Sam Houston State University

08/29/2026

From building careers to building the Bearkat community, our faculty and staff have spent years making an impact at Sam Houston State University.

At the Annual Faculty & Staff meeting held on Aug. 26, we celebrated the team members reaching major service milestones this year, including those who have dedicated multiple decades to .

Meet this year’s long-serving honorees: https://bit.ly/4iAmcQ4

08/28/2026

A record-breaking start to Fall 2026. 👏

Sam Houston State University has welcomed the largest first-time freshman class in university history, with 3,567 first-time freshmen enrolled as of the first day of classes on Aug. 19, an 8.7% increase over Fall 2025.

The milestone reflects SHSU’s continued efforts to expand access, strengthen connections with prospective students and showcase the academic opportunities and student experience that make Sam Houston a destination for students from across Texas and beyond.

Welcome to the largest first-time freshman class in history, Bearkats!

Read more about our historic enrollment milestone here: https://bit.ly/4qHv0Wx

08/28/2026

Bearkat Spirit Friday in film 📸

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08/27/2026

For Eddie Blazek ’75, Sam Houston State University has been part of his story for more than 50 years. Now, he and his wife are helping shape the future of agriculture at for generations to come.

On Aug. 19, Blazek was surprised at Gibbs Ranch with the unveiling of a new sign bearing the Mound Creek Ranch name and the words “Where Genetics Matter”, celebrating a five-year partnership between Mound Creek Ranch and SHSU’s Gibbs Ranch.

Through the partnership, Mound Creek Ranch will provide at least 50 cattle embryos each year, giving Gibbs Ranch access to premier Brangus and Ultra Black genetics while helping accelerate improvements to the university’s herd. But the impact goes beyond the cattle.

Students will gain firsthand experience with advanced reproductive and genetic practices, including embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilization, while exploring new opportunities for research and hands-on learning.

For Blazek, giving back is rooted in what SHSU gave him. Now, he hopes to help give the next generation of agriculture professionals the tools to meet an evolving industry’s challenges.

Discover how the Blazeks’ partnership is helping grow the future of agriculture at SHSU: https://bit.ly/3SYeJzY

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

What started with a chance encounter turned into a career, two businesses and a commitment to giving back.

After transferring to Sam Houston State University in 2002, Brent Nedbalek ’07 was delivering newspapers when he met someone working in aviation. That unexpected introduction sparked a curiosity that led him into aircraft hangars, where he learned the industry from the ground up, literally starting with a broom in hand.

While earning his degree in general business administration at , Nedbalek completed his pilot ratings and licenses and turned his growing passion for aviation into a career. He later founded Aviators Plus, an aircraft maintenance and repair company, and Triton Air, a private air travel company focused on comfort, safety and personalized service.

Over the years, Nedbalek has flown notable passengers, including IndyCar legend A.J. Foyt and actor Chuck Norris, but some of his most rewarding moments still come from watching an aircraft he helped build or maintain take flight. His entrepreneurial success has also earned recognition through the Sam Houston 79, which honors the fastest-growing Bearkat-owned or Bearkat-led businesses.

From an unexpected introduction to aviation to building businesses and investing in his community, Nedbalek continues to create opportunities, champion others and proudly represent the Bearkat spirit. Read more about Brent’s journey: https://bit.ly/4gPMCfu

08/26/2026

Recognizing the Bearkats who make a difference across our university 🏆

During ’s annual Faculty & Staff Meeting, President Alisa White recognized faculty and staff members for their outstanding service and contributions to the university community.

Join us in congratulating this year’s honorees!

08/26/2026

While working full-time as an emergency communications operator for the Brownsville Police Department and raising her 6-year-old daughter, Roxana Martinez earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in forensic science from the Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice, completing the program through the unique transfer pathway offered at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, Texas.

To celebrate Martinez’s achievement, the college held a graduation ceremony in Brownsville, giving her family, friends and community the opportunity to celebrate alongside her.

Read more about her journey: https://bit.ly/4gAyohm

To explore our programs in the Rio Grande Valley, visit:
Brownsville: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/criminal-justice/partnerships/brownsville-tsc
McAllen: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/criminal-justice/partnerships/mcallen-stc

08/26/2026

Jackpot behavior 🤑

Safe to say, KATsino Night had us feeling pretty lucky. Catch all the winning moments in our Flickr album here: https://bit.ly/46sFsaU

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08/25/2026

Making campus a healthier, more supportive place starts with people willing to work together. 🐾

Congratulations to Lindsey Lopez and Dr. Maribeth Jorgensen, co-chairs of the Sam Houston State University JED Campus strategic task force, on receiving the Student Affairs Division Award for Community Partnership for their collaborative leadership and impact on student well-being.

Leading a cross-divisional team of more than 25 faculty, staff and student representatives, Lindsey and Maribeth are guiding through a four-year JED Campus initiative focused on strengthening student mental health, safety and retention. Their work brings together partners from across Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, UPD, Facilities, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), colleges and student leadership.

Now in Year 2, their leadership has helped drive meaningful progress across campus, including the establishment and relaunch of the campaign, critical policy revisions to better support students experiencing personal or health-related challenges, and the development of resources to help faculty and staff recognize and support students in distress.

Through their efforts, SHSU joined more than 500 institutions nationwide using evidence-based tools from The Jed Foundation - JED to create a campus environment where student mental health and well-being are prioritized.

Lopez and Jorgensen’s work is a powerful example of what can happen when campus partners come together around a shared goal: helping Bearkats feel supported, connected and equipped to succeed.

Learn more about the JED Campus initiative here: https://bit.ly/48usEmq