Performance by “America’s Got Talent” ventriloquist

University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Cultural Arts season continues with nationally recognized ventriloquist, puppeteer and comedian Michael Harrison, who makes his first Clear Lake-area appearance Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., in the university’s Bayou Theater, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. 

Harrison’s performance on last year’s “America’s Got Talent” drew rave reviews from the judges. He’s performed aboard numerous cruise ships, including Disney Cruise Line, and shared the stage with The Muppets and Boyz to Men.    

 A complimentary reception will be held after the concert.   

Pre-sale tickets are $10 for general admission and $6 with UH-Clear Lake I.D. At the door they are $12 and $8 with UH-Clear Lake I.D. To purchase tickets by phone, call the university’s Office of Student Life, at 281-283-2560.  For more information, visit http://www.uhcl.edu/culturalarts.

History and homeland security addressed by CLASP speakers 

Navajo code talkers of World War II come to life for history fans during the Nov. 6 mini-class hosted by the Clear Lake Association of Senior Programs at University of Houston-Clear Lake.  Alice Braud-Jones, an avid genealogist, presents “My Heroes, the Code Talker and the Commandant” from 10:30 a.m. – noon at the Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane, Houston. Braud-Jones is also regent for the Sam Houston Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

“Through CLASP, community members with a love of learning have a terrific opportunity to hear from knowledgeable and engaging speakers about a wide variety of subjects,” said UH-Clear Lake Director of Alumni and Community Relations Charity Ellis.

On Nov. 5, the Clear Lake Association of Senior Programs “Visions in Our Midst” Speaker Series presents “Should We Worry About our Safety Yet? Is Homeland Security for Everyone Else?” by Alvin Police Chief Mike Merkel, who also serves as a homeland/community security instructor. The presentation will take place 5:30 – 7 p.m., in the Bayou Building Garden Room 1510 at UH-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston.

Reservations are required for the mini-classes, but are not necessary for the “Visions in Our Midst” events. All programs are open and free to the public. For more information, contact the university’s Office of University Advancement, 281-283-2021, or visit http://www.uhcl.edu/clasp.

Couples workshop offers marriage preparation

Pre-marital couples looking to strengthen their relationships and meet the challenges of marriage are invited to attend Twogether—a free eight-hour workshop by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission held at University of Houston-Clear Lake. The fun, interactive training focuses on communication skills, conflict management and other key elements of a healthy marriage. Participants who complete the course are issued a certificate of $60 toward a marriage license and waives the 72-hour waiting period.     

Sponsored by UH-Clear Lake, the workshop is scheduled for Nov. 14, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., in the university’s Student Services and Classroom Building Room 2311, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. 

Admission is free, but registration is required by Nov. 7. For more information, visit http://www.twogetherhouston.com. To register, call UH-Clear Lake Coordinator of Women’s Services Julie Smith at 281-283-2578, or e-mail smithj@uhcl.edu.

Festival offers award winning film and 'Taste of French' lesson

University of Houston-Clear Lake and The Tourneés Festival present the award winning, coming-of-age French drama “Le Fils de L’épicer/The Grocer’s Son” on Nov. 14, 7 p.m., in the UH-Clear  Student Services and Classroom Building Lecture Hall,  2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. 

Set in the French countryside, this emotionally engaging, impressively directed and superbly written drama features strong performances from Nicolas Cazale, Clotilde Hesme and Jeanne Goupil.  

The Tourneés Film Festival is supported by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Centre National de la Cinématographie, the Grand Marnier Foundation, the Florence Gould Foundation, highbrow entertainment and the Franco-American Cultural Fund (Directors Guild of America, Motion Picture Association, SACEM & Writers Guild of America).

Tickets are $3.75. A “Taste of French” mini language lesson will be held before the film, which has English subtitles. For more information, call UH-Clear Lake Office of Cultural Arts, 281-283-2560, or visit http://www.uhcl.edu/movies.

Professional award presented to assistant dean

The Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel awarded University of Houston-Clear Lake Assistant Dean of Student Diversity Linda Bullock the “Mid-level Student Affairs Professional Award” at their annual conference held at University of Texas at El Paso on in early October.                    

Bullock was recognized for her outstanding contributions in innovative and responsive services and programs that addressed student needs and contributed to the profession and to TACUSPA.   The award goes to outstanding professionals, who demonstrate expertise in creating a campus environment that promotes student learning and professional development,

“Certainly, Linda is most deserving of this award as she has grown the Office of Intercultural and International Student Services to serve a variety of diverse student needs, established UH-Clear Lake as an affiliate of the National Coalition Building Institute, assisted in creating the Celebrating Our Elders Program, served on the Board of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, served on the Standing Committee for Women of the American College Personnel Association, and participated in many conferences and committees of TACUSPA,” said Associate Vice President for Student Services Darlene Biggers.

Needs of gifted students focus of seminar

Teachers of gifted children can strengthen their knowledge of the students through a one-day workshop titled “Social Emotional Needs of the Gifted” offered by University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Center for Educational Programs Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Designed to help local teachers, the workshop will address recognizing and coping with the unique emotional and social needs of gifted students. The course provides six clock credit hours of training. Participants receive a Continuing Professional Education Certificates for completing the full session.

The workshop will be held in room A176 of the university’s Arbor Building, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. Fees are $40 per person for members of the Southeast Co-op and $60 for all others. For more information or to register visit http://soe.uhcl.edu/BackToTheU/, call Joyce Young at 281-283-3530, or e-mail youngj@uhcl.edu.

Space Center Lecture Series hosted by UH-Clear Lake 

UH-Clear Lake and The Space Center Lecture Series bring space exploration alive with a series of lectures presented by renowned scientists, engineers, physicians and astronauts. Franklin Chang Díaz will present “Developing VASIMR®” in the university’s Bayou Theater Nov. 20, 7 – 9 p.m.

Díaz, the Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Rocket Company and retired NASA astronaut, will discuss plasma rockets and the possibility of fast space travel.  The lecture will include updates on the development of the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, or VASIMR® engine, now being prepared for its first test aboard the International Space Station in 2012.

Lectures are free and open to the public. For more information check the Space Center Lecture Series Web site at http://www.spacecenterlectureseries.com.