RICHARDSON , Texas (Feb. 9, 2006) — The sixth Partners Recognition Dinner, a biennial event recognizing students, faculty and alumni in the School of General Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), this year will pay special tribute to students who were displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and will feature a keynote talk by UTD President Dr. David E. Daniel.
The event will take place Monday, Feb. 20 in the Preston Ballroom of the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas, and proceeds from the dinner will raise funds for need-based scholarships for students in the school.
There will be a special tribute for two student representatives at the undergraduate and graduate level on behalf of the many students who came to UTD in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which hit the Gulf Coast last fall. UTD and the school, in partnership with a major investment company, also developed a trust to assist K-12 students affected by the hurricanes. So far, four beneficiaries have received funding: the Richardson Independent School District, the Dallas Independent School District, the Fort Worth Independent School District and Rainbow Days Incorporated.
Also scheduled to be honored that evening are outstanding alumnae Courtney Emich and Meredith McQuiston, students in the school who achieved a 4.0 grade point average, outstanding faculty member Dr. Dachang Cong, educators from the school’s Student Teacher Supervisor Program and graduates of UTD’s Academic Bridge Program.
“The Partners Recognition Dinner celebrates the contributions and achievements of alumni, students and faculty and other special friends of the School of General Studies,” said Dr. George W. Fair, dean of the school. “I am honored to have these great leaders associated with the school, and I am proud to send them out into the world where they will continue to work for the greater good.”
Emich and McQuiston both are alumnae of UTD and the School of General Studies’ Gender Studies Program. Emich works as an advocate and counselor for victims of domestic violence, and McQuiston has recruited, trained and mentored rape crisis advocates. She currently educates family violence victims about the legal process, shelters and resource information.
Cong is an economic and cultural anthropologist and is a senior lecturer in the school’s American Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies programs. He teaches courses about American cultures, business law, Chinese and Asian cultures, entrepreneurship, ethnicity and globalization. His current research focuses on how the global digital revolution reshapes economics and management practices in the United States.
The Student Teacher Supervisor Program guides UTD student teachers through a 12-week internship that bridges the path from classroom student to classroom teacher, and the Academic Bridge Program provides summer scholarships to selected entering UTD freshmen who have graduated from Dallas-area urban high schools with elevated class rankings but who have not completed the full university-track curriculum.
The evening will begin with a reception at 6:45 p.m., and dinner will start at 7:30 p.m. Alumni and friends of UTD, educators and members of the public all are invited to attend. Tickets are $50 per person and table sponsorships, which include eight seats, begin at $500.
For additional information or to make a reservation, please contact Becky Wiser at 972-883-2354 or e-mail rwiser@utdallas.edu by Feb. 17.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls nearly 14,500 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu.