Latest news with #MSUTexas
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MSU Texas: Graduate school speaker excited at opportunity at Friday's commencement ceremony
Taylor Ullman put her focus on earning her master's degree at Midwestern State University in August 2023 when her husband was transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base. She realized she could earn her master's in English at MSU Texas while he was finishing his training and began classes at MSU in January 2024. So she's not surprised to be walking across the stage at D.L. Ligon Coliseum Friday night as part of the May 2025 Commencement, but Ullman never expected to be giving a speech before the graduates. 'It is a privilege I never considered,' Ullman said. 'I've always done well in school but was usually too quiet to be noticed by more than my English teachers. I still can't quite believe I was chosen for this speech. I see it as an opportunity to get more out of life than what I was given. I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak at commencement.' Ullman grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and met her husband, Reagan, at C.E. Byrd High School there. She earned a bachelor's in secondary English education and a minor in psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which made her the first person in her family to graduate from college. After graduation, she taught Honors English I and AP English IV for a year in Youngsville, Louisiana. She also taught a year in East Texas while living in Shreveport, but when Reagan transferred to SAFB, she decided it was a great time to pursue her master's degree. Her plan is to become an adjunct or assistant professor. This past semester, she was able to research her favorite genre, Romantasy. Her research project was accepted into two different conferences: the Contemporary Women in Writing Conference in Falmouth, United Kingdom, and the 36th Annual American Literature Association in Boston. More: Top MSU students recognized at honors banquet More: A historic success: Volunteers learn to restore Wichita County historical markers This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: MSU Texas: Graduate school speaker excited for Friday's commencement
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Nigerian student happy to find himself, excellent education at MSU Texas
When Samuel Olatunde first dreamed of coming to America to attend college, he thought basketball would be a part of it. Duke University came to mind. But Olatunde realized after some time that he was good in basketball in his area, but it wouldn't be his future occupation. He still wanted to come to the United States and found Midwestern State University and Wichita Falls. 'My dad's plan was always to send me abroad to study. He wanted me to go to the UK, but I wanted to go to the U.S.,' Olutunde said. 'I had heard of Texas but not Wichita Falls.' Starting college in 2020 as the world was experiencing COVID-19, it was the online presence of MSU Texas that gained his attention. But he was excited to come to campus to continue his educational journey, and he earned his bachelor of science from McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering in December 2024. And he stayed here for graduate school. He initially didn't want many friends and admitted he wasn't the best at socializing. 'That helped me academically. I became friends with my teachers, and they were supportive,' he said. He finished with a double major in computer science and mathematics and embraced his chances to do research. His message to others would be to try research. 'You never know until you do it, and you might enjoy it," he said. After grad school at MSU Texas, he hopes to land a job that involves research. 'It's amazing here at MSU,' Olatunde said. 'It was a beautiful journey. One of the best things for me was it was a smaller school and I had access to (faculty). The support you get here is great. I had a lot of ups and downs and went through a lot of growth. I continued to grow in school and socially.' His favorite professors included associate professors of computer science Eduard Colmenares-Diaz and Terry Griffin, who was Samuel's adviser and got him started in research, and Marcos Lopez, associate professor of mathematics. His first MSU experience was an online class from Tiffany Zeigler, and he learned much about the rules for writing papers. 'I slowly picked it up. I had a very terrible relationship with writing (as a youth), but I've understood I can be really good at it. It takes a lot mentally, and I tend to spend a whole lot of time writing," Olatunde said. Graduation in December was a milestone for him. His parents — dad Sayo and mother Bukola — came to celebrate with him. He said they always had high goals for him. It was quite a journey, but he showed that belief in him was not misplaced. He just wasn't destined to be an NBA star. 'They would always help and support me, and here my confidence has grown socially and academically. I'm more outspoken and not afraid. (MSU) has helped me grow holistically in every aspect of my life,' Olutunde said. More: MSU schedules health fair More: Wichita Falls restaurant inspections: How did they do Feb. 12-24? This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Nigerian student happy to find himself, excellent education at MSU Texas
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
MSU Texas team chosen to compete in NASA challenge
A team of students from Midwestern State University was one of 10 university groups chosen to compete in an elite competition hosted by NASA, according to an MSU Texas media release. The Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students — NASA SUITS — is a design challenge in which college students nationwide help design user interface solutions for future spaceflight needs. The MSU Texas team, Team Selene, submitted a project proposal to NASA to develop and test an interface for a space suit and an interface for the lunar rover. The announcement was made by NASA with a video. Students held a watch party and were excited to hear Team Selene announced along with teams from Columbia, Purdue, Indiana State, Brown and Rice universities, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin. Team Selene members include Zachary Barrentine, Rykir Evans, Zachary Lewis, Kerry Manolagas, Ryan Mathews, Mierhamza Sly Rahimi, Adrian Robledo and Jack Tsui. Robledo is the team leader. Kyle Garcia, Jarett Green, Victoria Heredia, Carlos Polanco and Ethan Saenz are alternates. 'It's truly surreal and an incredible honor to have been selected among so many universities,' Robledo said in the media release. 'Knowing that we're going up against such big schools is both exciting and intimidating, but it also fuels our determination. I feel proud to represent our institution on this stage, and I can't wait to rise to the challenge.' The MSU Texas team is paired with Team Space from the University of California, Irvine. Faculty adviser Tina Johnson, professor of computer science, said that UC Irvine will work on the spacesuit display, and Team Selene will work on the rover interface. 'The students will work on the project throughout the spring semester and then travel to Johnson Space Center in Houston May 18-22 for testing," Johnson said in the media release. Testing for the lunar mission will be at night at the Johnson Space Center rock yard to simulate the low lighting levels at the lunar south pole. The team received an intramural grant through the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research at MSU Texas to fund equipment purchases and the travel to NASA in May. 'The Department of Computer Science is proud to be represented by Team Selene in the NASA SUITS challenge. Given the importance of the project, it should be something to celebrate as these types of accomplishments set MSU Texas apart from other small colleges," Johnson said. "This remarkable achievement highlights not only the talent and hard work of our students but also the strength of our university's STEM programs," she said. "Despite being a smaller institution, our team's success in this competitive challenge emphasizes that size does not define impact — passion and dedication do.' NASA's Artemis missions seek to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon and build a sustained human presence on the moon and ultimately, Mars. This is the eighth year of the SUITS program. More: Former Wichita Falls city manager lands new job More: Wichita Falls fire chief among those leaving city's staff This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: MSU Texas team chosen to compete in NASA challenge
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged MSU Texas art thief indicted for burglary
WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — A man is facing up to two years in state jail after authorities said he stole artwork painted by former students at Midwestern State University off the walls of the Fain Fine Arts Center in January 2024. PREVIOUS STORY: Arrest made in 2024 theft of artwork from MSU Texas On February 5, 2025, a Wichita County grand jury returned an indictment charging Viggo Diemar, 20, of Flower Mound, with burglary of a habitation, a state jail felony offense. If convicted, Diemar could spend 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and be fined up to $10,000. Diemar was arrested and booked into the Wichita County Jail on Jan. 7, 2025, nearly a year after the alleged theft on Jan. 21, 2024. He was released the following day after posting a $10,000 cash bond. According to the affidavit, police were dispatched to the Fain Fine Arts Center on the campus of MSU Texas on Jan. 22, 2024, after a faculty member advised someone had taken two paintings from the hallway gallery over the weekend. Police said no damage was done to the walls and that the suspect or suspects simply took them off the wall. READ MORE: Two paintings valued at $500 each stolen from MSU Texas According to authorities, the faculty member said both paintings, pictured below, were done by former MSU students and valued at $500 each. The affidavit said police later learned that a student at MSU may have had knowledge of a suspect who took the paintings. The student told police she had a birthday party at Mustang Village on Jan. 20, 2024. According to police, the student invited non-MSU students to the party. After the party, she said they returned to the Sun Watcher Apartments, where she lived. She said an argument erupted with several individuals, and Diemar was kicked out of the apartment. The student told police when she woke up, she and several other students found the two paintings in the living room. The student said Diemar admitted to stealing them from Fain Fine Arts but said he got them from storage, adding that he may have disposed of the paintings. MSU police said security footage showed an intoxicated male, later identified as Diemar, walking on campus and attempting to open the doors of buildings on campus. RELATED: Fain Fine Arts cranks up security after drunken art theft While the Fain Fine Arts Center was not damaged, the paintings were taken from the walls of a hallway without security cameras. Although Diemar has been charged and indicted for the thefts, the paintings were never recovered. According to Leah Gose, Dean of Fain Fine Arts at MSU Texas, additional security measures have been implemented, including multiple security cameras, to ensure the college has full security Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
