Behind the Logo Walk

On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, Texas A&M International University held its first annual Logo Walk. The event took place at the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library at 8 a.m. and was free for all students and community. The walk began at the front of library where participants proceeded to Loop 20 and Del Mar Ave., before returning to TAMIU. The walk was organized by TAMIU's Master of Science in School Counseling Program, Dr. Trace Pirtle, Associate Professor of Counselor Education at TAMIU, and his students from the Group Counseling class.

Dr. Pirtle's inspiration for the Logo Walk was obtained in a dream where he saw an image of an odometer flashing the numbers and the words log and walk. Taking this idea to his Spring 2010 Group Counseling, Dr. Pirtle asked them of what they thought of the idea of the Logo Walk. When his Group Counseling not only agreed to the idea, but also said they'd spread the word to friends and family.

Dr. Pirtle did some research, having a feeling that it evolved suicide. Dr. Pirtle said, "The first website that I came to, had the average number of complete suicides in the United States." When asked about how the number had encouraged him to purse the Logo Walk, Dr. Pirtle stated, "The average number of completed suicides in the United States is 31,045, the exact number I had seen flashing in my dream."

The event served as a multi purpose effort in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Week and National Remembrance Day. It was designed to bring awareness of the incredible amount of suicides that are committed every year, as well as the suffering that joins the loss of a loved one that's committed suicide.

Dr. Pirtle said, "The purpose was to get people to people out there and just let them know that life still have meaning, they are absolutely irreplaceable."           

The original goal for attendance was 600 and a little over 500 participants attended the event, meeting this year's goal. Among the participants were TAMIU organizations as well as community organizations. The participants included: 12 from Ameri-corp, five from Sigma new Delta, four from Sigma Delta Landa, the LISD counselors, and 12 students from the Harmony Institute. Considering it was the first annual Logo Walk Dr. Pirtle said, "To have 500 people come out, I feel really good about that."

Dr. Pirtle, and TAMIU's Master of Science in School Counseling Program, is planing on hosting the Logo Walk for the following year. When asked about the expected outcome for next year's walk, Dr. Pirtle stated, "I'm hoping the number of people participating increases but my sense is that exactly the people who need to be there are there."

For more information on the Logo Walk you may contact Dr. Pirtle at his office in Killam Libray room 426B, by his office phone (956)326-2681 or by email at tpirtle@tamiu.edu. You can also visit www.logwalk.com.