Tarleton College of Liberal and Fine Arts Honors Five 

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Tarleton State University College of Liberal and Fine Arts presented five Public and Community Service Awards last month at its Leadership Council dinner. The awards recognize organizations and people who demonstrate outstanding leadership and service.

“The degree programs in COLFA connect to a wide range of public vocations and community engagement opportunities,” noted Dean Eric Morrow. “So this is a way that we can connect our students, faculty and our university with those who lead by example.”

In addition to the dinner and a reception, the evening featured the annual State of the College presentation:

• The Honorable John Bailey, Chief Justice of the Texas 11th Court of Appeals, was presented the Public Service Award for outstanding leadership and service in a public vocation. Justice Bailey was appointed to the court in 2013 and became Chief Justice in 2018.

• Laura Gambino and Cross Timbers Family Services were presented the Community Service Award for more than 30 years of enhancing safety and justice toward the prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes in the Stephenville area through empowerment, advocacy, awareness and action for social change.

• Anita Rhoades Henslee was honored with the Civic Engagement Award for her public advocacy and efforts to strengthen American democracy. She is significantly involved in activism that addresses racism and facilitates young adult voter registration.

• The Bosque Arts Center in Clifton, Texas, was presented the Creative Arts Award. For over 40 years the Bosque Arts Center has provided classes, workshops and theatrical pieces that champion the performing and visual arts in Bosque and surrounding counties. The center has a permanent art collection and a national juried show each year, and it hosts a range of activities and classes that engage people of all ages.

• Dr. T. Lindsay Baker, former W.K. Gordon Chair of Texas History, was presented the Excellence in Public Scholarship Award. Dr. Baker is a historian of the American West who has written over two dozen peer-reviewed academic books. His work has had a tremendous impact on Texas communities in the areas of public history and historic preservation. Since his retirement from Tarleton in 2017, he has published two more books, including, from Texas A&M University Press, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Glen Rose, Texas.

“It is an honor for our college to recognize the outstanding leadership and service offered by all of our awardees,” Dr. Morrow said. “As we guide students toward vocations and service, it is important for us as a premier comprehensive regional university to show them their potential by honoring those who exemplify it. Our awards show our gratitude to those who have offered and continue to offer so much, and we appreciate their participation in our Leadership Council.”

The Leadership Council annually brings together the college’s Student Advisory Council, faculty and leadership team with community and regional partners and supporters. The event fosters dialog on networking and collaboration opportunities for students as well as the engagement of partners, alumni and supporters.

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of nearly 17,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. True to Tarleton’s values of excellence, integrity and respect, academic programs emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.
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