University of Texas Arlington

Spaniolo honored

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce awarded its highest honor to UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo Thursday night, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Extra Credit blog reported. Spaniolo received the Star Award at the group’s annual dinner and business meeting. Eugene Powell, UT System Board of Regents chairman, and Michael L. Williams, Texas Education Commissioner, spoke at the event.

Help for first-generation students

A new, $1 million endowment established through Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy’s gift to UT Arlington will provide scholarships to sophomores who excel academically and who are the first in their families to attend college, the Fort Worth Business Press reported. The Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy First Generation Scholarship Program is being established through a $500,000 commitment from the Gandys that will double in value through the Maverick Match program. Shirlee Gandy, a UT Arlington alumna, serves in a leadership role on the University’s Development Board.

Video Fest up in lights

Bart Weiss, UT Arlington film professor and co-founder of the Dallas Video Fest, talked with KRLD/1080 AM about this year’s event, which is going on this week and already has featured a video display capitalizing on the lights on the Omni Hotel Dallas in downtown Dallas. “It went over way better than we expected,” Weiss said.

Air monitor up and running

The Texas Council on Environmental Quality said late Thursday that residents can check on air quality in the Arlington/Kennedale area thanks to a new emissions monitor being operated by The University of Texas at Arlington, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Barnett Shale blog reported. The monitor is just south of Interstate 20 and east of Little School Road. It's TCEQ's eighth AGC monitor in the Barnett Shale.