McMurry Alumni Association

06/20/2024

Amos 8:1 "This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of ripe fruit."

06/19/2024

Today, we commemorate the emancipation of enslaved black Americans. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for learning and growing. Today, we join hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society. Check out juneteenth.com/history for more information! 🦅

On June 19, 1865, the Union arrived in Texas with news that the war was over and all enslaved people were free. It's important to note that the Thirteenth Amendment was not ratified until December 1865, which finally abolished slavery in the U.S. This gap illustrates how justice has historically been delayed for people of color, particularly Black people, in the United States. This federal holiday, which was officially passed by the Senate and House in 2020, is a step towards recognizing the culture, history, and plight of Black Americans. 🪶

06/17/2024

06/17/2024

What are we reading? 📚️

With organizations of all sorts facing increased urgency and unpredictability, being able to ask smart questions has become key. ❓️

In this article, the authors share what they’ve learned and offer a practical framework for the five types of questions to ask during strategic decision-making: investigative, speculative, productive, interpretive, and subjective.

By attending to each, leaders and teams can become more likely to cover all the areas that need to be explored, and they’ll surface information and options they might otherwise have missed.

Get the full scoop here: https://hbr.org/2024/05/the-art-of-asking-smarter-questions?ab=HP-bottom-popular-text-3 👆️

06/16/2024

Proverbs 22:6 "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." 💐

Happy Father's Day! 💐

06/14/2024

in 1777 the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the Stars and Stripes:

"Resolved, That the flag of the [thirteen] United States be thirteen stripes, alternating red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

06/14/2024

This feature Friday we are celebrating Robert West's ’10 new addition to his family, Frankie Mae, born March 7, 2024. 👶

Have an update? Submit an alumni note here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&gid=2&pgid=906&cid=1821&post_id=0 👆️

06/11/2024

Enroll a Legacy TODAY! 🦅✨️

The Kettle Club is designed to instill a love for McMurry University and its unique traditions among children and grandchildren of loyal McMurry alumni and faculty/staff and to keep McMurry top of mind as they plan for future education.

What is a Legacy? 🤔
A Legacy is a person whose parents, grandparents, or siblings currently attend or attended McMurry University.

Learn more and enroll a Legacy here: https://www.join.mcm.edu/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&pgid=1114&gid=2&cid=2200&ecid=2200&post_id=0

06/10/2024

The Spirit Store is having a Father's Day Sale from June 9 through June 16! 🤠

Get 15% off all Dad items, Men's Polos, Jackets, and Headwear. 🪶

The sale will be available both in-store and online: https://mcmurry-university-spirit-store.square.site/👆️

06/10/2024

🦅 Retiree Feature: Mrs. Lecia Hughes 🦅
30 years at McMurry

As Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance, Lecia played a pivotal role in serving as a link between university administration and employees. 🪶

Lecia holds a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. She also holds licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor. ✨️

While at McMurry, Lecia held positions in the Student Affairs division as Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Dean, and Director of Counseling & Career Services. She received the Outstanding Administrator award in 2005 and again in 2015. In addition, the Division of Student Affairs and Athletics established the Lecia Hughes Outstanding Female Leader Award to recognize the top outstanding female student leader every year. 🪶

Lecia, thank you for all your service to McMurry! We wish you the best in your next chapter! ❤️

06/10/2024

What are we reading? 📚️

"As a Gen Zer myself, I know that the generation can be pretty hard to decipher. But a recent survey may provide some insight about what drives Gen Z’s happiness." 😁🤝

Get the full scoop here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/10/the-no-1-thing-that-influences-gen-zs-happiness-a-new-survey-shows.html 🦅

06/07/2024

This feature Friday we are celebrating the birth of Leah Vanderpol-Balleza ’14 and Jacob Balleza's '12 beautiful baby girl on August 31, 2023!👶

Rosalyn Sofia Grace was born after many years of prayer, a gift from the Lord! ✨️

Have an update? Submit an alumni note here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&gid=2&pgid=906&cid=1821&post_id=0 👆️

06/04/2024

Are you in need of a job? McMurry University utilizes Handshake for job postings, event listings, event management, and appointment scheduling. 🦅🤝🦅

Handshake is a career community platform of 1,200+ college and university partners, over 9 million students, and 550,000+ employers. ✨️

Learn more about Handshake here: https://mcm.edu/student-success-support/career-experiential-learning-center/handshake/ 👆️

06/03/2024

What are we reading? 📚️

Small talk gets a bad rap for being too surface-level, too rote, a throwaway filler conversation. But casual chat can be the on-ramp to deeper connection. 🦅

After all, most of us wouldn’t introduce ourselves to a stranger with a question about their biggest fears. Small talk is an opportunity to build trust and to learn about others, and to become a more curious person, says Georgie Nightingall, a conversation specialist and human connectivity researcher. “Being genuinely curious, that always helps,” she says. “You can actually realize that you do want to know more rather than having that sense of like, I’m just asking for the sake of asking.” 🗣️

Get the full scoop here: https://www.vox.com/even-better/24083942/master-small-talk-interesting-conversation-strangers 👆️

05/31/2024

Do you need advice or feel like you could offer advice? 🤔

Through the Ask A McMurry Alum program, alumni and current and prospective students can connect with McMurry graduates to learn about career development and the real-life experience of entering the workforce. 🪶

Ask A McMurry Alum will connect you with the best alumni who can help you with advice and introductions. You’ll have the opportunity to share interests, ask questions, and hear personal stories from McMurry alumni. 🦅

Ask an alum here: https://form.jotform.com/221916692908062 👆️

05/29/2024

Last chance to be part of an amazing year! 🎉 Make your impact today by supporting the McMurry Fund and help us surpass $925k! 🦅

Let's finish strong TOGETHER! 🪶 Make your impact here: http://join.mcm.edu/giving 👆️

Ala cumba!

05/28/2024

There's more than one way to stay engaged with McMurry after you graduate. 🎓️✨️

Whether it’s attending Homecoming or another special event, finding or establishing an affinity group that matches your interest, volunteering your time, nominating someone for an alumni award, or giving back to the University, you can remain connected! 🥳

Visit the link below to see the 10 ways YOU can be an active alum.
https://www.join.mcm.edu/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&gid=2&pgid=1136&_gl=1*t1n1u5*_ga*MTYzMTEwNjU0Ny4xNzA1MDk3NzI5*_ga_TLEDNQQPX2*MTcxNjM5MDcwOC45NC4xLjE3MTYzOTA4NzkuNDkuMC4w 👆️

05/27/2024

Memorial Day is a time to pay our respects to those who have fought for our freedom, honor the sacrifices of the past and recent, and hold onto hope for a better future. 🇺🇸

Thank you, to all those who have served. We appreciate the sacrifices you have made. 🦅

05/24/2024

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed McMurry Board of Trustees member David Osborn '83, president and CEO of WestStar Bank, to the Finance Commission of Texas. 🦅

The commission oversees the state’s banking, savings and loan, and consumer credit agencies. Osborn’s term will run until Feb. 1, 2030. He serves on many boards including as chairman of the Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare board of directors and first vice chairman of The Borderplex Alliance. He is past chairman of the Texas Bankers Association and a member of the McMurry University Board of Trustees and the Texas Tech University Banking Program Advisory Council. 🤝

Osborn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from McMurry University and is a graduate of the SW Graduate School of Banking at SMU Cox School of Business. WestStar is a locally owned community bank with more than $3 billion in assets. 🪶

Congratulations, Mr. Osborn, your McM family is so proud of you! Ala cumba! 😁

What's new with you? Submit an alumni note at the link here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&gid=2&pgid=906&cid=1821&post_id=0 👆️

05/22/2024

TAG US in your grad pictures! We want to see and celebrate YOU moving into the next chapter of your life. 🦅

Instagram:
Facebook: McMurry Alumni Association
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Ala cumba! ✨️

05/22/2024

We want to hear from YOU! 🪶

Let your McMurry friends and classmates know what you have been up to! Public notes may be shared through our Alumni Social Media Channels and The Messenger, McMurry's magazine for alumni and friends.

Submit an Alumni Note here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&gid=2&pgid=906&cid=1821&post_id=0 🦅

05/21/2024

Ecclesiastes 8:15 "And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun." ☀️💐

What's your favorite summertime activity? 🤔

05/20/2024

What are we reading? 📚️

Your mental health influences how you think, feel, and behave in daily life. It also affects your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life’s setbacks and hardships.

Strong mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental health refers to the presence of positive characteristics.

Get the full scoop here: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/building-better-mental-health.htm 👆️

05/17/2024

Introducing the Rev. Dr. Sara Taylor Lattimore '05! ✝️👩‍🎓

Sara graduated with her Doctorate of Leadership in Global Perspectives from George Fox University on May 2, 2024. Sara's research is on the use of play in leadership development to increase risk-taking among experienced leaders who are facing burnout or leadership trauma.

From her research, Sara is launching a leadership development and retreat organization while also serving full-time as the Montana West District- Congregational Resource Minister in the Mountain Sky Conference of the UMC and serving a 2-point charge as pastor of Three Forks and Willow Creek UMCs.

Congratulations, Dr. Taylor Lattimore! Your McM family is so proud of you! 🦅

Have something you'd like to share with your McM family? Submit an alumni note: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1855/dg18/interior2.aspx?sid=1855&gid=2&pgid=906&cid=1821&post_id=0 👆️

05/13/2024

ConGRADulations class of 2024! Welcome to the Alumni Association, we are so incredibly proud of you all! 🎓️ Ala cumba! 🦅

Joshua 1:5-6 ESV "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them."

Alumni, tap in with words of encouragement and advice as these grads move into a new chapter in their lives. 👆️

05/13/2024

What are we reading? 📚️

Keeping great employees engaged is pivotal in an era of job hopping; Marc Cugnon shares his advice for helping them feel sincerely valued.

Get the full scoop: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/unique-employee-recognition-of-their-value 👆️

05/12/2024

Ezekiel 19:2 “Say: What a lioness among lionesses was your mother! She bedded down among the strong young lions and reared her cubs.” 💐

Happy Mother's Day! 💐

05/11/2024

Commencement is TODAY! Join us in welcoming the class of 2024 into our alumni community by sharing advice and encouragement in the comments. 🦅🎓️

McMurry University will hold Commencement on May 11, 2024, at 10 a.m. in Kimbrell Arena. One student will receive a master’s degree, 117 students will receive bachelor’s degrees, and our first graduates from McMurry Dual Credit Academy will receive associate degrees. 🧑‍🎓

Imaged is the 2024 Senior Toast event. Thank you to all who came out! 🥂

05/10/2024

Sing Song 2024 🎤✨️

1st place: Makona
2nd place: Theta Chi Lambda
3rd place: Gamma Sigma (also the Fan Favorite!)

What is your favorite Sing Song memory? Share in the comments! 🦅