Compiled by Public Affairs Intern Michael Marks
International and National Media Highlight
Insurance Business America | December 2020
Senior Trustee Marcus Payne ’58, Retired Managing Director of All Risks Insurance, was named to Insurance Business America’s fourth annual Hall of Fame. The 26 honorees had each given time and expertise to the industry for more than 35 years. Consideration was given to overall contribution to the industry and, this year, judges also considered efforts toward furthering diversity and inclusion.
Dallas and Regional News
Texas Economic Development Council | December 10, 2020
Austin College, the Sherman Economic Development Corporation, and the Grayson Small Business Development Center are pleased to announce the inaugural RISE Challenge program. RISE is a small business development grant program.
Local Media Highlights
Herald Democrat | December 11, 2020
The Southern Athletic Association’s Council of Presidents voted unanimously to return to play beginning in January 2021, with football competing in February. Austin College will play the upcoming spring football season as an affiliate member of the SAA. This decision was based on all medical information consistent with federal and state public health authorities, the NCAA, and institutional guidelines.
Herald Democrat | December 10, 2020
Sherman Economic Development Corp. is accepting applications for its new Raising Innovative Sherman Entrepreneurs program, also known as RISE. The program, done in partnership with Austin College, will offer a total of $250,000 in potential grants to fledgling businesses in the area in hopes of fostering growth. The program will be held in the form of a competition for its first year where entrepreneurs pitch their company to a board of local representatives. If approved, the company will be given a loan by SEDCO that will convert into a grant based on the number of years that the company stays active in production in Sherman.
Herald Democrat | December 10, 2020
Former Sherman Mayor Julie Ellis Starr ’70 died Monday. Starr served on the City Council for 14 years including two terms as deputy mayor and three as mayor. A fifth-generation Shermanite, Starr attended local schools and received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Austin College. Starr is remembered for her many contributions to the city of Sherman.
KTEN News | December 9, 2020
Austin College football gets approval from SCAC for spring football season.
KXII News | December 25, 2020
Austin College student Chris Miller died after a long battle with COVID-19. Miller was discharged from the hospital in late October after several weeks of treatment. He was rushed in for emergency surgery on his trachea just six days later, and was back in the emergency room when he died on December 18.
KXII News | December 23, 2020
An Austin College student Chris Miller has passed away after a long battle with COVID-19. Miller was released from Texoma Medical Center in late October, after several weeks of intensive treatment, but continued to struggle with complications of the virus.
Blogs and Online Media
North Texas E-News |December 26, 2020
Ed Garza, Austin College women’s volleyball coach, leads a High Intensity Volleyball Skills Camp in Pottsboro over the holiday break.
North Texas E-News |December 23, 2020
Austin College has hosted a Christmas Eve Worship Service in Wynne Chapel for decades for Presbyterian congregations in the Sherman-Denison area. In 2020, a pre-recorded Christmas Eve Service will be streamed on Austin College’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The service will include leadership and music from members of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church in Sherman, First Presbyterian Church and Hyde Park Presbyterian Church in Denison, and the Austin College A Cappella Choir.
North Texas E-News |December 15, 2020 Henry Bucher Jr.
Professor Emeritus of Humanities Dr. Henry Bucher Jr. discusses vaccines for COVID-19 and the uncertainty many Americans have when it comes to them. He says many former presidents and famous people of all colors should take the vaccine to dispel any stigmas or misinformation of vaccines that have been spread. He suggests that for resistance to the vaccine to subside we need “the visible vaccination of respected leaders.”
North Texas E-News |December 7, 2020 Jerry Lincecum
Professor Emeritus of English Dr. Jerry Lincecum discusses the history of mirrors and how the mirror is intrinsically linked with our looks and how we view ourselves. From the ancient Egyptians to the middle ages, people have used mirrors to admire themselves and used cosmetics to enhance their features. Lincecum makes the point that our phones and selfies are just another part of an extensive line of self-conscious, anxiety-producing mirrors.
Austin College| December 21, 2020
Dr. David Baker, director of Adams Observatory at Austin College’s IDEA Center, urges community members to look to the night sky tonight, December 21. “Two stunning celestial alignments will grace the sky this Monday, December 21: the annual winter solstice and a historic ‘great’ conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn,” he said. “You will be able to observe both of these events in the early evening, starting at sunset and continuing for roughly two hours afterward.”
Austin College| December 4, 2020
Junior Nicole DeLuna of San Antonio, Texas, has been elected student body president at Austin College, leading Student Assembly for a second year-long term beginning January 2021. She began her new role with the traditional lighting of the campus Christmas tree at the Service of Lessons and Carols, streamed December 3 on Facebook and YouTube.
Austin College | December 4, 2020
The Austin College Engineering Design Showcase 2020 was held virtually and asynchronously December 4-7 through online conference. Engineering physics students brainstormed over 25 ideas for products that could make a difference in 2020. Students then selected the top four ideas, performed market research, designed the products using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and printed prototypes using the Morris Product Lab 3-D printers. In the Engineering Design Showcase, students demonstrated their prototypes and described the critical design features of their products.