Events

 

Brian Brazil receives Excellence in Education Award

 

Brian Brazil ’88 was the 2008 recipient of the Excellence in Education Award given by the TCU College of Education Alumni Association. The 15th annual award program was held in April 2008 at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center.

 

“Winning the award is a tremendous honor and I am truly humbled by it,” said Brazil. “It also makes me be aware of the responsibility that I have to prove myself worthy of such an award. I also know so many others that are so much more worthy of this award. I am extremely grateful for this award.”

 

Brazil first came to TCU as an undergraduate in education, by the influence of Coach Jim Wacker, a former head coach for the Horned Frog Football team. Brazil is currently the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas. For his outstanding achievements, Brazil has been recognized as All-America Football Foundation High School Coach and named district coach five times.

 

“I fell in love with the university and the city of Fort Worth,” Brazil said. “It was one of the best decision’s I ever made in my life, and a tremendous experience.”

 

His experience at TCU was full of fond memories that centered on his involvement with sports and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, but his fondest memory is that of the day he met his wife-to-be at a crush party at Frankelburgers. After graduation, Brazil fulfilled his dream of becoming a teacher and high school football coach. more

 

 

 

 

College Bound a success

More than 450 students from Tannahill Intermediate School got a first-hand glimpse of collegiate life at TCU when the College of Education’s Center for Urban Education hosted College Bound for sixth graders on Friday, April 25.

 

“This experience is important for their students since many of the children participating in the College Bound experience will be first generation college students,” said Cecilia Silva, education professor in TCU’s College of Education and Center for Urban Education. “College Bound is an important community outreach program from the Center for Urban Education.

 

Forty volunteers, including TCU students, faculty and staff, led the sixth graders around campus, in an effort to teach them about academics, athletics and student life. From coursework to extracurricular activities – the sixth graders learned about what they could anticipate for the future. The Tannahill students toured numerous academic departments and areas of interest including a nursing lab, the study abroad office, the TCU ROTC program, the TCU News Now studio and the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Gallery.more

 

 

 

Starpoint School helps raise funds for infant's surgery

 

Garrett Gullion has a hole in his heart, which is also missing a valve. His oxygen level is dangerously low and he has Down syndrome. Garrett is two months old.

 

Education majors, members of the Greek community, students at the Starpoint School and others attended the "Grillin' for Garrett" event at the Starpoint School on Thursday.

 

Starpoint School teacher Sherry Oliver said she has known the child's family for four years. With help from students in her third period technology class, Oliver organized the cookout to raise money to fund the heart surgeries that Garrett desperately needs, but that insurance refuses to pay for. more

 

Astronaut stresses need for math, science

 

Math and science education is important for everyone, but it doesn't mean everyone has to become a scientist or mathematician, a former astronaut said.

 

Astronaut George "Pinky" Nelson addressed about 30 people about the role of the College of Education and the College of Science & Engineering on Monday in preparing future math and science teachers.

 

Nelson is a veteran of three space missions including Challenger, Columbia and Discovery. He's also the director of math, science and technology education at Western Washington University.

Since his days as an astronaut, Nelson has been searching for ways to prepare teachers differently to promote learning through thinking. Nelson said it is important to teach all teachers how to be quality math and science teachers for the students' sake.

 

"We can take average students and produce great teachers," Nelson said. "The importance of teaching science and math is to improve thinking ability in students."

 

Having an astronaut talk about the importance of math and science education seems to be the most effective, said Doug Ingram, a physics and astronomy instructor.more