2017 was a big year in the media for “Smaller. Smarter.” From a basketball championship and new projects on E. Rosedale, to our top-notch professors, super-hero students and a new football program, Texas Wesleyan stories showed Dallas-Fort Worth and the country what makes “smaller” smarter. Check out our list of some of the greatest stories of the year and tell us your favorites in the comments below.

1. Men’s Basketball team wins NAIA Division 1 National Championship!

• Fort Worth Star Telegram, “Texas Wesleyan captures 2nd NAIA men’s basketball title”
• US News & World Report, “Rogers Leads Texas Wesleyan to NAIA Title 86-76 Over Life”
• USA Today, “Roger leads Texas Wesleyan to NAIA title 86-76 over Life” 

2. Texas Wesleyan launches football program for first time in 76 years

• ESPN, “Texas Wesleyan plays 1st football game in 75 years”
• WFAA, “Return of TWU football brings incredible story of friendship”
• ESPN College Gameday, “Texas Wesleyan plays first game since 1941”
• Fort Worth Business Press, “Texas Wesleyan to play home football games at Farrington Field”

3. Magnolia chef selects E. Rosedale and Texas Wesleyan for next restaurant

• Fort Worth Business Press, “Fixture chef heads to Rosedale, Texas Wesleyan area for next restaurant”
• Fort Worth Star Telegram, “Magnolia Avenue chef will Triple down near Texas Wesleyan”
• Fort Worth Texas Magazine, "Fixture chef plans new restaurant in surprising location"

4. Rosedale Renaissance gets a funding boost from city council

• Fort Worth Star Telegram, “City puts more money toward Texas Wesleyan’s Rosedale Renaissance”
• Fort Worth Business Press, "Council Report: Rosedale Renaissance gets a boost”

5. Texas Wesleyan debuts new art gallery on E. Rosedale

• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "Texas Wesleyan debuts new art gallery with historic exhibit" 
• Art and Seek, “Texas Wesleyan University-Bernice Coulter Templeton Art Studio”
• Culture Map Fort Worth, “Bernice Coulter Templeton Art Studio presents Genevieve Armstrong and Juan Cruz: ‘Animus’ opening reception”

6. Prized piano arrives at Texas Wesleyan

• WFAA, "Prized piano arrives at Texas Wesleyan"
• Fort Worth Star Telegram, "Weekend’s Top 10 list: Think princess, a prized piano and holiday ‘Plaid:' Kholodenko to perform at Texas Wesleyan

7. Texas Wesleyan launches new, completely online MBA

• Fort Worth Business Press, “ Texas Wesleyan offers online MBA”
• FW Inc Magazine (online version not available)

8. Texas Wesleyan student is a real-life superhero

• WFAA and KHOU, “Texas Wesleyan student is real-life superhero”

9. Underwater graduation makes a splash

• KDFW Fox 4, “Texas Wesleyan scuba students ‘pinned and finned’ underwater”

10. Faculty (and student!) experts in the news

• WFAA, “What Changes Now?”
• KDAF Fox 4, “Professor donates teaching salary to student scholarship fund”
• The Dallas Morning News, “Let’s not forget the Chicago torture video and these tough questions we should be asking”
• The Dallas Morning News, “What the stress of puppy parenting can teach us about Valentine’s Day”
• D Magazine, “How North Texas Universities Are Improving Tech Education”
• Conde Nast Traveler, “The Real Reason It’s Always So Cold on Airplanes”
• WFAA, “New Amazon Key lets the delivery driver leave packages inside the front door”