Thank You for Supporting UTeachTech

The UTeachTech team wishes to extend its thanks to everyone who came to the Kickoff on May 4 in University Hall. We had approximately 100 members of the Louisiana Tech community in attendance to help us express appreciation for teachers and to christen the UTeachTech program.

Louisiana Tech President Les Guice speaks about the
importance of the UTeachTech program.

We would like to thank all of our speakers who came to be with us in person. Dr. Les Guice, President of the University helped start the event. We were also joined by several state and local dignitaries including: Richard Hartley, representing the Office of Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne; Julie Ricca, representing NASA; Kristi Lumpkin, representing the City of Ruston; Alex Keechle, CEO of Ruston's newest corporate community member Monster Moto. Finally, we were joined by representatives of several of our sponsoring agencies. Ronda Brandon, Vice President of UTeach Expansion represented the National Math and Science Initiative while UTeach Institute Director Kim Hughes joined us as the representative for The UTeach Institute.

Louisiana State Senator Gallot speaks at the UTeachTech
event via recorded video from the State Capitol.

We would also like to thank many other dignitaries who could not join us in person, but did send recorded statements. United States Senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy both sent videos congratulating Louisiana Tech on the UTeachTech launch. United States Representative Ralph Abraham from the 5th Congressional District also sent remarks congratulating Louisiana Tech for being "on the cutting edge" in North Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne also expressed his congratulations by video. Rick Gallot, Louisiana State Senator for District 29, sent a video recorded on the Louisiana Senate floor. We understand each of these public servants were busy fulfilling other obligations of their office, so we are greatly appreciate of their support.

Additional thanks go to the inaugural UTeachTech Advisory Board. Jamie Brooks, Bill Campbell, G.B. Cazes, Judy Copeland, Cathi Cox-Boniol, Jeff Hankins, Alexander Keechle, D.C. Machen, Travis Napper, Linda Ramsey, Lee Sawyer, Robert Shadoin, and Kathy Wyatt, who have all agreed to serve on the first UTeachTech Advisory Board. We thank them for their commitment of service and their interest in promoting STEM education and in the Louisiana Tech community.

UTeachTech Co-Director Don Schillinger is interviewed by
KTVE's Taylor Thompson for a story on the UTeachTech launch.

Finally, we would like to recognize all of the people here at Louisiana Tech who have made UTeachTech a reality. Co-directors Don Schillinger and Bill Deese, as well as grant co-writers Lindsey Vincent, Dawn Basinger, Kelly Crittenden, Bernd Schroeder (now at University of Southern Mississippi), Lawrence Leonard, Pauline Leonard, and Stan Napper all deserve credit for casting the vision for the program and securing the funding for it. Further credit goes to the UTeach Implementation Team that included Don Schillinger, Bill Deese, and Lindsey Vincent, as well as UTeachTech newcomers Diane Madden, Christopher Coleman, and the program's first Master Teacher, Chris Campbell. Each of these people brought unique talents and gifts to the table that helped make the UTeachTech kickoff event a great success.

Tempting as it is to celebrate this great day, we must remember that it is not an ending, but a beginning. There will be great work ahead for the UTeachTech Team, as we begin preparing courses and recruiting our first UTeachTech cohort for this fall. It will not be easy and it will take considerable work. In the meantime, we cherish the support of the community, both local and distant. We can build the structure of the program, but we need your help to make it a success. Your support, through word-of-mouth promotion, through interaction with us via social media, or through financial gifts is what will make UTeachTech a success. We have a strong team, but we have an even stronger Louisiana Tech community that will build a model UTeach implementation in which we can all take pride.

Thank you all so much for your support yesterday, today, and into the future.

With Great Appreciation,
-The UTeachTech Team

For more information on UTeachTech, please visit our website at http://uteach.latech.edu. We also invite you to "Like" our UTeachTech page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @UTeachTech.

UTeachTech was made possible by a $1.45 million gift from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative and the UTeach Institute.