AUSTIN, Texas — Brooks Landraf and his family are doing their part to honor UT Permian Basin during their 50th year anniversary.
An ornament commemorating the anniversary of the founding of UTPB now hangs in the State Capitol this holiday season.
Dustin Pando, a junior at UTPB majoring in art with an emphasis on Graphic Design, painted the ornament.
“UTPB’s 50th anniversary is a big deal, so we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight this historic milestone with the district ornament this year,” State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) said. “We’ve brought some West Texas flair and a little Falcon spirit to the Texas Capitol this Christmas. Dustin did a great job, and I really appreciate Professor Chris Stanely’s collaboration on this project as well.”
Pando's painting features the UTPB 50th anniversary "Time to Fly" logo. It also includes depictions of reindeer, stars and other Christmas items silhouetted against a backdrop of Falcon orange.
Representative Brooks Landgraf, his wife Shelby and daughter Hollis Rose hung the ornament on the Christmas tree that sits in the Texas House Chamber.
Every year, each state representative gets to select an artist from their community to make an ornament to hang on the tree that showcases what makes their Texas House District unique or special.
“I’m beaming with Falcon pride and Christmas spirit,” Shelby Landgraf said. “Odessans have so much to be proud of and thankful for this holiday season, and having a bona fide university like UTPB in the city limits for the last half century is certainly one of them.”