midland, Texas, committed to continue her education and play soccer at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

The University of Texas at Dallas | April 24, 2024 
Rebecca Jones ’13, coordinator for the Center for Environmental Studies at Austin College, represented the College on a panel that discussed the intersection of technology and sustainability efforts in higher education.


Local Media Highlights

Herald Democrat | May 31, 2024 
Austin College celebrated degree candidates from the Class of 2024 at the Commencement ceremony on May 18. Student speaker Nicholas Estes ’24, selected by his classmates, spoke of how Austin College has come to feel like home, members of the Class of 2024 are poised to make positive change as they disperse to begin the next phase of their lives. 

Herald Democrat | May 23, 2024 
The Austin College Institutional Marketing and Communications (IMC) Department earned three major awards from the 2023 Collegiate Advertising Awards program. IMC earned gold awards for its 175th Year Milestone branding package and for the video Beyond the Classroom at Austin College. The College also won silver for the 2023 issue of the Austin College Magazine, an annual publication sent to alumni, students, and friends of the College. 

Herald Democrat | May 13, 2024 
Austin College buried a time capsule to celebrate the conclusion of its 175th year. Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Heidi Rushing ’04, credited Rev. Dr. John Williams ’84, Chaplain and Director of Church Relations, for spearheading the project and congratulated students on their outstanding efforts to celebrate this milestone anniversary.

Herald Democrat | May 13, 2024 
The Austin College community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of head swimming and diving coach Dan Snow on Saturday, May 11. Snow joined the Austin College athletics department in 2021, coaching the ’Roo men’s and women’s swim teams for the past three seasons. During his time with Austin College, he helped guide the ’Roos to several program and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference records, and under his direction Austin College had the first swimmer in program history to earn a spot in the NCAA Division III Championships, as well as the first NCAA All-American in ’Roo swimming history. 

Herald Democrat | May 7, 2024 
Austin College seniors wishing to incorporate their heritage or cultural identity into their graduation regalia were presented with stoles during the Multicultural Stole Ceremony, held May 1, 2024, in the Sally and Jim Nation Theatre. Dr. Carllos Lassiter, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and Vice President for Student Affairs, hosted the event; which also featured student speakers Christan Tomy ’24 and Chizurumoke Emenyeonu ’24, and a performance by the South Asian Dance Association. 

Herald Democrat | May 6, 2024 
The Austin College coaches and team members honored more than 50 student-athletes, including the Austin College male and female athletes of the year, in its annual Athletics Convocation in Hughey Gymnasium. The ceremony highlighted the achievements of many student-athletes across the spectrum of sports offered at the College. 

KXII | May 29, 2024 
Dr. Steve Goldsmith, Professor of Biology at Austin College, discussed how the ongoing wet weather conditions after a mild winter are contributing to increases in the presence of mosquitoes and other bugs. He advised that one of the best ways to avoid mosquitoes is to stay indoors during their peak times, which are dawn and dusk.  

KXII | May 14, 2024 
Roman Quintana ’28 of Sherman, Texas, committed to continue his education and play soccer at Austin College in the coming academic year.   

KXII | May 10, 2024 
Austin College buried a time capsule in commemoration of the College’s 175th year, in a ceremony held May 9, 2024, near the Honors Court. Student Assembly President Nia Carter ’25, opened the ceremony by welcoming attendees and discussing some of the items sealed inside the capsule, including letters from presidents of Greek organizations, posters from campus events, a list of all students, eclipse glasses, students’ letters to their future selves, and a crocheted ’Roo. 

KXII | May 8, 2024
Branson Ashlock ’28 of Tom Bean, Texas, committed to continue his education and play football at Austin College in the coming academic year.


Blogs and Online Media

2aDays | May 13, 2024 
Kevin Gregory, Head Coach for women’s soccer at Austin College, discusses his process for recruiting new student-athletes and offers advice for prospective students. 

Austin College | May 13, 2024 
Brent Casey was announced as the new Associate Vice President and Dean of Admission at Austin College. Casey has over 25 years of experience in the college admission profession, with roles on both the high school and college sides of the admission process. Casey has held positions at Holland Hall, Texas Lutheran University, Schreiner University, and Hardin-Simmons University. 

Community Impact | May 30, 2024 
Dr. Kelly Ritchie ’96 was hired as the new head of school for Westlake Academy in Westlake, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Austin College, her doctorate from the University of North Texas, and her principal certification from Lamar University; and previously held several roles at the Alcuin School in Dallas, Texas.

North Texas E-News | May 29, 2024 
Austin College students, faculty, and staff celebrated with friends and families of the Class of 2024 degree candidates at Commencement on Saturday, May 18. Seniors, faculty, and Trustees processed onto Clyde L. Hall Graduation Court to conclude the 175th academic year and celebrate the students’ achievements. 

North Texas E-News | May 27, 2024 
Austin College earned awards for three entries submitted to the 2023 Collegiate Advertising Awards competition. The Collegiate Advertising Awards program is an elite national program created to honor today’s most talented marketing professionals for outstanding excellence in all forms of advertising, marketing, and promotion specific to higher education products and services.  

North Texas E-News | May 18, 2024 
Bill Douglass, Board of Trustees member at Austin College, was reappointed as presiding officer of the Grayson County Regional Mobility Authority for a term set to expire on February 1, 2026, by Texan Governor Greg Abbott. The Regional Mobility Authority is a political subdivision that allows local transportation planning and project delivery leaders to partner with the state to deliver transportation infrastructure projects that serve Grayson County. 

North Texas E-News | May 12, 2024 
Austin College buried a time capsule in commemoration of the College’s 175th year. The time capsule will be opened in 2074, 50 years after its burial. The College previously buried a time capsule in 1999 as part of the sesquicentennial (150th year) celebrations. That capsule will be opened in 2049. 

North Texas E-News | May 3, 2024 
Henry H. Bucher Jr., Faculty Emeritus in Humanities at Austin College, penned a two-part piece discussing how his 1994 JanTerm course in Jerusalem, Israel, and 1998 JanTerm course in Cairo, Egypt, allowed him to meet the authors of the courses’ required readings. 


News 'Roos Can Use

Forbes | May 29, 2024 
The delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadlines have caused uncertainty for many students as they enroll in their selected universities. Fortunately, students are still able to appeal for additional aid based on updated financial circumstances.  

Inside Higher Ed | May 31, 2024 
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) made a historic agreement with the United States Department of Justice to stop limiting the athletic eligibility of student-athletes if they transfer between schools. The agreement also allows for an additional year of eligibility for student-athletes who were ineligible under the previous restrictions.