Susie P. Gonzalez 210-999-8406 susie.gonzalez@trinity.edu

Trinity University to Honor Educators During Alumni Weekend 2002

Oct. 15, 2002 Two Trinity University alumni who pursued academic careers in education will be honored Nov. 1-3 when former Tigers assemble at the skyline campus for the University’s Alumni Weekend 2002. A host of other activities is planned.

Belle S. Wheelan ’72 will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award presentation at the Alumni Awards Dinner on Friday, Nov. 1. In addition, John H. Moore III ’60 will be honored that evening with the new Spirit of Trinity Award. Classes from the graduating years of 1952, 1960-62, 1972, 1982, 1992, and 1997 will meet at reunion dinners held Saturday night throughout the Trinity campus. A third alumna, Angella Bryan ’91, will receive the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award during a luncheon in December. 

Dr. Wheelan took office in January as Secretary of Education for the state of Virginia. Prior to being named to this position, she was president of Northern Virginia Community College and before that was president of Central Virginia Community College. She has held other administrative positions at the community college level and directed several offices at San Antonio College and Alamo Community College during the 1980s.

Dr. Wheelan holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas, a master’s degree in developmental educational psychology from Louisiana State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Trinity University.

“My time at Trinity provided me an opportunity to explore myself, my interests, and people from different cultures and different parts of the United States,” Dr. Wheelan says. “It opened my mind to new ideas and the possibilities that learning provides. It also allowed me to learn independence in a safe and comfortable environment.”

Dr. Moore joined the Trinity faculty in 1968 as the Norine R. Murchison Distinguished Professor of Education and served as department chairman from 1973 to 2001, when he retired. He was the 1988-89 recipient of the Z.T. Scott Fellowship at Trinity, which recognizes outstanding teaching. In 1992, Dr. Moore received the Imagineer Award given by The Mind Science Foundation, and in 1995, he was a recipient of the Ford Salute to Education.  

He is past president of the Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the San Antonio Teacher Education Advisory Center. Dr. Moore’s scholarship interests are in the areas of education policy and teacher education, with a particular focus on the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers. He created the Trinity Prize for Excellence to honor Bexar County’s public school classroom teachers and developed concepts for two magnet high schools – the International School of the Americas on the Lee High School campus and the Communication Arts High School on the Taft campus.

After receiving a bachelor’s at Trinity, Dr. Moore earned a master’s degree at Southern Methodist University and the Ed.D. from Baylor University. Before his appointment at Trinity, he served as a secondary teacher and supervisor in the Victoria, Texas, public schools. 

In addition to the awards dinner, a variety of activities are scheduled.  On the morning of Saturday, Oct. 2, alumni may attend a special class conducted by English professor Coleen Grissom on literature. The day’s events also include athletic events as well as a Kids’ College, where children of alumni may attend special presentations by Trinity faculty.

To kick off an event-filled afternoon, the All-Campus family-oriented tailgate party begins at noon before the homecoming football game. Trinity University's service fraternity, APO, will provide babysitting services on campus for Saturday evening’s reunion dinners.

Alumni Weekend 2002 concludes Sunday, Nov. 3, with a service held in the Margaret B. Parker Chapel honoring and remembering alumni.

Tickets to Alumni Weekend events and a detailed schedule may be obtained from Trinity's Office of Alumni Relations at (800) 882-5861 or (210) 999-8404, or by visiting the Trinity University Web site at www.trinity.edu.



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Last updated on February 1, 2002
by the Office of Public Relations