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• Rock star honorees. Alumnus Don Henley and the Eagles will receive 2015 Kennedy Center Honors for their exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts in a ceremony to be televised Dec. 29. Known for their Southern California sound and memorable lyrics, the Eagles are one of the most successful American rock bands. Earlier this year, Henley released Cass County, his first solo album in 15 years.
   
• National Humanities Medalist. Author and alum Larry McMurtry ('58) received a 2014 National Humanities Medal and was honored Sept. 10 at the White House. The honor recognizes those whose work has deepened the nation's engagement in the humanities. McMurtry wrote Lonesome Dove, which won a Pulitzer Prize, and other bestsellers including The Last Picture Show and Terms of Endearment. He also co-wrote the Brokeback Mountain screenplay, for which he shared a Golden Globe and an Oscar.


• Dallas Mavericks Dancers. This summer, North Texas Dance alum Janae Green ('15) and student Haley Crockett used their dance moves to earn spots at the Dallas Mavericks Dancers' rigorous four-day training camp. Green emerged a team finalist and will perform with the Dallas Mavericks Dancers during this upcoming NBA basketball season. A total of 13 verterans and 17 rookies tried out to join the team. Haley is now a rookie for the Allen Americans Ice Angels.
   
• Scrappy helps ring closing bell. To celebrate UNT's financial services program receiving a $50,000 grant from TD Ameritrade, Scrappy and faculty members Marcia Staff and David Ragan received a special invite to help ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. The grant -- a part of TD Ameritrade's NextGen Financial Planning Initiative -- is being used to create a TD Ameritrade internship program in UNT's Student Money Management Center to provide more real-world financial advising experience and exposure to students. Watch the video of the bell ringing. >>