Governor appoints student regents: Gov. Rick Perry appointed student regents to university systems and one student representative, Charles E. "Trey" Lewis III, to the Higher Education Coordinating Board for terms to expire May 31, 2009. Regents include: Midwestern State University, Haley Lain; Stephen F. Austin State University, Lacey Claver; Texas A&M University System, Anthony Cullins; Texas Southern University, Kristopher Krishna; Texas State University System, Nicole Lozano; Texas Tech University System, Kelli Stumbo; Texas Woman's University, Scarlett Pope; University of Houston, Tamara Goodwin; and University of Texas System, Benjamin Dower.

New director of diversity planning at UNT: The University of North Texas named Kevin R. Carreathers as the new director of diversity planning. He's currently assistant to the provost and director at Salisbury University in Maryland.

SMU confers honorary degrees: Southern Methodist University will confer honorary degrees on television producer Paula S. Apsell, climate studies pioneer Wallace S. Broecker and philanthropists Edith and Peter O'Donnell at its 9:30 a.m. commencement ceremony Saturday.

UTD adds mechanical engineering degrees: The University of Texas at Dallas recently won state approval to add a department of mechanical engineering and begin offering bachelor's and master's degrees in the field.

Future teachers event is Tuesday: The second annual Future Teachers of Texas workshop will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Tarrant County College's Southeast Campus, 2100 Southeast Parkway in Arlington. Registration costs $15; call 817-515-3448.

'Weaving threads' gallery walk: The University of North Texas will open its gallery walk, "Weaving Threads of Green: UNT in Santa Fe," from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday to May 18 at the Meem Auditorium in the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, 710 Camino Lejo in Santa Fe, N.M.

Museum forum for teachers: A museum forum for teachers focusing on modern and contemporary art will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 4-8. The program is designed for teachers of all disciplines in grades six through 12. Applications must be received by Friday. The tuition is $250 and includes materials and lunch. Visit www.themodern.org/ teachersforum.html.

Celebrating Successes event planned: Communities in Schools of North Texas will host "Celebrating Successes" at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Omni Park West Hotel. State Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, and Lakeland Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Laura Massey will be honored. Call 972-436-6377 or visit www.cisnt.org.

Miniature golf tournament set: The first Equity Bank End of School Year Bash miniature golf tournament will be from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Top Golf, 8787 Park Lane. Enter the tournament or sponsor a child player. Proceeds go to the Gladys Golman-Faye Dallen Education Fund, a charitable foundation that provides training for teachers on the educational challenges of teaching children with learning differences. Contact Louis Zweig at 972-392-8389 or lzweig@glazers.com.

Paul Quinn commencement: Paul Quinn College, 3837 Simpson Stuart Road, will host commencement May 23-24. Call 214-376-1000.

UNT extends scholarship deadlines: The Division of Institutional Equity and Diversity at the University of North Texas has extended the deadline to apply for the A. Tennyson Miller and Joe L. Atkins Scholarship and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Scholarship to May 30. Call 940-565-2711.

•The student-run newspaper at UT Dallas, the UTD Mercury , brought home 21 awards for journalistic excellence from the 99th annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference. The Mercury captured 18 awards, including best special edition and best in-depth reporting. Three staffers won awards in on-site competitions.

•University of Texas at Arlington's Dr. Jonathan Campbell, professor and chair of the biology department, won the Southwestern Association of Naturalists 2007 W. Frank Blair Eminent Naturalist Award. The award recognizes excellence in study or conservation of the flora or fauna of the southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America.

Principal scholars honored: Dallas ISD honored 50 graduating seniors as its inaugural class of Principal Scholars – students who excelled academically, as leaders in schools and through service to their community. The students, in turn, selected a teacher who influenced them for recognition.

Rotary honors teachers: Nine Dallas teachers are finalists for the Rotary Club of Dallas ISD Teacher Award: Jan Alexander, Withers Elementary School; Julie Blasingame, Gonzalez Elementary School; Cathleen Cadigan, Thomas Jefferson High School; Judy Cole, Kiest Elementary School; Janice Hemen, Rusk Middle School; Tim Hise, Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy; Dawn McCullar, Gaston Middle School; Mary Rivers, W.T. White High School; and Margie Robinson, Skyline High.

Principal receives MetLife award: Kyle Richardson, principal of Marsh Middle School, received the 2008 MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Award, which recognizes the most collaborative public school principals in 25 cities. He will also receive a $5,000 grant for his school.

Carter High honored for civic education: The Junior State of America awarded the JSA chapter at Carter High School with the Professor E.A. Rogers Chapter of the Year Award. Nine schools nationwide received the honor, which includes a scholarship for members to attend one of the national-recognized Junior Statesmen Foundation Summer Programs.

Elementary celebrates Arbor Day: Oliver Elementary, 4010 Idaho Ave., will celebrate National Arbor Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. The National Arbor Society will donate 25 trees. Call 972-749-3400.

Pioneer Day: Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School, 1678 Chenault St., will host Pioneer Day at 10 a.m. Saturday.