TEXARKANA, Texas -- Blue lights once again shined bright on Texas A&M University System campuses across the state Tuesday in recognition of World Teachers' Day.
The 11 universities in the A&M System, the RELLIS Campus in Bryan and the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) illuminated a total of 30 iconic buildings and landmarks.
World Teachers' Day was conceived by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in 1994. The day provides the occasion to celebrate the teaching profession worldwide, take stock of achievements and draw attention to the voices of teachers who are at the heart of efforts to attain the global education target of leaving no one behind.
"Graduates from education colleges at Texas A&M University System campuses are highly sought-after because they are so well prepared," A&M Chancellor John Sharp said in a news release. "Our graduates are sought after by school districts all across Texas because they know our students are getting the tools they need to be ready on Day One in the classroom," Sharp said. "We prepare teachers to be able to make the world a better place, one child at a time."
"We are proud of the work done by educators across Texas, throughout the country, and around the world," TAMUT President Dr. Emily Cutrer said. "What a profound impact professional educators have in the future. We are especially proud of our A&M-Texarkana graduates who teach and hold administrative positions throughout Texas and beyond."
The buildings and landmarks illuminated in blue for World Teachers' Day included:
-The Performing Arts Center, the three fountains in Garvin Lake, Talbot Hall and Memorial Stadium at Texas A&M University- Commerce
-The Jack K. Williams Administration Building, the Harrington Education Center, Albritton Bell Tower and the dome of the Academic Building at Texas A&M University
-Trailblazer Tower, the Vergara Planetarium and the front of Killam Library at Texas A&M International University
-College Hall and the Leaders of the Pack statue at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
-The Building for Academic and Student Services at Texas A&M University-Texarkana
-The Momentum Wave at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
-The tower of Founders Hall at Texas A&M University-Central Texas
-The Clock Tower in the Central Quad area at the Texas A&M Galveston campus
-The Original Texans sculpture and the Haywood Spirit Tower on the Charles K. and Barbara Kerr Vaughn Pedestrian Mall, and The Eternal Flame monument in Victory Circle at West Texas A&M University
-The Smokestack at Tarleton State University
-The Wilhelmina R.F. Delco Building and John B. Coleman Library at Prairie View A&M University
-The Torre de Esperanza, the fountain at the intersection of University and Jaguar Way and the Central Academic Building at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
-The top floor of the Texas A&M Health Dental Clinic and Education Building in Dallas
-The Health Professionals Education Building and Medical Research & Education Building at Texas A&M Health in Bryan
-The Texas A&M Health Discovery Tower and EnMed Building in Houston; And the entrance to The Texas A&M University System's RELLIS Campus in Bryan
(Visit https://www.facebook.com/tamusystem on Facebook or Twitter to see them all lit up in blue)