National Agri‐Marketing Association (NAMA) Contest
Kansas City, Missouri – April 15-17, 2015
Submitted by: Jessica Burke, NAMA Team Ag Business
In April, the SHSU NAMA Ag Business team attended a national marketing contest along with teams from around the country and Canada. During the NAMA Marketing Competitions, participants learned marketing techniques, and were able to speak with other team members, advisors, and professionals and gain insight in their field of study, and discover ways they can improve as teams and as professionals. They also had an opportunity to win scholarships.
The guest speakers were well‐known businessmen in the agricultural world. They discussed topics related to marketing in the agricultural field, and delivered insight on market products and about their personal careers. SHSU NAMA Ag Business participants had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with these professionals and learn about their experiences and careers. They were able to represent Sam Houston State University in an outstanding way through their skills, leadership, and professionalism, and they look forward to presenting again next year. Back
41st Annual Leadership Conference
Tallahassee, Florida – April 10-12, 2015
Submitted by: Briana Boyce, Caribbean Student Organization (CSO) President
The conferenc
e was a great way for the Caribbean Student Organization to network and discover ways to grow on the SHSU campus. Prior to the scheduled workshops, they learned ways to market their organization not only to people of Caribbean culture but to branch out and reach others who are not familiar
with CSO. After the workshops, participants gathered together and shared what they learned. Everyone had positive feedback, whether it was about budgeting, coming up with business plans for the future, or ways to become healthier. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in the Miss FCSA pageant where Dalise Lockhart, an E-board member, took home the crown as Miss FCSA International, a great accomplishment for Dalise and CSO!
During the conference, the SHSU Caribbean Student Organization made life long connections with students from across the U.S., and all feel they have taken away something positive from their weekend in Florida. Back
Texas Academy Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition
Houston, Texas – April 8-10, 2015
Submitted by: Danielle Stewart, SHSDA Treasurer
The Texas Academy Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition taught members
many things about the growing field of dietetics and ways to improve their organization on campus. They attended multiple lectures on topics such as obesity, diabetes, school lunch programs, and artificial sweeteners. This allowed them to learn and stay current on information applicable to their field. Staying up to date on information is crucial in the medical field. They also attended multiple cooking demonstrations and received a demonstration tool kit, which they can pass on to their organization, Sam Houston Student Dietetic Association. Performing healthy cooking demonstrations are a great way for organizations to spread awareness on campus.
During the exhibition participants received valuable tools and resources to help them in the future. Organization members were able to share their learned experience with other students, and this experience gave them a more positive outlook on their future careers. Back
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – March 26-28, 2015
Submitted by: Brittany R. Munoz, Mu Tau Omega President
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) National Conference and the AMTA Southwestern Regional Conference provide numerous benefits for students and professionals who attend. Students have the opportunity to network and gain knowledge from the professionals presenting in the field of Music Therapy, and connect with other students in the same field. Past presentations include: music therapy with Huntington’s disease, foundations 
of Rap, and life after internship.
While presentations are going on, participants are able to walk through the vendors’ booths selling instruments, books, bags, and other items of interest to future music therapists, who are looking to begin building their instrumental repertoire. Student organization booths encourage alumni to purchase items from their alma mater and to meet current students. This event provides a great opportunity for organizations to make a profit, and develop business connections. Students are also able to network with professionals and internship directors during the luncheon, an opportunity that builds confidence in approaching professionals, and developing connections with those in the field.
At the AMTA National Conference, schools from around the United States are represented, and students from each school communicate their ideas and expectations. For example, the student music therapy organization at SHSU, Mu Tau Omega, hosts an annual Music Therapy awareness week/weekend. This event provides members from the organization that attended the conference an opportunity to share their experience and ideas. Both the regional and national conferences hold business meetings, hosted by the student boards, where students are able to run for an officer position on the board. Social events organized by the student leadership board allow music therapy organization members to bond and build connections with members from other schools in the music therapy field. Back
2015 Southern Sociological Society Annual Meeting
New Orleans, Louisiana – March 25-29, 2015
Submitted by: Members of the SHSU Sociology Club
Members of the SHSU Sociology Club attended the 2015 Southern Sociological So
ciety Annual Meeting. They were able to meet many intelligent professionals that gave them insight about their major. The event also provided undergraduates with an opportunity to network with professors in their field of study, and broaden their knowledge of current sociological research, as well as internship opportunities.
During the event, participants were able to attend various sessions discussing a wide range of topics: the displacement of kids during and after Katrina, the sociology of bullying, and the spirits and wine industry. The members of the SHSU Sociology Club expressed great appreciation for the opportunity to attend an event that is ordinarily not available to undergraduates, and found the experience to be very beneficial and inspirational. It is a great opportunity for students to learn about the research that sociologists are doing today and network with so many important people in their field. Back
91st Annual Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society Convention
Albuquerque, New Mexico – March 18-21, 2015
Submitted by: Jennifer Seay, Sigma Tau Delta
Julian Kindred, Shadow Merritt, and Jenny Seay traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to participate in the 91st Annual Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society Convention. They were one of the first of hundreds of chapters to arrive at the Hyatt hotel, and they spent the remainder of the day seeing the city. As the group wandered around Old Albuquerque between sessions, they tasted a variety of foods, including the famous New Mexican food (which makes enchiladas flat like pancakes), and enjoyed an impromptu street gunfight between Jesse James and a comically foolish deputy. Breaking Bad merchandise saturated the whole Old Market; New Mexicans are really proud of their show. The adobe buildings and cobblestone streets complimented the rose colored church, which was 400 years old and in the middle of a restoration project.
During the convention, guest speakers such as Gary Soto, Simon Ortiz, and Leslie Marmon Silko gave interesting talks and offered book signings. Micah Dean Hicks hosted several creative writing workshops as well as fun events like “Open Mic” and the “Bad Poetry” Contest, in which Jenny participated, but her poem was not “awful enough” to win. Both Jenny and Julian enjoyed several of the craft workshops. Participants also enjoyed the presentations covering various genres appealing to admirers of original fiction, poetry, feminism, Victorian, or works of American culture. To generate lively discussion and prompt further understanding of the literary subjects discoursed in the readings; the audience members were given an opportunity to question the panel of readers. These interactive sessions truly showed the mental prowess of the writers involved and provided an opportunity to network with fellow members and develop contacts in their field of study. SHSU representatives eagerly supported their fellow Sam Houston cohorts who also delivered their presentations, and handled their questions with consideration and enthusiasm. All papers were well written and insightful, serving as both a study and lecture that enriched the knowledge of the audiences. Back
2015 ACDA South-Central Regional Conference
Lubbock, Texas – March 18, 2015
Submitted by: Katie McAliste
r, Chi Tau Epsilon President
Members of Chi Tau Epsilon at SHSU were able to attend ACDA South-Central Regional Conference held in Lubbock, Texas. They were able to make connections for the future that will help them get a job after graduation, and had the opportunity to represent the SH Dance Department by performing at two of the shows during the festival. Over 50 works from 25 dance programs were judged, and 12 were selected to present during the Gala concert. The SHSU team was the only team in the region to have both their works selected to present during the Gala. They also had the opportunity to meet with chapters of Chi Tau Epsilon from other schools and exchange ideas and information. Attending ACDA is a great networking experience and an opportunity to grow as dancers. Back
National Student Show and Conference
Dallas, Texas – March 2015
Submitted by: Codi Bishop, American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) “Design Club”
While at the National Student Show and Conference hosted by the Dallas Society of Visual Communication, participants were exposed to a number of creative outlets as well as creative professionals in and around the greater Dallas area. At the conference they were able to tour competitive design studios in Dallas, listen to a variety of keynote speakers and design professionals, view student work gathered from across the United States, and attend a job fair/portfolio review for junior and senior undergraduate students.
Throughout a studio tour, members were fortunate to visit some of the best design firms and agencies in Dallas. From this, they gained a greater understanding of the industry and how a variety of design agencies; small, large, in-house, etc., function. They visited Imaginuity, Squires and Company, and Lucky Post, each of which offered different perspectives and environments within the field. Imaginuity demonstrated the inner-workings of a medium range digital agency, while Squires and Company revealed how a small boutique-style print agency runs on a day-to-day. On the complete other end of the spectrum Lucky Post showed a completely new medium, and how post-production video editing can be another viable career opportunity.
The studio tours at NSSC 11, provided various breakout sessions and keynote speakers offering new, and invaluable insight on a variety of platforms. The breakout sessions allowed members to select the aspects of design and the industry they wanted to learn about. These sessions discussed topics such as, how to use social media for promotional purposes, tips for overcoming creative blocks, the art of hand-lettering, how to land your dream job, and many others. In addition to the breakout sessions, the keynote portion offered even more insight from Zech Bard (Writing Director at Instrument), Justin Harder (Creative Director at Claus Studios), Shanteka Sigers (Executive Creative Director at Sanders/Wingo), and Felix Sockwell (Freelance Illustrator).
The final portion of the conference gave participants an opportunity to present their own portfolios, and see the work of students from other universities across the United States. This also allowed them to network and have their work reviewed by competitive design professionals and agencies, including: Tidalwave, BottleRocket Studios, Fossil, Tracey Locke, Squires and Company, and AvreaFoster. Back
Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Conference
Indianapolis, Indiana – January 29 – February 1, 2015
Submitted by: Haley Jozwiak, National Panhellenic Association President
Katelyn Mattingly, Alli Miller, and Haley Jozwiak, members of the SHSU Panhellenic Association
Members of the SHSU 
Panhellenic Association traveled to Indianapolis to attend the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Conference. The conference focused on shaping leaders in the Greek community. Speakers discussed how to become better leaders, and the importance of leading by example and passion. Following the speaker, everyone separated into breakout sessions. These varied based on positions within the organization. As President of SHSU Panhellenic, Haley attended breakout sessions designed to improve ways to govern council and ways to become a better leader. She indicated that the session gave her more confidence in her position as Panhellenic President, and helped her become a stronger campus leader. She also indicated that attending these events helps organizations run more efficiently, and helps more leaders emerge on campus.
Katelyn attended various breakout sessions focusing on how to recruit quality women and recruitment in a stress-free way. It was also interesting getting ideas from different campuses on how to govern our councils and how they handle different problems, such as social media. Back