2. of The Woodlands
(855) 516-2689 | www.MBOTW.com
16917 Interstate 45 South | The Woodlands, Texas 77385
Find Yourself
on a Beach
this Summer.
The
Mercedes
2016
GLE 400
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 2 7/12/16 10:02 AM
4. 2407 Timberloch Pl., Ste. B | The Woodlands, TX 77380
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
PUBLISHER
Cathy Mogler
EDITOR
Brian Walzel
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Ashley Peterson
ART DIRECTOR
Jeff Peterson
STAFF WRITER
Michael Ciota
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Meredith Colvert
Beverly Haak
CREDITS
P. 1: Jeff Peterson design; p. 6: Shutterstock; p. 8: Shutterstock;
p. 9: Brian Walzel; p. 13: Tomasz Bidermann/Shutterstock; p.
14: Shutterstock; p. 16: Shutterstock; p. 20: Shutterstock; p. 21:
Shutterstock; p. 23: Walzel; p. 24: Peterson design; p. 26: Walzel;
p. 28: Shutterstock; p. 30: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo;
p. 31: Courtesy Kallie Kram; p. 32: Conroe ISD; p. 34: Lone Star
SBDC, Stibbs & Co.; p. 35: Memorial Hermann Health System,
Montgomery County Food Bank, Interfaith of The Woodlands;
p. 36: Walzel; p. 37: Shutterstock; p. 38: Peterson design; p.
39: Shutterstock; p. 40: Shutterstock; p. 41: Shutterstock; p.
42: Mercedes Benz; p. 44: Walzel; p. 48: Stewart Golf, Amazon,
Quirkywriter.com, Altwork.com; p. 49: Glasslamp.com, Amazon,
Fancy.com, Tag Hauer; p. 50: Walzel; p. 51: Walzel; p. 52:
Shutterstock; p. 54-55: Kim Bellini; p. 57-57: Montgomery County
Community Foundation
Editor’s Note
In this edition of PKWY, we focus on education news and
trends. And while compiling stories for this issue, it struck me
how much the idea of how we educate our children has evolved
since my own days as a student, and the opportunities available
to students today. To put my perspective into perspective, the
idea of a dual-credit class was just starting to gain popularity
during my high school years. Now, students can graduate high
school with enough college credit hours to qualify them as
sophomores when they do finally enter college.
The idea of education—filling a formative mind with useful
(and perhaps not so useful) information—has been debated since
there was ever education. What do people need to know? How
do we present it to them? How do we ensure they are gaining
the knowledge they need? Where should they go to gain such
knowledge? And who pays for all of this?
Fortunately, not much of that responsibility falls to the
student. By the time they near college graduation, their biggest
decision is “What next?” Getting into college is, for some, a
daunting task. The options and processes are seemingly endless.
Although the number of students that colleges accept hasn’t
changed much over the years, in many cases the type of student
they are looking for has. In this issue our cover story focuses
on “getting in,” and the challenges students today face gaining
acceptance to the college of their choice.
When viewing education in Texas as a whole, what becomes
clear is the increase in opportunity for everyone. For example, in
its last session the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 5, which
essentially fortified Career and Technology Education programs
for students who don’t see a traditional college education as the
right choice for them.
In addition, we present a report on how it’s no longer quite
enough just to merely learn a second language in college or high
school. Language professors and private industries who conduct
business internationally see cultural experiences, rather than just
language fluency, as a key self-marketing tool when job hunting.
The importance the local community places on education
is evident: voters have approved hundreds of millions of
dollars in bonds to build new schools and fund education
programs. This issue focuses on a few of those aspects,
and more.
Brian Walzel
EDITOR, PKWY MAGAZINE
linkedin.com/in/brianwalzel
@bdwalzel
ABOUT US
PKWY Magazine is a dynamic, bi-monthly publication
chronicling the diverse business, culture, lifestyle and
trends in and around Montgomery County. This editorially
driven magazine offers in-depth reporting and compelling
storytelling on the businesses, people and places that make
this region diverse and unique.
For more information, call 832-791-5099
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works which God prepared in
advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 4 7/12/16 10:02 AM
6. 14 Foreign Matters
Changes in bilingual education
16 Getting to Work
College alternatives now more viable
22 Top Teachers
CISD instructors place students first
26 A Musical Prodigy
Local talent pushes creative limits
30 Rodeo Dough
The impact of an HLSR scholarship
39 Oil's Future
Where will prices go?
54 Wine and Dine
GenuWine finely pairs food, drink
24 Who's in Your Classroom?
Evaluating CISD teachers
32 Sound of Music
CPHS Orchestra performs in New York
40 Bridging the Gap
Tips on taking a gap year
42 Automotive Review
Assessing the Mercedes-AMS GT-S
44 Meet the New Boss
Getting to know Frost's new owner
50 A Top Hunt
Game ranch offers rare experience
52 The 'Whys' of Texas
A guide to understanding the state
56 A Giving Community
Foundation revives founder's ideals
Getting In
More than half of the 300,000 high school students who
graduated in May will attend college this fall. In many
cases, colleges and universities have altered the proccesses
they use in determining which students get accepted. And
students have responded in how they apply to college.
08
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 6 7/12/16 10:02 AM
7. Contributing Writers
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KIM BELLINI has been food blogging
since 2007. Her reviews and photos of local
restaurants can be found at
IChewAndReview.com and at various social
media portals. In addition, she co-moderates
The Woodlands Area Foodies Facebook group,
which features more 5,000 members.
BYRON W. ELLIS is a Certified Financial
Planner and managing director of Ellis & Ellis,
a division of United Capital Financial Advisors,
LLC, a Financial Life Management Company.
For more information, visit unitedcp.com/tx6.
DOUG KARR has 18 years of leadership
experience in the staffing industry. As vice
president of Pro Staff-Texas, a leading staffing
provider, Karr is responsible for managing
account development and service delivery. Karr
has also served as an officer on several boards,
including the Texas Association of Staffing. For
more information, visit prostaff.com.
PAUL CARROLL is a wealth manager at
Efficient Wealth Management. He focuses
on providing wealth management solutions
to energy and airline professionals in the
Houston area. He is the author of two books,
"The United Pilot's Flight Plan for Wealth," and
"Platform for Wealth." For more information,
visit efficientwealthmanagement.com.
CASEY WILLIAMS has been covering the
automotive industry for more than 20 years and
is a contributing writer to Houston-based car-
data.com, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Voice and
Denton Record-Chronicle. A long-time resident
of Dallas, Williams now lives with his family in
Indianapolis, where he contributes to wfyi.org,
the area’s PBS/NPR station.
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 7 7/12/16 10:02 AM
8. By BrianWalzel
This May more than 300,000 students graduated from
Texas high schools. A little more than half of those will
attend college this fall. That percentage hasn’t changed
much over the years, which may come as a surprise to
those with the perception that colleges are becoming more
selective, and that it’s getting harder for students who excel
in high school to be accepted into college.
The reality is, colleges aren’t any more difficult to earn
admission to than they have been in years’ past. What is
changing, however, are the mechanics in which some
colleges view admissions, and how students apply to
college.
“It may come as a shock, but the data show that it is no
more difficult for most students to get into college today
than it was a decade ago,” the Center for Public Education
has reported. “Beneath the headlines and the urban legends
lies the real story: If students are well prepared in high
school by earning the right credentials, they will get into a
good college.”
Texas’ “Top 10 Percent Rule” allows students finishing in
the top 10 percent of his or her class automatic admission
to any state-funded university.
But for those students who fall in the remaining 90
percent, college administrators say their chances of gaining
acceptance to a quality college in Texas are still very good,
and that reports of shrinking acceptance rates at colleges
and universities are a result of a variety of factors, none of
which have any effect on a student’s chances of acceptance
if they meet required standards, or, in increasing instances,
can just prove they show promise as a college student.
According to the Center for Public Education, diminishing
acceptance rates at U.S. universities that have been reported
on college ranking sites and media outlets are primarily a
result of students simply applying to more colleges than they
have in the past.
“The biggest factor that has changed the college
application landscape is the Internet,” said Laura Willard,
college and career counselor at The Woodlands High School.
“Now, students in remote areas of China can apply to an
American university. With the Internet, students can copy
and paste applications to as many colleges as they want,
and that has flooded college admission boxes. That’s been
the game changer.”
9. 9
The number of colleges to which high school students
apply has increased substantially over the past several
years. According to a State of College Admission Report,
16 percent of high school graduates in 2003 sent out
seven or more college applications. In 2013, that number
increased to 32 percent. Eighty-one percent of 2013
graduates sent out three or more applications, up from
70 percent in 2003.
Such a broad-based application
process allows students to apply to
colleges they realistically have no
chance to be admitted to.
DanEdmondswroteina2013Time
article that “more and more people
who aren’t necessarily qualified are
applying to top schools, inflating
the application numbers while not
seriously impacting admissions.”
Willard believes parental influence
on a student also plays a factor in
students’ misguided application
efforts.
“I’ve seen students apply to 30
schools and not get into one of them
because they’re not realistic about
who they are,” she said. “I can tell who
is driving that bus. I can tell when
mom and dad are putting extreme
pressure on a kid.”
Many Texas colleges have what Ethan Logan, executive
director of undergraduate admissions at Texas Tech
University, describes as a graduation matrix: a combination
of test scores and class rankings that assure a student
admission to a particular college. For example, if a student
ranks in the top quarter of their graduating class, scores
a 25 on their ACT or 1140 on their
SAT, they’re automatically admitted
at Texas Tech. The lower the class
rank, the higher the test scores
must be for automatic admission.
Although those matrices are in
place at many colleges, and vary
widely depending on the school,
many institutions are taking
alternative approaches to accepting
students.Infact,thereisamovement
in some corners of higher education
to completely overhaul the college
admission process with the goal
that universities be more inclusive
in their acceptance processes,
rather than exclusive.
In a 2011 report, “A Call
for Individual and Collective
Leadership: The Case for Change
in College Admissions,” USC claims
admission processes have “evolved
to advance individual interests
of colleges while falling short of
serving the ideals traditionally associated with higher
education.”
The USC report claims colleges provide incentives for
institutions to “elicit large numbers of applicants from
students only to turn them down in order to reinforce an
image of selectivity.”
The report recommends admitting more students
who show educational promise outside the standard
metrics used to gauge individual
selectivity. That practice, which college
administrators refer to as “the holistic
approach,” is gaining momentum.
Logan said Texas Tech enlists
holistic reviews for students applying
to the college who don’t necessarily
meet the school’s automatic
qualification criteria.
“We attempt to compose a
complete profile of a student based
on information they provide to us,” he
said.
That information could include
volunteer experiences, letters of
recommendation, awards and
commendations earned during school,
exceptional experiences they may
have had and success in more rigorous
high school classes. Logan said
some colleges may consider leadership roles a student
may have had in high school, or proficiency in University
Interscholastic League events.
“We take some chances on some people,” he said.
“They may not have the best test score, and not the best
grades, but (through a holistic review) they are building
arguments for success.”
There is a movement
in some corners of
higher education to
completely overhaul
the college admission
process with the goal
that universities be
more inclusive in their
acceptance processes,
rather than exclusive.
Conroe High School counselor Aimee Castillo works with senior Max Joiner.
10. 10
Some colleges are becoming more comfortable with the
notion that standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT, may
not necessarily be the best indicator of a potential students’
success at college.
In fact, hundreds of leading universities across the country,
including the University of Texas and Texas A&M University,
don’t require the ACT or SAT for acceptance. The USC report
argues standardized tests result in consequences both
intended and unintended beyond educational boundaries.
“Standardized tests have become a basis not just for
university and college bragging rights, but also for rating high
schools and determining the value of real estate,” the USC
report states. “The preoccupation with standardized test
scores in the rankings and media causes this measure to take
on a significance greatly exceeding their presumptive value
as an auxiliary to high school grades in indicating a student’s
likelihood of succeeding in college.”
Lone Star College System Executive Vice Chancellor Austin
Lanebelievestheholisticapproach,asopposedtoemphasizing
standardized testing, is a positive trend in college admissions.
“Those tests don’t measure intrinsic motivations or heart or
learning styles,” he said.
Raymund Paredes, commissioner of the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, said that the vast majority
of Texas colleges still require either the ACT or the SAT for
admissions.
“Some universities have eliminated the SAT or made it
optional, but it’s still good advice for students to take the test
just in case,” he said.
Education leaders also caution against placing too much
emphasis on reports that rank institutions based on such
metrics as test scores, class rankings and acceptance rates.
“Parents pay a lot of attention to them,” Paredes said.
“But everybody knows they
are seriously flawed, they
know they are not very
useful. A university should
be rated on the basis of its
results, not on the basis of
input. What difference does
it make what (a student’s)
SAT scores are if they don’t
graduate?”
Willard often sees that
it’s difficult for parents “to
get away from branding.”
She believes it’s more
important for students
to select a college based
on fit--social, educational,
political, personal and, most
importantly, financial.
“It’s a comfort level,”
she said. “I tell students ‘As
you walk across the college
campus, can you envision
living with, working with,
dating these students?’ It’s
a culture fit. Academically,
are you going to struggle, or
is it going to be too easy?”
A buzzword among the
college application industry
these days is “return on
investment,” or what is
A university should be rated on the
basis of its results, not on the basis
of input. What difference does it
make what (a student’s) SAT scores
are if they don’t graduate?
Raymund Paredes
Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Admission standards for Texas colleges
Most colleges utilize admission matrices for determining which applicants are accepted for admission.
Below are the minimum graduation standards high school students must achieve in order to be accepted
to a particular college or university.
Source: noodle.com
BAYLOR
NORTH TEXAS
RICE UNIVERSITY
SAM HOUSTON STATE
SOUTHERN METHODIST
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
TEXAS A&M
TEXAS CHRISTIAN
TEXAS SOUTHERN
TEXAS STATE
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
UT-ARLINGTON
UT-EL PASO
UT-SAN ANTONIO
3.65
3.41
4.08
3.24
3.65
3.22
3.55
3.59
2.96
3.31
3.42
3.51
3.71
3.37
3.15
3.34
1817
1620
2180
989
1935
1468
1734
1770
1231
1537
1631
1139
1873
1586
925
1561
27
23
33
21
29
21
26
27
17
23
25
24
28
23
20
23
254-710-3435
940-565-2681
713-348-7423
936-294-1828
214-768-2058
936-468-2504
979-845-1060
817-257-7490
713-313-7849
512-245-2364
806-742-1480
713-743-1010
512-475-7399
817-272-6287
915-747-5890
210-458-8000
admissions@baylor.edu
undergrad@unt.edu
admission@rice.edu
admissions@shsu.edu
ugadmission@smu.edu
admissions@sfasu.edu
admissions@tamu.edu
frogmail@tcu.edu
admissions@tsu.edu
admissions@txstate.edu
admissions@ttu.edu
admissions@uh.edu
utexas.edu
uta.edu
futureminer@utep.edu
prospects@utsa.edu
Moderately
Competitive
Competitive
Strongly
Competitive
Competitive
Moderately
Competitive
Competitive
Moderately
Competitive
Moderately
Competitive
Competitive
Competitive
Competitive
Moderately
Competitive
Moderately
Competitive
Competitive
Competitive
Competitive
School Average GPA Average SAT Average ACT Competitiveness Phone Email/Website
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To learn more about our specialists, visit our website at houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics.
To schedule an appointment call 281.737.0999.
Our specialists at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine are
honored to serve The Woodlands and Montgomery County communities
offering a wide range of services.
David Dice, Jr., MD, Marc Labbe, MD, John Fackler, MD, Eric Price, MD, Kenneth Palmer, MD
Left to right:
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PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 11 7/12/16 10:02 AM
12. 12
In the United States, 70 percent of high school graduates
make their way into college, and yet a much smaller percentage
of those will actually graduate. Further, two-thirds of those
graduates will be in jobs that are not even remotely related to the
degree they earned. The question that’s not being asked is how to
maximize the return on your education investment dollar?
As many as a quarter of college graduates don’t feel that
their college education was worth the money or effort. The return
on investment for a college education is lower today than ever.
Moreover, that return is only positive if you actually graduate. If
you don’t graduate, you are better off having not gone to college
at all, from an economic sense.
The average United States education is an extremely costly
endeavor, but there are several ways to control the costs. The
simplest is to stay in state. If you’re going for an out-of-state
education, and there’s not something extraordinarily unique
about the educational experience, then you’re paying for a luxury
good. You’re probably not getting value for your dollar. In fact,
studies show that the closer you are to where you want to work,
the greater the value of the education location. What does that
mean? If you want to be in the oil industry and you want to work
in Houston, consider Texas A&M University, for example, before
choosing Delaware.
The other way you can control cost is by dividing the
university degree into two components. The groundwork can
be done through a combination of AP testing and community
college. I’ve never had an employer care that a third of my degree
came from a community college.
Community college may also help ensure a four-year finish.
Less than 40 percent of those who make it to college will
graduate in four years. Less than 60 percent will graduate in six
years or more. If the student isn’t sure what he or she wants to
do, consider sending them to an in-state community college until
they know.
The four years it takes to earn a degree results in a significant
opportunity cost in terms of lost wages. Research suggests that
if you’re not confident the student is going to finish in four years,
you probably shouldn’t send him to a four-year school yet. Wait
until they're ready. A six-year undergraduate degree will have
an ROI of 0 percent for the average student. Would you invest
in a product with no net return? This can be scary. It forces
The Cost
of Education
Maximizing the return on your investment
By Paul Carroll
Picnic in the Pasture
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13. 13
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us to address what is he or she going to do after high school
otherwise? A trade education? Travel? Doing anything productive
while still growing up can be good.
Amazingly, at 25 percent of the universities in this country,
the education ROI is less than zero. In fact, the average ROI of
a four-year degree in the United States--that’s completed in four
years, without any college debt is just 7 percent. If you take out
college debt at 7 percent, for the full cost of that education, guess
what your ROI is? Zero. There are better alternative investments.
Granted, many loans come in at less than 7 percent, but you can
do the math.
How can you get a positive return on your education
investment? First and foremost, you’ve got to finish in four years.
If the student can’t finish in four years or less, choose wisely.
Wait until you can, maybe attending night school in the interim
while working. Second, you want to pay as little as possible. It is
a rare private university in America that has an ROI that justifies
the cost. I said rare, I didn’t say there are none. There are online
resources where you can determine the completion rate of
universities. A private school with a high completion rate might
actually justify paying more for that education.
The complexity of your chosen degree program is another
area that can hurt you by adding extra time and cost. Universities
are in business to sell an education, even nonprofit institutions.
They get budgets, instructors get tenure and schools benefit
from your tuition dollars. You’re a consumer of education.
Unfortunately, whatever the academic justification for a highly
complex major, one of the best ways to guarantee you do not
complete a degree in four years is to enroll in a major that has
a highly prescriptive course schedule. In fact, it makes sense to
defer selecting a major as long as possible.
There is a formula for ROI success in attaining an
undergraduate degree. The ROI of an education is positive if you
don’t spend too much. You get it done and you try to go for a
broad-based education while acquiring any specialized training at
the certificate level. To count yourself among those who get their
undergraduate degrees with a positive ROI: add a couple of years
of community college, put off college until you’re ready, defer
choosing a major as long as possible, and stay clear of for-profit
institutions.
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 13 7/12/16 10:02 AM
14. 14
The world is not getting smaller, despite the messages
that social media companies and millennial-targeted
marketing campaigns claim. There are more than 7 billion
people in the world, 4 billion more than there were 50 years
ago. Those 7 billion people speak roughly 7,000 different
languages.
What has changed is the ease in which connections are
made among those billions of people, and in the ways they
communicate.
Insta-friends are made half a world away over “liking” a
common retro-filtered photo; and that cousin who moved
to the northeast to work as a doctor is no longer a distant
relative, thanks to all means of social sharing and digital
connectivity.
But the idea of a smaller world is borne from the ease and
speed in which we communicate. Time and distance are no
longer obstacles to personal connectivity. The final barrier
then, it would seem, is language.
Education systems around the world have long
understood the value in instilling in their students the
need to communicate in a language other than their native
one, particularly in preparing them for the world of global
business. The vast majority of basic high school graduation
requirements and higher education degree plans call for
students to at least make an attempt at a foreign language—
two to four semesters in Spanish usually does the trick for
most.
Foreign
Matters
By Brian Walzel
How the concept of a bilingual education
is changing
But some in education and business believe the dynamic
between a rapidly growing global population and ever-evolving
ways to communicate with just about anyone anywhere in the
world is resulting in an outdated model in foreign language
education.
“Universities historically focus their foreign language
programs on literature and linguistics, and are not prepared to
teach languages for professional purposes,” said Orlando Kelm,
associate professor for Hispanic linguistics at the University of
Texas at Austin. “(The education system) needs to respond to
that new demand in society.”
Nick Cheesman, human resources manager for Woodlands-
based Repsol, an integrated oil and gas company, said it’s often
not enough that an employee representing the company at
an international business meeting be technically fluent in the
language of the country to which he or she is being sent. It’s
just as important they understand cultural norms.
Both Kelm and Cheesman agree that students pursuing
an education in a foreign language understand the need for
cultural experiences, in addition to language fluency.
“There are opportunities for (job) candidates to place an
emphasis on intercultural experiences they can bring to a
team,” Cheesman said. “It becomes incredibly crucial how well-
versed people are collaborating across cultures.”
Kelm said that although English is the Lingua Franca of
the business world, he finds understanding cultural norms and
being able to communicate more casually in the same foreign
language is just as important as in the formal and business
sense. High level executives, no matter the country, will almost
always speak English, he said. It’s in communications with
non-white collar international types that even the simplest
conversations can be lost in translation.
“If you’re limited to English, you’re limited in who you can
talk to,” Kelm said. “You can only talk to the CEO, the upper level
leadership. But you can’t talk to the people on the factory lines,
the suppliers, the local police.”
Kelm believes college foreign language programs should
“teach to the task, rather than teach vocabulary,” while also
placing an emphasis on understanding cultural sensitivities
and awareness.
“I think the field is recognizing the validity for reasons
for learning the language,” he said. “It’s not just literature and
linguistics anymore.”
The Joint National Committee for Languages suggests
implementing dual language instruction into a variety of college
subjects—essentially key courses taught concurrently in two
languages.
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 14 7/12/16 10:03 AM
15. 15
“It can’t be just about specialization (in engineering or
medicine or technology) anymore,” Kirsten Brecht-Baker,
founder of Global Professional Search, told the JNCL. “They
have to communicate in the language.”
Foreign language enrollments at U.S. colleges hit a peak in
2009 when 1.6 million students signed up for language classes.
That number has since tapered off a bit, particularly in Texas.
Enrollments in foreign languages in Texas decreased by 6.7
percent from 2009 to 2013, a trend seen across the country.
In an article published in May 2015, The Atlantic reported
that language education is losing out in national funding. The
education community is making efforts to push for additional
funding for foreign language programs during a time in which
funding for a host of programs—liberal arts, athletics—is being
called into question.
Language Advocacy Day, held in May, works to garner
more federal support for language education. The federal
government has established Title VI grants, otherwise known
as the Foreign Language Assistance Program. The program
provides federal money to leading foreign language colleges.
Texas A&M University and the University of Texas are both Title
VI recipients.
Kelm said that other than Spanish, the most popular foreign
languages among students enrolled in language classes are
Arabic and Chinese.
“Arabic enrollments are really increasing right now,” he said.
“There is money for it, and there are jobs for it. Chinese is going
up at the expense of German, French and Italian.”
The JNCL cites another reason for the spike in interest in
Arabic as a foreign language option: international conflict.
“Americans learn certain languages when, for example,
emergencies hit,” the JNCL reports.
According to the Modern Language Association,
enrollment in Slavic languages, such as Russian, peaked
during the Cold War era of the 1980s, and Arabic language
classes saw enrollment numbers increase dramatically after
9/11.
Post-secondary language education also has its
shortcomings in the courses in which students are enrolling.
The MLA reports that in 2013, about 198,000 U.S. college
students were taking a French course, while just 64 were
studying Bengali.
“Yet, globally, 193 million people speak Bengali, while 75
million speak French,” the MLA reported.
Cheesman said that Repsol doesn’t necessarily seek out
candidates with foreign language capabilities, despite the
company conducting business globally. He said they look
for the right person for the right job, but candidates could
differentiate themselves from their job-seeking competitors by
acquiring foreign language and cross-culture skills.
“Those are opportunities for candidates to place an
emphasis on intercultural experiences they can bring to a team
if and when they are collaborating (internationally),” Cheesman
said. “Now that communication is instantaneous, that’s where
it becomes incredibly crucial how well-versed people are in
collaborating across cultures.”
LANGUAGE LEARNING
College enrollments in foreign languages vary over time, with different factors affecting how many students
study a particular language. While Spanish is traditionally the most popular foreign language among college
students, Chinese and Arabic have seen their enrollment numbers increase in recent years.
Language/Year 1990 1995 1998 2002 2006 2009 2013
SPANISH 391,972 434,507 473,269 522,398 587,212 615,326 580,480
FRENCH 221,862 168,642 165,384 164,425 169,940 176,146 163,257
GERMAN 110,198 80,638 74,819 76,690 79,011 81,198 75,218
ITALIAN 40,657 36,275 41,256 51,898 64,358 66,127 59,689
JAPANESE 34,635 33,945 32,628 38,723 48,847 53,796 51,618
CHINESE 15,090 21,014 22,546 27,034 41,725 49,641 51,433
ARABIC 2,874 3,807 3,902 8,205 18,633 27,946 26,497
RUSSIAN 39,291 21,405 20,647 20,509 21,645 23,536 19,399
PORTUGUESE 5,421 5,359 5,958 7,174 9,033 9,871 11,201
KOREAN 2,188 2,943 3,546 4,045 5,665 7,018 10,195
Source: Modern Language Association
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 15 7/12/16 10:03 AM
16. The State of Texas finally got around to understanding
that college, well, it’s not for everyone. Or if it did understand
it, at least now it’s acknowledging that students who choose
not to attend a four-year university are playing an increasingly
important role in the nation’s economy, and that perhaps the
state should educate them accordingly.
That acknowledgement has essentially come in the form
of the Foundation High School Program, the latest state
program that lays out graduation requirements for Texas high
school students. The program was established in House Bill 5
in the 83rd Legislature in 2013.
In addition to providing a clearer path for high school
students to place themselves in a better position to earn
admission to traditional four-year colleges, the Foundation
High School Program places an emphasis on preparing
students for workforce training and skilled labor careers.
“There was a big push (in the Legislature) to understand
that not every student is going to go to a four-year college,
and that we owed it to the future workforce of Texas to ensure
that every person can contribute using their skills,” said Laura
Callahan, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency.
The change in direction for Texas education perhaps
legitimized the career path for more than half its students.
According to data published by Advance CTE, a CTE policy
and legislation advocacy group, 53 percent of high school
students in Texas are enrolled in CTE “concentrators.”
The Foundation program, which became active for all
students entering high school for the 2014-2015 school year,
is a 26-credit plan that includes five “endorsement” options
that allow students to focus on a related series of courses.
The TEA believes not only will the endorsement plan better
prepare students for college, it will also create a better
alternative for students looking to follow other career paths.
In fact, the Foundation program, and even the literature
provided by the TEA explaining the program, are landmark
achievements in the sea change away from the idea that
in order to succeed post-high school, students must go to
college. Another indicator of that change is in the name of the
path itself. What used to be known as “vocational education”
now has a formal acronym of the type the TEA so deeply
loves—CTE, or Career and Technical Education.
Getting
To Work
By Brian Walzel
College alternatives no longer lesser option
16
“What used to be known as vocational education was
used to identify non-college students, and there was less of
an emphasis on academics, and that image unfortunately
still exists,” said Greg Shipp, CTE coordinator for Conroe
ISD. “But CTE gives students the best of both worlds—post-
secondary preparedness education enhanced by a special and
marketable skill.”
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs falls into the group,
such as Shipp, that believes the perception of such programs
needs to change. In a report issued by the Comptroller’s office,
“Texas Workforce Report: Capitalizing On Our Human Assets,”
the office stated “Texas needs to coordinate a sustained
multimedia campaign that dispels negative associations
with CTE and certification programs. This campaign would
highlight salaries and benefits, profile successful careers and
describe exciting workplace opportunities that can result from
CTE training.”
Such efforts seem to be underway, at least in some
capacity. CTE education now identifies more than a dozen
career clusters, including architecture and construction,
audio/visual and communication, finance, health science,
information technology and manufacturing. Within each of
Continued on page 18
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 16 7/12/16 10:03 AM
17. texaschildrens.org/promise
To help patients like Charles and
their families breathe easier.
When Charles desperately needed expert care for a
collapsed lung, his family raced from their home north of
Houston to Texas Children’s Hospital — more than 40 miles
away. Your donation to the Promise Campaign will help bring
world-class pediatric care close to home for thousands of
families — at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.
Make your promise. Donate today.
29421PKWY-012-103015
29421_TCH_Pomise_II_WOODLANDS_PKWY_29421PKWY-012-103015_PROD.indd 1 10/30/15 3:25 PMPKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 17 7/12/16 10:03 AM
18. n in
ted.
those clusters are dozens of specific potential professions.
And by most accounts, those professions are in high
demand.
According to the National Association of State Directors
of Career Technical Education Consortium, there will be 47
million job openings by 2018, and about one-third of those will
require an associate’s degree or certificate.
In addition, the Consortium reports that those jobs that
require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-
year college degree will account for 54 percent of the U.S.
labor market, but only 44 percent of the country’s workforce is
trained to that level.
“There is a tremendous shortage of skilled labor in
America,” Shipp said.
At Conroe ISD, such training no longer means a few
classes in wood shop, welding or automotive repair. Today’s
CTE programs include partnership training with some of the
world’s largest companies, including NOV, ExxonMobil and
even NASA.
18
“By partnering with industry neighbors, we make certain
our programs are truly aligned to the skills that move into the
industry,” Shipp said.
For example, Shipp said a CTE program at Oak Ridge
High School includes a partnership with NASA. As part of
the partnership between the space agency and Oak Ridge
High School students have developed a device that allows
astronauts to store their personal belongings aboard the
International Space Station.
Additionally, a district partnership with Lone Star College
System and Conroe ISD provides CTE students with
opportunities to gain workforce certifications while still in
high school. Those certifications can, in many cases, allow
students to earn a well-paying job right out of high school,
Shipp said.
“The idea of college-bound and non-college-bound no
longer exists,” Shipp said. “There are no ‘less than’ options
for students. We are not a ‘less than’ option. We don’t replace
academic education--we support and enhance academic
education.”
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Manufacturing - 94%
INDUSTRY / PERCENT REQUIRING AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE OR LESS FOR EMPLOYMENT
Education & Training - 89%
SPANISH Hospitality & Tourism - 88%
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics - 87%
SPANISH Agriculture, Food & Natural Resource - 73%
Marketing, Sales & Service - 71%
SPANISH Law, Public Safety, Security & Corrections - 64%
Arts, Audio/Visual, Technology & Communication - 57%
Finance & Insurance - 55%
Government & Public Administration - 55%
Human Services - 51%
Business Management & Administration - 43%
Health Science - 30%
Architecture & Construction - 15%
SPANISH Information Technology - 13%
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math - 2%
Of the 762 jobs tracked by
the Texas Workforce
Commission, 58 percent
require an associate’s
degree or less for
employment.
The Texas Workforce
Commission tracks job
statistics in 16 different
industries, and 762
specific jobs within those
industries. According to
the WFC, many jobs within
those industries require
an associate’s degree or
less for employment.
Source: Texas Workforce Commission
Continued from page 16
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 18 7/12/16 10:03 AM
19. Business
without Borders
Staff Report
The Woodlands home to new chamber
19
Most of us take the little things we do every day
for granted, until a neurological disorder makes
them impossible. With Montgomery County’s
only DNV-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center,
the neurospecialists at the Neuroscience Institute
at CHI St. Luke’s Health — The Woodlands
Hospital are using breakthrough
research and a collaborative approach
to recover function that is lost due to a
brain tumor, stroke or ruptured brain
aneurysm. Because discovering more
ways to give back to our patients what
matters most is second nature to us.
Discover more at ImagineBetterHealth.org
What if the simple things were
no longer second nature?
Neuroscience Institute
The success of small businesses often hinges on the
proximity of its customers. It’s a long-standing tradition
among communities large and small: do business with those
around you, and all will succeed. The most common channel
through which small businesses connect is through their
local chambers of commerce. But what if a small business
wants to look beyond its traditional client base, and beyond its
conventional geographic boundaries for growth opportunities?
The Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce is working to
provide such solutions, not only to small businesses, but
also large corporations. And the ICC will begin to provide its
services to Woodlands-area business at the beginning of
August when it opens its newest office—its fourth in Houston
alone—at 2203 Timberloch Place.
“We offer opportunities for local businesses to make
connections internationally, and for international companies to
expand and find joint ventures,” said president Reggie Gray.
ICC has offices in a dozen international countries,
including Italy, Kazakhstan, Panama, Poland, Russia, Ukraine,
Mexico and China. Gray said the ICC’s home base is in
Houston, and the organization recently opened an office in
Stafford, to join its locations in North Houston and the Galleria.
Membership into ICC gives businesses membership into
each of Houston’s four ICC chambers, as well as a host of
other benefits. Those include business incubator offices,
training and conference rooms, on-site language classes,
access to the U.S. Department of Commerce office, the Texas
Workforce Commission Office, international documentation
translation, on-site photography and film studio and executive
car and transportation services.
Membership costs range from $250 for a nonprofit agency
to $25,000 for a spot on its board of directors.
Gray said members will have opportunities to take part in
what he calls “trade missions,” or visits to foreign countries
to seek joint ventures with other businesses. Gray said such
trade mission groups are small to ensure legitimate business
interests for each country’s representatives, and are often set
up through foreign governmental offices.
The organization, like most chambers, hosts monthly
events in its four locations such as luncheons, cocktail socials
and Small Business Association workshops.
“It’s one membership in four parts of the city,” he said. “For
the price of one, you get four chambers.”
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 19 7/12/16 10:03 AM
20. 20
going to be the financial return on how much a student pays for
college, including how much debt they take on.
“When considering colleges, students need to be thinking
about how successful are they going to be entering the job
market,” Willard said. “I recommend looking at job stats of
recent graduates (of a particular college), look at their median
salary, look at and visit the college’s career placement center.”
College tuition rates have escalated exponentially since
the Texas Legislature deregulated tuition in 2003, allowing
universities to set their own rates without the threat of
government oversight. Since 2003, tuition at at least eight
Texas colleges has increased by more than 100 percent.
“We’re seeing more and more students making smart
Acceptance rates of Texas colleges
Acceptance rates at universities vary based on a variety of factors, including the number of applications
and a college’s targeted enrollment. This shows the percentage of applicants some Texas colleges have
accepted in recent years.
School/Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Source: acceptancerate.com
BAYLOR
RICE
SAM HOUSTON STATE
SOUTHERN METHODIST
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
TEXAS A&M
TEXAS CHRISTIAN
TEXAS STATE
TEXAS TECH
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
49.9
22.3
57.2
53
72.7
66
59.2
75.7
67.8
69.7
45.3
47.8
21.3
47.3
53.9
49.6
68
52.7
75.5
71.7
70.5
47
39.7
18.8
86.6
54.6
62.7
63
37.7
77.5
66.3
63.2
46.6
60.7
16.7
65
53.8
55.8
67
40.9
66.1
64.3
56.2
46.7
57.5
16.7
65
50.7
56.9
69
47.4
75.1
66.3
58.4
40.2
55
14
73.7
52
55.6
71
48.9
73
66
63
39.7
choices with Lone Star
College,” Willard said. “There
is a huge reluctance of
accruing debt, and that’s
great.”
Lane said LSCS has seen
enrollment increases in six
of the last seven years, and
that total enrollment at the
system’s six campuses is
more than 90,000 students.
“If you look at
(enrollments) statewide,
70 percent of every student
going to college their
freshman year is going to a
community college,” Lane
said.
For about $800 per
semester, Lane said, an LSCS
student could enroll in 12 or
more credit hours that will
transfertojustaboutanyfour-
year university. Meanwhile,
students who are applying to,
say, seven or eight colleges
are paying nearly that much
in application fees alone.
“You could pay for an entire semester of community college
for just the costs of the application process,” Willard said.
The community college route, Lane said, offers graduating
high school students opportunities to start on a post-secondary
educationpathatamorerelaxedpace,whilealsoearningaquality
education.
“Students are finding out, unfortunately, that costs determine
where they go,” he said. “When they start looking at four-year
institutions, even with scholarships, they realize it doesn’t cover
the full cost of attending.”
Attending a four-year university has resulted in escalating
debt for college graduates. According to the State of College
Admissions Report, student debt in the U.S. has increased by 387
percent since 2003, while weekly earnings for 25-34-year-olds has
increased by only 24.7 percent.
Some argue that, for even those who meet admission
requirements, the college application process is not only costly,
but also nothing more than a gamble.
The Atlantic reported that “Students today still spend months
and sometimes even years of grueling work to secure a spot,
spending thousands on test prep and college consultants just
to get into the running. And at the other end of all that work is
what many critics describe as a lottery—even the most qualified
students are merely gambling to get in.”
Still, Paredes said most Texas colleges admit more than half
of their applicants. In 2015, Texas Tech saw 24,000 applications.
Of those, Logan said, 13,000 were admitted. And of that amount,
5,200 decided to enroll at Texas Tech.
“We have capacity in our universities for those middle level
students who are not superstars, not called ‘at-risk,’” Paredes said.
“We have plenty of room for students.”
Continued from page 10
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 20 7/12/16 10:03 AM
21. 21
When it comes to making investment decisions, optimum
results would most likely be enjoyed if the individual investor
always made rational decisions based on solid data. In practice,
however, this is rarely the case. Human psychological errors
coupled with emotional decision-making may cause many
investors to make decisions that are biased and often irrational.
This makes it of paramount importance for investors to
understand, recognize and compensate for these mental
errors known as financial biases. The ability to recognize your
individual biases is the best way to beat them –along with the
help of hiring a professional to guide you along the way.
The Anchoring Effect
When we experience a life event to which a large amount
of positive or negative emotion is attached, that event tends
to hold great significance for us, and we tend to view similar
situations with the same type of emotion, whether or not it is
appropriate. This is known as the anchoring effect, and it can
cause investors to behave irrationally.
An example of this would be an investor who buys a stock
that rises precipitously in value. This is a positive event, and this
positive emotion can remain attached to the stock even after it
loses its luster and has lost almost all of its value. The investor
holds on to it because of an emotional bias, and suffers
monetary loss as a result.
The Gambler’s Fallacy
A major issue for many investors is the tendency to try to
predict future results from past performances. As a result, they
will purchase investment products that may have performed
very well in the past, erroneously believing that they will always
perform at the same level. In other situations, they may sell a
stock that has fallen in value, assuming that this means that it
will not recover
Confirmation Bias
People in general tend to form beliefs and then attempt
to find ways to justify and rationalize those beliefs. Investors
often fall prey to this confirmation bias in the course of their
transactions.
They will usually try to find information that backs up their
predetermined assumptions, and this kind of information
can usually be readily found. I once knew someone who was
convinced that the Iranian rial was going to go up in value by
100 times overnight. He found several sources on the Internet
proving his point, but the day of instant wealth never transpired
for him.
Herd Bias
Social conformity is a very powerful force which drives
people to try to fit in with the herd. This approach to investing
can be easily succumbed to, and short term gains can seem to
justify the practice.
This herd-based approach is intrinsically erroneous. If an
investor bases their decisions on the latest trend or rumor,
they will likely fall prey to making random transactions that
are based on nothing but herd behavior. Investors should
always be careful to steer away from the herd and do their
own independent research before making any financial
decisions. You always see this at the top, or at the bottom, of a
market. The problem is that at the top everyone is saying to buy
and at the bottom most are saying get out. Both are opposite of
what a smart investor should be doing.
There are many more ways in which the investor can fall
prey to their own biases, but the remedy for most of them
is similar. Investors should develop an investment strategy
based on sound investing principles, not emotion, and they
should monitor their decision making processes to be on guard
against the ever present dangers of personal financial biases.
By Byron Ellis
How to avoid financial biases
Rational
Investing
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 21 7/12/16 10:03 AM
22. Araelia Betler, Grangerland Intermediate
As is not entirely uncommon in Texas, it’s not a
particularly long journey for a teacher from coaching
football to teaching in the classroom. But the path for
Grangerland Intermediate fifth grade language arts and
social studies teacher Araelia Betler, from helping out as
a football, basketball and cross country coach to being
recognized as the Conroe ISD Elementary Teacher of the
Year only served as another tool toward the greater good of
her students.
Despite earning her first bachelor’s degree in
business, Betler knew she was an educator at heart. She
earned two more degrees by the time she was 23, and
after meandering through Texas schools, she landed
at Grangerland. In May, her peers and the Texas State
Teacher’s Association named her their 2016 Elementary
Teacher of the Year.
“Growing up, I was fortunate to have a great
educational experience,” Betler said. “I loved everything
about school. I earned my business degree, but wasn’t sure
that’s what I wanted to do. I thought about where I was
happiest and felt the most confident, and that came from
school, and all the elements from school.”
Betler’s approach to teaching her students allows her
to stay within what she calls much-needed structure while
ensuring each student gets their own individual care and
attention.
“I know everything possible about each student and
use that to build them up,” she said. “I work really hard,
constantly thinking about different ways not to reach a
group of students, but to reach each individual student.”
Betler gives an example of a weekend out shopping
with her husband when she purchased a book she felt
would help one particular student.
Top
Teachers
By Brian Walzel
CISD instructors put students first
22
“Teaching is not something I do just during the school
day,” she said. “It’s something I do all day. These students
need a lot of love and individual attention, and I’ve never
known any other way.”
Betler previously taught at schools in Midland and
Dallas where she was introduced to different cultures and
newcomer students who often came to the district not
yet able to speak English. Betler said she welcomed the
challenges those opportunities brought her.
“I learned a lot about those cultures,” she said. “I
dragged my very willing husband to numerous events
where (the students) spoke an entirely different language
and ate strange foods, and I went with bright eyes and love
and admiration in my heart. I’ve loved hard from the very
beginning.”
Betler is hoping to inspire other teachers to develop
a similar passion for teaching. She is pursuing a position
in CISD’s teacher leadership program, which provides a
select group of district teachers a program to educate and
influence their peers on different teaching methods and
ideas.
“I don’t think (teaching) has to be done my way, or has
to be set up like this,” Betler said. “But I want to inspire
others to meet children’s needs and to treat children as
individuals, and to do whatever it takes for each child to be
successful in the classroom.”
By accomplishing that, Betler said that rather than
just her inspiring only her students, then the teachers she
inspires can pass along what they have learned to their 50
or so students.
“If I can inspire one teacher to think about kids on an indi-
vidual level, that will affect more students,” she said.
Zachary Taylor, Caney Creek High School
In some local hotel ballroom 20 years from now, a
group of Caney Creek High School alumni will likely be
reminiscing about their high school days. And during that
conversation, it’s quite likely one of those former Panthers
will bring up Zachary Taylor.
“Remember Mr. Taylor?” they’ll say. “He was the coolest
teacher.”
Taylor, who in May was named Conroe ISD High School
Teacher of the Year, is the teacher who starts the day
with great music—Bob Marley, Tina Turner, country music,
maybe some rock and roll—and what he calls “the picture
of the day,” something to get the students thinking.
But Taylor, who teaches English II and English III dual
credit, is much more than just the teacher students will
Teaching is not something I do just
during the day. It's something
I do all day.
Araelia Betler
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 22 7/12/16 10:03 AM
23. 23
remember for being one who related best to them. Taylor
likely will be known as the one who fostered independence
and curiosity.
“I love students to form their own opinions, especially
teaching a dual credit class,” he said. “I want my students
to have an inquiring mind, and not to be afraid to ask
questions.”
The University of Florida graduate initially wanted to
pursue a career in theater, or teaching theater students.
His father served in the U.S. Air Force, and Taylor lived in
Germany and England, an experience he said instilled in
him a different approach to classroom instruction.
“It was a creative and expressive atmosphere, and
diversity was very important there,” he said. “And you want
to bring that experience into the job here.”
Taylor calls his classroom an open, safe environment
in which students feel free to express their ideas, thoughts
and opinions.
“It’s open, but it’s safe, where they feel this is their
culture and nobody is going to judge them on it,” Taylor
said. “For example, they may not always like what we read,
but they want to discuss it, and tell me why they don’t
like it. I want to discuss it on their level, and they really
appreciate that.”
Araelia Betler, fifth grade teacher at Grangerland
Intermediate, and fellow Teacher of the Year, said Taylor’s
approach to teaching is unique and is an inspiration to his
students as well as other teachers.
“He inspires students,” she said. “He clearly has
a culture of inspiration, and allows students to be
themselves.”
Taylor, like Betler, insists on identifying personally with
his students, rather than just seeing them “as a statistic,
or an ID number.” Freedom of expression and connecting
personally is intrinsic to Taylor’s approach to teaching.
“I love giving students a choice because not every
student is going to get to that end result in the same way,”
he said.
For instance, during a recent vocabulary instruction
program, Taylor provided his students with different words
that were new to them. He asked that they form groups
and, in a nod to his theater background, perform a skit to
the classroom showing what the definitions meant to them.
“There were so many ideas thrown out there in the
groups, and even the kids who normally would be shy about
presenting in front of the class would lose their inhibitions,”
he said. “They were able to show in-depth knowledge of a
term they didn’t know before.”
Taylor is also looking to become an instructional coach,
and utilize the same approach that earned him his Teacher
of the Year nomination to inspire others.
“We spend a lot of time teaching teachers how to be
more effective, but we also need to teach students how
to be more successful students,” he said. “For instance, if
a student is presented with something that is difficult for
them, their first inclination is to give up. But there’s always
a way of getting around that. I want to be better at training
students (not to give up so easily).”
Caney Creek High School's Zachary Taylor and Grangerland Intermediate School's Araelia Betler.
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 23 7/12/16 10:03 AM
25. 25
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion has earned its reputation as one of the
country’s most successful performance venues based on the caliber of popular
music acts it attracts and the number of people who attend those events. The
Pavilion annually ranks among the most popular music venues in the country in
annual rankings released by Pollstar, a concert industry trade magazine.
But what makes the Pavilion unique among its performance venue peers is its
mission to enhance music education for the performing arts and provide training
and performance opportunities for young artists. One avenue through which the
Pavilion works toward that mission is its Musical Scores program.
The program, heading into its 23rd year in 2017, provides an incentive for
students at local schools in grades sixth through ninth to perform well academically
and behaviorally.
Shannon Wilson, director of marketing and education at the Pavilion, said
students who set certain goals—and achieve those goals—are then invited to a
performance at the Pavilion designed to motivate and encourage them. Wilson said
students at Title I schools—most often which are low-income campuses—are most
typically those given the opportunity to take part in the program.
“These are kids who, because of their socioeconomic situation, may not have
another chance at their age to visit the Pavilion,” Wilson said. “The idea behind the
program is to give these kids something inspirational. If one kid somehow gets
inspired, then we’ve done our job.”
The Musical Scores program follows the mission of the facility’s namesake,
Cynthia Woods Mitchell. Mitchell, wife of Woodlands founder George Mitchell, was
an advocate for literacy, culture and art programs in The Woodlands community.
This year’s event, which was held in May, featured a performance by AcroDunk,
an acrobatic basketball performance team. Greg Onofrio of Channel 39’s Newsfix
served as the event’s motivational speaker.
“This program started out with just a few hundred kids (attending),” Wilson said.
“Now we bring in over 5,000.”
She said students hail from districts across the Houston area, including Houston,
Klein and Goose Creek ISDs.
The Pavilion markets the Musical Scores program to local schools, sharing what
the program is about and how teachers, parents and students can get involved.
The event is free for students to attend—they are provided bus transportation and
a free lunch by the Pavilion. The program was sponsored by Wells Fargo, Aramark,
The Container Store, Anadarko Petroleum, Keith and Sandra Winters, Entergy, AON
Hewitt, Fred and Sheryle Greene, Kroger, Chick-Fil-A, The Pavilion Partners, United
Airlines and CW39.
Musical Scores
Pavilion program provides inspiration for local youth
Staff Report
If one kid somehow gets inspired,
then we've done our job.
Shannon Wilson, director of marketing and education,
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 25 7/12/16 10:03 AM
26. 26
Montgomery County offers a rich menu of benefits and
experiences to its residents. But, there are still surprises
tucked behind every corner. Boutiques with handcrafted wares,
amazing chefs serving up the some of the most creative and
delectable fare in the Houston area, and stunning outdoor
spaces that dazzle and inspire–it’s all here waiting to be
discovered.
Even our neighbors can–those like Jordan Ong.
Ong is a 23-year-old musical prodigy, classical concert
pianist, composer and filmmaker. A veteran performer at some
of the most prestigious venues in the world, his virtuoso talent
at the piano has thrilled classical music audiences.
Ong’s mother, Josephine, identified his natural ability at a
remarkably young age when the family lived in Phoenix.
“When I was 2 my mother sat me down at an upright piano
just to see if I wanted to play,” Ong recalls. “I remember that it
was effortless at first–as easy as breathing.”
To aide his learning process on the piano, his mother
placed colored tape on the chord keys. But Ong didn’t need
such help for long. By the end of that year he had learned more
than 20 Christmas songs by heart.
Ong’s application to the prestigious Yamaha Music School
in Phoenix was initially rejected. The enrollment staff had a
difficult time believing someone so young could qualify for its
programs, much less reach the pedals.
Resolute in their determination, Josephine requested a
live audition in front of the school’s staff, allowing the staff
to choose which songs her son would perform. After a few
compositions performed in different keys, the staff was
singing a different tune, and Ong was accepted.
It wasn’t long after that TV came calling. Earning
recognition under the “Best and Brightest Musician” program
at the Phoenix NBC affiliate KPNX, the crew set up shop
in Ong’s living room, and he put on a show as only he can,
performing a selection of Beethoven, Mozart as well as
original pieces. Ong later performed live on KNXV ABC in
Phoenix.
Mentored by noted pianists such as Dariusz Pawlas,
Sergey Kuznetsov and Greg Allen of the University of Texas,
Ong graduated in 2014 from the University of Texas with a
Bachelor of Arts in Music, Piano Performance and Computer
Science. Following graduation, he enrolled at Sam Houston
State University to pursue a masters degree in digital media.
He credits his mentors with helping him refine both his
playing and his composing, and would like to mentor others
one day.
“I inherited a building in the Philippines near where my
mom lived as a child,” Ong said. “I plan to eventually convert
it into a music studio where kids can come and use our
instruments and play and learn. I would love to teach there as
well. And it would be great to have a similar studio here in the
states.”
While an undergrad at UT, Ong discovered an interest
in computer science. So when Sam Houston State began
offering a master’s program in digital media, he immediately
decided to enroll.
Ong believes computers make composing much easier.
“With composing software like MuseScore, there is no
more penciling in notes, then erasing them when you need to
make changes,” he said. “And with my synthesizer hooked up
to my PC, I can have it play any note, then change the pitch,
duration, repetition, you name it–any special effect I need.”
He added that composing software also saves money
and time, since there is never any need to rent, for example,
a trombone because the program can play any note from any
musical instrument ever invented.
Composing software also facilitated Ong’s interest in
Piano
Man
Prodigy musician pushes limits
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PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 26 7/12/16 10:03 AM
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film. In fact, his thesis at SHSU was
a short film called "Magic Medieval
Masquerade."
The film focuses on The Texas
Renaissance Festival and visitors to
the festival who become fully involved
in the event by dressing up and staying
in character. Since moving to The
Woodlands in 2007, Ong has become
enamored of the annual festival,
attending nearly every year. Ong himself
often dresses in his favorite Super
Smash Brothers character.
In addition to directing and
producing the movie, Ong composed all
the music, edited the sound and color,
and conducted dozens of interviews
with the festival characters and
attendees.
Last year, Ong attended the Cannes
Film Festival after composing the score
for "Magic History of Cinema," a film
by Sam Houston State University film
professor Tom Garrett.
“I got to see 15 movies, and when
you are walking the red carpet to a
viewing, you are with the actors in the
film,” Ong said. “I saw Emily Blunt on the
way to 'Sicario', Matthew McConaughey
at 'The Sea of Trees', and Charlize
Theron making her way to 'Mad Max: Fury Road.'”
Concert pianist, composer, score writer, and now film
director/producer–Ong has assembled quite the resume, but
claims he is just getting started. In May, Ong traveled to Asia
for a concert tour that included stops in China, Singapore,
Taiwan and the Philippines.
Next, he is hoping to score a film to be submitted to the
Hong Kong Film Festival.
Ong performed on an extended concert tour in Asia this
summer. He has already performed at several prestigious halls
and arenas in the Philippines, including the Cultural Center in
Manila, the Insular Life Auditorium, and the New Millennium
Evangelical Church. But it hasn’t been all work–Ong visited the
“City of Pines” (Baguio City) in the mountains of Luzon Island
where he discovered horseback riding.
But his eyes are still on the larger prize--the work he is
performing at the keys.
"One day, I hope to play Carnegie Hall," he says.
I remember that (playing piano) was
effortless at first--as easy
as breathing.
Jordan Ong
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 27 7/12/16 10:03 AM
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28
If you own your own business, you may believe your school
days are over, right? Not so fast. While the days of semesters
spent in stuffy classrooms and all-night sessions cramming
for finals may be behind you, the need for ongoing education is
as great as ever.
Successful entrepreneurs know that the more they learn,
the more likely they are to be successful.
The world of business changes rapidly, and savvy owners
recognize that if they don’t keep up with the newest tools
and strategies, their businesses will suffer. Fortunately,
entrepreneurs have several opportunities and resources they
can take advantage of to enhance their existing skills and learn
the new skills that are critical to surviving as an entrepreneur
in today’s economy.
The choice of where to
go for continuing education
depends in part on what
you want to learn. More
and more, the Internet is
the “go-to” place for learning a specific skill or for solving a
particular problem. Do you need to learn how to handle a new
type of entry in your bookkeeping system? Chances are you’ll
find the answer on the Internet.
How about learning how to create a business Facebook
page? It’s all right there. In many cases, you’ll find that other
users have created free videos hosted on sites such as
YouTube showing you exactly what to do. The key to finding
the information you need on the Internet is learning how to use
Education for
the Entrepreneur
How to keep up with changes in business
Staff Report
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 28 7/12/16 10:03 AM
30. 30
After 82 years as Houston’s most popular entertainment
event, any figure or statistic the Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo puts out there shows that nothing it does is small in
scale: 2.4 million in attendance in 2016, 32,000 volunteers and
$2.1 million awarded to rodeo contestants. And in more proof
of Houston’s gluttony, festival-goers scarfed down 146,000
pounds of potatoes, 115,000 barbecue sandwiches, 45,000
corn dogs and 21,000 fried Oreos (which amounts to 3.3
million calories, by the way).
But despite the massive amounts of delectable food,
the bro country acts that are the real draw and the nausea-
inducing carnival rides, the HLSR’s main purpose is in this
figure: $25.8 million. That’s the amount of money the rodeo
committed to education this year.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offers more
than 750 scholarships through 14 different programs. The
charitable contributions also include donations to Junior Show
exhibitors, calf scramble participants, educational program
grants and graduate assistantships.
Since its first scholarship was awarded in 1932 the HLSR
has donated more than $400 million and 16,000 scholarships
to Texas youth.
But like every other charitable effort, what transpires after
the checks are written is the best indicator of the success of
those efforts. The HLSR reports there are currently more than
2,000 students on Show scholarships attending more than 80
colleges and universities in Texas.
Kallie Kram was a senior at Texas A&M University who
graduated in May with a degree in nutritional science. She
was awarded a Hildebrand Scholarship through the Go Texan
Committee her senior year of high school in Columbus.
“I don’t come from a family that has a lot of money, and I
knew I would have to support myself in college,” Kram said. “I
came into college with the mindset that I was going to have to
pay for everything myself. With my rodeo scholarship, I did not
have to worry about that.”
Throughout her life, Kram has been heavily involved in
agriculture, including participating in FFA, showing cattle and
Rodeo Dough
HLSR’s scholarship program makes lasting impact
By Brian Walzel
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 30 7/12/16 10:03 AM
31. 31
exhibiting at the HLSR. She was initially awarded
a $2,000 scholarship by the Show following her
senior year in high school in Columbus.
Jennifer Hazelton, chief financial officer for
the HLSR, said that in recent years the Show
has recognized that students sometimes tend
to drop out of college for financial reasons. To
help abate that trend, the rodeo established its
Achievement Program, which provides original
rodeo scholarship recipients the opportunity to
continue to receive scholarship money for the
duration of their college education.
Kram said that following her sophomore
year, she submitted an application for an
Achievement Program scholarship and was
awarded another $6,000 each year until she
graduated this year.
During her time at Texas A&M, Kram worked
a part-time job, maintained a 4.0 GPA, served as
president of the College of Agriculture and Life
Science’s Student Council, studied abroad in at
least three different countries and held a variety
of internships.
“I have done all of those things that
wouldn’t have been possible without the rodeo
scholarship support,” Kram said. “So, (the
scholarship) has done a lot of great things for
me.”
Chris Skaggs, associate dean of agriculture
and life sciences at Texas A&M, who also serves
as a superintendent of the rodeo’s steer show,
said HLSR scholarships play a large role at the
college. He says there is an emphasis on “high
impact” for a rodeo scholarship, meaning the
rodeo wants to ensure its money is going to good use for the
student it awards.
“By having these scholarships, that opens the door for
more of these activities, rather than the student being so
narrowly focused on financing their education,” he said. “Now
they can have a broader education.”
Skaggs said that this year there were 732 students
enrolled at Texas A&M who have received HLSR scholarships,
196 of which were enrolled in the College of Agriculture and
Life Science.
Now that Kram has graduated, she plans to enroll in
medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She
hopes to eventually work as a woman’s care physician.
“I want to be in a job where I can deliver babies all the
time,” she said.
Kram also got married in May—her husband volunteers on
the commercial steer committee at the rodeo. She previously
has spoken to youth groups as a rodeo scholarship recipient,
and is anticipating volunteering herself at next year’s rodeo.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo provides 10
types of scholarships, ranging in amounts from $4,000 for a
semester to $18,000 over four years. Applicants must be a
graduating senior at an eligible high school, be a U.S. citizen
and a Texas resident, complete the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid and plan to attend an accredited, nonprofit
university or community college in Texas.
Hazelton said the rodeo is now making efforts to connect
their scholarship recipients with fellow scholarship winners at
their respective schools.
Many of the students they assist, she said, are often first
generation college students who are often unfamiliar with life
on a college campus.
“What we’re focusing on now is making this less of a
transactional relationship,” she said. “We’re making a real
effort on making it a well-rounded program.”
To accomplish this, Hazelton said, the rodeo has created
a Facebook page accessible only to scholarship recipients.
The rodeo is also working to establish student groups at Texas
colleges to help students make connections with others who
may be in a similar situation.
“Knowing there is someone else there really helps them,”
she said. “For them to hear from someone who is the same
age, and may have shared some of the same experiences—it’s
really helpful.”
For more information, visit rodeohouston.com
Kallie Kram graduated from Texas A&M University in May with a degree
in nutritional science. Fuchs said her scholarship allowed her to study
abroad in places such as Kenya.
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 31 7/12/16 10:03 AM
32. 32
Carnegie Hall is one of the landmark performance facilities in the
world for musicians of all genres. Countless musical giants have held
court there and won over the hearts and minds of thousands.
Pyotr Tchaikovsky made his American debut there in 1891. When
you have played Carnegie Hall, you have hit the big time in the Big
Apple.
The venue has hosted landmark performances by the likes of The
Beatles and Frank Sinatra.
On March 16, the College Park High School Orchestra joined this
elite group, performing the “Serenade for Strings in G Minor,” by Vasily
Kalinnikov, and two other works at the New York International Music
Festival. And they didn’t just play Carnegie Hall, the CPHS orchestra
earned the first place Gold Award among the other high school
orchestras on stage that evening.
The event was, by all measures, an overwhelming success for
the College Park student musicians and their director, Peter Kempter,
particularly since the selection process into the festival is competitive.
“There was an application process to be selected to perform that
particular night in March,” Kempter said. “The screening committee
was interested in the size of our orchestra, any awards won in the past
two years, and my experience as a director.”
Despite the recognition the CPHS orchestra may have earned
in the past, it was their musical chops that matter most when
determining whether it would be selected for the festival.
“We were asked to submit 15 minutes of the orchestra playing,”
Kempter said. “I suspect this request carried the most weight with the
judges. We were ecstatic when we were chosen to perform.”
Many musicians practice and play for a lifetime without getting
the opportunity to play a prestigious venue such as Carnegie Hall. But
Kempter says the College Park orchestra is not resting on its success.
“While performing in Carnegie Hall is certainly considered a high
point in every musician’s career, it is safe to say the experience has
made my students want to work harder to maintain and improve
their current level of musicianship and artistry,” Kempter said. “They
already have high musical expectations and don’t need much external
motivation--they simply want to do better each time.”
In addition to being the College Park High School orchestra
director since 2005, Kempter is a veteran of performances, recording
sessions and tours with the Houston Symphony, Houston Opera, the
J.S. Bach Society and others.
He is currently principal cellist with the Lake Charles Symphony,
and has performed in the Assisi Performing Arts Festival in Italy
for more than a decade. As such, he is intimately familiar with the
challenges of traveling with a large group of musicians, practicing and
preparing for performances.
The growth of school orchestra programs such as the one
at College Park High School cannot be solely attributed to the
occasional road trip, or performance at a world-renowned venue.
Kempter explains that nearly every school orchestra program is
growing, including his own.
“My program at CPHS currently has 160 students comprising
four separate orchestras,” he said. “Three of these orchestras are
combined to create the full orchestra that played Carnegie Hall.”
Kempter said increasing demand in the school’s orchestra
program will result in a fifth orchestra next year at College Park.
“This will bring our total number of student-musicians to 200,” he
said. “I attribute this popularity in part to increasing public awareness
about the educational benefits of music. It’s actually good for your
brain and your overall health.”
Teaching and coordinating four orchestras (let alone five) could
be a difficult task, but fortunately the CPHS Director has some help –
his own students.
“Teaching any orchestra to function as a unit is the biggest
challenge for the director,” he said. “I have identified certain students
in the violin, cello, viola, and bass sections who, because of their
musical prowess, act as leaders for their sections. During practices,
they assist by helping their groups prepare their parts. Orchestra can
be considered a team sport in that the musicians need to understand
the other parts in addition to their own. It’s very similar to how a
football team practices a play.”
Sounds of Music
CPHS Orchestra performs on the big stage in the Big Apple
By Michael Ciota
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 32 7/12/16 10:03 AM
33. Process vs. Goals
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When entrepreneurs finally decide to live their dream and start
their own business, it’s understandable that their financial goals are
at the top of the list, especially when two of the top five reasons small
businesses fail include poor accounting and cash flow management.
However, two other top five reasons businesses fail, according to the
New York Times, that have nothing to do with the financial aspect of
running a business. They apply more to company operations that can
easily be overlooked—“out of control growth” and “owners who get in
their own way.”
If your business is operated poorly and does not respond well
to the market when it starts to receive an influx of customers and
orders for your product or service, your business can easily fall into
a downward spiral. An effective business plan should address these
two concerns to avoid the pitfalls that can essentially exterminate the
business.
The most effective way to address the “growing too fast” issue
is to develop and create effective business processes throughout the
business, from the accounting department to business operations to
ensure the company’s capacity and ability to handle such growth. In
addition to the financial and marketing goals of how much you want,
or expect your company to earn in the next two to five years, how
your company will address such growth is more significant to your
company’s success.
Commit to a process, not a goal. The significance of the
processes you implement in your business cannot be stressed
enough. Success does not come from stated goals alone, but from
the processes implemented and achieved to accomplish those
goals. They are also long-term in nature and will surpass any goal
achieved. After your goal is realized, the process is still in place to
continue moving the company forward toward continued success
and achievement of future goals.
Every company and industry is different, but the concept is the
same. Working with the right people to develop and implement
smooth effective processes will not only keep your business alive,
but allow the company to achieve its highest potential.
If your business is operated poorly
and does not respond to the market,
it could fall into a downward spiral.
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 33 7/12/16 10:03 AM
34. 34
Lone Star College SBDC announces new
advisory council members
The Lone Star College
Small Business Development
Center has named Robert
Fiederlein and Cathy Mogler
to its advisory council.
The Small Business
Advisory Council works with
area employers, community
leaders, entrepreneurs and
the Lone Star College Small
Business Development Center
by offering experienced
business consulting to local
entrepreneurs.
“The Lone Star College
Small Business Development
Center continues to help
small businesses stay
competitive,” said Sal Mira,
executive director of the
SBDC. “We are fortunate to
have these two experts join
our advisory council. Their
experience and background
will be a tremendous asset
for the center and area small
businesses.”
Fiederlein is the vice
president of strategic
planning and development
for the Greenspoint
District. Mogler is a media
entrepreneur and is the
publisher of PKWY Magazine.
Visit sbdc.lonestar.edu
to learn more about the Lone
Star College Small Business
Development Center.
Southwestern Energy names Catherine
Kehr as chairwoman
Southwestern Energy Company has named independent
director Catherine Kehr as chairwoman of its board of
directors. This action was taken during the company’s annual
shareholder meeting May 17.
Kehr has served on the board since 2011 and succeeds
Steve Mueller, who announced his retirement as of that date.
“Cathy’s insights as a former portfolio manager for a major
investment firm, her broad experience in energy and financial
markets, and her leadership and dedication to Southwestern
Energy demonstrated in her years on our board position her
well to lead,” said Bill Way, Southwestern Energy president and
CEO. “I look forward to working closely with Cathy to enhance
value for our shareholders.”
Joel A. Blake joins Stibbs & Co
Jack Stibbs, managing
shareholder and founder of
Stibbs & Co., P.C., Attorneys
recently announced Joel
Blake has been hired as an
associate attorney at the law
firm.
“We are happy to
welcome Joel to the firm,”
Stibbs said. “Joel will add
depth to further assist our
clients in their business and
corporate needs.”
Blake earned his Doctor
of Jurisprudence from South
Texas College of Law. He
earned his Bachelor of Arts
in Public Relations, Cum
Laude, from Harding University.
Stibbs & Co. is a business law firm with roots in the north
Houston area dating back to 1981. The firm handles a variety
of commercial legal transactions with a primary focus in
energy, commercial litigation and real estate.
Memorial Hermann Physicians Network
appoints new physician-in-chief
Memorial Hermann Health System appointed Dr. Nishant
“Shaun” Anand as physician-in-chief for MHMD, the Memorial
Hermann Physician Network, which became effective in June.
In this role, Anand will help lead MHMD, one of the largest
physician organizations in the country with more than 4,000
independent and employed physician members. He also
joins the Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Organization,
recognized as the top-performing Medicare Shared Savings
ACO in the country two years in a row.
“With his physician leadership background and keen
understanding of clinically-integrated care and population
On the
MoveLocal professionals in the news
Cathy Mogler
Robert Fiederlein
Joel Blake
Staff Report
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 34 7/12/16 10:03 AM
35. 35
health management, Dr.
Anand will be an asset on
our executive team,” said
Executive Vice President
and CEO of MHMD and
MHACO, Chris Lloyd. “He has
an outstanding background
with demonstrated results
and success including as
a practicing physician. We
look forward to him joining
MHMD and the Memorial
Hermann family.”
Before joining MHMD,
Anand was chief medical
officer at Banner Health
Network. Recognized as an
expert in population health,
Anand served on the Cerner Population Health Advisory Board.
Most recently, he was appointed to serve on the Arizona
Governor’s Council for Infectious Disease Preparedness and
Response.
Anand earned his medical degree from the Mayo Medical
School in Rochester, Minn., and completed his residency
training in Emergency Medicine at Stanford.
Montgomery County Food Bank
welcomes two new hires
Montgomery County
Food Bank has hired
Ashleigh McHenry
as marketing and
communications coordinator
and Julia Cudd as the SNAP-
Ed coordinator.
McHenry is tasked with
increasing brand awareness,
engaging and motivating
volunteers and increasing
donor revenue for MCFB. In
her new position, Cudd will
work with all departments
of MCFB and Feeding Texas
to promote healthy eating
throughout Montgomery
County.
“After a career in for-
profit media, I knew it was
time to take on a new
challenge in the nonprofit
realm where I felt I could
make more of a difference,”
McHenry said. “To come to
work each day and know
that I am contributing is
invaluable and motivating.”
“I look forward to
connecting with various agencies, schools, churches and
many more organizations in our area,” Cudd said. “I can’t wait
Dr. Nishant Anand
to get out into the community to help fight the weight epidemic
effecting 70 percent of our residents.”
Many new opportunities for volunteers, donors and
sponsors will be available this year at MCFB. For more
information, visit mcfoodbank.org.
Interfaith hires new director of programs
and services
Interfaith of The
Woodlands has appointed
Lucy Gomez as its new
director of programs and
services.
With more than 10 years
of experience, Gomez leads
staff in program operations
while directing community
resources including Family
Services, Senior Services,
Veggie Village and the
Interfaith Hand Me Up Shop.
“Lucy has been an
essential part of our team
for the last two years,” said
Missy Herndon, Interfaith
president and CEO. “Her
knowledge of social services and her love for the community
will further strengthen Interfaith’s mission.”
Gomez has worked at Interfaith since 2005, and most
recently held the position of program manager. She earned
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Anthropology from The
University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree
in International Relations from The University of Kent, in
Canterbury, United Kingdom.
Interfaith of The Woodlands is a nonprofit social service
agency providing numerous programs and services to
meet the needs of The Woodlands and the surrounding
area. For more information, or to become a volunteer, visit
woodlandsinterfaith.org, or call 281-367-1230.
RE/MAX Flory team adds Roger
Richardson
Roger Richardson has joined the Michele Flory Team at
RE/MAX The Woodlands and Spring. Richardson has worked
in real estate in The Woodlands since 2001, and holds Luxury
Homes Marketer, Accredited Buyer's Representative and
Graduate of the REALTOR Institute certifications. He brings to
his new position in his second career 31 years of experience
running his own business.
Through 2001, Richardson's career consisted of selling
industrial packaging machinery in a five-state area.
“I was too young to retire at 53–and I missed being in the
sales world,” he said. “I decided to take on the challenge of
residential real estate.”
To contact Richardson, call 281-367-7770 or email
roger8226@sbcglobal.net.
Julia Cudd
Lucy Gomez
Ashleigh McHenry
PKWY_July_Aug_2016-v1.indd 35 7/12/16 10:03 AM
