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6School’s in sessionATPE university local unit members are the ATPE leaders of tomorrowby Mandy MurrayEducation students have a lot on their plates: class work,student teaching, studying for certification exams. Butsome students still find the time to get involved oncampus and in the community. And at 19 colleges and universitiesaround Texas, education students are getting involved with ATPE.Cassie Henson is the president of Sam Houston State University(SHSU) ATPE. She was introduced to ATPE through SHSU ATPE’ssponsor, Dr. Frank Hoffman, a professor of library science. TheSHSU local unit was in the process of reactivating, and Hensonwas glad to help. “We are just getting started, so we haven’t hadmany events yet,” Henson says. “But we did just have a meet-andgreet,and we recruited 10 new members to our organization,which was exciting!”Region 6 and Huntsville ATPE members were instrumentalin bringing the local unit at SHSU back to life. “After [the localunit] fell inactive, I tried to recruit students who were teachingon Huntsville ISD’s campuses,” says Kathy Partin, president ofHuntsville ATPE. “We had quite a few SHSU members in our localunit for several years. I would enlist these students to return tothe SHSU Education Department with membership applicationsand other materials to ‘keep the word out there’ in spite of thechapter’s inactivity.”The local unit at Houston Baptist University (HBU) is led thisyear by President Lidia Hernandez. (HBU ATPE is sponsored byeducation professors Linda Brupbacher and Carol McGaughey.)“As students,” Hernandez says, “we feel it is important to not onlytake classes but also join an organization that can help us getconnected to the field we want to enter.” At each local unit meeting,the group focuses on different subjects; the local unit hasheld meetings on career opportunities and stress management.HBU ATPE members also volunteer in the surrounding community.Members tutor middle school students each Monday andconduct school supply and book drives.Christopher Scott is local unit president at the University ofSt. Thomas (UST) in Houston. “I got involved with my ATPE [localunit] because it was a great way to meet new people that are inthe same field as me,” he says. UST ATPE, sponsored by associateeducation professor Dr. Terry Brandt, gives back to both itsschool and community. The local unit holds a Halloween carnivalfor elementary students on the UST campus each year. Membersalso sell T-shirts, hold bake sales and get the ATPE name out at thebeginning of each school year through an orientation week booth.If you’re interested in helping charter a university local unit at acollege near you, please contact ATPE Field Representative KathyLanfer at klanfer@atpe.org or (800) 777-ATPE.HBU–Lacey Denton, convention–doug eckart, SHSU–LACEY DENTON, Morrow–John KilpperStudents from HBU meet Feb. 1 to discuss stress management techniques.ATPE university members celebrate at the 30th Annual ATPE State Convention in March.