Top Ten Moments

From hosting the Planters NUTmobile on campus with driver and alum Katie Krupinski, to sharing all the wonderful things happening at TXST with representatives at the Capitol and partnering with Tarrant County College, February kept the ball rolling for a great semester.

I thought it would be fun to wrap up 2024 by highlighting some of my favorite moments from last year — and there are so many to choose from! From partnering with UFCU for stadium naming rights and expanding community college partnerships to celebrating athletic victories and breaking ground on new buildings, there was a lot to celebrate.

From rocking out to Josh Abbott Band during CELEBRATE 125 to honoring Distinguished Alumni and hosting the 29^th annual Tomás Rivera Children’s Book Award luncheon, November was the perfect way to start the holiday season.

From taking down UTSA in the I-35 Rivalry for the first time in the series to participating in National Hispanic Heritage Month events and enjoying some barbecue at the Round Rock Campus Cookout, this was truly a month of achievement and friendship.

From talking with PBS Newshour about steps we are taking to make a four-year degree more accessible to launching an aviation science degree and partnering with Collin College, June was an exciting start to the summer.

From a fun launch of the new River State product line to swearing in our new student body president and vice president, April featured so many events that make me proud to represent TXST as president.

From highlighting 20 years of the McCoy Foundation to celebrating Black History Month at the annual Soul Food Dinner and researching historic rock art, February offered many opportunities to explore what makes TXST so special. 

From announcing TXST as a 2024 site for the Presidential Debate to honoring Shirley Harris and encouraging future educators, December was an amazing month at TXST.

From celebrating the nearly 60 students receiving $1.3 million in scholarships from the Terry Foundation to catching the final performance of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s “She Kills Monsters,” October just keeps getting better. 

We welcomed a record-breaking freshman class for the third year in a row. Gathering with thousands of freshmen for our first-ever Jumpstart event was a thrill I’ll never forget, and definitely one of my Top Ten Favorite Moments. I’m especially proud to share that for the first time in TXST history, Texas State was number one among Texas universities in freshman applications submitted through “Apply Texas” for Fall 2023.

The summer semester at TXST is heating up. I enjoyed visiting a chemistry lab where students are making advanced catalysts that can be used to create clean hydrogen. Connecting with alumni across Texas and as far as New York has been a thrill. Plus, we’re breaking ground and launching programs in this month’s Top Ten Moments.

This month I witnessed a wide range of the scholarship and activities that make TXST an exceptional university — from celebrating our graduate students to welcoming new student-government leaders and recognizing Ramadan with the Muslim Student Association. I also visited the Round Rock Campus to engage with local leaders and made a trip to the state Capitol to discuss the Texas University Fund, a measure that would help TXST build on our successes as we Run to R1.

Over the past few weeks, I returned to the Capitol to testify before state leaders, gathered with our Dean’s List honorees to celebrate their success, honoured faculty members for excellence in online teaching and research, and enjoyed outstanding performances from our School of Music.

There is never a dull moment at TXST, especially in December, with the holiday break quickly approaching, commencement this weekend, and holiday traditions brightening our days. Check out my Top Ten Moments for highlights of my favorite recent experiences, from serving a midnight breakfast to students, and marking the 50th anniversary of our College of Health Professions, to ringing in the season with our Bobcat community. 

Between thrilling victories for Bobcat Athletics, tours of our cutting-edge research sites, and fun student events, there is never a dull moment at TXST. Check out my Top Ten Moments for highlights of my favorite recent experiences engaging with Bobcats across our community.