Longview native earns doctorate
Paul Wray Boyd has earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Houston. Boyd, a 1979 graduate of Longview High School, is the son of Wray Boyd of Hallsville and Pat Hudson of Longview. He is a professor of piano at the College of the Mainland in Texas City. Boyd also serves on the Board of Houston Music Teacher's Association, is a piano competition adjudicator and frequently performs as a soloist and chamber musician.
Hallsville resident recognized
Hallsville resident Christina Jarrett received the 2007-08 Master of Education Academic Achievement Award at the annual student awards ceremony at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. She is a graduate student working toward her master's in education with a reading specialist emphasis. She will graduate in August. Jarrett is a Texas certified secondary language arts/reading teacher and was formerly a teacher at Hallsville Junior High School.
Exchange students receive awards
East Texas Baptist University has awarded two international students certificates of achievement for completing one year of advanced studies in English.
Ma Wenlan, who has taken the American name of Linda, and Wei Xin, who has taken the name Willow, are students from Lanzhou University of Technology in China. They are majoring in English.
Longview native graduates
Lydia Thomas of Longview has graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Thomas received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in metals and jewelry.
KC plans two graduations
For the first time in school history, Kilgore College will hold two spring graduations to accommodate the growing number of graduates and allow more people to attend the ceremonies. The college reported that 260 students will receive degrees and certificates during the ceremonies at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Dodson Auditorium.
Jerry Long, a former Kilgore College student, will be the speaker at both ceremonies.
Long graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch-Houston and is a managing partner of D.D.S. Associates in Houston. In 1998, Long was named "Texas Dentist of the Year" by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry.
Panola College graduation set
Jennifer T. Roberts-Edwards will be the commencement speaker at this year's Panola College graduation ceremony. Graduation is set for 7 p.m. Friday in the Arthur M. Johnson Gymnasium.
Roberts-Edwards, a former Panola College student, earned her doctorate in executive leadership from Sam Houston State University and is an assistant professor of communication studies at Tarleton State University.
Forestry students place in contest
Several Longview-area natives were part of a team of 37 forestry students from Stephen F. Austin State University that earned first place overall at the recent 2008 Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Forestry Conclave in Florida.
The SFA team included sophomore Chris Alford of Longview and seniors John Collins of Longview, Brady Harper of Hallsville and Jacob Schuler of White Oak.
The SFA team earned first place in two technical events: wildlife identification and pole classification. In the physical events, the SFA team won first place in log birling, women's bow saw, Jack-n-Jill crosscut saw, men's crosscut, women's crosscut and pole climb.
Christian Writers Conference set for June
The School of Humanities at East Texas Baptist University will hold its annual East Texas Christian Writers Conference on June 6 and 7 in Scarborough Hall, at 1209 N. Grove St. in Marshall.
The cost of attending the conference on June 7 is $70 with a $20 discount for area high school and college students. Registration fees cover the attendance at writing workshops, materials and the luncheon. The pre-conference sessions held on June 6 cost an additional $25. Registration deadline is May 30. For more information call (903) 923-2083.
