Hattie Kemp

Hundreds of University students can see the light at the end of the tunnel, as graduation day swiftly approaches.

Some are arriving at their educational destinations – bachelor’s degrees – and then must choose which fork in the road will take them farther down their career paths.

Others may choose to wander the streets of academia a bit longer, as they seek master’s or doctorate degrees.

I send congratulations to all graduates, nearly 800 of you, for a job well done. You should be extremely proud of yourselves.

Kyle Horst, a senior journalism major, devoured the competition to win the first Patriot Burger Throwdown contest sponsored by the University’s dining service.

Shannon Mariani, director of dining services, said Horst’s winning burger creation is planned to appear on the menu at the Grille Works some time this week.

Students entered their Patriot-burger recipes either by e-mail or online survey.

Five Student Government Association senate seats resulted in ties after the tabulation of students’ votes last Friday.
Parliamentarian Rene Hernandez said SGA officials plan to release more information as soon as possible regarding the tied positions.

Voters must decide between sophomore Yesenia Lugo and freshman Ashton Wright this week for Student Government Association’s secretary.

Both tout their experience and believe in strong communication as key to being a successful leader.

Lugo, a political science major from Little River Academy, said her experiences in the University Model United Nations, the SGA communications committee, and the Alpha Chi Omega sorority will help her perform the required duties of secretary.

Senior Allie Abel, managing editor of the Patriot Talon, won first place March 27 in a statewide journalism competition conducted by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association in Kerrville.

Abel's award for press-release writing - on-site competition - is one of 16 honors Talon staff members earned last weekend at the annual convention.

I remember eating Cherry Cream Cheese Pie for the first time in 1973, when my boyfriend's mother served me a slice. It was love at first bite for me, and I have loved it ever since.

Its taste is reminiscent of traditional cheesecake with cherry topping, but you don't have to bake this pie unlike cheesecake, which usually has a baking time of about an hour-in a water bath, too!

Who needs the hassle when you can whip one up in less than 10 minutes, pop it into the frig for three hours, and voilà-you have that distinctive delicious cheesecake taste.

The Student Government Association members are sponsoring a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday in the University Center Ballroom.

“It is open to all students, and we hope for a large turnout,” SGA secretary David Kelley said.

Kelley said Friday afternoon the agenda was not available at the time to report its scheduled topics.

He said some SGA members plan to attend to answer students’ questions about student government.

Student Government Association members passed a motion at their Feb. 25 meeting to purchase two new microwave ovens for the Business Administration Building.

SGA treasurer Andrew Barnson, who made the motion, explained why the organization was replacing one broken microwave with two. Barnson said because so many students eat lunch and dinner there, he saw a need for two microwaves.

Student Government Association members elected Senator David Kelley as their new secretary.

Kelley and two other nominees vied for the position in a special election on Feb. 11.

He is a senior human resources development major, a member of the Student Government Appropriations Committee, and an SGA senator since August.

Each nominee addressed the assembly on why they would be a good choice. "I'm not only a qualified nominee," Kelley said, "I'm also very acquainted with the responsibilities of the office of secretary."