TXWES’ 2024 Year in Review: Making Headlines, Making History
Before the spring semester officially starts, we wanted to take a moment to look back on all the top news from the University in 2024. From the investiture of our new president to some record-breaking firsts for the University, 2024 was a great year for the Rams!
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Student Success
Lizbeth Pozos proudly represents Hispanic First-Gen Female at TACHE Conference
Lizbeth Pozos, a first-generation Hispanic female college student at Texas Wesleyan, was awarded the esteemed Career & Leadership Development Institute Student Fellows 2024 award. She represented her community at the TACHE conference, sharing her experiences overcoming challenges such as language barriers, cultural expectations and financial difficulties.
First in School History: Student with Prosthetic Leg Graduates Underwater
Jeremy Duong made Texas Wesleyan history by becoming the first student with a prosthetic leg to graduate underwater. A criminal justice major with a scuba diving minor, Duong overcame significant challenges to achieve this unique accomplishment.
TXWES Beta Gamma Sigma Earns Highest Honors
Texas Wesleyan University's Beta Gamma Sigma chapter earned "Highest Honors" for the 2023-2024 academic year, marking the second time they've received this recognition for outstanding leadership, academic achievement and commitment to member development.
Athletic Success
Texas Wesleyan Table Tennis Clinched 2024 National Collegiate Championship Titles
Texas Wesleyan's table tennis teams dominated the competition. Both the men's and women's teams won their respective championships. Zhen Deng and Jiaqi Lin further distinguished themselves by winning the women's singles and doubles titles. In men's events, Jonatan McDonald and Santiago Montes won silver in doubles, with Eduardo Tomoike and Senura Silva taking bronze. McDonald also earned a bronze in men's singles, and Lin added another bronze in women's singles.
Texas Wesleyan Football Secures Third Straight Conference Title, First Outright Championship
The 2024 Texas Wesleyan Rams football season was historic, featuring a near-perfect 10-0 regular season, a third straight (and first outright) conference title and a record-breaking performance by Ernest Ceasar.
Texas Wesleyan Women’s Wrestling Win SAC Conference
Texas Wesleyan Women's Wrestling team won the 2024 Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Wrestling Championship, with the Rams securing three weight class victories and clinching five runners-up positions.
Texas Wesleyan Volleyball Wins SAC Volleyball Championship
The 2024 Texas Wesleyan volleyball season was a resounding success, culminating in their second consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) championship title. The team ended the regular season with a 25-8 overall record.
Texas Wesleyan Cheer Excels at 2024 NCA College Nationals
Competing in the Intermediate All-Girl Division against four other formidable opponents, the Texas Wesleyan Cheer team made history by securing the coveted first place spot after the preliminary round. The Texas Wesleyan Cheer team's exceptional performance culminated in a well-deserved second place finish in the finals.
Faculty and Staff Success
New Book Chronicles Texas Wesleyan University’s Early Years
A new book by Risa Brown chronicles Texas Wesleyan University's early years, focusing on the experiences of students and faculty during its third decade, including its transition to an all-women's college and the challenges of World War I and the Spanish Flu. This book is part of a series envisioned by alumnus Perry Cockerell to preserve the university's history.
Pam Rast received the 2024 Wesleyan Flame Award
Pam Rast received the 2024 Wesleyan Flame Award in recognition of her nearly 30 years of dedicated service and support of students at Texas Wesleyan University. The award highlights her commitment to fostering lasting connections with students throughout their academic journey and beyond.
Jenny Dean's Research on Gender Representation in the Olympics Published
Mass communication professor Jenny Dean's research on media coverage of the 2021 and 2022 Olympics, which found that women received more coverage than men in both events, was presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference.
Professor Joe Brown Recognized for Impact on Goodwill
Professor Joe Brown was recognized with the 75 Faces of Goodwill Ceremony award for his six years of service as a judge for the annual Project Goodwill Runway Gala, honoring his significant impact on the organization.
University Success
Texas Wesleyan Celebrated the Investiture of President Emily Messer
Texas Wesleyan University marked a new era with the investiture of Dr. Emily Messer as its 21st president. The celebratory ceremony, attended by faculty, staff, students and community members, featured inspiring speeches and symbolic traditions, highlighting the university's bright future under Dr. Messer's leadership.
Texas Wesleyan Recognized by U.S. News & World Report
Texas Wesleyan University has again been ranked among national universities by U.S. News & World Report, marking over a decade of recognition and its continued rise from regional to national status. The university was also recognized for social mobility due to its commitment to Pell Grant recipients. Additionally, its business and psychology programs received national recognition as top programs in their fields.
Texas Wesleyan breaks two new enrollment records
Texas Wesleyan University broke two enrollment records, achieving its fourth consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment for degree-seeking students. The university saw significant increases in both domestic and international degree-seeking student enrollment.
University Initiatives
Texas Wesleyan Opens Doors with Free Tuition
Beginning fall 2025, Texas Wesleyan University will offer free tuition to first-year Texas students eligible for full Pell Grants. This initiative aims to increase accessibility to the university's education by covering remaining tuition costs after Pell Grant aid is applied.
TXWES Nurse Anesthesia Awarded Grant for Leading-Edge Trauma Care Specialty
Texas Wesleyan University's Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia (GPNA) received a grant to create a specialized trauma care track for nurse anesthetists. This program will offer students clinical rotations in local hospitals, collaboration opportunities with paramedics and financial support for conferences and state-of-the-art equipment.
TXWES Reimagines Teacher Education with New Grant
Texas Wesleyan University received a grant to enhance its teacher residency program and address the Texas teacher shortage. The grant will support year-long residencies for students in local school districts and provide professional development for faculty, aiming to improve teacher education and attract and retain more teachers.
