April_CollegeNewsFinal2

College of Fine Arts and Communication | 23 10 11 Avigai Gonzalez directs Mariachi Escorpión teaches music theory, and oversees the mariachi festival at Texas Southmost College Julio Gonzalez was the recipient of a $15,000 Bastrop Education Foundation Grant in support of the elementary music program at Cedar Creek Elementary School Payton Grover with the School of Music's Chronos Quartet (Elijah Breda, Austin Parente, Connor Zatopek, Jose Velez) 12 composition, "Balcones", has been submitted for publication. That work was premiered by the School of Music’s Chronos Quartet ( Elijah Breda , Austin Parente , Connor Zatopek , Jose Velez ). [12] Dr. Marty Lenard is running for the Teacher Retirement System Board of Trustees. The upcoming Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees election is critical for educators, as it can directly impact retirement benefits and the push for an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) tied to inflation. After careful review, Texas AFT Retiree Plus members recommend Dr. Marty Lenard, a long-time educator and proven advocate for public education, as the strongest can- didate. Lenard brings fifteen years of experience in K-12 and higher education and has held leadership roles on the Kerrville ISD Board of Trustees and the Kerr Central Appraisal District. Coty Raven Morris —Hinckley Assistant Pro- fessor of Music Education and Social Justice at Portland State University—has been named one of the 2025 Yamaha “40 under 40. ” The forty educators, all under the age of forty, showcase the following characteristics: action (anticipate what needs to be done and proactively take the necessary steps that lead to a stronger music program), courage (propose and implement new or bold ideas), creativity (show innovation and imagination in achieving plans and objectives), and growth (establish, grow or improve music education in their schools and communities). “[I have] the privilege of teaching and working with a multitude of ensembles and future music educators to prepare them for the field through the lens of social justice,” Morris said. “Growth in a community does not only come with action, but with patience for evolution in ourselves and others.” Next year, in 2026, Morris plans to tackle yet another endeavor to build community through a new collaboration – this time with Path Home, an organization dedicated to serv- ing houseless families. She was also featured on NPR's All Things Considered . See article here.