The Third Decade

E6 | Sunday, November 17, 2019 | lmtonline.com | Laredo Morning Times #%! &""$(),+*,' (N0X= F@X>O @M 2;>=N 90XBJAN>= also approved a new bachelor of sci- ence in nursing. A bachelor’s of sci- NAPN JA =?@><= "<AN== 1X= XH=@ XOONO& as well as a bachelor’s in chemistry. In September 1998, TAMIU ini- <JX<NO J<= ">=< P@HHXW@>X<J:N +K%D% in Curriculum and Instruction. That same month, two faculty members became co-coordinators for a new women’s and gender studies minor program. On the cusp of advanced tech- nology, students also learned about computers through a program which gave TAMIU employees access to the work order system. In 1999, the Texas Higher Educa- tion Coordinating Board approved construction of TAMIU’s Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade and authorized adding a bach- elor’s degree in environmental sci- ence. It also approved new undergradu- X<N ONL>NN= JA "AN$=<;OJ@ X><= XAO dance and music, as well as gradu- ate degrees for planning in biology, nursing, public administration and psychology. TAMIU gained its 23rd graduate degree when it got approved for a master’s in public administration in the summer of 1999. It also gained a bachelor’s of social work. Follow the money Once TAMIU was estab- lished as a four-year university, the money trickled in to help out its new programs and projects. In 1993, the Finance Com- mittee of the Texas A&M Uni- versity System Board of Re- LNA<= X??>@:NO CVQ BJHHJ@A M@> PX?J<XH PXB?XJLA XAO CQ%R BJH- lion for new programs. In 1996, XW@;< CS BJHHJ@A JA ?HNOLN= XAO gifts were sent. The Killam family also ?HNOLNO X CU BJHHJ@A ?HNOLN M@> constructing the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade. 7A VQQR& <KN 2FE FXAI @M 4X>NO@ XAA@;APNO X CST&### gift for student scholarships. Cuellar earned his doctorate of philosophy in government at the University of Texas, which was celebrated at TAMIU in 1998. (KN D>% 8NA>/ E;NHHX> 9AO@1NO Scholarship in political science was created as well. TAMIU received numerous scholarships and endowments, yet it continued to struggle to secure fund- ing from the Texas Legislature. “It was almost a constant struggle 1KN>N A;BN>@;= 4X>NO@XA= @M JA!;- ence would have to make the annual pilgrimage to Austin to beg the leg- islature on their knees for funds,” Thompson said. Yet local leaders and politicians did what they could, including Cuel- lar and fellow State Representative (>XP/ 5JAL& YXM">JAJ& XAO D>% 6@X- quin Cigarroa of the Texas Higher Education Board. In 1996, they formed a Legisla- tive Forum to tackle funding issues. The next year, word got out that the (N0X= 4NLJ=HX<;>N <X>LN<NO XW@;< CTS million for TAMIU’s campus com- pletion. “All universities had trouble get- ting money,” Jennett said. “It would be hard to overstate, but all kinds of people from Laredo have done more things to help the people who grew up here.” YXM">JAJ =XJO =KN 1X= ?>@;O <KN Legislature recognized TAMIU’s =JLAJ"PXAPN M@> <KN P@BB;AJ</ XAO greater population. .);PK X =JLAJ"PXA< JA:N=<BNA< was a sign that the Legislature sup- ported our vision,” she said. “This was the foundation from which we continue to secure additional appro- priations for our university.” Campus life 7A VQQS& (G37' KNHO J<= ">=< .D;=</ *;A- M@> XH;BAJ& MXP;H</ XAO students to run in a relay from the former campus near Laredo Com- munity College to the new campus, totaling 10 miles. The tradition will carry on, bring- ing together countless alumni and students and covering longer dis- tances. With students attending the uni- versity and congregating on campus, it was time to make changes to bet- ter give students a traditional college experience. “I told President Sayavedra, ‘We ANNO X BX=P@<&,- D>% 6N>>/ (K@B?- son said. “We’re never going to be a great university unless we have a mascot.” Initially, Thompson suggested the Roadrunners, since it was the most “logical” one. He also consid- ered the Javelinas, but Texas A&M Anthony J. and Georgia A. Pellegrino