Terence W. McCabe, mathematics, summer 1970

Current Field: mathematics

Since Graduation: I have a PhD in mathematics and am now teaching in the math department at Texas State University.

Furthermore: My wife is the associate director of the Honors Program at Texas State University. We spent four years working in Mississippi with rural communities in the 1970's and two years in Indonesia working with a village development program. We have two sons, Joseph and Samuel. I have been teaching math at Texas State since 1988, and have worked with Mathworks and taught in the Honors Summer Math Camp since 1991. Alumni from this program have earned PhDs in mathematics from institutions such as University of Texas, UC Berkeley and Harvard. I have received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Everette Swinney Faculty Senate Award for Teaching, both in 2004.

Favorite Professors: Dr. John Chatfield, mathematics, and Dr. John Fitch, chemistry

Phil Brockett, business administration, fall 1977

Current Field: law

Since Graduation: Immediately after graduating from SWT, I went to work for Coopers & Lybrand, a large public accounting firm. I graduated from SMU Law School in 1981 and worked in private law practice. From mid-1980 to the early 1990s, I worked at the Central Intelligence Agency. While in Washington, I picked up an LLM degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University. After the CIA, I worked in the legal departments of Texas Instruments Incorporated and Raytheon Company dealing with a multitude of U.S. government agencies as well as the governments of countries located in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and the Middle East. I now have a small law firm in Bend, Oregon focusing on social security disability appeals.

Favorite Professors: John Bullion, History

Current Field: reference librarian

Since Graduation: I earned a master's in history from SWT in 1984 and a master's in library science from North Texas in 1985. I was fortunate to return to campus in 1986 as a reference librarian. I continue to enjoy my work at Texas State. I especially enjoy working with the students and faculty of the University Honors Program.

Favorite Professors: Ron Brown - America in the 1960s

Manuel San Luis, music education, spring 1983

Current Field: band director

Since Graduation: Since graduating, I've taken post-graduate courses at the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago. I've taught at Mercedes ISD, Schleicher County ISD-Eldorado, Texas, Copperas Cove, and currently at Cedar Park Middle School in Cedar Park, Texas just north of Austin.

Furthermore: The Cedar Park Middle School Band has recently been selected as one of two middle school bands in the world to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic - An International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois. They performed on December 20, 2007.

Favorite Professors: Dr. David Pino, James Sudduth, John Stansberry, Tom Waggoner, Dr. Whalen, Dr. Reipe, Dr. Schmidt and all the honors program professors.

Current Field: archaeology

Since Graduation: After graduating with a BA in anthropology (1997) I worked in the home building, computer and oil industries. I returned SWT to pursue an MA in political science (2005). After completing coursework at SWT for my MA I was accepted into UT Austin, where I am finishing a thesis for an MA in Latin American studies. Throughout the entire time I remained active in the field of archaeology, and in 2005 I started a PhD in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I've recently earned an MS in anthropology through the same program and will begin research in 2008 for my dissertation. For the past six years my focus has shifted to South American archaeology. I traveled and worked extensively in Peru (Chankillo, Chavin de Huantar) and Bolivia (Tiwanaku). I have instructed for both the Harvard and Stanford University field schools. In 2004 I managed the Proyecto Arqueologico Pumapunku Akapana at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tiwanaku!. In 2007-2008 I will be TAing at the University of Wisconsin.

Furthermore: I'm still alive and I love beer.

Favorite Professors: Dr. Reilly, Dr. Yick, Dr. Bourgeois, Dr. Hart, Dr. Grasso

Christy Tinsley Ilfrey, English, fall 1998

Current Field: eco-writing

Since Graduation: Upon graduating, I returned to Plano and worked for a few years as recruitment coordinator/associate faculty of developmental writing at Collin County Community College. I married my longtime boyfriend, David, in 2001 and we started a landscape business together. I left my position in recruitment but continued teaching while we developed our business. By summer 2002 we had considered expanding our business to include a growing operation (specializing in native plants) and perhaps a retail nursery. We took an opportunity to manage a native plant nursery in fall 2002 on the beach in Florida. After one year we returned to Plano to resume our business, sans growing and retail operations. Since 2003, David and I have followed our mission to make positive changes in our community by way of nature-focused and sustainable landscape designs in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. My focus is writing (and speaking) about ecological issues, especially those unique to Texas.

Furthermore: Just this year several of our designs have won awards for their conservation measures and intent to restore Texas' rapidly disappearing natural beauty. We've had a lot of publicity, as well. On the personal side, David and I are expecting our first child, temporarily named 'NativeBabe.' While we were in Florida we lived in a pop-up camper for three months, then a dilapidated Craftsmen motorhome for another nine. That wasn't the first time we have lived an alternative lifestyle.

Favorite Professors: All of them! Perhaps the most influential on me personally and as a writer was/is Diann McCabe

Current Field: medical school

Since Graduation: I spent two years in Suriname serving in the Peace Corps. I will graduate from medical school in the spring of 2008.

Favorite Professors: The whole physics department was full of wonderful faculty!

Current Field: environmental / conservation

Since Graduation:

2001-2003: obtained MA degree in environmental geography at Arizona State University; worked with the National Forest Service in Tonto National Forest

2003: Ecuador - studied Spanish in Quito; volunteered in land use study of indigenous communities in Amazonian region; volunteered at biological conservation research station in Carchi Province 2004-2005: Environmental Permits Specialist with Municipal Solid Waste Section at Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in Austin.

2005-2006: Field and technical research assistant in land use cover change study of indigenous communities in Pastaza and Morona Santiago Provinces, Ecuador

2006-2007: Wildlife permits specialist with Wildlife Division at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in Austin.

Favorite Professors: Dr. Richard Earl, Diann McCabe, Dr. James Kimmel, Dr. Robert Larsen, Dr. James Petersen, Dr. Byron Augustin, Dr. Vincent Luizzi

Current Field: advertising copywriter

Since Graduation: writing and traveling

Favorite Professors: David Shields, Holly Shields, Diann McCabe, James Housefield

Current Field: theatre arts

Since Graduation: Immediately after graduating from Texas State in the fall of 2003, I moved to Olney, Maryland, for a stage management internship with Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, an award-winning regional theatre located just outside of Washington, DC. After completion of the internship, I became the company manager for Olney Theatre. I served as company manager for one year before returning to stage management. I have now been a freelance stage manager in the DC metro area for two years, still working primarily with Olney Theatre Center for the Arts. I am a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers.

Favorite Professors: John Hood, Diann McCabe, Christopher Frost

Current Field: law

Since Graduation: Attended law school at Northwestern University.

Favorite Professors: Diann McCabe and Dan Lochman

Claudia Scott, economics, 2004

Current Field: internal marketing / strategic activities

Since Graduation: I started working at SACHEM, a global specialty chemicals manufacturing company in 2005. After initially working with B2B Key Accounts in Customer Service, I have now moved to the corporate site in the business working in Internal Marketing.

Furthermore: My daughter Zaidie Elizabeth was born in July 2005. She will be 2 this year. I often think back to the Honors Program, Diann McCabe, Dr. Frost, and everyone else. I am happy to see the Honors Program progressing so nicely! Wow!

Favorite Professors: Every one of my Honors Professors was great! Dr. Bell impressed me most!

Current Field: law

Since Graduation: After graduating I moved to the Washington DC area for law school. I am now in my third (and final!) year of school at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia. I also work at Martin & Arif, a small law firm in northern Virginia.

Furthermore: The friendships and relationships I developed through the honors program remain some of the most memorable and important in my life. The honors program opened doors for me to knowledge and experiences I never could have imagined.

Favorite Professors: Don Olson, Roseanne Mandziuk, and Diann McCabe, though she was never technically my professor.

Evan Huston, computer science, 2005

Current Field: high tech

Since Graduation: After graduation I took a job with Blue Fish Development Group as an IT consultant where I specialized in enterprise content management and search applications for Fortune 500 clients. In 2006, I returned to school and am currently enrolled in the PhD program in computer science at Rice University where I work as both a teaching and research assistant.

Furthermore: My research is in the field of bioinformatics and computational biology. Currently, I am involved with the study and analysis of protein interaction and signaling networks implicated in cancer. I work closely with researchers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, which is widely regarded as one of the top centers for cancer research in the world.

Current Field: Linguistics/Foreign Language Education/ESL

Since Graduation: Immediately after graduation, I spent five months learning Spanish in Queretaro, Mexico. Since then, I've been hooked on Mexican culture and Latin American studies, and my husband Brian and I returned to central Mexico for our honeymoon. Currently, I teach and tutor ESL to international students for the Texas Intensive English Program (TIEP) in Austin. In July I start teaching my first full-blown ESL class. Also, I will start UT's linguistics graduate program in August - very exciting.

Furthermore: Honors is addicting! Be careful... you'll never want to go back to regular courses! I'm very excited that there is an honors minor now.

Favorite Professors: Leticia Flores -- class called "Your Brain on God." Out of the 10 honors courses I took, that course was by far the most life changing.

Petra Bruguier, finance, spring 2006

Current Field: Linguistics/foreign language education/ESL

Since Graduation: Since graduation, I've had some major surgeries to repair an injury from a car accident. I've also gotten engaged and will be married in the fall of 2008. And, of course, gotten my first "real" job...

Favorite Professors: Diann McCabe, Dr. Chittenden (finance), Hutch, many others.

Current Field: law

Since Graduation: I am attending school at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Furthermore: I loved my time in the Mitte Honors Program.

Favorite Professors: Dr. Lochman, Dr. Beebe, Dr. McKinney and Dr. Yuan.

Current Field: education

Since Graduation: Since graduation I have attained my certification for teaching in special education EC-12. This year I will be working at Aldine Academy in Houston teaching second and third grade inclusion. In the spring I plan to attend Sam Houston State University to pursue my master's in psychology.

Favorite Professors: Dr. Warms: He challenged my way of thinking about things. Dr. Stimmel: His brutal honesty with my thesis led me to be more honest with myself about my writing. Dr. Graham: She helped me discover the brain and how amazing it is.

Current Field: poetry/medieval studies

Since Graduation: I began my graduate studies in Hanover Germany. I traveled extensively in the lower Saxony region of Germany, while abroad.

Furthermore: I entered the Texas State University MFA poetry program, receiving a teaching graduate assistantship. I currently hold officer positions for Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and the Medieval Renaissance Society.

Favorite Professors: Professor S. Morrison, Professor E. Makowski, Professor K. Pierce.

Louie Deán Valencia García, international studies-European studies/Spanish, spring 2007

Current Field: humanitarian rights

Since Graduation: I moved to Madrid, where I pass my days drinking coffee and getting lost in the streets. In October I will start my master's in fundamental humanitarian rights at the Universidad Carlos III, in Madrid, Spain.

Furthermore: I used to update the honors Web site.

Favorite Professors: Nieves Pujalte, Diann McCabe, Heather Galloway, Dan Lochman, Donald Olson, Daniela Ferrero, Elizabeth Makowski, Margaret Menninger, Patricia Evans, Susan Morrison, Frank Josserland.

Current Field: Middle Eastern studies

Since Graduation: Moved to Chicagoland with my wife and two sons in order to prepare for fall matriculation to the graduate program in Middle Eastern studies at the University of Chicago

Furthermore: Love my kids

Favorite Professors: Dr. McGee, Dr. Galloway, Dr. Bargeron, Diann McCabe, Dr. Gordon.