With just under 40 days to go in our countdown, UTEP's Centennial year is fast approaching, with exciting plans for 2014!. All kinds of Centennial Gear are available at the Centennial Museum Welcome Center, just in time for holiday shopping. Special UTEP centennial salsa, wines (bottled by the Miner Family winery!) clothing and all kinds of memorabilia are now for sale. For our Miner fans, December 12 will feature the opening of a special Athletics exhibition at the Centennial Museum. Then get ready for an Orange New Year's Eve with a special UTEP party pack, filled with one of a kind UTEP items!

Future highlights during Spring, 2014 will include a University Open House from April 11-13, 2014. This event marks the 100 year anniversary of the announcement by the El Paso Chamber of Commerce that $50,000 had been committed-enough to open the Texas State School of Mines. So, in April 2014, UTEP will invite our alumni, friends and community to come to our campus and celebrate the past 100 years. The College of Health Sciences will host a special event as part of the Open House- get your dancing shoes ready!

There will be many more events during 2014, including the opening of the new Centennial Plaza in the center of campus. You can even watch the construction in a live stream from this site! In addition, each one of our College of Health Sciences departments and programs has planned an event to advance education in their professional field, honor our alumni and renew and strengthen our relationships with our community. Watch for our schedule in our next newsletter and please plan to join us. We can't wait to see you!

Go Miners!

Dr. Erin Barnes, an Assistant Professor in the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) program was recently appointed to serve on Goodwill Industries of El Paso's Board of Directors.

Barnes has a long history with Goodwill. Her first job (after completing her undergraduate degree) was coordinating grants for Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa (now Goodwill of the Heartland). Barnes said, "It was one of the best jobs ever had!" She added, "Goodwill played a large role in me being where I am now. I may not have ever known about the field of rehabilitation counseling had I not worked for Goodwill."

Barnes reflects fondly on that job. "The job I did was important for many low-income families in the Iowa City area." She explained that her job involved soliciting roadworthy vehicles from both public and private organizations. Goodwill (through a grant) then invested money into making sure the vehicles were roadworthy. The cars were then matched with low-income families and Goodwill paid the first two months of insurance for the drivers. Barnes commented, "The community's response to the grant was overwhelming." She added, "One company donated 5 cars from their retired fleet! That's almost unheard of!"

The fond memories Barnes has of working for Goodwill prompted her to continue working with Goodwill (in some capacity) after she arrived at UTEP in 2011. She worked with Mark Huerta, Goodwill of El Paso's Director of Workforce Services and Marketing, to secure clinical placements for students in the MRC program. Barnes said, "When I was in my master's program I completed a clinical at Goodwill; so I was elated that my current students could get the same opportunity." But Barnes never thought her placing students with Goodwill would result in a remarkable opportunity for her. In September, Barnes learned that there was a new, interim Director, who was serving as a consultant for the El Paso Goodwill. When she asked Huerta who it was, she couldn't believe it was the same man who was the CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa when she worked there 12 years ago - John Watson. "What are the chances of that?", Barnes remarked. Watson remembered all of the contributions Barnes made during her tenure at Goodwill and asked if she would consider joining the El Paso Goodwill's Board of Directors. Barnes commented, "I felt honored!" Barnes will start her appointment on November 19, 2013.

Tradition dictates that every Fall Semester the Doctor of Physical Therapy program holds the White Coat and Pinning ceremony for the 2nd year students as they transition into clinical education. The ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks by Dr. Deborah Diaz, the Program Director followed by comments by Dean Kathleen Curtis. The Class of 2014 invited Dr. Celia Pechak to provide her thoughts, which were quite inspirational.

The White Coat Ceremony marks a rite of passage for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). At this ceremony, the student officially transitions from the study of preclinical sciences to the practice of clinical health sciences. The event emphasizes the importance of compassionate care for the patient as well as scientific proficiency. The cloaking with the white coat-the mantle of the healthcare professions-is a hands-on experience that underscores commitment to outstanding clinical practice.

The coat was placed on each student's shoulders by Dr. Deborah Diaz, the Program Director, symbolic of the program's affirmation of the student's ability to carry on the noble tradition of Physical Therapy. Next, the student's faculty advisor placed the UTEP Doctor of Physical Therapy pin on the student's lapel signifying the advisor's faith and confidence in the student's future in the Physical Therapy profession.

This year, because this class will be graduating amidst the University's centennial celebration, the pin was customized with the year 2014 and fashioned in all gold coloring. It is important to note that the pin was designed by the UTEP DPT Class of 2014. This pin is the model for DPT pins for years to come.

The ceremony concluded with a commitment to professional ethics during which each student recited the UTEP DPT Oath, stating:
"As a member of the UTEP Physical Therapy Program and the APTA, I pledge, to embrace the APTA CORE Values as I enter into clinical practice for this phase of my education. I promise to be accountable for my actions while maintaining the highest integrity possible. I promise to remain altruistic and engage in excellent and compassionate patient care practices. I understand the importance of upholding this Honor Code to maintain our professional community of trust. Furthermore, my professional duty is foremost to my patients, to UTEP, and the APTA."

Nine UTEP Master of Occupational Therapy students and two faculty attended the annual Texas OT Association (TOTA) Mountain Central Conference in November in Sugarland, TX. Drs. Katherine Lawson and Eugenia Gonzalez presented a podium presentation entitled "Impact of Fear of Falling on Functional Independence" and Dr. Gonzalez presented another podium presentation entitled "The Effects of an Emotive Writing Intervention for Mothers of Children with Disabilities". The students were able to attend professional presentations and network with other MOT students from across the state!

During TOTA's business meeting, Dr. Gonzalez
was honored as the Texas Occupational Therapy "Academic Educator of the Year" for her commitment to UTEP's MOT program and students. This award is given to recognize a faculty member in an occupational therapy program who has made outstanding contributions to academic  education in the following areas: a) exhibits innovative teaching skills and serves as a role model; b) makes substantial contributions to the profession in the forms of presentation, publication and research; c) provides community service through membership on state or local OT boards, chairs committees or is an officer of a community organization. Congratulations Dr. Gonzalez! We are proud to claim you as our own!

MSW student Ms. Leah Diaz has been award the Department of Social Work's Outstanding Student award and has been selected as Student Marshal for this December's commencement. Ms. Diaz has worked throughout her graduate career, serving as a graduate research assistant and a tutor. Early on, Ms. Diaz participated in the Master of Social Work Student Organization (MSWSO), and was elected to the position of Public Relations Coordinator in 2011. Presently, she is the Field Experience Representative of this same organization.

Ms. Diaz was also one of eleven students chosen to participate in the Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) program, wherein she assisted with two research projects in her host country of Ecuador during the summer of 2012. In February, 2013, Ms. Diaz presented a paper on writing assistance for special needs students at UT Austin's The Future of Writing Centers Symposium. Moreover, she helped organize the Department of Social Work's oral and poster presentations for the First Annual Interdisciplinary Research Symposium in April, 2013.

Ms. Diaz is also an active volunteer, volunteering with El Paso's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the American Red Cross, and the Magoffin Home State Historic Site. In addition, Ms. Diaz has volunteered for Project Bravo's 2013 Paint-a-Thon and the Nuestra Casa Initiative and Exhibit. Plus, she has volunteered as a counter for the El Paso Coalition for the Homeless' 2013 Point in Time count; as a laborer for the KaBoom! Playground Project, which built a playground for the El Paso Center for Children; and as a server for the Annunciation House's Voice of the Voiceless Solidarity Meal for two consecutive years. Lastly, for approximately two and a half years, Ms. Diaz has been a letter writer for Soldiers' Angels, handwriting a letter each month to deployed soldiers.

Following graduation, Ms. Diaz hopes to participate in the Big Sky Watershed Corps, an AmeriCorps VISTA program that assists Montana's watershed communities. If possible, Ms. Diaz would enjoy working as a legislative aide and/or becoming a public official in order to promote good social welfare policy.

Dr. Sam Terrazas (PI) and Dr. Candcye Berger (Co-PI) have been awarded $100,000 from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to pilot and evaluate the Parent Partners program. The goals of this program are to improve the likelihood of reunification with parents/guardians with their children who have been removed from their custody due to child abuse and/or neglect and to reduce the amount of time children are in the foster care system. The wider goal of this project is to develop an effective intervention that can be replicated in communities throughout Texas and potentially the country. The program is designed to provide parents, who have lost custody of their child(ren) due to child abuse and/or neglect, with structured supports and mentorship to navigate the child welfare system.

Over the past 3 months Terrazas and Berger have worked intensely with the Texas Department of Family Protective Services and local CPS administrator to develop and prepare for the installation of this program into the El Paso community. The process of implementing this program has included the hiring and training of 4 staff persons, a project manager Vivian Corral a Licenses Social Worker and three para professionals (Parent Partners) Cynthia Munzon, Hollie Daniel, Marlene Romo. The team has also met with local judges and CPS administrators at the local and state level in a collaborative effort to ensure that stakeholders are involved in the programs development and implementation. To date, the Parent Partners rogram has been well received by the local Child Protective Services administrators and judges who have been actively involved and supportive of the program.

Health Promotion student members of UTEP chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG), the National Health Education Honorary, actively participated at two communities events during the month of November to provide nutrition education to community members and to UTEP students. ESG Students participated at the San Elizario annual health fair on November 2. The health fair was attended by almost 1000 people including seniors, parents, teachers, and children. ESG students provided messages about proper portion size, nutritional content and that eating healthy can be tasty and affordable. They prepared tasty recipes and explained how high calorie and high fat ingredients such as cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, syrup and caramel could be substituted with olive oil, honey, herbs and lemon juice and mentioned that these ingredients are available at all grocery stores. The tasty and healthy recipes demonstrated at the table included fruit kebabs with honey and lemon; healthy tuna- tomato-greens salad on whole wheat tortilla strips; low-fat spinach -tuna deviled eggs and a chicken spinach tortilla roll. ESG Students used food models to demonstrate recommended portion sizes and to create awareness about how much salt, sugar and fat one can consume through fast/junk food. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the food wheel game. ESG students also provided nutrition education and prepared tasty recipes for the UTEP community on November 14 in support of World Diabetes Day, a diabetes awareness campaign of the International Diabetes Federation. Go Blue on the Border is the diabetes awareness campaign for our region and ESG students wore blue on that day to recognize that diabetes is serious, it can be prevented and controlled and the time is now for healthy lifestyle. Thank you to ESG for their outstanding efforts to help increase diabetes awareness and health education in our community.

Did you know you can check your blood pressure on campus? UTEP now has a blood pressure station located in Union Building East-2nd floor near the food court. This machine was made possible by The University of Texas System- "Living Well: Make it a Priority" Worksite Health and Wellness program, in partnership with the Office of Employee Benefits and the UTEP Wellness program. Features include weight and blood pressure readings, information on campus wellness programs, health tips and more! For more information please contact the Office of Employee Benefits at 915-747-5202/[email protected] or the UTEP Wellness Office at 915-747-6738/[email protected].

The UTEP Student Rehabilitation Counseling Association (SRCA) served our community by volunteering at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless on Friday, November 1st.

SRCA is an organization of enthusiastic students who are committed to the UTEP Master of Rehabilitation Counseling program. This association is dedicated to serving the community, with the ultimate goal being advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Eager to serve, SRCA greeted approximately 120 homeless men with a traditional Mexican-style dinner, including tacos, beans, and fresh fruit. The dinner was organized by SRCA and made possible by generous community donations.

Jennifer Mares, advisory chair of SRCA, is currently completing her practicum at the Opportunity Center and viewed this as the perfect time to provide for these individuals who are currently experiencing hardships.

"The center is in great need of nutritious meals and fresh fruit. There are significantly more homeless men than women, which is why we first provided dinner for the men. Nevertheless, women are not forgotten. They are next," said Mares.

The Opportunity Center is in charge of numerous shelters. The OC staff welcomes individuals who are homeless; including those struggling with substance abuse and psychological disabilities. In addition, they serve veterans, youth, and the elderly.

"It was a heartwarming experience. It provided a clear picture of what it means to be part of our community. It gave me faith that there are individuals and establishments out there who serve community members in extreme circumstances," said Eduardo Lizarraga, SRCA President.

Students from other UTEP programs and community members also volunteered their time including Arleen Mendoza, a journalism major who "believed the dinner was a great way to interact with people outside of our everyday social circles. It was a wonderful experience talking with and serving these men."

Overall, the dinner was a rewarding experience for all who volunteered. The evening came to a successful end as the well-fed, appreciative men offered a round of applause to the SRCA members who joyfully served them.