In This Issue
Alumni
Spring Research Day
School Nominations
Dr. Scott Franklin
Dean/Professor of Mathematics
School of Mathematics and
Sciences
News & Events
Faculty Profile: Dr. Tim
Walsh
Featured Article: TAS
M&S School Champion
Natural Blogarithms - The Dean's Corner
Big Weekend
April 1-2
Geology Field Trip-OK
March 30- April 3
SW AAPG- Abilene,TX
April 10-13
Geology Field Trip
Cloudcroft, NM
April 15-17
Recognitions Chapel
April 20
Spring Research Day
April 22
M&S Research Chapel
April 27
Plainview Graduation
May 7
This time of year, every year, I get overly-sentimental.
Spoiler alert: this is going to get sappy. Graduation is nearly
upon us and many of our students in whom we've invested so
much of our time and energy are ready to take the next big
leap. For many, Wayland is just the first link in a long chain
of higher education leading to a profession. Some of our
graduates are heading to graduate school, some to
professional programs like physical therapy school, and
others are heading straight into their career, wherever that
may be.
I'm a graduate of Wayland myself, so every time I look into
the faces of these aspiring students I remember the sense of
excitement, exhilaration, and even fear at what was next. I
remind these students when they look ahead with, perhaps, a
sense of trepidation, that they are ready. They have been
prepared. They have as solid of a foundation as they can find
anywhere. The other thing they have is our wholehearted
support. They will take a piece of us with them and they
have left their mark on us as well. They aren't just our
graduates, but they are our investment into the future of our
disciplines and our professions and our world. We will watch
now from a distance the great things God accomplishes
through them. We will follow their progress and swell with
pride as they succeed, knowing that we played some part in
their development. This is the thought that consoles me when
I feel that sense of loss as they leave our halls and our
classrooms. Our graduates will linger on our minds and hearts
for a while and then with time, the legacy they have built will
manifest itself in the next generation of WBU graduates.
Then it starts all over next year.
This time of year, every year, I am ALSO incredibly
Alumni Involvement
impressed by the success of our students. In particular, there
are several events that take place in the spring that are
Stay connected and let
evidence of the hard work of our students and faculty
us know what you're
throughout the year. In this newsletter, you'll read about our
doing. We would like to
successes at the recent Texas Academy of Science. We
highlight all of our alumni
and share your invaluable
insight to our current
students on what it is like
to be a Wayland student
Who Nominees. Coming very soon, we will host our Annual
Spring Research Day where our students who have been
findings and competing for the hallowed Golden-Dippy award!
perspectives on "real
world" experiences in
I know they say it about Christmas more often, but I would
your chosen career path.
argue the end of the spring term may just be the "most
wonderful time of the year!"
Our alumni are important
to us and we strive to
Spring Research Day
help you stay connected
to our School,
Join us for our 7th Annual
community, and other
Spring Research Day, April 22.
alumni through our social
The program will start at 1 p.m.
on the first floor of Moody
media and newsletters,
no matter where you live.
the different
Champion, our outstanding majors for the year, and our Who's
engaged in undergraduate research will be presenting their
and offer recent
Click here to see all of
have also selected our annual Math and Science School
Science Building. See what our
math and science majors have
been researching in student oral
and poster presentations.
communication portals
you can stay involved in.
School Nominations
Outstanding Majors:
Biology: Lauryn Bruggink
Chemistry: Dillon Frazier
Mathematics: Colin Brown
Molecular Biology: Catherine Wiechmann
Geology: Bekah Spain
Who's Who
Jake Brozek
Lauryn Bruggink
Daniel Capps
Sarah Kelly
Catherine Wiechmann
News & Events
Math & Sciences
Math Olympics
Geology- Spring Field
Undergraduate Research
Plainview Herald
Trips and WBUGS
Undergraduate research is
Geology is one of our most
one of the School of Math &
Plainview Christian Academy,
hands-on programs with
Sciences core distinctives.
along with Wayland Baptist
various extended and local
We are proud to continue
University, hosted the Area
field trips offered to geology
summer reseach with the
Math Olympics -- after the
majors and minors. Students
support from both the Welch
school and district levels -- on
apply their knowledge taught
Foundation and Sally Society
Friday, Feb. 26.
in the classroom to field
Grant. We believe that both
studies and activities.
of these grants will continue
Wayland math professors as
Students explore geological
to shape and direct the
well as math undergraduate
features, collect rock
interests of our students,
students handled scoring,
specimens, map geological
leading them to pursue
under the direction of Dr. Scott
areas, and use high-tech
graduate degrees in related
Franklin.
geological field equipment.
fields. The 2016-2017
This spring, the geology
undergraduate researchers
Chad Cain and Brad Miles led
program has an event
are: Jake Brozek, Mayra
the charge with the efforts to
planned almost every
Herrera, Ethan
make sure students were
weekend!
Nicholson, Tori Solis and
escorted to the proper testing
Mason Taylor. Click on the
facilities, and then with games
Make sure to click on the link
link below to read more about
and snacks during the grading
below to continue reading all
the details of their
and tabulation period.
of the upcoming field trips
undergraduate research
and activities that our
projects.
geology students will be
READ MORE
taking this spring!
READ MORE
READ MORE
Faculty Profile
Dr. Tim Walsh
Professor of Geology and Staff Paleontologist
Although geology can be taught in a classroom, it is out in the
field where you really learn. Dr. Walsh provides students with
extraordinary opportunities in field studies which allows them
to apply that knowledge. Multiple extended and local fields
trips are provided to all geology students so that they can
experience hands-on geological applications. Dr. Walsh often
engages in field studies to prepare for upcoming field work
with students and for personal research. For instance, Dr. Walsh traveled to Nebraska during
spring break to take photographs of bone beds to prepare for the WBU summer paleontology field
trip. On that trip, in a two week period, students will excavate a titanothere bone bed and explore
other geological features in the area.
Dr. Walsh has been teaching at Wayland since 2002. He has research interests in all aspects of
the Late Paleozoic strata and fauna and has worked on projects in New Mexico, north central
Texas and southern Kansas. His primary research concern is work on a broad study of early
Permian carbonates and their fauna in north central Texas. However, he has a continuing interest
in petroleum geology, especially in relation to study of petrophysical well logs and subsurface
studies with emphasis on their association to outcrop investigations. He is also currently
collaborating with other universities on vertebrate paleontology studies in Nebraska, New Mexico,
and South Dakota.
Featured Article
Texas Academy of Science Meeting
March 4-6, 2016
Texas Academy of Science Meeting
Front Left: Dr. Gary Gray, Josh Reinhart, Tori Solis, Lauryn Bruggink, Cat Weichmann, Dr.
Daniela Derderian, Sharon Robinson, Mayra Herrera Back Left: Dr. Adam Reinhart, Sarah
Kelly, Sara Van Der Leek, Dr. Andrew Kasner, Dr. Robert Moore, Mason Taylor, Jake Brozek,
Trevor Burrow, Dr. Matthew Allen
On March 4-6, the School of Mathematics and Sciences had 10 students and 6 faculty sponsors
participate in the Texas Academy of Science Meeting in Junction, TX. There were over 100
presentations given by various undergraduate research students in the state of Texas with our
students presenting four poster presentations and 2 oral presentations. It was a great experience
for all the students, and in particular, our three award winners!
Lauryn Bruggink won the Second Place Overall Undergraduate Research Presentation and the
Terrestrial Ecology Section Award for the best presentation in that section. Her presentation was
entitled "Winter habitat use of Longspurs (Calcarius spp.) and other winter grassland birds in Hale
and Floyd County, Texas" (coauthors Andrew Kasner and William Hahn)
Jake Brozek and Mayra Herrera-Gonzales won the Neuroscience Section Award for best
presentation in that section. Their presentation was entitled "Salt addiction is mediated by
encephalic vasopressin" (coauthors Janlyn Jerome, Chanda Smith, Whitney Phillips, Sharon
Robinson, Daniela Pereira-Derderian)
The Texas Academy of Science meeting allows our students to compete with other outstanding
undergraduate research students within the state which enhances their professional development
and allows students travel to different regions of our state. To see pictures from this year's
meeting go to our School's facebook page or click here now!
Math & Science School Champion- Lauryn Bruggink
The School of Math & Science is proud to announce Lauryn
Bruggink as the 2016 Research and Performance Champion!
Lauryn's research is entitled "Winter habitat use of Longspurs
(Calcarius spp.) and other winter grassland birds in Hale and Floyd
County, Texas". She will be presenting her research during chapel
on Wednesday, April 27th.
All our researchers have shown dedication and commitment that have led to amazing research
projects. "Each of you and your work are exemplary and bring pride to us as faculty"- Dr. Robert
Moore
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