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����ý physics professor Rafael de la Madrid has received the 2024–2025 David J. Beck Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of his innovative, active-learning teaching approach and exceptional mentorship of undergraduate researchers.

����ý has named senior history major Brittni Silva as its January First Generation Student of the Month, recognizing her perseverance, academic achievement and commitment to becoming an educator as a first-generation college student.

����ý strengthened its role in statewide higher education leadership when CIO Patrick Stewart was unanimously elected to the LEARN Executive Committee, giving the university a voice in shaping Texas’s advanced education and research network services.

����ý assistant biology professor Dr. Kole Kubicek, a comparative anatomist and fish biologist, studies the development and evolution of fishes while mentoring students in both field and laboratory research, exploring how skeletal structures emerge and vary across species.

����ý has received a $678,003 grant to launch FLOWS, a three-year program engaging Southeast Texas middle and high school students in hands-on flood education, rain garden projects, and community resilience initiatives.

����ý has launched the College of Nursing and Health Professions to consolidate existing health programs and expand academic offerings in response to regional and statewide healthcare workforce needs.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at ����ý celebrated a major milestone with the graduation of its first Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering student, marking the successful launch of the program and underscoring the department’s plans for strategic growth, industry alignment, and future ABET accreditation.

����ý honored more than 2,500 graduates from across Texas, the nation, and the world during its fall commencement, highlighting resilience, adaptability, and a shared spirit of perseverance as students embark on their next chapter.

����ý faculty and staff helped support Southeast Texas families this holiday season by contributing nearly 200 toys and participating in this year’s ToyFeast, a community-wide initiative providing food, gifts, and financial assistance to those in need.

����ý awarded its top academic honor, the Presidential Scholarship, to three outstanding high school seniors this fall after a highly competitive selection process.

����ý has named Sherronice Wilkins, a family science major from Houston’s Trinity Gardens, its First-Generation Student of the Month.

Baytown native Harvest Fairchild navigated ����ý with openness and focus, discovering a passion for speech-language pathology through research, advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration, and is now preparing for a career that combines clinical practice, research, and meaningful community impact.

����ý and its affiliated colleges in the Golden Triangle region are proud to recognize the tremendous contributions of faculty and staff whose impact on Southeast Texas set them apart.

����ý hosted its 8th Annual Thanksgiving Banquet to celebrate and support its international students and recognize faculty and staff who advance global education initiatives.

Two ����ý students shared the research they completed through the David J. Beck Fellowship, describing how their projects in speech rehabilitation and early neurological disease detection took them to leading research institutions in Chicago and Qatar.

����ý industrial engineering professor Dr. Robert K. Bradley and his SHIELD research team won funding to develop a stretchable silicone “skin” to protect robots from harsh environments—a project that has since launched material samples to the International Space Station to study how their smart cladding withstands radiation and space exposure.

����ý’s Department of Theatre & Dance will showcase original student works in its free fall performance, MOVE: Student Choreography Concert, on Nov. 14 in the Studio Theatre.

Eight ����ý faculty and former faculty members have been recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in their fields, according to the 2025 global rankings released by Stanford University and Elsevier.

The Reaud Honors College hosted its largest-ever Honors Scholars Day on Oct. 29, showcasing outstanding student research, leadership, and creative projects across all colleges at ����ý.

����ý has named Diana Resendez, a senior marketing major from Port Arthur, Texas, as the First-Generation Student of the Month for November.

Dr. Jon Gray has been appointed dean of the College of Graduate Studies at ����ý, bringing over 30 years of career experience as an educator and administrator in K-12 and higher education to the role.

����ý surpassed 18,000 students in fall enrollment for the 2024–2025 academic year, driven by record local recruitment, expanded financial aid, and stronger student engagement initiatives.

Valero’s $1 million endowed scholarship in engineering has supported 153 ����ý students since 2009, providing more than $640,000 in aid and opening doors to mentorship, internships, and lasting career opportunities with the global energy company.

����ý’s Center for Midstream Management and Science hosted a two-day symposium uniting industry leaders and academics to advance research, innovation, and workforce development in the midstream energy sector.

����ý’s Sustainability Committee and LU Green Squad partnered with Schneider Electric on Oct. 27 to celebrate Energy Awareness Month with an interactive campus event promoting renewable energy, sustainability and practical ways to reduce energy use.

The ����ý Department of Theatre and Dance will bring Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” to the stage Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 in the Studio Theatre.

Known as America’s energy gateway, the Sabine-Neches Waterway is home to Southeast Texas’ four local ports – Port of Beaumont, Port of Orange, Port of Port Arthur, and Port of Sabine Pass – all of which are led by ����ý alumni: Chris Fisher, port director/CEO for Port of Beaumont; Lorrie Taylor, executive port director/CEO for Port of Orange; Larry Kelley, port director/CEO for Port of Port Arthur; Mark Viator, port manager for Port of Sabine Pass.

����ý’s Reaud Honors College marked a milestone year of growth, leadership and national distinction, with record student achievements, expanded programs like the Reaud Leadership Institute, and recognition from the Texas State University System — solidifying its role as a driving force for academic excellence, civic service and innovation in Southeast Texas and beyond.

Kennedi Gordy, a junior mechanical engineering student at ����ý, is using the leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills she’s gained through student organizations like Zeta Tau Alpha and the Society of Women Engineers to excel in her internships and prepare for a successful career in engineering.