From the creation of an esports high school and an animal rescue clinic to thoughts on Amazon Prime Day and a COVID-19 anti-viral pill, TCU and its faculty, staff, alumni and students are being featured in the news. Check out the latest roundup of newsworthy Horned Frogs.
INSTITUTIONAL
TCU & UNTHSC medical school gets provisional accreditation
June 22, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education has granted the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine provisional accreditation, bringing the Fort Worth medical school one step closer to full accreditation, the school announced in a news release Tuesday. “This is a tremendous step in solidifying the medical school’s role as a critical partner in making Fort Worth and North Texas a place where medical innovation in education and health care occurs,” said Dr. Stuart D. Flynn, the medical school’s founding dean.
Opal Lee celebrates as Juneteenth bill clears final legislative hurdle
June 16, 2021
Fox 4 News
The Senate and the House have passed a bill that would make Juneteenth, or June 19, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. A virtual TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine panel discussion included Opal Lee and the country’s first Black transplant surgeon, Dr. Velma Scantlebury. It spotlighted how Juneteenth’s history invites the spotlight on other important community issues, namely food deserts and the resulting impact on minorities.
FACULTY & STAFF
A TCU alumni is developing a high school for students interested in developing careers
in the esports and gaming industry
June 23, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Lindsey Dixon MBA ’20 started META Education Inc. because she doesn’t think traditional schools are working for every student. META stands for Most Effective Tactics Available. It’s a gaming term, and it encompasses Dixon’s mission to provide students with effective learning. “By connecting the students with these companies and helping to develop their career potential, I think that this business has the opportunity to create a ton of value for these students and for the companies that will ultimately employ them,” said Ryan Krause, associate professor of strategy.
40 Under 40 honorees - 2021
June 21, 2021
Fort Worth Business Press
Fort Worth Business Press announced the 2021 Forty Under Forty honorees that recognize the accomplishments of rising stars of the community, all under the age of 40, all emerging as current and future leaders in business and public service, including Prescotte Stokes III, TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine.
Developing a COVID-19 anti-viral pill
June 18, 2021
KDFW
Fox 4 GoodDay spoke with Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy from the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine about the news that a COVID-19 anti-viral pill is being studied by the U.S. federal government. “We have to have a multi-layered strategy to not only addressing this current pandemic but inevitably what may arise in our future,” he said.
For third-party sellers, Amazon Prime Day can be a double-edged sword
June 19, 2021
Yahoo Finance
According to Amazon, Prime Day 2020 was the biggest sales event for third-party sellers, driving $3.5 billion in sales. “It’s a win-win situation for Amazon and for the third-party sellers,” said Bob Leone, professor of marketing.
Episode 2: Doug Rice welcomes Brian Estridge
June 17, 2021
Performance Racing Network
PRN's Doug Rice sits down with Brian Estridge, longtime voice of the TCU Horned Frogs, to talk about what influenced his start in broadcasting, honing his skills while attending Appalachian State, his experience as lead play-by-play announcer at TCU and much more in this episode of Behind the Mic.
New program could boost teacher salaries up to 6-figures, improve student outcomes
June 16, 2021
Fort Worth Report
Fort Worth ISD announced it would take part in an incentive pay program that would allow some educators to have six-figure salaries. It is a statewide initiative, which districts must opt into. A stable staff at a school creates a better culture for students to make progress and learn, said Jo Beth Jimerson, associate professor of educational leadership. “The fact that you have good quality educators staying in place where they can form positive relationships with each other and have a good school culture and form positive relationships with students and the community is already going to be a step in the right direction,” she said.
Mayoral runoff’s partisanship, canvassing lead to record-high turnout
June 13, 2021
Fort Worth Report
Fort Worth’s municipal elections are nonpartisan officially, but experts say it was partisanship and the campaigns’ efforts to reach people in person that boosted the mayoral race’s visibility and increased voter participation to a record high for this century. Emily Farris, political science professor, said knowing which party a candidate’s ideas align with helps voters feel more confident in their choices. “For someone like Mattie Parker, who was relatively unknown going into this election cycle, to have those partisan cues for voters simplified things,” Farris said.
Patriarch of Victoria Advocate, M Roberts Media, inducted into Texas Newspaper Foundation
Hall of Fame
June 11, 2021
Victoria Advocate
During the Texas Press Association convention in Denton, honorees were inducted into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame, including Tommy Thomason, who taught and mentored journalists for 35 years at Texas Christian University and has worked at several newspapers and publications in the state. He is credited for raising money for training and seminars to help newspapers in all areas and is the author of nine books on journalism.
ALUMNI
TCU alum Ronnie Baker qualifies for Tokyo Olympics in 100 meters
June 21, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A TCU alum has a chance to earn the prestigious ‘world’s fastest man’ title next month at the Tokyo Olympics. Ronnie Baker ’16 punched his ticket to the Summer Games by running a personal-best 9.85 seconds in the finals of the 100 meters on Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
The official list of top 4th of July events and fireworks around Dallas-Fort Worth
June 20, 2021
CultureMap Dallas
In lieu of their annual Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will present its concert at Dickies Arena. There may not be actual fireworks, but concertgoers can expect more than 60 minutes of music from the orchestra. Selections will include the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Lightspeed – Fanfare for Orchestra” by TCU composer Kevin Day ’19. The concert also will be broadcast live on WFAA Channel 8.
Doodle Rock Rescue founder opens nonprofit animal clinic
June 9, 2021
Lake Highlands Advocate Mag
Since she was a kid, Leigh Sendra ’98 had a soft spot for needy animals. Now as an adult, Sendra has a nonprofit clinic dedicated to such animals. Sendra opened CHEW, which stands for Compassion Hope Education Wellness, Animal Clinic in January on Walnut Hill Lane. After finding success with her DFW-based Doodle Rock Rescue, she started CHEW Animal Clinic to help Dallas’ most dire pets.
ATHLETICS
TCU baseball’s Kirk Saarloos went with familiar route to build first coaching staff
June 22, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Familiarity. That’s what TCU baseball coach Kirk Saarloos wanted when building his first coaching staff. “I wanted people I knew,” Saarloos said. “I wasn’t going to go and find someone that somebody else told me about. I wanted people that I knew and trusted.” That’s evident in how Saarloos has built his staff in the days since being named head coach. As Saarloos said during his introductory news conference, Bill Mosiello is remaining as associate head coach.
TCU poised to return to prominence as Gary Patterson begins his third decade with
the Horned Frogs
June 21, 2021
The Athletic
At some point toward the end of each summer, Gary Patterson sits down at his desk and writes himself a letter outlining how his TCU team can get to 12 wins during the upcoming season. Patterson breaks down each opponent and examines obstacles that stand in his team’s way, such as opposing personnel, challenges the road stadium poses — basically anything he can glean from his 20 years of being the Horned Frogs head coach. When he’s finished, Patterson files it away in a cabinet in his office.