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Education

Trucking Along, Living the Sweet Life

Kayce Ekpenike, a sophomore at the University of Houston, is defying the norm by successfully running her own business, Funnelocity Gourmet Funnel Cakes, alongside her academic pursuits. When asked how she manages it all, Ekpenike humorously admits, “That’s a great question. I’m still figuring that out now.”Ekpenike's journey into the world of funnel cakes stems from her childhood memories in Louisiana. Recalling her early experiences with fairground funnel cakes, she remarked, “They were mediocre... They were small and crispy. But they were sweet, and I was young, so I...


Education

University of Houston Lands 18 Programs in Latest QS World University Rankings

The University of Houston has once again proven its global standing with 18 programs ranking among the top in the world, as per the 2024 edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject. The rankings were released today by QS Quacquarelli Symonds.Among the highlighted programs, UH’s hospitality programs at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership secured a world rank of No. 35, while the petroleum engineering program in the Cullen College of Engineering also made its mark by ranking in the top 100 worldwide (51-100).Diane Z. Chase, senior vice...


Education

HISD to Host Campus Hiring Event April 20

The HISD Teacher Recruitment and Selection Team is gearing up to host a Campus Hiring Event on April 20, as announced by the organization. Educators from kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to attend the event at Delmar Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas, to learn more about the opportunities available within Team HISD.According to the event details, starting teacher salaries vary based on school levels and whether they are at Non-NES or NES schools. For Non-NES schools, the starting salary is $64,000, while NES schools offer different rates: $75,435 for Elementary,...


Education

University of Houston and Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University Forge Strategic Energy Alliance

The University of Houston (UH) and Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University (HWU) have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at fostering global collaboration in education, research, and innovation in the energy sector and beyond. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two institutions marks the beginning of a joint effort to address pressing energy challenges and drive sustainable innovation on a global scale.Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president for energy and innovation at UH, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "I am thrilled to...


Education

UH College of Pharmacy Researcher Examines Trends in Rising Cost of Medicine

Newly published research from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy sheds light on the alarming rise in prescription drug costs, particularly in diabetic medications. According to the study, diabetic medications, including insulin, have been leading the surge in prescription drug prices in the U.S.The research, led by Tyler Varisco, assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy at the University of Houston, highlighted the concerning trend in diabetic medication expenditures. Varisco, along with Whanhui Chi, a second-year doctoral student in...


Education

HISD students to explore careers at annual When I Grow Up expo

Houston Independent School District (HISD) is gearing up for its 12th annual When I Grow Up career expo, set to take place on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.According to a statement released by HISD, the event will host over 100 exhibitors from local companies, organizations, and post-secondary institutions. The expo aims to assist students in grades K-12 and their families in exploring career opportunities in high-demand, high-growth industries.In the words of the organizers, participating businesses will...


Education

HISD students witness solar eclipse with guidance from NASA

Students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) had the unique opportunity to witness a solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, thanks to the collaboration between NASA and Space Center Houston. Astronaut and Space Center Houston Chief Science Officer Megan MacArthur visited several schools to deliver "eclipse in a box" kits, allowing students to safely observe the celestial event.Anderson Elementary Principal Erica Tran expressed her excitement about the event, stating, “The kids were able to ask a lot of questions and prepare themselves for what an eclipse really is,...


Education

U.S. News & World Report Ranks UH Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best in 2024

The University of Houston has once again solidified its position as a leading institution in graduate education, with several of its programs ranked among the top in the nation in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report graduate program rankings. According to the report released today, 13 of UH's programs have secured spots in the top 50 nationwide, with a total of 17 programs in the top 50.Among the top-ranked programs are several specialties from the UH Law Center, with Health Care Law, Part-Time Law, and Intellectual Property Law securing spots in the top 10 nationwide....


Education

Houston-Area Energy Startup Incubator Wins Phase 1 of DOE Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) has announced the selection of Texas Innovates, a Houston-based non-profit organization focusing on hydrogen and carbon innovation, as one of the 23 phase 1 winners of the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Round 3 competition. Texas Innovates is the sole Texas entity to advance to phase 2 of the competition.In a statement, Alex Rozenfeld, President of Texas Innovates, expressed the organization's dedication, saying, "We have been working towards this day since we identified the need for...


Education

Extreme Makeover: Eric’s Edition

The University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hotel Leadership has recently undergone a significant transformation with the renovation of Eric's Restaurant, a longstanding favorite among students, alumni, and visitors.Dean Dennis Reynolds explained the motivation behind the makeover, stating, “We wanted to up our food and atmosphere game as well, and this was the perfect time to do it.” The refresh aims to align Eric's with the college's commitment to providing top-notch hospitality education and experiences.Under the guidance of Head Chef Curtis Taylor...


Education

University of Houston Researchers Confirm Ozone & Particulates Are Issues in San Antonio Air

University of Houston Researchers Confirm Ozone & Particulates Are Issues in San Antonio AirIn a groundbreaking study, University of Houston researchers have confirmed that air pollution levels in the San Antonio area exceed federal limits, leading to the city receiving a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency non-attainment designation. The research, which also examined air quality in Dallas and Houston, revealed unique challenges facing each city.Lead researcher Jimmy Flynn expressed, "This was the first time we deployed our mobile air-quality laboratory to the San...


Education

University of Houston Research Reveals Pre-Collapse Monitoring of Kakhovka Dam, Ukraine

On April 3, 2024, new research conducted by the University of Houston sheds light on the events leading to the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine in 2023.The study, published in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment, reveals that the dam may have shown signs of deformation before its collapse. According to UH assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Pietro Milillo, "Through our analysis, we observed displacements characterizing different segments of the dam, up to two years prior to the actual collapse."The research team utilized...


Education

$3 Million Gift Funds New Scholarships for Working Students at the University of Houston

A new, $3 million gift has been announced to establish the Houston Works Scholarship Fund at the University of Houston, aimed at providing scholarship support to working junior and senior students in select majors. Senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UH, Diane Chase, emphasized the importance of the gift, stating, “It is no secret that the University of Houston is home to hard working students, and that goes double for those Cougars holding down full-time jobs while taking classes.”The generous donation, funded by an anonymous donor, will provide...


Education

HISD Raises Salaries for Special Education Teachers across the District

Houston Independent School District (HISD) has announced a significant increase in salaries for Special Education teachers as part of its reimagined employee compensation plan. Starting from the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, the minimum salary for a Special Education teacher in HISD will be $80,000, while at New Education System (NES) campuses, it will be $86,000.Billy Solomon, Executive Director of Talent Acquisition at HISD, emphasized the district's commitment to providing support for students with special needs by stating, "HISD is steadfastly committed to ensuring...


Education

Helping UH Students Harness Their Future

In a bid to support generations of young Texans in achieving their academic dreams, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) has been quietly delivering on its promise of making the college dream possible. The rodeo has dedicated over $600 million towards supporting Texas education, with nearly 20,000 rodeo scholarships valued at $275 million helping students pursue higher education.One of the beneficiaries of the HLSR scholarship program, Samiha Zaman, a senior at the University of Houston, shared, "Without the financial support, I would have been working a job to...


Education

Renowned Argonne Scientists Join University of Houston in Energy Transition Collaboration

Three top researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have accepted joint appointments at the University of Houston as part of a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing energy transition efforts. Michael Wang, Zachary Hood, and Jianlin Li are the scientists from Argonne who will be joining the University of Houston in various capacities.Michael Wang, a senior scientist at Argonne, has been appointed as the inaugural Distinguished Senior Scholar at UH’s Energy Transition Institute. Wang is known for developing the widely utilized GREET...


Education

Predicting Weight Gain in Children Using Second Generation Anti-Psychotic Medication

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy has shed light on predicting weight gain in children using second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication. The study, published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, explored the development and predictors of clinically significant weight gain (CSWG) among pediatric patients on SGAs.The research, led by graduate researcher Ning Lyu under the supervision of Hua Chen, examined the records of over 16,000 pediatric patients aged 5-19 from 2016 to 2021. Lyu identified...


Education

HISD Hosting Hiring Event for Non-NES Campus Positions

Houston Independent School District (HISD) is set to host a Hiring Event for non-Non-English Speaking (NES) campus positions in the upcoming academic year. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Chávez High School, located at 8501 Howard Drive, 77017.Educators are encouraged to attend and discover more about Team HISD and the impactful, student-centered work being carried out. The event will showcase key compensation highlights, including a starting teacher salary of $64,000, a starting Special Education teacher salary of $80,000, and a...


Education

Jason Robert Brown to Headline University of Houston Musical Theatre Showcase Concert

The Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts at the University of Houston is gearing up for a special musical theatre showcase concert featuring Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown and acclaimed actress and singer Sally Mayes on April 12, 2024. The collaboration between the two artists will be a highlight of the spring semester and the culmination of the "Song Performance for Musical Theatre" course led by Sally Mayes as Artist in Residence."We're thrilled to welcome Jason Robert Brown to Houston as part of this special collaboration," said Sally...


Education

Experienced Innovators Selected to Help Advance Technology and Innovation at the University of Houston

The University of Houston has announced the appointment of two distinguished professionals to key leadership roles within the Office of Technology, Transfer, and Innovation (OTTI) under the Division of Energy and Innovation. Haleh Ardebili, the Kamel Salama Endowed Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed as the new assistant vice president of Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystem, while Michael Harold, Cullen Engineering Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, assumes the role of assistant vice president for Intellectual Property and Industrial...