"Drowsy Chaperone" production to begin March 3

Step back in time with laughter as Laredo Community College's Opera Workshop presents a five-time Tony Award-winning musical, The Drowsy Chaperone.

With book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, this charming and wacky tribute to the 1920s is a rare combination of modern wit and classical musical comedy.

The four-day production run begins Thursday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center theater located on LCC's Fort McIntosh Campus.

Other performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, at 7:30 p.m., as well as a matinee performance on Sunday, March 6, at 3 p.m.

General admission tickets are $10 at the door. Proceeds benefit student scholarships and future productions.

The tale of The Drowsy Chaperone is a comedy best suited for mature audiences and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

"The Drowsy Chaperone is a madcap comedy which has delighted audiences from coast to coast," said Joseph Crabtree, LCC Performing Arts Department chair and director of the LCC Opera Workshop.

The musical is a rare combination of unprecedented originality and blinding talent.

"The Drowsy Chaperone boldly addresses a great unspoken desire in all of our hearts: to be entertained," Crabtree said.

The tale begins when a die-hard musical-theater fan plays his favorite cast album on his turntable, and the musical literally bursts to life in his living room, telling the rambunctious tale of a brazen Broadway starlet trying to find, and keep, her true love.

"The audience can expect a rollicking good time," Crabtree said. "The show is excellent and gives us a modern look at shows of the 1920s, and all with a modern take. You don't want to miss it."

For more information on the musical or for ticket information, contact the LCC Performing Arts Department at 721-5330 or email Crabtree at jcrabtree@laredo.edu.

Pictured during a recent photo shoot, are cast members for the five-time Tony Award-winning musical, The Drowsy Chaperone.

LCC music student receives All-State accolades

A Laredo Community College music student recently received honors for being a top performer in Texas.

LCC trombone player Leonardo F. Galvan was hand-picked by a panel of judges from hundreds of players across the state to perform with other top community college music students in early February during the Texas Community College All-State Symphonic Band.

The performance was part of the 2011 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention held in San Antonio in early February.

"Laredo Community College is proud of our music majors for attaining such a high level of proficiency as musicians, and I am extremely proud of their accomplishments. They are a credit to their families, the college and the Laredo community," said Jose D. Compean, LCC music instructor and LCC Show Band director.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to have been chosen from more than 40 Texas community colleges," Galvan said. "From a few hundred trombone players across Texas, I was the one chosen to participate in the highly-acclaimed All-State Symphonic Band. This was the outcome of putting in so many hours of practicing, and it was worth every minute of it."

Galvan is a current LCC sophomore music major and a member of the LCC Show Band and the LCC Honors program.

Galvan is the son of Heleodoro and Consuelo Galvan.


Leonardo F. Galvan, center, was recently recognized by Laredo Community College's Board of Trustees in late February for being chosen to perform at the prestigious Texas Community College All-State Symphonic Band held in San Antonio in early February. From left to right, LCC President Juan L. Maldonado, Galvan and LCC Board President Cynthia Mares.

MHS student's act of selflessness to help the homeless

Daunted by the alarming fact that one out of every three homeless people are under the age of 18, Martin High School senior student Fernando Medina started Aeropostale "Teens for Jeans" at his campus empowering his classmates to help take action against youth homelessness by collecting close to 1,000 denim pants.

About 1.6 to 1.7 million people under the age of 18 will experience homelessness each year. The National Coalition for the homeless defines homeless youth as individuals under the age of eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. This year many homeless teens in our area are receiving jeans thanks to the generosity and contributions of Martin High School students.

Medina, who currently holds a part-time job at Aeropostale, heard of this opportunity to help homeless children and families from his store manager. He felt that not only would this serve as a great way to assist those in need but by doing a selfless act and getting his fellow peers to contribute, the project would help shed a positive light on the campus all while serving others. He began by soliciting help and support from his school principal, Oscar Perez, and teachers Javier Vasquez, Carl Medina, Angela Tellez and Cristina Criel.

All administration, faculty, staff, and students were in complete agreement and were supportive of this initiative. Senior English teacher Cristina Criel even gave out gift cards as an incentive to help collect jeans from the student body. In addition, students at Martin High School were given three community service hours for each jean that was donated. Daily announcements were made throughout the month of February and signage was posted around the campus asking for contributions. Medina also visited with International Bank of Commerce representatives asking them to have their locations serve as drop-off sites for the collection.

The collection was held in early February and resulted with MHS students donating 1,000 jeans. The jeans were taken to Aeropostale and will later be donated to the Bethany House. Medina was humbled by this experience and overwhelmed by the act of kindness from his fellow peers. This is the first of many projects and ideas that Medina plans to host at his campus.

"I felt that this project hit close to home because I have seen many students struggle by not having the type of clothing others have," he said. "I put myself in those individuals position and imagine not being able to have clothes for school or simply to survive."



Fernando Mediana displays some of the jeans that were collected during the "Teens for Jeans" campaign at Martin High School.

LISD adds Parent Notification System

The LISD Board of Trustees is investing $113,000 in communications and security systems that will enhance the safety of its students and staff. A Parent Notification System purchased from SchoolMessenger and an upgraded visitor management system will allow LISD to better communicate in a matter of minutes with parents, students, and staff members.

The SchoolMessenger system sends time-sensitive emergency notifications via voice, email, and text messages affecting safety and security, such as weather alerts, lockdowns, and school closure messages. The messages are sent within a matter of minutes after being prepared by a district representative.

"SchoolMessenger will provide a great value to the district. The system will allow for better safety and security at our campuses while providing accurate and timely communications to our parents using state-of-the-art technology," said Marcus Nelson, LISD Superintendent. "We will also utilize the system for tracking daily student attendance."

The system allows the district to make non-emergency messages such as attendance/truancy alerts, family nights, and parent/teacher group meetings. The messages can even be translated to Spanish for those listing it as their primary language.

The district encourages all families to ensure their child's information is up-to-date, including preferred language and method of communication. Parents do not need to subscribe. They will simply start receiving messages.

"We want to make sure we have to right contact information to ensure that factual information is released to families in a timely manner," Nelson said.

LISD's Information Technology Department is setting up the parent notification system and employees will be trained on its use.

LISD also recently upgraded its visitor management system with the purchase of a Raptor Sex Offender Database Registry at all campuses. The registry helps track visitors, students, faculty, contractors, and volunteers at LISD schools, while providing a safer and more monitored environment for the student.

When visitors, volunteers, or contractors check-in, or parents come to pick up students, they will be asked to present a valid identification card for entering into the system. The system has the ability to provide alerts on people who may jeopardize the safety of the campus.

"The main objective with this system is to ensure a safe learning environment for all of our students and a safe working environment for all our staff and visitors," said LISD Crisis Management Officer Victor Mora. "The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority."

LISD campuses recognized as Higher Performing Schools

Four LISD campuses have been recognized by the National Center for Educational Achievements for its academic prowess. Santo Nino, Macdonell, Ligarde Elementary and The Early College High Schools have been identified as Higher Performing Schools, according to the NCEA 2010 Higher Performing Schools List for Texas.

Santo Nino Elementary School was recognized for their academic growth and TAKS Commended Performance level in writing. Macdonell Elementary School was recognized for their TAKS' Commended Performance in reading and Ligarde Elementary School for their Academic Growth in writing. The Early College was recognized for their academic growth and TAKS Commended Performance level in reading, math, and science.

The NCEA recently released the list, which identifies those schools that have consistently outperformed their peers which serve similar student populations, and recognize their achievements in bringing more students to college and career readiness. Schools on the list are identified by one of two measures: academic growth of students at the school and/or the absolute achievement of students at the school using the TAKS' Commended Performance level.

"The list sends a message to our campuses that every student can achieve their goals and school improvement is possible no matter the neighborhood," said Marcus Nelson, LISD Superintendent. "Congratulations to the students and staff at Santo Nino and Macdonell Elementary Schools for their achievement."

Macdonell, Santo Nino, and the Early College are rated exemplary by the TEA for their academic achievements. Cynthia Conchas is principal of Macdonell which has 675 students in its Central Laredo campus. Oralia Hinojosa Cortez is principal of Santo Nino in South Laredo which has 823 students. Susan Herrera is the principal of Ligarde, a recognized campus by the TEA which has 767 students. Jose Cerda is the principal of the Early College which has a student enrollment of 400 students.

To view the 2010 NCEA Higher Performing Schools List for Texas, please visit www.nc4ea.org/HPschollstx.

TAMIU faculty member receives Austin Film Society fund grant

Marcela Moran, assistant professor of communications at Texas A&M International University, recently won a Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund grant from the Austin Film Society and is hard at work on a new documentary film entitled, "Jornaleros."

Moran's project will take her to Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and parts of South Texas, in search of jornaleros, or day laborers skilled in different trades looking for jobs on the streets, and of undocumented immigrants already working. The film will explore human rights violations against day laborers and the criminalization of undocumented immigrants in the United States.

"I feel very honored to have received this funding as I'm one of 24 out of 183 applicants chosen for the 2010 TFPF," Moran said, "It is highly competitive, and the committee who chooses winners is made up of talented filmmakers and past recipients."

The Austin Film Society awards grants once a year to emerging film and video artists in the State of Texas through its TFPF, the Society's website says. Awards are provided to artists whose work shows promise, skill and creativity. TFPF recipients have shown their films at renowned festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, Tribecca, Slamdance and SXSW and have been nominated for Gotham Awards and won Independent Spirit Awards and Student Academy Awards.

Artists, educators, activists and religious groups have been pivotal in assisting director and producer in making connections with interview subjects, Moran said.

In addition to TAMIU alum Maritza Bautista, a former TAMIU student, Noe Cuellar, will assist in making the documentary as sound designer. Both were Moran's former video production students at TAMIU. Bautista received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in studio art from TAMIU while Cuellar transferred from the University to The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, where he received his bachelor's degree. Bautista also received her master's degree from The School of the Art Institute in Chicago.

TAMIU Hosts College Goal Sunday on Feb. 27

College-bound high school students and their parents won't want to miss "College Goal Sunday," a chance to get financial aid questions and concerns addressed, Sunday, Feb. 27, beginning at 2 p.m. at Texas A&M International University's Pellegrino Hall, room 211.

This event is free and open to the public and part of a state and nation-wide push to help parents and college-bound students take the first step in applying for college by learning about available financial aid.

"We know that today's economy is a real concern for parents as they ready their sons and daughters for higher education. This special event will give all an opportunity to meet with our financial aid experts to learn more about scholarships, loans and other forms of financial assistance available and receive help filling out necessary forms," said Laura Elizondo, TAMIU director of Financial Aid.

"College Goal Sunday is a non-profit program that provides free information and assistance to Texas families applying for financial assistance for higher education. TAMIU is one of more than 30 locations throughout the state and the only site in Laredo that will host College Goal Sunday in partnership with Texas A&M University’s Department of Scholarships and Financial Aid," Elizondo said.

Parents and their students should bring their 2010 tax returns and W2s, she said. Assistance will be available in English and Spanish.

Participants will also be eligible for a chance to win $250 for their college textbooks.

For more information about College Goal Sunday, go to http://financialaid.tamu.edu/cgs.

For more on financial aid at TAMIU, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 326.2225, e-mail financialaid@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu/affairs/financial or visit offices in the University Success Center 214.