CONTACT: Julie Navejar
kajam03@tamuk.edu or 361-593-2590

Freshmen Learn Traditions, Spirit at Convocation

Macarena Hernandez

KINGSVILLE (August 29, 2003) — Texas A&M University-Kingsville will host a freshman convocation at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, to welcome new students to the campus and to college life. Gladys Hines, executive director of College I, is chair of the convocation committee. She said education experts agree that universities need to establish more rituals and traditions in order to keep students involved, committed and enrolled.

Hines said the convocation allows faculty and administrators to introduce themselves to the new students and their family members. It will provide an opportunity for the provost and president to share their vision of the university, their expectations for what the university should provide and an overview of what the students should do to succeed.

The keynote speaker for convocation is Macarena Hernandez, the current Rio Grande Valley Bureau Chief for the San Antonio Express-News.

Hernandez was born in Roma and raised in La Joya. She attended Baylor University and received her degree in 1996. She went on to earn her master’s degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley.

Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for magazines including
Latina. Her work has been anthologized in college textbooks.

Hernandez made national headlines this summer after she discovered that a New York Times staff writer had plagiarized one of her stories. The discovery led to the reporter’s resignation and an internal investigation of The New York Times that ended with the resignation of two top editors.

Dr. Kay Clayton, provost and vice president for academic affairs will give a welcome. Gabriel Alvarado, president of the Student Government Association, also will welcome the students. Dr. Dean Ferguson, president of the Faculty Senate and associate history professor, will talk about university traditions. Dr. Rumaldo Z. Juárez, university president, will introduce the keynote speaker.

Following the speaker, Alvarado will lead the students in the Javelina Pledge and Ariana Cervera, student, will lead the singing of the Alma Mater.

The convocation is required for all new students enrolled for the fall semester. Parents and other family members also are invited. The convocation will be followed by a reception in the Student Union Building Ballrooms. Student organizations will be invited to set up tables to promote their groups and to recruit new members.

For more information call 361-593-3290.

-TAMUK-