School News
Austin College announces new Bachelor of Science in Engineering program
By Austin College
Apr 18, 2025
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Sherman, Texas -- Austin College announced a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering program on April 17, 2025, at a press conference held in the IDEA Center Oscar C. Page Atrium.  The event was attended by Austin College, faculty, staff, students, and the director of the new program, as well as regional industry partners and supporters.

After announcing the program, President Steven P. O’Day elaborated on why the College is adding engineering to the curriculum now. “In light of extraordinary growth [in the Texoma region] and the needs that will come with it, the Austin College faculty reflected on what Austin College could offer to meet this moment in the story of our region,” said O’Day. “I hope that this announcement today of a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering program is a reminder that Austin College has a major role to play in the development of our region.”

Dr. Rahul Renu, Founding Director of the Engineering Program and Associate Professor of Engineering, followed O’Day to share some of the program’s highlights. “The Austin College Engineering Program will deliver a world class engineering education to students through a hands-on, project-based curriculum,” said Renu. “Our partnerships with companies and organizations such as Huitt-Zollars, SEDCO, GlobalWafers, and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers—just to name a few—will provide students with transformative opportunities beyond the classroom.”

The announcement was supported by the local Texoma community with representatives from the Sherman Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), Huitt-Zollars, GlobalWafers, and the city of Sherman.

Clay Barnett, Sherman City Council member and Vice President of engineering firm Huitt-Zollars' Sherman office shared his support of the new program. “Austin College’s commitment to academic excellence, their high-ranking scores in mathematics and sciences, dedication to producing students that possess intellect and ingenuity, lend itself to starting a world-class engineering school,” said Barnett. “With the announcements from Texas Instruments and Global Wafers, Sherman has been titled as the ‘Silicon Prairie.’ It is only fitting that the ‘Silicon Prairie’ have a first-class engineering program, and I have no doubts Austin College will meet that challenge.”

Brent Omdahl, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs at GlobalWafers Co., Ltd., expressed his anticipation for the future collaboration with Austin College, saying, “We look forward to having student interns come and work at our facility and we look forward to the day that we hire our first Austin College engineers.” 

Kent Sharp, President/CEO of SEDCO, was in attendance to share his enthusiasm for the announcement, as well as excitement for the talent pipeline of engineers that will support the growth of the region. “SEDCO is so grateful Austin College is leading the way to bring a local engineering program to our area,” said Sharp. “Our hope is that Austin College students will remain in Sherman upon graduation, making Sherman their permanent home.” 

Echoing Sharp’s hope and vision for the future of the region, Sherman Mayor Shawn Teamann said, “Our city has been in this location for 200 years and Austin College has been with us every step of the way since that time. They have been an instrumental partner with the City of Sherman in creating careers and creating a community where you can go get an education and stay here and work.” He continued, “This program is just as important—if not more important—than all of the investment that we’ve seen [into local engineering industries], because this is not only making a monetary investment into this community but making that investment into the citizens of this community and giving people the opportunities to have a career, stay here, and raise a family. I can’t be more proud of what you guys are doing here and the investment into your students and the partnership and investment that you’re making with Sherman.”

Finally, Dr. Beth Gill, Vice President of Academic Affairs, took the podium to address the students in the audience. “At Austin College, we believe the world needs engineers who can do more than solve technical problems. It needs engineers who can think critically, communicate clearly, collaborate across differences, and act ethically. That is what a liberal arts education does—that’s what Austin College does,” said Gill. “The future is going to be bright and is yours to shape. We look forward to building this future together.”

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

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    As the world embraces cleaner energy and electric vehicles (EVs), the production of renewable energy and its storage is driving a shift towards more sustainable technology. However, behind this transition lies a growing concern. Lithium, a key component in batteries, presents significant environmental and safety hazards that are often overlooked.
  • Heritage and culture highlight celebration in Bonham
    Heritage Day Festival headliner Josh Weathers performs for the crowd Saturday night in historic downtown Bonham, Texas. During the annual Bonham Heritage Day Festival, residents paid homage to the original inhabitants of this region -- the Caddo Nation -- and to the intrepid French trappers who ventured up from New Orleans in the 1700s in search of pelts.
  • Bonham to recognize important role of bois d'arc during Heritage Day May 3
    The public is invited to the planting of a "special" bois d'arc tree on the grounds of the historic Fannin County Courthouse at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025, during Bonham Heritage Day. The tree was picked out and donated by Texoma’s very own and well-known bois d'arc tree expert, John Baecht, who will have a bois d’arc woodworking station set up on the grounds of the courthouse and will be doing demonstrations the remainder of the day for Heritage Day. What better way to celebrate Bonham / Fannin County’s relationship with bois d’arc than on Bonham Heritage Day.
  • Upper Trinity’s Lake Ralph Hall Project restores historic streams
    Water is flowing through five new streams in North Texas this spring, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and habitat loss. Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) restored the streams as part of environmental mitigation for future Lake Ralph Hall, Texas’s newest major lake under construction near Ladonia.
  • Prehistoric and Caddo artifacts on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    In conjunction with Heritage Day and the Vive le Bois d’Arc celebration on May 3, the Fannin County Museum of History is delighted to have a display of prehistoric and Caddo artifacts in the display case on the 2nd floor of the Fannin County Courthouse.
  • A Bonham legacy at our feet
    You walk into the Credit Union of Texas, Don Toro or Studio 94 on the east side of the Bonham square, into Belle Rae's on the north, into Blessing & Butterflies or The Curiosity Shop on Main south of the Courthouse: do you look down? What do you see when you cross the threshold into these businesses? Do you see Bonham's past?
  • Bonham postcards on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    Bonham resident Kay Sisk has collected postcards of Bonham for many years, finding them at trade shows and estate sales. Some of the postcards were given away free by local businesses, and some were sold. The Fannin County Museum of History asked Kay to display some of her postcards in the display case on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
  • Mabel Gilbert – Early Fannin County pioneer
    Please join us at the March meeting of the Fannin County Historical Commission on March 18 at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the contributions of Mabel Gilbert, a very early Fannin County pioneer, to Fannin County, Dallas and points west. Deborah Cornelius has written a historical novel about his remarkable life and times. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on March 18 at the Fannin County Historical Commission’s office at 1 Center Street in Bonham to meet Deborah and learn about Mabel Gilbert’s time in Fannin County.
  • 'A Time Before Texas' presentation attracts large crowd to Honey Grove
    A large crowd filled Lyday Hall at Honey Grove Library & Learning Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to hear what local archeologist Cody Davis and his cohorts discovered in the area that is now covered by Bois d'Arc Lake.
  • New residents find a new fight: sand and gravel mining in Fannin County
    When Kalin and Tricia moved their young family from the city to rural Fannin County, it was a dream they had worked and saved to make come true -- to escape the noise and chaos of the metroplex for a peaceful existence, surrounded by woodlands, wildlife and serenity. Then they heard bulldozers clearing trees.
  • Smithsonian highlights the experiences and impact of Japanese war brides in new traveling exhibition
    "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide" begins a national tour December 14 at Irving Archives and Museum in Irving, Texas. These young women left their homes to build lives within the complexities of postwar American society. Their experiences reshaped communities by challenging immigration laws and race relations. The arrival of these brides marked the largest women-only immigration event in U.S. history and, by 1960, had increased the population of Asian Americans in the U.S. by 10%.
  • Give a gift of Fannin County history
    The Fannin County Museum of History has several Fannin County history books for sale that might be just perfect for someone you know. The books are available for purchase at the Museum and are also available on Amazon.
  • Historic Christmas newspaper front pages from Fannin County
    Historic Fannin County newspapers often featured beautiful front pages for their Christmas editions. An exhibit of these newspapers is now on display on the 2nd Floor of the Fannin County Courthouse. Visit the courthouse during this season to view this display and beautiful decorations.
  • Lake Ralph Hall update: Five streams are springing to life
    Upper Trinity's contractors are finishing up construction on five new streams near future Lake Ralph Hall, which will flow into the North Sulphur River. The newly connected tributary streams are naturally beginning to flow with rainwater this fall, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and loss of habitat. Restoring the tributaries of the river to their natural, curved paths helps mitigate the area's severe erosion and provide previously lost habitat.
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