Alumni chapter cleans roads
Program brings exposure to university, aids community

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

The Permian Basin Alumni Chapter is doing its part to help keep Texas’ roads clean by participating Saturday in the adopt a highway program.

Judy Clark, assistant director of Alumni Relations who works with the Permian Basin Alumni Chapter, said the group adopts a two-mile portion of a Texas highway between Midland and Odessa twice a year.

Clark said a major perk of adopting Highway 191 is that a sign is posted that recognizes the Permian Basin Alumni Chapter and TCU for everyone to see.

“365 days a year, a sign is up advertising TCU,” Clark said. “It gives an opportunity to recruit new Frogs.”

Each alumni chapter is mandated to participate in five events. The chapter is under a two-year commitment to adopt a highway and then they can renew the adoption each year after that, Clark said.

But Brian Rosson, a Permian Basin Alumni Board member who helped organize the event, said this type of service is unique because hardly any other chapters adopt a highway.

“It’s a way to put our name out into the community and have positive recognition,” Rosson said. “It’s a way to make TCU visible in the community.”

Rosson said this is the second year the chapter has participated in adopting a highway. Twenty people participated in the event last fall. He said the group hopes to have a good turnout this year as well.

“Whoever had the highway before us didn’t keep up with it,” Rosson said. “It hadn’t been maintained. It’s two miles of hard work.”

Enid Davis, president of the Permian Basin Alumni Chapter, said another benefit to adopting a highway is that taxpayers save money on maintenance.

Davis said that as far as TCU is concerned, it is a community service project, and that is exactly what they are out to do.

“We also create fellowship as we’re doing labor,” Davis said. “It’s not for my individual benefit, but for the benefit of the community.”

Clark said that covering the two-mile distance is an accomplishment in itself. She said she thinks it is great that the alumni took the initiative to participate in an event that requires physical effort.

“This is the only work you can do and still carry on a conversation,” Clark said. “It’s mindless fun.”

Rosson said the chapter was in the local newspaper last year for collecting more than 80 bags of trash.

“Not only does this help keep our highway clean, but you feel like you’re doing something worthwhile,” Rosson said. “It’s hard work, good exercise and we all have a good time.”

Rosson said he’s proud of the sign that recognizes the chapter and TCU in the heart of what would be Texas Tech country.

Jessica Cervantez
j.s.cervantez@student.tcu.edu