February 2026 News

New state data from 51�Թ�ProCREWS show 51�Թ�Proengineering graduates earning top first-year salaries in 51�Թ�Prowhile carrying some of the lowest student debt in the state, highlighting strong outcomes across multiple disciplines and the impact of extensive scholarships and industry-supported programs.

O’Brien Stanley, a longtime professor in the Department of Communication and Media at Lamar University, was honored at the Boomtown Film and Music Festival for his decades of contributions to filmmaking and film education in Southeast Texas, including founding the university’s film program and helping launch the Spindletop Film Festival.

Beaumont Independent School District has named its 2026–2027 campus Teachers of the Year — 20 of whom are alumni of 51�Թ�Pro— with the district’s top elementary and secondary educators to be announced at a May 1, 2026 gala.

51�Թ�Prois now accepting applications for its Student Ambassador program.

King cake, live music and Louisiana classics filled 51�Թ�Prothis week as the campus hosted its annual “LAMARdi Gras” celebration, a series of events leading up to Fat Tuesday.

The 51�Թ�ProDepartment of Theatre and Dance will open its spring season with “Middletown,” with performances scheduled for Feb. 19–21 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.

51�Թ�Prohosted a naming ceremony event on Thursday, Feb. 12 to honor Former Speaker of the 51�Թ�ProHouse of Representatives, Dade Phelan, for his transformative contributions to the university during his tenure as a member of the 51�Թ�ProHouse. The Dade Phelan Building, formerly known as the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, establishes the building as a landmark of significance on the 51�Թ�Procampus.

51�Թ�Prohas named William Hammers, a psychology senior, as its February first-generation Student of the Month.

Lamar University’s fully online MBA program has been recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best, underscoring the College of Business’s commitment to flexible, AACSB-accredited graduate education for working professionals.

The 51�Թ�ProAssociation of Rocketry has entered its first year in the International Rocket Engineering Competition, joining more than 100 student teams worldwide while gaining hands-on engineering experience as it prepares to design, build and launch a high-powered rocket this summer.

The 51�Թ�ProWind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the prestigious 2026 51�Թ�ProMusic Educators Association Clinic/Convention, marking its 12th appearance at the event and celebrating the ensemble’s excellence with a free local preview concert ahead of the statewide performance.

51�Թ�Prohas announced the students who earned recognition on the President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 semester.

51�Թ�Prostrengthened its support for first-generation students by hosting an on-campus workshop led by FirstGen Forward’s Wendy Beesley, bringing faculty and staff together to develop targeted goals aimed at improving engagement, belonging and student success.