Communities Unite to Fund New Wagner Noël Art Center
Sporting the UTPB school colors at the press conference for the new Wagner-Noël Performing Arts Center (from left to right)Grant Billingsley, Fundraising Committe Chair, Rep. Buddy West, R. Odessa and UTPB President Dr. David Watts. Photo by Mary Martinez-Gonzales
The communities of Midland and Odessa came together for the new Wagner-Noël Performing Arts Center. The intended goal was to raise $18 million before the July 1, 2007 deadline. Instead, $19.2 million were donated, exceeding the initial goal. In addition, the Texas legislature llotted another $7.5 million in highway money for road improvements.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents appointed a 24-member committee, who made recommendations for size, design and operations for the new facility. Grant Billingsley, funding committee chair said, “”We went over the bar, and that’s what we needed to do . . . . All of a sudden, $18 million was achievable with that lead gift,” referring to the $10 million donated by Cy and Lissa Wagner ten weeks ago. The total raised for the new center is $74.7 million, substantially more than the $66 million that was necessary for the project. “This project sold itself.
This was a project people wanted to be involved with,” said Billingsley. With the additional money gathered, $8.7 million will be used to start an endowment to operate the facility and efforts will continue to raise money to increase the endowment fund. “We need to have an endowment (that does) not depend on the stresses of the strains of Texas politics,” stated University of Texas of the Permian Basin President David Watts. “This marvelous facility will be operated in first-class fashion and your help is still being solicited.”
The new facility will be more advanced than any other theater or performing arts center in West Texas. The building will be 10 stories high and have over 100,000-square-feet, with a capacity of 2,000 seats, two balconies and top-quality audio and visual appeal. UT Permian Basin’s music program would also be housed at the new facility with a 200-seat multipurpose setting and a lobby that could accommodate a multitude of different events.
Even with the funding, the project would not be possible without the help of Midland’s gracious and philanthropic Scharbauer family, who donated the land for the facility, and Rep. Buddy West, ROdessa, who “sold” the project when he made a speech on the floor of the Texas Legislature after the funding for the art center was being reconsidered. “It’s hard to describe the unprecedented and extraordinary response generated by this project,” Watts said in a news release. “The vision for this
project, initiated by (House) Speaker Tom Craddick, Sen. Kel Seliger and Rep. Buddy West, supported by the Legislature and UT System, and now supplemented by the region, will bring performing arts to the Permian Basin as never before.”
Fifty donors participated in the founders’ campaign. The money raised was split evenly between Midland and Odessa donors. “This project has shown what the Permian Basin can accomplish when our communities and citizens work together,”Billingsley said.
Odessans Celebrate Fourth of July at Firecracker Fandango
The annual Fourth of July celebration, “Firecracker Fandango,” was held in downtown Odessa with more than 20,000 West Texans in attendance. The local Fandango celebration began at 10:00 a.m. with a parade that ran through downtown Odessa via Grant Avenue. Food and drink booths and band stages were set up, and dancing performances and other festivities including children’s activities took place. Family fun and entertainment are always on the agenda as the Odessa Jaycees, and the City of Odessa put on a top notch shindig.
Entertainment began with band Flashback with Geno and was followed by local Tejano artists Eddie Ray and the Barella Brothers. Country and Tejano crossover singer, Rick Trevino performed just before the spectacularly choreographed fireworks show.
After the fireworks, headliner and Grammy Award winner, Little Joe Hernandez, the King of the Brown Sound, thrilled the audience with his legendary jazz inspired music. Odessa resident Pauline Morrison, who was sitting out on her front porch enjoying the cool evening breeze, said although she usually does not attend the Fandango celebration, she has watched the fireworks display from her front porch every year since it started being held downtown, ten or twelve years ago.
Freshman Enjoy First Experience at UTPB
New student orientation attendees unknowingly act out skit as orientation leaders Eric Garcia, Whitlee Russell, and Leticia Flores look on. Photo by Mary Martinez-Gonzales
The first New Student Orientation kicked-off in June with over 150 students and parents in attendance. New students participated in skits, learned about the University, toured the facilities and met other freshmen who will be joining them in the fall. Orientation is often the first opportunity that students have to become acquainted with the University and sets the tone for the students’ engagement in the college experience.
Students also took their THEA tests as well as their placement tests and were advised and registered for their first year in college. In addition to testing, students took a break from the heat with a pool party on the second night of their stay. The orientation leaders and other students joined the new students for pool games and hot dogs. Attendee Alex Lopez said that he was very excited to be at UTPB. “These are the nicest dorms I’ve ever seen,” said Lopez who is a CAP student from Grapevine.
Two other orientations are scheduled for July 18-20 and August 1-3, 2007. Generally the second orientation is the most highly attended and approximately 250 attendees are expected in the July session. Approximately 30 upperclassmen assist with orientation each year. Over 600 students have received a letter of acceptance for fall 2007.