Mandela Washington Fellows Homeroom
This webpage was designed for the Mandela Washington Fellows! We hope you enjoy your stay in Lubbock and at Texas Tech University.
My Dorm
Welcome to Carpenter/Wells Hall!
The Carpenter/Wells Complex is a coed, suite-style residence hall, offering three-bedroom townhouses and four-bedroom flats along with a limited number of two-bedroom units. The Leadership Development Center (LDC) serves as a commons building, featuring a computer lab and several study lounges. Other amenities include meeting rooms and limitless laundry rooms for all residents.
Suite furnishings include a sofa, table and chair (living room); dining table and chairs; and each bedroom is furnished with a twin bed, dresser, study desk and chair. The bedrooms have vinyl wood-plank flooring. The kitchen and bathrooms have vinyl floors.
What TTU will provide for you in your Dorm
The dorm apartments you'll be staying in during your fellowship at Texas Tech University will include the following items:
(Any items not on this list will need to be purchased with your stipend.)
Bedrooms- Sheets
- pillows
- coathangers
- Central AC/Heat
- Twin Bed and mattress
Bathroom
- Towels
- Shower Curtain
- Bath Mats
- Toilet Paper
- Trashcans
- Hand Soap
Kitchen
- Pots and Pans
- Stove Top
- Plates, Bowles, Mugs, and Cups
- Dinner Utinsels
- Sponges and Dish Soap (you will need to wash your own dishes)
- Dish drying rack
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cup
- Cooking Utensils
- Tea Kettle
- Manuel Can opener
- Broom
- Paper towels
- Disinfecting Wipes
- Iron
Items We Suggest You Bring
- Bring something that reminds you of home. It's perfectly normal for homesickness to set in once the initial excitement wears off. Having a small reminder of home, like your favorite snack or tea, can make those moments more comforting..
- Bring a swimsuit. Texas Tech boasts an AMAZING recreation center and pool. You'll definitely want to cool off from the hot Texas summer in the lazy river.
- Bring small gifts from home that represent your country or culture. You might make new friends while you're here, and giving them something that represents your home is a lovely gesture.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater. While it will be very hot outside, central AC is often kept at a low temperature during the summer. Many international visitors often comment on how cold it gets indoors. Additionally, the temperature can change throughout the day due to our West Texas climate. We live in a grassland on the high plains, where mornings are cool and days are hot.
On-Campus Restaurants near Carpenter Wells
Rawls College of Bussiness - 5 minutes walk North of Carpenter/Wells
- Einstein Bros Bagels - Einstein Bros® Bagels features a variety of specialty coffees, gourmet bagels, and sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch!
- Chick-fil-A Express - Grab a Chick-fil-A biscuit, bacon or sausage biscuit or minis with a side of hash browns. The traditional sandwich is available as well, featuring a boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, hand-breaded, pressure-cooked in peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. Prefer grilled? Not a problem! Don't forget the lemonade which is prepared-from-scratch daily using freshly squeezed lemon juice extracted from real lemons.
- Starbucks - This beautiful location features the entire selection of hot and cold drinks (including seasonal specials!), whole-bean coffee, espresso, caffè latte, Teavana® tea products, Frappuccino beverages, pastries, and snacks. Pre-packaged food items, hot and cold sandwiches, drinkware, and other Starbucks® are available for purchase as well. Dining bucks accepted! Starbucks® is a cashless location.
The Market| Stangel/Murdough Hall - 4 minute walk from Carpenter/Wells
- Fazolis - Fazoli's®* offers a wide variety of authentic Italian foods and dishes. You can't forget their famous breadsticks!
- The Carvery- you can enjoy chef-created entrées such as carved meats, grilled fish, and authentic BBQ. Wings let you spice up your boneless chicken wings the way you like!
- Day Break® Coffee Roasters & More - Brews a special coffee blend called Café Del Matador. This coffee comes from a specific farm in Latin America and Day Break® Coffee Roasters work extensively to support the growers. Be sure to also grab a little something sweet to go with the coffee or tea!
- The Corner Market - offers a variety of drinks and snacks to grab on the go! The Corner Market is available to walk-in customers.
My Mandela Team
Administrative Team
Elizabeth Espino - Administrative Director & Co-Leadership Manager - elizabeth.espino@ttu.edu
Michael Johnson - Leadership Manager - michael.johnson@ttu.edu
Stephanie Lara-stephanie.lara@ttu.edu
Calan Welder - calan.welder@ttu.edu
Reagan Ribordy - reagan.ribordy@ttu.edu
Academic leadership team
Dr. Darren Hudson- Academic Directordarren.hudson@ttu.edu
Dr. Conrad Lyford- Co-Academic Director -conrad.lyford@ttu.edu
Dr. Amy Boren-Alpizar - Co-Academic Director - amy.boren-alpizar@ttu.edu
Dr. Ian Lertora - Educational Psychology, Leadership, & Counseling -ian.lertora@ttu.edu
Student Assistants
To be updated in 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
My Healthcare
Using ASPE Health Benefits
When utilizing the ASPE Health Benefits Plan, it's important to carry your ASPE ID card at all times and present it to healthcare providers to confirm your coverage. For any medical services, including office visits, emergency room visits, urgent care, and hospitalizations, Fellows will need to pay a co-pay at the time of the visit. The co-pay amounts are clearly printed on your ASPE ID card. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Seven Corners, the plan administrator, for support.
The administrative team can help you identify different options available in our community, including local drug stores where you can purchase over-the-counter treatment (medicine or medical devices that can be obtained without a prescription from a medical professional) for common ailments like a cold or sore throats
ASPE Coverage Exclusion for Scooter Accidents and Injuries
The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) provides limited health coverage
for eligible exchange participants; however, it does not extend coverage to injuries
or accidents resulting from the use of motorized or non-motorized scooters. Participants
should be aware that any medical expenses incurred due to scooter-related incidents
will not be covered under ASPE and will be their personal responsibility.
Steps to Follow:
- Carry Your ASPE ID Card: Always have your ASPE ID card with you and present it to healthcare providers.
- Pay Co-Pay: Fellows are required to cover medical expenses not covered by ASPE, including co-payments, which is a fee you are responsible for paying when visiting any healthcare facility. Be prepared to pay the co-pay amount at the time of your visit. The co-pay amounts
are:
- $25.00 for office visits and telemedicine consultations.
- $75.00 for emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and urgent care
- Contact Seven Corners: For any questions or assistance, reach out to Seven Corners, the plan administrator, at their toll-free number or via email. To learn more about Seven Corners, please visit www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos or call them at (800) 461-0430.
- Pre-Certification: Ensure pre-certification for certain medical services, such as inpatient hospital admissions and outpatient surgeries, by contacting Seven Corners in advance.
Where can I have mail sent?
601 Indiana Ave,
Lubbock, Texas, USA 79416
Will I be able to cook in my dorm?
Yes! The dorms will have a kitchenette. You will have access to a refrigerator, microwave oven, and two-burner cooktop. We will also provide you with basic cooking necessities such as pots and pans.
How can I attend Church Services?
There are many churches close to Texas Tech! We are happy to help you arrange attendance to services. Please reach out to Stephanie Lara at Stephanie.lara@ttu.edufor assistance.
Here is a short listof just some of the churches near by!
Can I rent a bike or Scooter?
Texas Tech itself does not offer a rental program, however, the city of Lubbock offers "Lime Scooters and Lime Bikes" all across the city to rent.
ASPE Coverage Exclusion for Scooter Accidents and Injuries
The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) provides limited health coverage for eligible exchange participants; however, it does not extend coverage to injuries or accidents resulting from the use of motorized or non-motorized scooters. Participants should be aware that any medical expenses incurred due to scooter-related incidents will not be covered under ASPE and will be their personal responsibility.
Where can I buy groceries?
- Walmart. (Walmart sells just about everything you could need in one store, so it is very convenient and affordable.)
Website 1911 Marsha Sharp Fwy W, Lubbock, TX 79415
Mon - Sun|6 am - 11 pm
- Market Street:(large grocery store with a large and diverse selection of foods and goods. Also includes a Pharmacy and Starbucks). Website
4425 19th St, Lubbock, TX 79407.
Open 24 hours
- Jirani International Enterprise (African Market)- 2808 34th St, Lubbock, TX 79410.
Phone (806) 407-3303
Be sure to check the hours before going to the store, as hours may vary by day.
I would like to do some shopping, where do you recommend?
Lubbock offers a wide variety of places to shop and eat! Many stores are located in large shopping centers, making it easy to spend a lot of time in one location. Here are some shopping centers with numerous options. Please note that you will need to take a bus or Uber to reach these locations.
South Plains Mall- 6002 Slide Rd, Lubbock, TX 79414 (Premier Movie Cinema is also located here)
West End- 2910 W Loop 289 Acc Rd, Lubbock, TX 79407
Canyon West - Marsha Sharp Fwy W, Lubbock, TX 79424
Where can I eat on campus?
The Market at Stangel Murdough- This is one of the closest dinning halls to your dorm. There are many options here to choose from!
Mon - Thu | 7 am to 11 pm*
Fri | 7 am to 9 pm*
Sat & Sun | 11 am to 8 pm*
Daybreak® Coffee Roasters
Mon - Fri | 7 am to 5 pm
Sat & Sun | 11 am to 5 pm*
The Corner Market (Walk-in only; mobile ordering not available)
* Select food choices available beginning at 10 pm Sunday - Thursday
* Hours of operation vary among the concepts; cashless location.
How will I get around on my own
You will have some free time, usually on the weekends, to do as you please. IREX has provided you with an allowance that can be used for public transportation. We recommend using Uber or Lyft.
How to use food ordering Apps/websites
The first thing you need to do with any app or website is to ensure the restaurant you want to order from is available on that app. Not all food apps offer all restaurants.
Select the food you want to order and add it to your cart. When you're ready to check out, you'll see your address, an estimated delivery time, and the total price, including tax and delivery fee. If everything looks correct, just tap "Place order"—and that's it.
Follow your order in the app. First, you'll see the restaurant accept and start preparing your order. When the order is almost ready, a nearby delivery person—in a car, on a bike, or on a scooter—will go to the restaurant to pick it up. Then, they'll drive or ride to you. You can see their name, photo, and track their progress on the map.
If the driver gets lost, they might call or text you for better directions.
You must use a debit/credit card or digital form of payment to pay for your meal. Cash is not accepted on these apps!
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. Texas Tech University is a sub-grantee of IREX and is implementing a Leadership Institute as a part of the Fellowship. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, please visit the Fellowship's website at www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.
Life In Lubbock
Weather
Texas Tech University
Virtual Tour of the TTU Campus
Events & Things to do in Lubbock:
Things to do in Lubbock
Buddy Holly Performing Arts Center
Moonlight Musicals: Theater under the stars
Main Event Game Center - Food and Video Game Arcade
Dave and Busters - Food and Video Game Arcade
Upcoming City Events and Optional Fellow Activities
4th on Broadway Parade and Celebration in the Park- July 4th. Locations and Time provided on the website. Link to be provided soon
4th of July Firework Extravaganza- July 4th, McKenzie Park
Best Shopping Centers
The South Plains Mall - Easily the biggest indoor shopping center in Lubbock. The South Plains Mall is
host to many of the biggest retailers in town including, Dillards, Barnes and Noble,
H&M, Forever 21, Pandora, Cheesecake Factory, and more!
It even has its own movie theater where you can sit down and watch your favorite new releases in the comfort of reclining
plush chairs with popcorn or a Starbucks from their concession stand!
West End - One of my personal favorites because it is an outdoor shopping center! It is still
growing and building new stores including the recently opened Dave and Busters, a video game arcade with great food! You can also find Nike, The Gap, Marshals,
Vera Bradley, Best Buy, World Market, Menchies Frozen Yogurt, Starbucks, and more!
Canyon West - I'm at Canyon West a lot because of Target, one of my favorite superstores! However, there are many other shops here to explore
in this strip mall. Stop in at 2nd & Charles to browse their great new and used book and DVD collection. They also have lots of
board games and fun, wacky novelty items. Be sure to also grab a giant soft cookie
and Crumbl Cookies, you won't regret it!
KK's Craft Mall - If you are wanting homemade or antique items that have a bit more of a unique Texan
flare then this might be your spot! This large indoor mall is filled with different
handmade items by locals.
Check out this list of the many other shopping centers in Lubbock!
Mandela Washington Fellowship Program
-
Address
601 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409-5004 -
Phone
806.742.3667 -
Email
michael.johnson@ttu.edu