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Bethel College (5/7/2008)

This May, the largest pinning celebration in the history of Bethel College was held with 110 nursing graduates recognized. This is the 23rd Pinning Ceremony for the Bethel School of Nursing and the second pinning ceremony for the newest program in the School of Nursing, the Master’s in Nursing Degree program.

Students from the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program, RN-BSN Program and MSN program were recognized. Nursing faculty announced and pinned the graduates. The featured speaker was Charlotte Hertzler Croyle, a registered nurse and grandmother of one of the graduates. Undignified Praise, a Bethel College musical group, sang several pieces. Sarah Hobbs, one of the BSN graduates, also sang. ADN graduate Laurie Van Kirk read “New Paths,” a poem she had written. Bethel President Steve Cramer and Vice President James Stump also participated in the ceremony, as did Nursing Faculty Rick Becker and Minister Oscar Jones.

School of Nursing Dean Dr. Ruth Davidhizar explained the significance of the Bethel College Nursing Pin, reviewed the history of nursing at Bethel College and the story of the development of the nursing pin by the first two graduates and their faculty in 1983. Retiring nursing faculty member, Ruth Shearer, was also recognized for 18 years of service to the school of nursing.

The graduates pinned include:
+ Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society
* GPA of 3.5 or higher

BSN Class of 2008

Brittany Croyle
Katrina Deisch +*
Jarrett Edwards
Rachel Fenske *
Samuel Gitau
Jonathon Gordon
Amy Hill
Sarah Hobbs +*
Rachel Jones
Amanda Little
Allyson Mattner *
Ann Miller
Mariel Miller +*
Liza Moore
Sylvia Nomos
Gideon Nyambiya
Melissa Powell *
Natalie Preville +*
Jason Ross *
Rachel Santhouse
Maria Schilling +*
Kelli Treadway
Anne Visker +*
Amy Woolman

BSN-Completion Class of 2008

Merline Abraham +*
Barbara Antus *
Michael Biddle
Lori Blake +*
Jamison Blakemore
Sara Boylan +
Sarah Brzezinski
Kamoka Castaneda +*
Rebekah Daisy
Rhonda Fillmore +*
Tammy Gettinger *
Jennifer Graham +*
Linda Ingraffia
Lisa Jensen *
Lori Knisely *
Dawn McFall *
Jeremy Namwali *
Terry Owens *
Brandi Richard *
Drue Schaffert *
Steve Schmeling *
Tanya Sobaski +*
Wendy Steinkraus +*
Jean Sullivan
Francesca Udoh *
Stephanie Wells *
Rachel Woods *

ADN Class of 2008

Carrie Anglemyer
Crystal Austin
Melissa Beyer
Melanie Borsodi
Donna Bowling
Jennifer Bowyer
Tonya Bulger
Xochitl Cervantes
Caitlyn Crawford
Terri Davidson
Andrea Davis
Sheryl Dimpudus
Michael Dudeck
Laura Easley
Andrea Engebretson
Christy Evans
Samantha Fisher
Amy Gard
Sally Grenert
Hannah Grimshaw *
Jeff Hire
Shelly Holdread
Amanda Holmes
Jennifer Howie
Jered Hudnall
Michelle Lambright
Stephanie LeClaire
Stephanie Martz
Mary McDowell
Julie Moore
Patricia Muturi
Carrie Nipper *
Aline Niyonteze
Alutta Phiri
Waneta Rodes *
Joan Ross
Pamela Schlutt
Carine Sembeba
Michelle Shafer
Brandi Shepherd
Elizabeth Sikora *
Jennifer Smudey
Kimberlee Sprang
Joshua Stewart
Angela Talley
Heather Tatay
Deborah Tenney
Christy Tolch
Laurie Van Kirk
Katherine Veil
Deanna Warren
Christopher Weidner *
Vanessa White
Rufina Wroblewski

MSN Class of 2008

Sylvia Coffing *
Teresa Null +*
Sandra Plank +*
Dale Robbins +*
Lisa Secrist +*

Bethel College is an accredited Christian college of the arts and sciences offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in more than 50 areas of study. The current enrollment of more than 2,000 includes students from 34 states and Puerto Rico, 12 countries, more than 25 denominations and 16 percent from culturally diverse backgrounds. Scholarships are available based upon a variety of factors including academic achievement, talent in the arts or athletics, ethnicity and church affiliation. Bethel offers classes at four locations: the Mishawaka campus, the Elkhart Campus and two satellite locations (in Nappanee and in Dowagiac, Mich.). The main Bethel campus is situated on 75 wooded acres in Mishawaka, Ind.

Indiana Tech (5/6/2008)

Six high-school seniors have been awarded and accepted Indiana Tech Dean’s Scholarships for fall 2008. These scholarships cover full tuition to Indiana Tech. The recipients, their high schools, hometowns, and majors are:
• Laura Bertsch, Leo Jr./Sr., High School, Spencerville, Ind., business administration
• Samuel Dietrick, Gabriel Richard High School, Grosse Ile, Mich., mechanical engineering
• Melanie Forman, Lakewood High School, Hastings, Mich., elementary education
• Jordan Gerke, Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, Ind., mechanical engineering
• Brandon Lay, Heritage Jr./Sr. High School, Monroeville, Ind., computer studies
• Andrew Protsman, Dekalb High School, Auburn, Ind., information systems

Taylor University - Ft. Wayne Campus (5/6/2008)

Taylor University Fort Wayne (TUFW) announces the appointment of Roy G. Danielian as the new men’s varsity soccer coach and programs manager for TUFW’s Admissions Office. In addition to his coaching, Danielian is responsible for planning events for prospective students and the Summer Honors College, as well as developing new programs.

Danielian has coached college soccer for 19 years and as a head coach led his teams to more than 150 wins. In 2003, he was the NAIA’s Mid-Central Conference Coach of the Year and received the same honor from the Cascade Collegiate Conference in 1996 while at Corban College. That same year, his team won the National Christian College Athletic Association Division 1 national championship.

“Coach Danielian brings with him a great amount of soccer coaching experience and will be a major addition to our program,” said Bud Hamilton, TUFW athletic director. “He is a man of outstanding character who loves coaching and building character in young men.”

Danielian comes to TUFW from Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., where he served as associate director of admissions and head men’s varsity soccer coach. His experience also includes a variety of positions at Howard Payne University, Azusa Pacific University, and Corban College. While at Grace, that college achieved new institutional records in terms of the number, academic profile and diversity of incoming students, as well as a record undergraduate enrollment.

“Roy has a passion for helping students achieve their goals and reach their potential. We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber join our admissions team. I’m looking forward to having his voice of experience at the table as we build TUFW’s enrollment efforts,” said Palmer Muntz, associate vice president of enrollment services.

Danielian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies from Western Baptist College (now Corban College) in Salem, Ore. He later completed his Masters of Education degree in College Student Affairs at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Cal.
Danielian lives in Winona Lake with his wife, Martha, and two children.

Taylor University Fort Wayne provides a Christ-centered learning experience based on three core distinctives – Spiritual Formation, Applied Learning and Community Leadership Development – which interact to help shape a student’s calling. More than 1,000 students access TUFW’s responsive curriculum through residential, online, adult and blended delivery models. The total TUFW experience fosters the transformation of students and restoration of communities.

Media Contact: Jennifer Sprunger, director of university relations, 260.744.8658

###

Taylor University - Ft. Wayne Campus (5/6/2008)

Valparaiso University (5/2/2008)

Valparaiso University’s new union will carry the name of the man for whom the building will serve as a monument to his two decades of leadership.

At a weekend tribute honoring retiring President Alan Harre, it was announced that the Board of Directors will name the building for Dr. Harre, whose leadership led to many campus improvements, including construction of five new buildings.

The union, which will open in January 2009, is a significant component in the University’s $200 million “Our Valpo, Our Time” campaign, launched publicly last summer when President Harre announced his plans to retire June 30.

Announcement of the Board’s decision was made by the Reverend Mark Helge of Rockford, Ill., an alumnus and a member of the Board, who along with his wife, Kathy, also a Valpo graduate, and his aunt, Marion Breen of New York City, are major donors to the union project.

More than 300 alumni, donors and friends of the University attended the tribute dinner at which David Hessler, chair of the Board, announced that current and former members of the Board collectively were donating $60,000 to the Alan F. and Diane C. Harre Endowment Fund created several years ago by Dr. Harre and his wife to provide funds for needs such as scholarships and faculty development. They also are purchasing a new pickup truck for Dr. Harre for use on his Nebraska farm where he raises purebred cattle and a new computer system for Mrs. Harre.

In making the announcement that the new building would carry the Harre name, Rev. Helge cited President Harre for his visionary leadership.

“We are and will remain indebted to you for your vision, leadership skills and values, and remembering your call to ministry while reflecting those principles proclaimed by (the late Valpo president) O.P. (Kretzmann) now long ago,” Rev. Helge said. “You have truly helped us to become a light illuminating a way to bring intellectual rigor and excellence together with the spirit’s intentions for our world.”

The 202,000-square-foot union, more than triple the size of the current facility, will consolidate campus dining and student mail distribution into a single location. Included are a café, a main dining room, recreation/game area, a convenience store, office/meeting space for student organizations and a large ballroom.

The Book Center will relocate to the new building and there will be offices for union and dining services staff, the Career Center, and the Offices of Multicultural Programs and International Studies.

Depending upon configuration of flexible space, there can be as many as a dozen conference/meeting rooms in addition to small, informal lounges located throughout the building.

Total cost of the project is approximately $74 million, which includes construction of the two-story building plus expenditures for furnishings, kitchen equipment, development of supporting campus infrastructure, site preparation, professional fees and an endowment fund to support building operations.

-30-

St. Joseph`s College (5/1/2008)

During the President’s Senior Dinner for the graduating class of 2008 of St. Joseph's College, Joanna Askwith was honored as Senior of the Year. She was awarded with a personal plaque, and her name was added to the perpetual Senior of the Year plaque listing located in the Halleck Student Center.

“It is a great honor to have been nominated and chosen by alumni, professors and my fellow colleagues to receive an award for service and achievement held in such high esteem,” Askwith said. “I am deeply honored by the versatile and effective team that the Class of 2008 has become in all our endeavors at SJC.”

The daughter of Nancy and the late James, Askwith is an alumna of Rosary High School in Aurora, Ill. During her time at St. Joseph’s College, she has committed herself to many service and community organizations. The Lisle, Ill., native is the president of the Science Club and a member of Respect for Life and Habitat for Humanity. As a chemistry and biology major, Askwith has dedicated much of her free time to the Science Olympiad, serving as the student co-director, as well as volunteering at soup kitchens throughout the academic year. Additionally, she is a tutor in the areas of biology and chemistry and a lab assistant for chemistry, microbiology and biology.

Following Commencement this spring, Askwith plans to attend medical school to study immunology and earn a DO/MD.

Selection for the Senior of the Year candidates began in January, when members of the senior class voted for three of their classmates. Nominees were required to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25
(minimum) on a 4.0 scale and completed and passed at least 105 college credit hours.

After the top five vote recipients were named, a selection committee consisting of members of the SJC Alumni Association Board of Directors interviewed each candidate and selected a winner.

St. Joseph's College, named a "character-building college" by the Templeton Foundation and a "best Midwestern college" by the Princeton Review, is a four-year, Catholic, liberal arts college offering 74 major, minor and pre-professional programs. Founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, SJC is located in Rensselaer, Ind., approximately 90 minutes from both Chicago and Indianapolis, on a park-like campus of 180 acres and has an enrollment of over 1,000 students.

# # #

Becky Scherer
Director of Publications and Media Relations
Saint Joseph's College
www.saintjoe.edu
219.866.6177

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (5/1/2008)

During the 2008 Commencement ceremony at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., Carmen Piasecki of South Bend, Ind., will receive the Distinguished Alumna Award for Outstanding Volunteer and Professional Leadership. The Distinguished Alumna Award is conferred by the College to recognize superior achievement by her graduates. This award both honors the recipient and celebrates the prestige that her accomplishments bring to the College.

After graduating from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1970 with a bachelor of arts degree in business, Piasecki went on to pursue her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Notre Dame. In 1972, the SMWC National Alumnae Association quickly recognized that she was a rising star, and they named her as one of the Outstanding Young Women in America. By 1973, Piasecki had completed her Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the Indiana State Bar. She continued to excel as a legal professional, and she soon became was the first woman to serve as Assistant US Attorney in one of two federal judicial districts in Indiana.

In 1979, Piasecki went on to co-found Nickle and Piasecki Law Firm with Andrew Nickle and, most recently, she was selected as one of the "2008 Indiana Super Lawyers" in the area of commercial litigation. She was also named to the 2008 edition of the "Best Lawyers in America" under personal injury litigation.

Piasecki's contributions and achievements extend well beyond the professional world. She has volunteered her time and talents to assist the local and state bar associations, and she was the first woman elected President of the St. Joseph County Bar Association in Indiana. She currently serves on the Executive Advisory Board for the Notre Dame Law Association, the St. Joseph County Hotel Motel Tax Board, the South Bend Century Center Board, the Forever Learning Institute Board of Directors, and the Federal Community Defenders, Inc. Northern District of Indiana Board. She also served on the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Board of Trustees from 1990 to 2000, serving as chair of the Board from 1997 to 2000.

Piasecki is also a well-known amateur golfer, and she has won the Indiana Women's Amateur Tournament three times. While she was at The Woods, she participated in collegiate tourneys in California, North Carolina and the Midwest, and between her freshman and sophomore years, she participated in the Broadmoor Invitational.

"I won the tournament, and I recall how proud I was to tell the press that I was a student at SMWC," Piasecki said. "In previous years the tournament had been won by the famous woman athlete 'Babe' Didrikson Zaharias. As a result of winning the tournament, my name and the (name of the) famous 'Babe' are now both inscribed on the same trophy, housed at the Broadmoor."

Piasecki currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband of seven years, attorney Thomas Singer.

More than 160 students from 23 states are expected to participate in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College's 167th Commencement Ceremony on May 3, 2008. During the ceremony, Eva Mozes Kor, founding director of CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the College, and she will deliver the 2008 Commencement address. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will also award an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Donald E. Smith, Chairman of the Board of First Financial Bank and President of First Financial Corporation.

The 2008 SMWC Commencement Ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in the Cecilian Auditorium of the College's Conservatory of Music. Seating in the Cecilian Auditorium is reserved, however, members of the community are invited to watch the Ceremony in the O'Shaughnessy Dining Room of the Providence Center via a live video feed. The Baccalaureate Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Tickets are not required for Baccalaureate.

For more information, contact Lynn Hughes, director of public relations, at LHughes@smwc.edu or 812-535-5212.

# # #

Note to Media: High resolution photos of Carmen Piasecki, Eva Kor and Donald Smith are available. Email LHughes@smwc.edu with photo requests.

About Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a Catholic women's college sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, is committed to higher education in the tradition of the liberal arts. The College serves a diverse community of learners in undergraduate and graduate programs, while maintaining its historical commitment to women in its campus program. By participating in this community, students develop their abilities to think critically, to communicate responsibly, to engage in lifelong learning and leadership, and to effect positive change in a global society. SMWC is located on a beautiful 67-acre campus near Terre Haute, Indiana. For more information, call 1-800-926-SMWC or visit www.smwc.edu.

Lynn V. Hughes
Executive Director of College Relations
and Special Assistant to the President
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876

Phone: 812-535-5212
Fax: 812-535-5010
Email: LHughes@smwc.edu
Web: www.smwc.edu

Butler University (5/1/2008)

Butler University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the $14 million addition to its pharmacy and health sciences building at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8. The addition, which is funded in part by a $25 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., will allow Butler’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to recruit more pharmacy faculty and accept more transfer students. It also satisfies the University’s goal to become a 'greener' campus.

“We have six objectives for the grant, one of which is to become an employer of choice among pharmacy faculty,” said Mary Andritz, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “One of the ways you do that is to have a good infrastructure —buildings, classrooms, laboratories and offices that allow instructors to be successful in the classroom and with their scholarship.”

Components of the 40,000-square-foot, four-story building includes two new classrooms with seating for an entire Pharm.D. class, a student lounge, faculty offices and project rooms and two laboratories — a History and Physical Laboratory to support Butler’s Physician Assistant (PA) program and a research lab for the pharmaceutical sciences faculty. With the new research lab, the College hopes to grow the pharmaceutical sciences program from four to seven faculty members.

With the addition of the History and Physical Laboratory, the entire PA program will be on campus for the first time in its 13-year history.
“Some of the courses, such as the ones that will take place in the new History and Physical Lab, took place at Clarian Health due to lack of space in the College," Andritz said. "The new lab will allow us to bring that portion of the program and those faculty members back on campus.”

The addition will also enable the College to accept transfer students into the professional phase of the pharmacy program, something it had not been able to do in recent years. “In 2006-2007, we had 697 transfer applications for fewer than five openings,” said Andritz.

The University hopes this addition, which was designed by Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf and will be built by Shiel Sexton, will serve as a standard for all new construction projects by becoming Butler’s first LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, building on campus.

“We are in the process of applying for silver-level certification,” said Mike Gardner, vice president for operations. “It is a University priority for Butler to become a more 'green' campus. This addition will set the stage for all construction projects going forward.”

Some of the 'green' components of the addition include waterless urinals in the men’s room and hand dryers rather than paper towels in all restrooms. Bicycle storage, changing rooms and showers will be added for people who ride their bikes to work. Additionally, 5 percent of the building’s parking lot will be reserved for hybrid vehicles.

Classrooms will feature a combination of natural light and soft electric lights to reduce electricity use. Green electricity will be purchased through a program with Indianapolis Power & Light. Additionally, some of the heat generated from the University’s data center, which is being moved to the new addition, will be used to heat the building.
The University will also recycle the construction waste material that would normally go to a landfill, and install recycled carpet and flooring throughout the addition.

As part of the construction, the University will also renovate two pharmacy instructional labs in the existing building, which was built in 1951.
“What’s so exciting is that, at the end of this whole project, every [COPHS] research laboratory and every instructional laboratory will be brand new or totally renovated," Andritz said. “That will be a huge benefit to our students and our faculty.”

About LEED-Silver Certification
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Butler’s pharmacy and health sciences addition would become the second LEED-Silver facility in Indianapolis, and the third LEED-Silver facility in the state. The IDO Incorporated building (in Indianapolis) and Isaac Ray Treatment Center (in Logansport) are also LEED-Silver. The USGBC offers four certification levels: certified, silver, gold and platinum.

About Butler University
Challenging and enabling students to meet their personal and professional goals has guided Butler University since 1855. Today, Butler is a nationally recognized comprehensive university that blends the liberal arts with first-rate pre-professional programs. Butler is known for its vibrant campus, superior academics and dedicated faculty. The university enrolls more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students in five academic colleges: Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Fine Arts. Located just six miles from downtown Indianapolis, Butler’s urban setting affords students internship opportunities that provide excellent graduate school and career preparation.

####

Contact: Courtney Tuell
(317) 940-9807
(317) 908-2307 - cell
ctuell@butler.edu

Tri-State University (4/30/2008)

With the five-year bachelor of science and master of engineering degree available for Tri-State University’s civil and mechanical engineering students beginning last year, the first civil engineering master degree candidate presented his project this spring in the university’s Fawick Hall.

Adam Garvin presented his infrastructure review of a historic Allen County, Ind. road bridge over 120 years old. Garvin’s TSU professor, Dr. Doug Schmucker, had challenged his civil engineering students to analyze infrastructure this year in response to the Aug. 1, 2007 I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minn.

Garvin explained in his presentation that two analyses were conducted on the Hamilton Road Bridge: a load rating analysis and fatigue life evaluation. The bridge is a wrought-iron, eight-panel Pratt-style truss bridge constructed by the Smith Bridge Company in 1883. The single-lane bridge spans approximately 120 feet and carries light vehicular traffic for the surrounding rural communities.

The project allowed him to familiarize himself with industry tools. “A big part was for me to get more familiar with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) code, but also they have a load and resistance factor rating manual I could apply to the bridge,” Garvin said. “Since the bridge is 125 years old, I figured it wouldn’t perform to today’s standards. It didn’t have the present-day capacity; it is still suitable to carry light rural traffic, which it does today.”

An on-site inspection provided information on the basic structure and conditions affecting the bridge components, including corrosion, light vehicle impact, and member distortions typical of a bridge of this age. The report and presentation documented the conclusions of the analyses as they relate to the ability of the bridge to continue in service.

The analyses followed procedures set forth by AASHTO and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and focused on the primary trusses. Such efforts are a critical component of federal and state efforts to continually review the status of its civil infrastructure, the importance of which was brought back to the public by the Minneapolis bridge collapse, Garvin said.

He appreciates his status as TSU’s first MSCE graduate, as well as the timeframe for completion. “It’s a pretty cool feeling, an honor in a way that I’m the first in this hopefully long history of a program here,” he said. The ability to complete the dual degrees “kept me here instead of going elsewhere for graduate studies, along with the quality of the professors here,” he said.

The one-year master’s degree put him on target to become a professional engineer in three years. He will head to Indianapolis for his first job two weeks after TSU’s May 5 commencement.

Tri-State University, an internationally recognized, private, independent, co-educational institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. TSU is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, TSU operates a 400-acre main campus in Angola, Ind. with off-campus centers in Angola, Fort Wayne, Howe, Kendallville, South Bend, and Merrillville, Ind., and Centreville, Mich.

Yvonne Schroeder
Communications Specialist
Tri-State University
1 University Ave.
Angola, IN 46703-1764
260.665.4133 (phone)
260.665.4830 (fax)
schroedery@tristate.edu
For more information, access: www.tristate.edu

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (4/30/2008)

The new Master of Education program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College recently received the stamp of approval from the Indiana Department of Education Division of Professional. The next cohort of the Master of Education program will begin on June 14, 2008.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) program is designed for practicing teachers, including women and men, with at least two years of teaching experience. The accelerated program, which is designed to be completed in one year, incorporates a hybrid delivery model that allows teachers to complete the program while continuing to teach full time.

The program's curriculum focuses on the development of leadership skills and excellent teaching, empowering teachers to integrate collaborative technology tools and other pedagogical resources to address diverse student needs and circumstances.

Anneliese Payne, Ph.D., director of the M.Ed. program, says representatives from the College in consultation with local teachers put many hours into researching and developing the program to ensure that it would meet the needs of educators and the communities that they serve. In addition, they used the Five Propositions of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards as the basis of the curriculum for the program.

She is thrilled that the program has received approval from the Division of Professional Standards, and she is looking forward to using the program to help more teachers reach their professional goals.

"The Master of Education degree has always been considered an important milestone for K-12 teachers," Payne said. "It not only improves the knowledge and skills teachers have to offer their students, but it represents a key component of career advancement."

The first cohort of the M.Ed. program started classes in February 2008. Brandi Jones, a student from Terre Haute, Ind., who is currently enrolled in the M.Ed., says that she likes the accelerated pace of the program.

"I am very excited to be able to obtain my masters degree in 12 months," Jones said. "I graduated (with a bachelor's degree) from SMWC, so I was very excited to start this graduate program."

To complete the 36-credit hour M.Ed. program in one year, students take two courses every two months. The courses are delivered through a combination of on-site, face-to-face weekend seminars at the beginning and end of each course, an interactive webinar experience in the middle of each course, and web-based instruction, assignments and discussion throughout each course. A two-year completion option, where students take one course every two months, is also available.

The M.Ed. is the sixth graduate-level distance education program at SMWC. Currently, the College offers distance-based graduate programs in Leadership Development, Earth Literacy, Pastoral Theology, Music Therapy and Art Therapy.

To assist those students who wish to pursue graduate studies, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College recently announced that it would award 12 need-based scholarships to students who are admitted to the College's graduate programs. Each year, SMWC will award six $6,000 scholarships and six $3,000 scholarships to graduate students who demonstrate financial need as assessed by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results.

To qualify for the need-based awards, students must be admitted to one of the College's graduate programs, they must complete the FAFSA, and their FAFSA results must be sent to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. The Graduate Student Need-Based Scholarships will be awarded to those students who have the greatest financial need, and each scholarship recipient will be notified 30 days before the start of his/her graduate program.

In addition, through the Corporate Connection program, the College has partnered with several businesses to provide their employees with a 10 percent tuition discount. Currently, the Vigo County School Corporation, Southwest Parke Community School Corporation and Clay Community Schools participate in the Corporation Connection program, and the College is working to expand the program to include all of the local schools and school corporations.

To learn more about the MED program, or to receive more information about scholarships, financial aid or the Corporate Connection program, call 1-800-499-0373 or e-mail med@smwc.edu. Additional information can be found online at www.smwc.edu.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

# # #

About Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a Catholic women's college sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, is committed to higher education in the tradition of the liberal arts. The College serves a diverse community of learners in undergraduate and graduate programs, while maintaining its historical commitment to women in its campus program. By participating in this community, students develop their abilities to think critically, to communicate responsibly, to engage in lifelong learning and leadership, and to effect positive change in a global society. SMWC is located on a beautiful 67-acre campus near Terre Haute, Indiana. For more information, call 1-800-926-SMWC or visit www.smwc.edu.

Lynn V. Hughes
Executive Director of College Relations
and Special Assistant to the President
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876

Phone: 812-535-5212
Fax: 812-535-5010
Email: LHughes@smwc.edu
Web: www.smwc.edu

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (4/30/2008)

Troy Brownfield, assistant professor of journalism at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, serves as executive producer of "Shots in the Dark," the pop culture podcast located at ShotgunReviews.com that has become a full-fledged videocast.

Since launching in April of 2007, "Shots in the Dark" has welcomed guests like Jeph Loeb, writer and producer of NBC's "Heroes," Marvel Comics artist Christina Strain, and fan-favorite actor Michael Madsen. Now, co-hosts Vince Scalabrino, Lucas Siegel and the rest of the cast have taken on pop culture and gaming reviews to the next level with three video podcast episodes currently available online.

Brownfield brought the "Shots in the Dark" team aboard in early 2007 to extend ShotgunReviews.com's multi-media capabilities.

"I'm extremely proud of the ‘Shots in the Dark’ team and all of the writers that we have on the site," Brownfield said. "We rank in the Top Ten for Entertainment News and Media Magazines and E-Zines online according to Alexa; when Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone are #1 and #2, that's a huge accomplishment."

Brownfield says that the site also plans to add regular webcomics by a variety of up-and-coming creators soon.

Brownfield, who teaches courses in journalism, English, communication and film at SMWC, founded ShotgunReviews.com in 1999 as a place for young writers and reviewers to hone their craft. Since then several SMWC students and graduates have contributed to the site. Shotgun writers have gone on to write for magazines, newspapers, television programs and comic book companies.

Brownfield’s background includes more than 10 years as an entertainment reporter and pop culture reviewer, and he currently contributes to WIRED magazine and Newsarama.com. He holds a master of arts degree in English with a creative writing focus and a bachelor of arts degree in English with a minor in radio/TV/film.

# # #

About Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a Catholic women's college sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, is committed to higher education in the tradition of the liberal arts. The College serves a diverse community of learners in undergraduate and graduate programs, while maintaining its historical commitment to women in its campus program. By participating in this community, students develop their abilities to think critically, to communicate responsibly, to engage in lifelong learning and leadership, and to effect positive change in a global society. SMWC is located on a beautiful 67-acre campus near Terre Haute, Indiana. For more information, call 1-800-926-SMWC or visit www.smwc.edu.

Butler University (4/29/2008)

The Butler University Alumni Association will honor Delia Askew and Clarence Crain of Indianapolis and Brad Claymon of Carmel during its 2008 Alumni Achievement Awards banquet on May 3. The awards recognize the recipients’ professional achievement and university/community service of five graduates. Additional honors will go to Ohio State basketball Coach Thad Matta and a New Jersey educator, the late Michael Asher. Clarence Crain will receive the alumni association’s highest honor, the Butler Medal, given to individuals for a lifetime of distinguished professional achievement and personal service to Butler University or their community. Crain is education division program director for Lilly Endowment, Inc .His previous career with General Motors began shortly after he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Butler in 1973. Crain worked in manufacturing, personnel and labor relations management for GM in Indiana and Michigan. He retired as area manager of GM’s Indianapolis manufacturing facility. Crain sat on Butler University’s Board of Trustees from 2000-2006. He also served on Butler’s College of Business Board of Visitors, Alumni Association Board of Directors and Minority Alumni Council/Black Alumni Association. Crain was inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 for his standout three seasons on the Bulldogs basketball team. Crain’s extensive community service includes work with 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, Hope Renaissance Classical Academy, Mount Carmel Baptist Church and Mount Carmel Academy, United Way, Noble Center, Cystic Fibrosis Fund and the Urban League. He officiated Indiana high school basketball for 20 years. Delia Askew will receive the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award, which honors an alumnus who has graduated within the past 15 years and has contributed significant service to Butler. President of the Butler Black Alumni Association, Askew helped lead recent efforts that raised more than $68,000 in pledges to endow a scholarship fund for African American students. She serves on the Butler Alumni Association Board of Directors. A 1999 graduate in chemistry, Askew works for Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis, as a planner/buyer in its Supply Chain Logistics Group. In May 2008, she will receive a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in supply chain management from Indiana University. She is treasurer of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Indianapolis, secretary/president-elect of the Indianapolis Alumnae chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and active in First Baptist Church North. Brent Claymon will receive the Hilton Ultimus Brown Alumni Achievement Award, which honors an alumnus who has made major contributions to a career field or service to society. Claymon holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Butler (1995) and a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from Indiana University Kelley School of Business (1990). Claymon is a principal of Park Place Motors in Carmel and Claymon Investments. In 1993, he, along with his brothers Scott and Matthew Claymon, also Butler graduates, founded Pac-Van Inc., a mobile office trailer and storage solutions provider. The Claymons developed Pac-Van into 20 U.S. locations with annual revenue of more than $60 million before selling the company in 2006. Claymon serves on the Butler College of Business Administration Board of Visitors and on boards of directors of Gleaners Food Bank, Child Advocates, the Indiana Golf Association and the Double Q Foundation. He helps coach boys and girls tennis at Brebeuf High School. Thad Matta will receive the Robert Todd Duncan Alumni Achievement Award, recognizing personal and/or professional achievement that brings honor and distinction to Butler University. Ohio State University’s men’s basketball coach since 2004, Matta has topped all previous OSU coaches’ records with a total of 105 wins. In his career as a head coach, Matta has led teams to five regular-season league titles in three NCAA Division I conferences with four conference tournament championships. With Matta as Butler’s head coach in 2000-2001, the Bulldogs won regular-season conference championships and conference tournament championships, and he was named conference Coach of the Year. He repeated those honors in the next year at Xavier University in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Michael Asher, who died on April 29, 2008, will be honored as posthumous recipient of the Katharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Service Award. It honors an alumnus who graduated at least 15 years prior to the award and who has contributed significant service to the University. Asher received a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Butler in 1971 and a master’s degree in special education in 1974. He was a past president of Butler’s New York Alumni Chapter and served on the Butler College of Education Board of Visitors and Alumni Board of Directors.. Asher taught for 32 years in the Verona, N.J., area before retiring in 2005. He taught special education students and social studies, and published a curriculum for the emotionally disturbed population of the West Essex Co-Op school district. About Butler University Challenging and enabling students to meet their personal and professional goals has guided Butler University since 1855. Today, Butler is a nationally recognized comprehensive university that blends the liberal arts with first-rate pre-professional programs. Butler is known for its vibrant campus, superior academics and dedicated faculty. The university enrolls more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students in five academic colleges: Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Fine Arts. Located just six miles from downtown Indianapolis, Butler’s urban setting affords students internship opportunities that provide excellent graduate school and career preparation. #### Contact: Mary Ellen Stephenson (317) 940-6944 (317) 481-8917 - cell mestephe@butler.edu

Indiana Tech (4/29/2008)

Indiana Tech welcomed 20 new inductees into its chapter of Alpha Chi this spring. Membership for this prestigious academic honor society is by invitation only. Alpha Chi has been promoting academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and honoring those who achieve such distinctions since 1922. Among those honored from Indiana Tech are:

• Beverley Austin, a junior business administration major from Avon, Ind. Her extracurricular activities include Avon’s Relay for Life, Rotary Club and helping at the Avon Community Heritage Festival, and she is currently an employee of Avon’s Town Council and Chamber of Commerce.
• Laura Booker, a junior therapeutic recreation major from Fort Wayne, Ind. Her extracurricular activities include playing on the university’s volleyball team, Sport Recreation and Leisure Society, and a member of Student Board.
• Andrew Burns, a senior mechanical engineering major from Bloomington, Ind. His extracurricular activities include the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
• Kelly A. DiPietro, a senior criminal justice major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Jared Dugan, a junior software engineering major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Sean Dugan, a junior software engineering major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Charles Fritz, a junior information systems major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Annjatica Imani, a junior organizational leadership major from Indianapolis, Ind.
• Aaron L. Johnson, a junior computer science and computer engineering major from Berne, Ind.
• Scott Laukhuf, a senior internet technologies major from Haviland, Ohio. His extracurricular activities include Indiana Tech’s Netacad day.
• Brandon Martin, a senior industrial & manufacturing engineering major from Tucson, Ariz.
• Erin Ann McCann, a senior business administration major from Jackson, Mich. Her extracurricular activities include playing on the university’s volleyball team and an internship with Merrill Lynch.
• Hannah McKinnon, a junior communications major from New Haven, Ind. Her extracurricular activities include playing for the women’s basketball team.
• Zachary Palmer, a junior recreation management major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Ly-Ly Rose, a junior business administration major from Granger, Ind.
• Gabriel Selig, a senior internet technology major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Matthew Stephan, a senior business administration major from Fort Wayne, Ind. His extracurricular activities include martial arts. He was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2008.
• Staci Stork, a junior criminal justice major from Kendallville, Ind. Her extracurricular activities include playing on the university’s volleyball team, being a student leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and working for the Better Business Bureau.
• Korinda Walls, a senior psychology major from Fort Wayne, Ind. Her extracurricular activities include tutoring and internships with the AIDS Task Force, Ecovillage Training Center, and the City of Fort Wayne.
• Nicholas J. Zipparo, a junior information systems major from Carmel, Ind. His extracurricular activities include being a member of Indiana Tech’s Gaming Society, Pep Band, and the captain of his bowling team.

University of Notre Dame (4/29/2008)

James M. Mazurek has been appointed the first director of the University of Notre Dame’s new Office of Sustainability. Most recently he was a partner in the Chicago office of the international consulting firm Accenture.

A 1991 Notre Dame graduate, Mazurek’s work at Accenture included the development and implementation of sustainability and business strategies for global companies in the utilities, energy and government areas. He has led major efforts where sustainability has been at the forefront—driving stakeholder value through enabling technologies, influencing end-user behaviors and considering renewable energy sources.

“As Notre Dame progresses toward becoming a more environmentally responsible campus, I am certain Jim will provide the necessary leadership and expertise as we strive to reach our goals,”said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “By building on current institutional initiatives, it is my hope that he can help draw our efforts together into a coherent, synergistic program that reaches across disciplines as we develop and implement a comprehensive course of sustainability.”

Established in January, the Office of Sustainability will build institutional learning capabilities in support of continual improvement in building design and operations, landscaping, procurement, energy and water conservation, waste disposal, recycling and service provision. The University has provided the office with a $2 million green loan fund for environmental improvements in campus buildings and operations, illustrating a long-term commitment to sustainability efforts.

“Jim’s experience, network, enthusiasm and vision for environmental initiatives will be a tremendous asset for the Office of Sustainability as Notre Dame builds its green program and aspires to be recognized as a global leader in this area,” said James J. Lyphout, vice president for business operations.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Notre Dame, Mazurek also holds master’s degrees in environmental engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and in business administration from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Source: University of Notre Dame

Valparaiso University (4/28/2008)

The Valparaiso University College of Nursing is revising its advanced degree programs and will begin offering a doctor of nursing practice, a degree that will prepare nurses for the highest level of nursing practice and leadership.

Dr. Janet Brown, dean of the College of Nursing, said offering the DNP puts Valparaiso at the forefront of a new national movement in nursing education.

“The changing demands of this nation’s complex health care environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise,” Dr. Brown said. “Research has established a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes.”

By 2015, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing will require its members to raise the level of preparation necessary for advanced practice nursing roles from the master’s to the doctoral level.
Approximately 30 DNP programs currently exist in the United States, and Valparaiso will become only the second university in Indiana to offer the degree.

“Valparaiso’s graduate nursing program is very well respected and our graduates are in great demand, which makes us well-equipped to offer the DNP degree,” Dr. Brown said.

Valparaiso’s DNP program will be implemented in phases, starting with a post-master’s DNP program designed for advanced practice nurses who are already certified, which will be implemented next fall. A DNP program for those who have completed their bachelor’s degree in nursing will begin admitting students in fall 2009.

Nurses who complete the DNP program will fill practice-leadership roles in a variety of health care organizations, Dr. Brown said, and help improve the efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of health care.

The DNP program will build upon Valparaiso’s current graduate nursing programs through additional coursework in areas such as managing complex health conditions and health care leadership. Full-time students can complete the DNP is three years, including coursework during the summer.

“Many nurses want to pursue the clinical route in earning their doctorate,” Dr. Brown said. “They don’t want to go the Ph.D., research route, because they are more interested in studying how to apply research in the patient care environment.”

Before Valparaiso begins offering the DNP in 2009, the College of Nursing is first revising its graduate program in nursing education, with changes to go into effect next fall. The new program is more streamlined, Dr. Brown said, and is designed for those who desire to take on an educator role at a nursing school or in a health care facility.

Valparaiso has a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College that provides financial support to registered nurses who have earned their associate of science degree in nursing at any Ivy Tech and want to earn their master of science in nursing education. Nurses interested in becoming educators also are eligible for financial support through a grant the College of Nursing has received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Human Resources and Services Administration.

For more information about the College of Nursing’s new DNP and master’s in nursing education, call (219) 464-5289 or visit valpo.edu/nursing.

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Bethel College (4/28/2008)

Bethel graduate, Tania L. Harman (Collins), a bilingual teacher at Warren Primary Center has been named South Bend Community School Corporation’s 2008 Teacher of the Year. Each of the 32 schools in the corporation nominates a teacher. Harman, after being selected as Teacher of the Year, is now a candidate for Indiana State Teacher of the Year.

Harman graduated from Bethel College in 1985. She continued her education, finishing her M.A. in Elementary Education at IUSB in 1996 and receiving an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement from IUSB in 2006. Harman has been part of the South Bend Community School Corporation for 20 years. Before teaching at Warren Primary Center she also held positions at Kennedy, Monroe, Lafayette and Wilson. This is her fourth nomination for Teacher of the Year Award. She is the second teacher from Warren to receive this honor.

“My years at Bethel afforded me the opportunity to grow both academically and spiritually.” Harman continued, “Being nurtured in both of those areas has helped me to become the teacher that I am today.”

Bethel College is an accredited Christian college of the arts and sciences offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in more than 50 areas of study. The current enrollment of more than 2,000 includes students from 34 states and Puerto Rico, 12 countries, more than 25 denominations and 16 percent from culturally diverse backgrounds. Scholarships are available based upon a variety of factors including academic achievement, talent in the arts or athletics, ethnicity and church affiliation. Bethel offers classes at four locations: the Mishawaka campus, the Elkhart Campus and two satellite locations (in Nappanee and in Dowagiac, Mich.). The main Bethel campus is situated on 75 wooded acres in Mishawaka, Ind.

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St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (4/28/2008)

Last fall, the Career Development Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods received grant funds from the Career Development Professionals of Indiana (CDPI). The grant, titled “Gender and Economic Disparity,” is designed to “educate Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College students, faculty, and staff, as well as Terre Haute community members, about the economic disparity that exists between men and women.”

Research conducted by the American Association of University Women examines the pay gap for college graduates. According to the research, one year out of college, women working full time earn only 80 percent as much as their male colleagues earn. The percentage decreases to 69 percent 10 years out of college. A variety of factors are attributed to the pay gap, including choice of college, college major, and occupation. Controlling for all identifiable factors, an unexplainable gap remains—this is evidence of discrimination and it remains a “serious problem for women in the work force.”

Jackie Fischer, associate director of career development/director of interns and the writer of the grant, is overseeing the implementation and coordination of the grant funds. Jennifer Nebesny, a second-year master’s student in the Student Affairs and Higher Education program at Indiana State University, completed a practicum with Fischer last semester and has assisted with these efforts.

During her practicum experience, Nebesny designed and disseminated an educational survey to the SMWC campus community, planned and attended meetings with local educators, and conducted background research to begin dialog on educational programming about the pay gap.

When the Gender Pay Gap survey was distributed to the SMWC campus community last fall, the goal was to raise awareness about the gender pay gap, while also measuring the community’s knowledge about the topic. Following each question, respondents received educational information related to the question. Some of the survey highlights include:
• A total of 525 respondents completed the survey; nearly 75% of the respondents were SMWC students and 94% were female
• Nearly 7% of respondents believed that men and women earn equal pay one year out of college; 51% knew that a woman earns 80 percent of what a man earns
• 2% believed that men and women earn equal pay 10 years out of college; 35% knew that a woman earns 69% of what a man earns
• 25% of respondents said that they have experienced the pay gap first-hand
• 13% believed that more than 10% of fathers are voluntarily out of the workforce; 41% knew that the correct number is 1%. When families decide that a parent will stay home voluntarily to care for the children, it is typically the man who works; without accounting for stereotypical gender roles, the men must work because they have a higher earning potential than women
• 67% knew that women are more likely to complete some graduate education than men; in reality, 25% of women complete a masters degree, while 19% of men continue on to a masters
• At the end of the survey, respondents were asked to describe an emotion that they felt. Some of these emotions included annoyance, surprise, concern, sadness, shock, anger and outrage.

Fischer and Nebesny also placed ads about the gender pay gap in the SMWC student newspaper and presented information on the gender pay gap to the Wabash Valley Human Resource Association and three senior-level economics classes at West Vigo High School in West Terre Haute, Ind. Future programming will also include strategies for students and graduates to help them avoid the pay gap. In addition, on Tuesday, April 22, National Equal Pay Day, members of the SMWC community will have the opportunity to t-shirts designed by senior Cassie Phegley. To reflect the gender pay gap, women will only have to pay $1.60 for the shirt while men will have to pay $2.

For more information about the gender pay gap or National Equal Pay Day, contact Jackie Fischer at jfischer@smwc.edu or 812-535-5215.

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About Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a Catholic women's college sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, is committed to higher education in the tradition of the liberal arts. The College serves a diverse community of learners in undergraduate and graduate programs, while maintaining its historical commitment to women in its campus program. By participating in this community, students develop their abilities to think critically, to communicate responsibly, to engage in lifelong learning and leadership, and to effect positive change in a global society. SMWC is located on a beautiful 67-acre campus near Terre Haute, Indiana. For more information, call 1-800-926-SMWC or visit www.smwc.edu.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (4/28/2008)

For the 10th consecutive year, the Indianapolis Colts will conduct their summer training camp at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The camp will run from July 24 through August 15. The announcement was made today on campus by Rose-Hulman President Gerald Jakubowski and at Indianapolis by Colts' President Bill Polian.

"The Indianapolis Colts and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have reached an agreement that will bring the Colts summer training camp to Terre Haute in 2008," Jakubowski said. "We are very pleased to know that the Colts see our world-class facilities as their best choice as a site to prepare their players and team for another run at the Super Bowl championship. The Rose-Hulman community looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the best franchise in the world's premier professional sports league."

Polian added: "We've always said that Rose-Hulman's facility works perfectly. There's absolutely nothing that you can find wrong with the facility or the locale or anything like that. It was just a matter of A.) the school wanting us back and B.) us being able to work out a contract that made sense. It's a multi-year contract that I think has options for both parties."

The Colts have conducted their training camp at Rose-Hulman since 1999.

Specific details about camp activities, including practice dates, will be announced when they are finalized.

Source: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Valparaiso University (4/18/2008)

Seven Valparaiso University students stood out during an international business contest sponsored by Delta Epsilon Chi this spring, achieving top 10 finishes in simulations testing their management, marketing and business law skills.

The students competed in two rounds of business case studies and role-playing scenarios against approximately 2,000 students from more than 200 colleges and universities at Delta Epsilon Chi¡¯s International Career Development Conference, held April 12 to 15 in Atlanta.

All seven Valparaiso students who qualified for the international competition individually or as members of a team finished in the top 10 in the following categories:

¡ñ Business Law ¨C The team of Becky Christopher, a sophomore political science major from Park Ridge, Ill., and Bryan McKnight, a sophomore finance and accounting major from Palatine, Ill.; and the team of Dana Goble, a freshman international business and Spanish major from Holland, Mich., and Austin Hook, a freshman international business and German major from Dearborn, Mich.;

¡ñ Retail Management ¨C Bryan Van Den Bosch, a sophomore marketing and sports management major from
Des Plaines, Ill.;

¡ñ Sports and Entertainment Marketing ¨C The team of Callie Spengler, a sophomore international business and Chinese and Japanese studies major from Wadsworth, Ill., and Lauren Hosimer, a sophomore sports management major from Naperville, Ill.

DEX adviser Tami Burchert, coordinator of academic advising for Valparaiso¡¯s College of Business Administration, said between 30 and 75 teams that previously placed in the top three at state and regional events advanced to compete in each category at the international contest.

In the preliminary round of the Sports and Entertainment Marketing contest, Spengler and Hosimer were given one hour to develop a marketing plan for a new female hip hop artist and then gave a 15-minute presentation to a judge. During the final round, they had an hour to prepare a plan for obtaining a sponsorship from an athletic wear and equipment company.

¡°You have to learn how to work under pressure and come up with ideas that will set you apart from your competitors to be successful in this competition,¡± Hosimer said.

The competition is designed to develop the knowledge and skills of Delta Epsilon Chi members in different fields of business and various industries. Each case study or role-playing scenario required students to apply a variety of business principles in different settings, demonstrate understanding of client needs, identify solutions and communicate their ideas effectively.

When not competing, students attended a host of workshops, and Burchert said students took advantage of the opportunities to network with professionals working for a wide variety of companies throughout the country.

¡°I think the advice and counseling of all the speakers and presenters were the most valuable part of the competition,¡± Hook said. ¡°I learned a lot about what businesses look for during interviews and internships, as well as what to expect in post-college life.¡±

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St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (4/18/2008)

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has announced that it will award 12 need-based scholarships to students who are admitted to the College's graduate programs. SMWC currently offers graduate programs in education, leadership development, pastoral theology, Earth literacy, art therapy and music therapy.

Each year, SMWC will award six $6,000 scholarships and six $3,000 scholarships to graduate students who demonstrate financial need as assessed by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results.

To qualify for the need-based awards, students must be admitted to one of the College's graduate programs, they must complete the FAFSA, and their FAFSA results must be sent to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. The Graduate Student Need-Based Scholarships will be awarded to those students who have the greatest financial need, and each scholarship recipient will be notified 30 days before the start of his/her graduate program.

All of the graduate programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College are open to women and men, and they are delivered through distance education, which means that students spend minimal time on campus. SMWC has been helping adults reach their goals through distance education for more than 30 years. In 1973, the College established one of the first undergraduate distance degree programs in the nation, and today SMWC gives students the ability to maintain work, family and other commitments while pursuing quality, graduate-level education.

For more information about the graduate programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and the Graduate Student Need-Based Scholarships, please contact the Office of Distance & Graduate Admission by phone at 800-499-0373 or by e-mail at wedadms@smwc.edu. More information about Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College can be found online at www.smwc.edu.

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Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a Catholic women's college sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, is committed to higher education in the tradition of the liberal arts. The College serves a diverse community of learners in undergraduate and graduate programs, while maintaining its historical commitment to women in its campus program. By participating in this community, students develop their abilities to think critically, to communicate responsibly, to engage in lifelong learning and leadership, and to effect positive change in a global society. SMWC is located on a beautiful 67-acre campus near Terre Haute, Indiana. For more information, call 1-800-926-SMWC or visit www.smwc.edu.

Lynn V. Hughes
Executive Director of College Relations
and Special Assistant to the President
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876

Phone: 812-535-5212
Fax: 812-535-5010
Email: LHughes@smwc.edu
Web: www.smwc.edu

Tri-State University (4/17/2008)

Tri State University dad Robert Leyba supports the inaugural lacrosse team, and he’s traveled a few miles to prove it—about 1,200 in one week alone in April to watch his son, Brad, a freshman, and his TSU teammates claim their first win against Hendrix College, Ark., on April 11. The Thunder followed that with a 22-4 win over Carnegie Mellon University two days later.

Leyba, from the town of Katy in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area, takes advantage of a flexible business schedule to catch some of Brad’s games, and he’s attended about five so far, from Scranton, Pa., to Kalamazoo, Mich. The 8-2 home win April 11 pitted Brad against a high school buddy, creating a fun rivalry, he said.

A Dallas recruiting trip by lacrosse coach Bryan Poole put TSU on the map for Leyba and two other Texas students playing on the first-year Thunder team. The team employs the talents of some of the country’s best high school players. Opening the season in the Eastern U.S., with its strong lacrosse tradition, tested his abilities in a positive way. “Out East, I liked playing against kids who’d played all their lives,” Brad said.

An all-around athlete, Brad started lacrosse as a high school sophomore, traveling with his team to the state playoffs in his senior year. The midfielder called lacrosse a bit like hockey and soccer, with 10-man teams including three defenders and three attackmen.

He enjoys the small town college life at TSU. “It’s nice to walk around and have people you don’t know ask you about lacrosse,” he said.

His dad enjoys TSU’s academic programs, leadership, and improved athletic opportunities. “We’re really happy to be here, and really appreciate what TSU has done for Brad this year.”

Tri-State University, an internationally recognized, private, independent, co-educational institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. TSU is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, TSU operates a 400-acre main campus in Angola, Ind. with off-campus centers in Angola, Fort Wayne, Howe, South Bend, and Merrillville, Ind., Centreville, Mich., and Bryan, Ohio.

Yvonne Schroeder
Communications Specialist
Tri-State University
1 University Ave.
Angola, IN 46703-1764
260.665.4133 (phone)
260.665.4830 (fax)
schroedery@tristate.edu
For more information, access: www.tristate.edu

Tri-State University (4/17/2008)

At the 71st American Criminal Justice Association national conference in Kansas City, Mo., nine Tri-State University students competed, with two bringing home awards for scholarship and their adviser, Craig Laker, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology & Social Sciences, winning the National Jim Hooker Outstanding Adviser Award.

Laker’s award was made by the national chapter in recognition of outstanding service to a chapter or region of the ACJA Lambda Alpha Epsilon. Laker was the unanimous choice for the award, presented to only one adviser yearly, and received a plaque for the honor.

Abigail S. Christman placed second in the lower division of the National Student Paper Competition, earning a $100 scholarship, and second in the lower division for Student Scholarship, earning $200. Aaron J. Leming placed third in the lower division for Student Scholarship, earning $100. Freshmen and sophomores compete in the lower division at the ACJA conference, while juniors and seniors compete in the upper division.

Competing in crime scene investigation, handgun marksmanship, or physical agility were Hezekiah Kickock, Zak Ackerman, Vince Keesler, Corey Cox, Alison Bonham, Jason White, Carly Naki, Sara Miles, and Ashley Williamson. Cox earned Top Gun for marksmanship in the earlier regional competition, and shot 431 out of 480 at nationals, topping his personal best of 426.

TSU criminal justice students consistently bring home awards from ACJA conferences, as do their leaders, Laker and TSU professor John Milliken.

Tri-State University, an internationally recognized, private, independent, co-educational institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. TSU is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, TSU operates a 400-acre main campus in Angola, Ind. with off-campus centers in Angola, Fort Wayne, Howe, South Bend, and Merrillville, Ind., Centreville, Mich., and Bryan, Ohio.

Yvonne Schroeder
Communications Specialist
Tri-State University
1 University Ave.
Angola, IN 46703-1764
260.665.4133 (phone)
260.665.4830 (fax)
schroedery@tristate.edu
For more information, access: www.tristate.edu

University of Evansville (4/17/2008)

A team of 10 students from the University of Evansville topped the competition at the NASA Moon Buggy competition in Huntsville, Alabama, in April, marking the first time a UE team has won the competition.

More than 30 universities from across America - and a few from overseas, including two from India - competed in this year's event. And with a time of four minutes, 17 seconds, the UE team beat their nearest competitor by more than 30 seconds.

"This is incredible," said senior Jesse Kahle, project manager for the Moon Buggy. "We're just thrilled that NASA gave us the opportunity to work on this project - a simulation of a real-life project NASA handled in the 1970s. It's been a tremendous learning experience, and to win the competition is just a wonderful bonus."

NASA started the Moon Buggy competition as a way for engineering students across the country to face a real-life design challenge. Creating transportation on the moon was a problem NASA itself tackled through the lunar missions; the competition requires students to follow many of the same rules NASA had to follow to safely travel on the moon at that time.

Each team’s buggy must have two riders – one male, one female – and the buggy has to fit in a four-foot cube. Because there is only limited oxygen for astronauts using such a buggy on the moon, the teams will be judged on the time it takes them to set up their vehicle, as well as the time it takes them to finish the competition’s obstacle course.

This year’s competition was held at the Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Last year's UE team finished in seventh place. However, Kahle noted before the competition that they had managed to cut weight from that project by 15 percent, and improve the turning radius by half. That proved to make the difference, as the UE team outstripped its nearest competitor by 31 seconds.

Kahle is available for interviews this evening via his cell phone, as the team is returning to Evansville. He can be reached at (812) 661-2858. For other information on the UE Moon Bugg team's win please contact UE News Director Joe Atkinson at (812) 488-2562.

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The 2008 UE Moon Buggy team wishes to thank Dexterous Mold and Industrial Tool for donating the tools and services necessary to make this project possible.

***

The Core Purpose of the University of Evansville is to provide life transforming educational experiences that prepare students to engage the world as informed, ethical and productive citizens.

Joe Atkinson
News Director
University of Evansville
(812) 488-2562
ja122@evansville.edu

Tri-State University (4/17/2008)

Nine Tri-State University students have received pins as members of Alpha Sigma Tau, a national sorority with a new chapter on campus. Junior Nicole Dixon is president.

Bringing the national organization to TSU represented months of work for Dixon. “I worked with Dean of Student Life Randy White since last summer to get a national here,” she said. Immediate tasks will be collaborating with other Greek organizations and representing the sorority in the Sorority Panhellenic Council at TSU.

Her chapter will support Habitat for Humanity nationally, Pine Mountain Settlement School in Eastern Kentucky, and a local organization such as Community Anti-Violence Association (CAVA) or the Steuben County Literacy Coalition locally. Each year, the national membership provides over $1 million in donations and volunteers nearly 60,000 service hours.

Alpha Sigma Tau, founded in 1899, supports 76 collegiate chapters and colonies at a variety of schools across the country. It is supported by a national council and staff made up of hundreds of alumnae, and provides members with over 30 annual scholarship opportunities through the Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation. With an average chapter cumulative GPA of over 3.0, it focuses on scholarship, honoring members through its National Academic Honor Society—The Order of the Open Book.

Dixon appreciates the national support. “The ladies from Eastern Michigan University came to pin us, so we knew right off the bat that they backed us. We felt welcomed and proud,” she said. TSU women who are at least second-semester freshmen with a 2.3 grade point average are eligible for membership.

White welcomes the chapter and its benefits for women. “The national sorority provides the opportunity for leadership and networking with women throughout the world. It has a great influence on the lives of the women who join,” he said.

Tri-State University, an internationally recognized, private, independent, co-educational institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. TSU is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, TSU operates a 400-acre main campus in Angola, Ind. with off-campus centers in Angola, Fort Wayne, Howe, South Bend, and Merrillville, Ind., Centreville, Mich., and Bryan, Ohio.

Yvonne Schroeder
Communications Specialist
Tri-State University
1 University Ave.
Angola, IN 46703-1764
260.665.4133 (phone)

St. Joseph`s College (4/17/2008)

Dr. Ernest R. Mills III, president of St. Joseph’s College, had the honor of meeting Pope Benedict XVI during his papal visit tour to the United States of America in April. His Holiness spent part of the tour at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he met with representatives of Catholic colleges and universities as well as school superintendents from U.S. dioceses.

In addition to his visit to the Catholic University of America, the Pope also met with President George W. Bush at the White House, as well as delivered an address to the United Nations and visit Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, New York. This event marked the Holy See’s first visit to the United States as head of the Church and the first papal visit to a Catholic university in over a quarter century.

St. Joseph's College, named a "character-building college" by the Templeton Foundation and a "best Midwestern college" by the Princeton Review, is a four-year, Catholic, liberal arts college offering 74 major, minor and pre-professional programs. Founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, SJC is located in Rensselaer, Ind., approximately 90 minutes from both Chicago and Indianapolis, on a park-like campus of 180 acres and has an enrollment of over 1,000 students.

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Becky Scherer
Director of Publications and Media Relations

Saint Joseph's College

www.saintjoe.edu
219.866.6177

Tri-State University (4/15/2008)

WEAX 88.3-FM, the radio station of Tri-State University, is celebrating 33 years in broadcast media, and the university invites the public to an anniversary party to view the new WEAX studios in the University Center.

WEAX will debut its new operation on Tuesday, April 22 with tours of the facility, plus food, drinks, games and prizes outside the studios all day. Festivities will culminate with a free screening of the classic rock “mockumentary,” “This is Spinal Tap,” at 7 p.m. in Fabiani Theatre. WEAX general manager Josh Hornbacher called the film “one of the funniest movies ever made,” and “a brilliant satire of rock stars and the music business in general.”

The glass-enclosed studios, dubbed “the fish tank” due to the operation’s visibility to University Center passers-by, intrigue viewers while providing advanced technology for students learning broadcast media by working at WEAX. “The new studios are unlike anything in the world, and I’m glad we have the opportunity to show them off,” said Hornbacher.
Dr. Vern Hornbacher will be honored for his contribution to the new radio station with the 9 a.m. unveiling of a plaque naming the facility Hornbacher Studios. The plaque will be mounted on the wall inside the facility. The dedication will act as a kickoff to the day’s celebration.

Tri-State University, an internationally recognized, private, independent, co-educational institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. TSU is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, TSU operates a 400-acre main campus in Angola, Ind. with off-campus centers in Angola, Fort Wayne, Howe, South Bend, and Merrillville, Ind., Centreville, Mich., and Bryan, Ohio.

Yvonne Schroeder
Communications Specialist
Tri-State University
1 University Ave.
Angola, IN 46703-1764
260.665.4133 (phone)
260.665.4830 (fax)
schroedery@tristate.edu
For more information, access: www.tristate.edu

Indiana Tech (4/15/2008)

Indiana Tech has gained approval from the Indiana Department of Education for the university’s teacher education programs. The approval allows Indiana Tech to offer degree programs in the licensure areas for Early & Middle Childhood Generalist; Early Adolescence Concentration in Language, Science, Social Studies, or Mathematics; and Physical Education (K-12) with a Coaching Certification. The programs will be sponsored by Saint Joseph’s College.

After Indiana Tech’s first group of education students graduates, the state will initiate an accreditation visit. Once Indiana Tech’s education programs have gained state and national accreditation, the university will no longer need the sponsorship of Saint Joseph’s College.

“This approval tells us that we have met all of the state Department of Education’s precondition requirements to offer programs in elementary education and physical education,” said Dr. Lisa Williams, Indiana Tech director of teacher education. “Because of St. Joseph’s College sponsorship and the quality of the program we are offering, we have the authority and approval from the state to train teachers. Our program has some unique features, such as extended classroom experiences, that will help to prepare new teachers for classroom challenges and improve teacher retention. ”

Indiana Tech began developing the teacher education programs for traditional students at the Fort Wayne campus in 2006, and the university currently has 32 students enrolled as education majors.

Valparaiso University (4/15/2008)

Several court documents relating to the court appointment of Valparaiso University School of Law professor Rebecca J. Huss as guardian/special master of the American pit bull terriers in the Michael Vick case are now available on the University¡¯s Web site. A recommendation by Huss, a nationally-recognized expert on animal law, to place 47 pit bulls formerly owned by Vick with eight rescue organizations was approved in December by the judge overseeing the case.

Huss recently served as keynote speaker at an annual animal law conference in Minnesota and discussed the process of finding responsible care for the dogs seized in the Vick case in her presentation ¡°What Became of the Dogs? The Custody and Placement of the Dogs Involved in the Bad Newz Kennel Case.¡±

The documents now available online ¨C including the special master report in which Huss evaluated the dogs¡¯ behavior and recommended what should be done with them ¨C show the progression of the Vick case.

The following documents are posted on Valparaiso¡¯s School of Law Web site:

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Criminal
Action)

¡ñ Plea Agreement (Aug. 24, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/plea_agreement.pdf
¡ñ Summary of Facts (Aug. 24, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/summary_of_facts.pdf
¡ñ Sentencing Minutes (Dec. 10, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/SentencingMinutes.pdf

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Civil
Action)
¡ñ Forfeiture Order (Aug. 31, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/vick_forfeiture_order.pdf
¡ñ Motion for First Order as to Disposition (Oct. 1, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/motion_for_first_order.pdf
¡ñ First Order as to Disposition (Oct. 1, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/first_order.pdf
¡ñ Motion for Second Order as to Disposition and Appointing
Guardian/Special Master (Oct. 15, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/motion_for_second_order.pdf
¡ñ Second Order as to Disposition and Appointing Guardian/Special
Master (Oct. 15, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/second_order_as_to_disposition.pdf

¡ñ Motion for Order as to Final Disposition (Dec. 4, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/motion_for_final_disposition.pdf
¡ñ Order for Final Disposition (Dec. 6, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/final_disposition_order.pdf
¡ñ Report of Special Master (Dec. 6, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/pdfs/animallaw/report_of_special_master.pdf

Rescue Organization Application
¡ñ Rescue Organization Application (Oct. 26, 2007)
valpo.edu/law/assets/docs/RescueOrganizationsApplication.doc

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University of Indianapolis (4/15/2008)

The University of Indianapolis has been named the state’s Television School of the Year in the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters annual college competition, adding to a growing list of recent awards for UIndy’s communication students.

In results announced this week, UIndy TV placed second in the Video Magazine and Television School Newscast categories, and UIndy students earned 11 individual awards.
Other participating institutions included Ball State University, Indiana State University, University of Southern Indiana, Valparaiso University and Indiana Wesleyan University.

Scott Uecker, general manager of UIndy TV and UIndy radio station WICR, noted that campus cable channel UIndy TV 5 debuted just two years ago.

“It’s a credit to our students that they’ve taken this outlet that the university has given them and learned everything they could,” said Uecker, also an instructor in the School of Communication said. “They’ve gotten good, and these awards are an indicator of that.”

IASB’s college awards competition began in 2003, building on the association’s annual high school competition. The radio and television School of the Year designations, based on points accumulated in the various award categories, were added in 2005. Ball State University held the Television School of the Year honor from 2005 to 2007. The Radio School of the Year title was taken by UIndy in 2005 and 2007 and by Valparaiso University in 2006 and 2008.

The IASB announcement comes on the heels of three national awards for UIndy students from the Broadcast Educators Association. Faculty and students will accept those awards at the BEA Festival of Media Arts and the National Association of Broadcasters annual convention April 14-17 in Las Vegas.

UIndy’s winners in the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters college competition included:

Katie Stam of Seymour
First place, Television News Anchor

Katie Stam of Seymour
Daniel Scott of Portland
First place, Television News Package

Daniel Dick of Indianapolis
Tom Graphman of Greenwood
Second place, Television Entertainment Feature

Nick Lopez of Carmel
Won Lee of Hong Kong
Brian Irk of LaPorte
First place, Television Corporate Video

Daniel Scott of Portland
Third place, Television Corporate Video

Josh Taylor of Pittstown, N.J.
Third place, Radio News/Sports Report

Anne Gosser of Crown Point
Second place, Radio Copywriting

Josh Littlejohn of Indianapolis
Third place, Radio Spot Production

Kim O’Brien of Clayton
Second place, Radio News Anchor

University of Indianapolis (4/15/2008)

The University of Indianapolis has named a director for its newly established Richard G. Lugar Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders, created to build leadership skills and promote public service and ethics among Indiana high school and college students.

Lara Mann of Fishers will bring extensive education and public policy experience to her leadership of the center, which the university and the state’s senior senator unveiled in December.

“The center and the other resources of the University of Indianapolis are poised to provide opportunities that inspire and shape the next generation of Indiana’s leaders,” Mann said. “Our goal is to instill the qualities of integrity and leadership that Senator Lugar has demonstrated representing Indiana.”

For the past two years, as senior assistant director of admissions at UIndy, Mann has coordinated the annual event that inspired the center, the Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders. The one-day symposium, conducted at UIndy since its start in 1977, gathers hundreds of Indiana’s top high school juniors for expert-led discussions on public issues and world events.

Mann is a graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law and later worked as assistant director of admissions and financial aid for that institution, interacting with students, state education officials and high school administrators. Her duties at UIndy have included working closely with high school students and guidance counselors to help students manage the transition to college. She previously served as case law editor for the LexisNexis database, management development specialist for the Ohio School Boards Association and field investigator for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

Mann will report to UIndy President Beverley Pitts and will be guided by a nonpartisan external advisory board.

The Richard G. Lugar Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders will seek partnerships with other organizations in developing leadership opportunities for high school and college students. Likely initiatives include an annual award for an outstanding Indiana high school leader, to be presented each year at the symposium; a new symposium aimed at college and university students from around the state; programs and retreats that expose students to models of civic leadership; and a broader relationship with College Summit, which introduces high school students to opportunities in higher education.

Senator Lugar is a Distinguished Trustee of the University of Indianapolis, having served on the board from 1970 to 2002. He was awarded an honorary degree in 1970 and taught political science as a visiting professor in 1976, between his last term as mayor of Indianapolis and his first term as a senator.

About UIndy
The University of Indianapolis is a top-tier, independent, comprehensive institution of higher education founded in 1902, with enrollment of 4,600 on its main campus and 400 at its wholly owned branch in Athens, Greece. The challenging undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs include nationally ranked offerings in the health sciences. Two centers of excellence make UIndy a leader in education reform and gerontology. More information is available at www.uindy.edu.

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This news release was sent by the University of Indianapolis communications office.
Phone: (317) 788-3298
University of Indianapolis - http://www.uindy.edu
University News - http://www.uindy.edu/news

Manchester College (4/15/2008)

Cheers and applause exploded through the standing-room-only crowd in the Manchester College auditorium on the afternoon of April 4th … not for a victorious 3-pointer, but for two research scholars who had just netted The Jo Young Switzer Award for Excellence.

A future peacemaker and scientist each received the $150 top prize in the largest field of competition in the history of the 10-year-old Student Research Symposium:

* Senior Georgi Chunev of Bulgaria, who spent a summer scrutinizing infrared data delivered by NASA’s $733 million orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope

* Senior Sarah Hall of Roaring Spring, Pa., who explored the possibility of Germany prosecuting former U.S. Secretary of Defense for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Iraq

“Some of the work that you all heard today was graduate level, and I am so happy that Manchester College provides this opportunity for undergraduates to gain some experience at working on projects deeper than typical,” Dean Glenn Sharfman, vice president for academic affairs, told the crowd at the awards ceremony.

“I want to congratulate all of you students for doing something when you did not have to, for educating all of us on your area of expertise, and for taking advantage of this opportunity to know your faculty mentor a little bit better,” added Sharfman, who sponsored the annual competition.

In her presentation, Hall, a peace studies major, analyzed the likelihood of a trial of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsford under universal jurisdiction. She considered crimes allegedly committed, distinctions between diplomatic and state immunity, and the role of universal jurisdiction related to German legal code. Her mentor in the project was Tim McElwee, Plowshares associate professor of peace studies and director of Peace Studies.

Chunev, majoring in computer science and mathematics, had the extraordinary opportunity to study data from in a $736,000 research grant shared by other scientists. He analyzed computer data of dust and debris that the orbiting telescope sent to Earth, seeking clues to the evolution of extrasolar terrestrial planets. His faculty mentor for the symposium was Manchester physicist Christer Watson.

The research by the 35 student presenters reflected the breadth of side-by-side study opportunities with faculty at the northern Indiana college, which offers more than 55 areas of study. For more about the liberal arts and sciences college, visit www.manchester.edu

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (4/15/2008)

"Elfhunter" by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods professor Christine Marks was selected as the best Fantasy book of 2007 by Reader Views Annual Literary Awards. Reader Views Annual Literary Awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a small press, university press, or independent book publisher.

"Elfhunter," written by Christine Marks, Ph.D., professor of equine studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, is a faced-paced, character-driven high fantasy. It centers upon the entanglement between Gorgon Elfhunter, a complex and chilling villain unlike any other, and headstrong heroine Gaelen Taldin, a Wood-elf of the Greatwood forest. A page-turner that may be enjoyed on many levels, this book immerses the reader in the world of Alterra and in the 'heroine's journey', as the characters strive in defense of love and light against the Elfhunter. "Elfhunter" may be purchased online at www.elfhunter.net.

Lynn V. Hughes
Executive Director of College Relations
and Special Assistant to the President
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876

Phone: 812-535-5212
Fax: 812-535-5010
Email: LHughes@smwc.edu
Web: www.smwc.edu

Independent Colleges of Indiana (4/15/2008)

Indiana Tech is pleased to announce Mark Richter as vice president of Institutional Advancement. Richter brings the university 20 years of experience in fundraising and university relations and 10 years of experience in law. His most recent position was director of philanthropy for the Foundation for Economic Education. Prior experience in higher education includes positions at Ohio Wesleyan University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Hillsdale College, and Michigan State University.

As the vice president of Institutional Advancement, Richter will lead a team of four staff members in fundraising and alumni relations. “Mark Richter brings valuable experience and leadership skills to our development team,” said Indiana Tech President Arthur E. Snyder. “He will have a significant impact on helping us move forward in the achievement of our goals.”

Richter joined the university on April 1. “I firmly believe that Indiana Tech’s best days lie ahead,” Richter said. “We are delivering top quality, career-focused, programs. Enrollment is growing rapidly. Our students are achieving success. I am excited about working with our alumni, friends and supporters as we marshal the resources necessary to provide a full range of educational opportunities to our students.”

Richter earned his law degree at Ohio Northern University, an MBA at Capital University, and a bachelor’s degree at Ohio University.

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (4/15/2008)

The equine training and handling class at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is gentling and training a special group of horses in preparation for adoption. The horses that are being trained are wild mustangs that were rescued through the Bureau of Land Management's Save the Mustang program.

Federal protection and a lack of natural predators have resulted in a thriving wild horse population that increases every year. The mustangs at SMWC were rescued from Wyoming, Florida and Montana, and they were selectively gathered from public lands, administered by the Bureau of Land Management, where the mustang populations have exceeded the carrying capacity of the land.

The horses arrived on campus during the weekend of March 7, and since that time, the SMWC students have been training them to stand quietly while tied; pick up all four feet; and to walk, trot and canter while being led by the student. Students have placed halters on the horses and loaded them into trailers.

SMWC is currently accepting bids for the seven mustangs that are being trained. All of the mustangs available for adoption are yearlings, and bidding begins at $125.

To qualify to adopt a mustang, adopters must be at least 18 years old, have the ability and financial means to care for a mustang, and have corrals that meet BLM specifications. Bidding will begin immediately and will remain open until April 21, 2008. Notification of adoption approval will be made before April 26, and horses must be picked up from SMWC between April 26 and April 28.

To receive an adoption application or to place a bid, contact Angie McMillin at 812-535-5003 or amcmillin@smwc.edu, or Sara Schulz at 812-535-5018 or sschulz@smwc.edu. Photos and descriptions of the mustangs that are available for adoption can be found online at www.smwc.edu.

###

Lynn V. Hughes
Executive Director of College Relations
and Special Assistant to the President
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876

Phone: 812-535-5212
Fax: 812-535-5010
Email: LHughes@smwc.edu
Web: www.smwc.edu

University of Evansville (4/15/2008)

The University of Evansville chapter of Delta Sigma Pi has presented Mark L. Lemond, president and CEO of Shoe Carnival, Inc., and 1978 UE graduate, with the 2008 Business Leader of the Year award.

“We are extremely excited to present this year’s award to Mr. Lemond,” said Robert Clark, dean of UE’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. “As a graduate of UE, as the CEO of a major corporation, and as a terrific corporate citizen with a long resume of service, Mr. Lemond is exactly the kind of person we invented this award for.”

Lemond, who graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business with a major in Accounting, has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Shoe carnival, Inc. since September 1996 and a member of its Board of Directors since 1988. Shoe Carnival, headquartered in Evansville, Indiana is a leading retailer of name brand and private label footwear and accessories with 300 stores in 27 states in the Midwest, South and Southeast.

In addition, Mr. Lemond currently serves on the Evansville Regional Business Committee, St. Mary’s Foundation Board, the Board of Directors of the Evansville Metro Old National Community Bank, the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana and the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville.

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The Core Purpose of the University of Evansville is to provide life transforming educational experiences that prepare students to engage the world as informed, ethical and productive citizens.

Joe Atkinson
News Director
University of Evansville
(812) 488-2562
ja122@evansville.edu

Indiana Tech (4/15/2008)

Indiana Tech’s cyber defense team took 2nd place at the Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in Jackson, Mich., in late March. Baker College took first place in a competition so close that the judges spent two hours verifying the scores. Indiana Tech’s team members are Gus Walzer, CJ Miller, Nick Roethemeier, Aaron Johnson, Chris Barnthouse, Mason Phonsavanh, Scott Laukhuf, and Jeremy Lemmel.

Indiana Tech (4/15/2008)

A team of three Indiana Tech students won the North Central HR Games held in Omaha, Neb., in April. Kristy Kiser, CJ Miller, and Ashlie Sklenicka defeated teams from 20 other universities. The HR Games are a Jeopardy-style academic competition covering a variety of topics in human resources. The games are sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management.

Manchester College (4/15/2008)