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Singing university’s praises

Written by Corretta King and Ebony Evans

Monday, 26 November 2007 09:28 PM

A choir of 70 fourth- and fifth-grade voices will fill the atmosphere with holiday harmonies at noon Wednesday in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge.

Holiday Heights Elementary School’s Husky Harmonics Choir and choir director Mark Dvorak, a university alumnus, has graced the university with their voices for five years.

“We are always excited to hear them sing,” Jeanne Gerlach, dean of the College of Education, said. “It is a great beginning for our holiday season.”

Dvorak graduated from the university in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in music and received his Master of Education in 1998. His wife, Ann Dvorak, also a university alumna and both are proud of their alma mater. Dvorak has school spirit and shows it by hanging the university’s symbols in his choir room and office, such as the university’s flag, 1980 university logo banners and his diplomas.

“I’m very proud of my alma mater,” Dvorak said. “My wife says sometimes I look like a walking advertisement [of the university].”

Dvorak said the two individuals that came up with the holiday reception idea was both Gerlach and Louann Schulze, assistant dean for Student Affairs, they thought it was a good idea to have the reception before finals, he said.

“It’s nice for the elementary school, exciting for kids and in a way to award them for being good,” Schulze said. “It also helps them think about their future and gives them a chance to show off their talent.”

For the university, this annual holiday reception with the elementary school gives opportunities to build good public relations with the school and the district, she said.

Dvorak said the songs will be a nice mix of old, upbeat songs and because there isn’t a main theme they will be dressed in their choir uniform of shirts, jeans and tennis shoes.

“The College of Education goes all out for the kids,” Dvorak said. “They even give them [the children] name tags with ‘Future UTA Student’ on them.”

Early this semester Dvorak was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus from the College of Education at the Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony.

“He is one of our most active alumni and is always there for the College of Education Department,” Gerlach said.

Principal of Holiday Heights, Donna Solley, graduated from the university in 1970, said the children’s visit to the university gives them a chance to represent their school, show the good things the school is doing and this also gives the choir an opportunity to sing their songs before performing at school, she said.

“The kids enjoy coming,” Dvorak said. “They think the coolest thing in the University Center is the gumball machine.”

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