After two months of Think Transatlantic activities focusing on German-U.S. relations, Austin College students gathered for an awards ceremony recently to recognize student achievements during the programming. Karl Lehman, regional sales manager of Lufthansa German Airlines, was a featured speaker at the awards program and closing event.
Austin College is one of 25 colleges in the United States selected as grant recipients and project partners with the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., in an interdisciplinary campaign, “Think Transatlantic: United States and Germany in the 21st Century.” Ruth Cape and Wolfgang Lueckel of the German faculty coordinated the Austin College partnership activities.
One element of the campaign was an essay contest. First place went to sophomore Christopher Burke of Denton, Texas, for his essay “Immigration and Integration: A Comparative Study of American and German Immigration Policy.” He received a cash prize and a trip to Washington, D.C., in the spring for the national essay competition.
Second place went to freshman Edgar Rodriguez of Odessa, Texas, for his paper “The Euro: Only Ten Years Old and in German Hands?” Two papers tied for third place honors: freshman Mikayla Stocks of Cypress, Texas, wrote “Immigration: What the U.S. Can Learn from Germany and Vice Versa,” and sophomore Joshua Stowers of San Antonio, Texas, wrote “American and German Efforts in Going Green.” All second- and third-place winners received cash prizes. The essay committee was chaired by Austin College faculty Wolfgang Lueckel, German; other committee members were David Griffith, business affairs and Jack B. Morris Chair of Entrepreneurial Studies; and Phil Barker, political science.
Think Transatlantic also included a German Expressionism-inspired art competition hosted by the Department of Art and Art History. First prize in the competition went to junior Adam Olivares of Cedar Hill, Texas; second prize to freshman Ashley Martin of Trophy Club, Texas; and third prize to senior Sarah Cravens of Houston, Texas. Each received a cash prize.
In addition to the essay and art contests, Think Transatlantic included a traditional German dance program, an authentic German lunch prepared by Aramark food services in the campus dining hall, an evening of music and cabaret hosted by the Theatre Department, a discussion on immigration issues led by Austin College Jordan Family Language House German native speaker Ateeb Rehman, a coffee-and-cake event in Jordan Family Language House, a soccer competition organized by the Austin College German Club, an evening of art and music hosted by the Department of Music, and a presentation by Karl Lehman, regional sales manager of Lufthansa at the closing event.
Cape offered thanks to many members of the campus community for their involvement in the Think Transatlantic campus weeks, especially Mark Monroe, professor of art; Ricky Duhaime, Mildred S. Mosher Professor in Music; and Kirk Everist, associate professor of theatre and director of the Improv Troupe. She also offered particular thanks to Wolfgang Lueckel, new this fall to the German faculty and an integral part of implementing the Think Transatlantic programming.
Initiated by the German Information Center USA—the center for public diplomacy at the German Embassy—the Think Transatlantic campaign aims to stimulate discussion about the historic importance and stability of the German-American partnership and its relevance for the future, as well as the importance of transatlantic partnership, strategic alliance, and mutual values between Germany, Europe, and the United States The campaign is designed to promote dialogue and to exchange ideas of how to build upon past transatlantic successes with new initiatives. The campaign also highlights cultural aspects of German life.
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives.