May 2012
Visit By Cuban Delegation In the Spotlight
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was the meeting place for discussion this week by faculty members from the University of Havana who talked about the likelihood of future economic and cultural exchange.
An article that appeared in the May 30 online issue of The Alton Telegraph titled "Cuban academics visit SIUE" focused on the visit by three professors from Cuba-Jorge Hernandez Martinez, a sociologist; Raul Rodriguez, a historian; and Luis Rene Fernandez Tabio, an economist, who toured the campus and met with SIUE's senior leadership, including College of Arts and Sciences Dean Aldemaro Romero, to collaborate. The professors were invited to campus through the University's Cuban and Caribbean Center project.
NCERC at SIUE is "Advancing Biofuels Research"
The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be promoting its strategies for "Advancing Biofuels Research" as part of a branding initiative approved by the Center's governor-appointed advisory board on March 29.
"While the Center will continue to do corn-based ethanol research, the new brand identity more accurately represents the vast scope of research taking place at the Center," Center director John Caupert said. "With the addition of the new fermentation suite and our Advanced Biofuels Research Initiative, we are actively expanding into the research and development of cellulosic ethanol, advanced biofuels such as bio-butanol, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. 'Advancing Biofuels Research' gets right to the heart of our mission at the Center."
The sharpened brand identity reflects the advanced biofuels research breakthroughs currently taking place at the Center, previously known as the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center. In May, the Center announced its research team had successfully produced the first ethanol from the cellulosic portion of the corn kernel, leading to national media attention and recognition.
"By utilizing existing technologies readily available in the commercial marketplace, the Center was able to produce a biofuel that builds upon the strengths of conventional corn ethanol and the promise of cellulosic ethanol, thus making bolt-on cellulosic ethanol a reality," Caupert said. "This translates into immediate opportunities for jobs and economic development, particularly in rural areas. But from a research perspective, this is only the beginning of an extremely exciting journey."
Caupert and the Center's research team maintain an active role within the biofuels industry. They will be presenters and participants in several high-profile conferences and programs this summer:
• On June 4-7, staff from the Center will participate in the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Minneapolis, Minn., with four presentations and as an exhibitor.
• Caupert will visit with members of Congress on June 19-20 in Washington, D.C. as part of the Growth Energy Illinois Ethanol Fly-In.
• The Center will attend the Department of Energy Biomass Summit on July 9-11 in Washington D.C.
• On July 12-13, Caupert will speak to the Illinois Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) on "Biofuels, Policy and Technology at a Crossroads."
• In May, Caupert was also invited to participate in the Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable in Washington D.C. with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and Department of the Navy.
For more information about the Center, visit www.advancingbiofuels.org.
About the Center
The NCERC at SIUE is a nationally-recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals, and other renewable compounds. Established through federal and state initiatives, with support from the Illinois and National Corn Growers Associations, the Center promotes rural development and economic stimulus and is providing tomorrow's workforce with the skills needed to meet the challenges of a changing energy environment. Designated as a Bio-refining Center of Excellence, the Center assists in developing the technologies needed to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil and provide consumers with economically sound and environmentally responsible fuel options. Research initiatives in renewable energy at the Center are supported through grants, contracts and donor contributions. For more information, contact Courtney Breckenridge at 618-401-9218 or cbreckenridge@ethanolresearch.com or visit http://www.ethanolresearch.com.
SIUE Begins Plans for School of Dental Medicine Renovation
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees gave approval for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to develop plans and cost estimates to renovate the School of Dental Medicine's research laboratories on the Alton campus. The Board acted at its regularly scheduled May meeting on the SIUE campus.
"Because faculty mentoring of student research is a vital part of our program, the renovation will directly impact student scholarship," said Bruce Rotter, interim dean of the School of Dental Medicine. "The renovation also will directly impact faculty recruiting efforts in a positive fashion.
"The renovation will allow us to repurpose some existing labs to accommodate the specific research interests of our faculty. It also will create shared lab space and shared equipment for improved stewardship of the existing space."
The plans will look at designs for renovating up to 16 research laboratories. The cost of the project will be finalized once a comprehensive estimate is determined. The project is to be underwritten from donated funds, equipment use fees and University operating funds.
A Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process will be conducted to select a consultant for this project. The consultant will help determine the extent of the work to be done and the estimated cost. Final project, budget approval and award of contracts will require further Board action.
SIUE Alumnus Rick Bragga Receives AHP Award For Healthcare Development
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Rick Bragga was recently honored with an Award of Excellence for exemplary service and extraordinary leadership in the field of health care development.
The Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) recognized Bragga, a Virginia attorney, at its recent annual conference in Alexandria, Va. The 1,000-member division of AHP spans a seven-state region from New York to Virginia.
In his nearly three-decade career promoting philanthropy on behalf of health care institutions, Bragga is the only member of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy to have received the association's top awards for professional writing, lifetime leadership and research. He is a senior consultant for Corporate DevelopMint, a national firm that advises nonprofit organizations in meeting their development needs.
"Rick has demonstrated excellence in all his health care fundraising positions helping organizations reach their potential," said Pamela Ronka Maroulis, CFRE, AHP Mid-Atlantic education chair and director of development for the Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation.
"Rick is the type of person who can make things happen. He is a great colleague and asset to the profession," added Ellen Finnerty Myers, CFRE, director of AHP's Mid-Atlantic Region and chief development officer and vice president of community affairs at Carroll Hospital Center Foundation in Westminster, Md.
Bragga has twice been the recipient of both AHP's research award and journal award for best article. A past regional director of the association, Bragga chaired two of the region's education conferences. During his tenure as annual fund chair, the region was honored by the association with four national first place awards.
A resident of Richmond, Va., Bragga was previously recognized by AHP in 2008 with the Si Seymour International Award for his distinguished lifetime of national and international leadership and outstanding contributions to health care philanthropy. He is also a Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (FAHP), the association's highest professional credential.
Bragga holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in mass communications from SIUE and a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has been an active board member of the Heart of Virginia Council of the Boy Scouts of America and serves on the national alumni and Eagle Scout Association committees. Rick also chairs the National Scouting Museum committee.
The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, established in 1967, is a not-for-profit organization whose more than 4,900 members direct philanthropic programs in 2,000 of North America's nonprofit health care providers. The association's Mid-Atlantic Region covers New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Hospitals, health care systems and related facilities for which AHP members raise charitable funds provide essential, comprehensive services to their communities, as well as wellness programs, mobile health vans, mammography screenings, hearing and eye exams, and many other community-based health care services.
To learn more, visit www.ahp.org.
SIUE Road Repairs Under Way
Recently, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville began improvements to North University Drive. Intermittent single lane closures are occurring on North University Drive from the fan lots to Lewis Road, East University Drive and Cougar Lake Road through the end of July. North University Drive will be closed from Lewis Road to Poag Road through mid-June. A detour will be available to traffic via Lewis Road.
BBC Visits SIUE Kinesiology Labs
Members of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) spent time on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus Tuesday. Researchers in the SIUE Department of Kinesiology and Health Education conducted various laboratory tests for a BBC Horizon documentary series on diet and calorie restriction.
Curt Lox, professor and chair of the department of kinesiology and health education, said the BBC crew became interested in using SIUE as a testing site due to its equipment and testing capabilities. BBC Director Kate Dart was drawn to a specific piece of equipment, the BodPod, which assesses an individual's composition of lean and fat body mass. Dart researched the BodPod website and discovered that SIUE owned the device. Already scheduled for a stop in St. Louis, she decided to schedule some testing at SIUE.
"The BBC's decision to utilize our lab reflects positively on the emerging reputation of both our department and the University as a whole," said Dr. Lox, who believes the collaborative effort is a tremendous boon for SIUE. "We certainly couldn't ask for better international publicity than this, given the BBC's reach and reputation. We are grateful to our administration for helping to acquire the state-of-the-art equipment that was so appealing to the BBC."
The still-to-be-titled episodes explore calorie restriction in one's diet in an effort to stay younger and extend an individual life. The production team led by Dart and researcher Roshan Samarasinghe began taping in London and will visit Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and Baltimore during the next two weeks. The crew expects to complete the project by the end of August with an autumn release date on the BBC. Whether the show will air on BBC America is not yet known.
Dr. Bryan Smith, an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology and health education led two participants through two different body composition assessments utilizing the BodPod as the iDXA scanning unit. The participants were Joe Cordell, a St. Louisan, and Michael Mosley, a presenter and executive producer of a variety of exercise and health programming for the BBC. Both men are over 50 years old.
"It was an enjoyable experience," Smith said. "The crew and participants were a pleasure to work with, and the final product will be great exposure for the department and the University."
Sigma-Aldrich Pledges $150,000 to SIUE Arts and Sciences
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences Dean Aldemaro Romero today announced that Sigma-Aldrich Corporation has pledged $150,000 over a 5-year period supporting the College's introduction of a new degree program along with contributing to the new science building on campus. The gift also will result in naming rights for a laboratory in the new facility and support classroom equipment and supplies.
"Sigma-Aldrich is the largest supplier of specialty biochemicals worldwide," said Robert Dixon, associate professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Chemistry. "When you need chemicals, or biological materials, to perform biochemical research, Sigma-Aldrich is considered the number one vendor. Having this relationship with such a highly regarded company is tremendously beneficial to SIUE and its students."
One of the new laboratories in the science building, which is scheduled for completion by Oct. 31, 2012, will be named The Sigma-Aldrich Biochemistry Lab. The company's support also has led to the introduction of a biochemistry degree program, which is designed to meet the requirements of the American Chemical Society. It will help in preparing SIUE graduates for careers in chemistry and life science-focused organizations, including Sigma-Aldrich.
"Our biochemistry degree fits within the profile of employees that Sigma-Aldrich hires," Dixon said. "With our biochemistry - as well as our chemistry - degrees, many of our students may end up working for this leading organization."
Dixon says the biochemistry program will help attract new students to SIUE. With chemistry and biochemistry already having nearly 150 students, Dixon predicts that each year up to an additional 50 students will choose SIUE for their chemistry or biochemistry degree as the increased classroom and lab space will provide an attractive learning environment. The funding will help fill the labs with the necessary equipment required to support these students as they pursue their degrees.
"Many students are in biology and chemistry, but mainly biology, because it's in tune with pre-med and pre-dental," Dixon said. "This new degree will have more of the students choosing chemistry as a major. It provides better choices for the students."
Sigma-Aldrich has a history of supporting SIUE by having donated $30,000 over the past decade to sponsor the Probst lecture series, which is named for one of the founding members of the chemistry department.
Romero and directors of development Craig Steiner and Marilyn Marsho worked with Sigma-Aldrich Vice President of Marketing and R&D Deborah Slagle and Site Manufacturing Director Bob Ringering to finalize the donation. Both Ringering and Slagle are SIUE alumni.
Sigma-Aldrich is headquartered in St. Louis and is a leading life science and high technology company. It operates in 40 countries and has 7,600 employees providing service worldwide. Its chemical and biochemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to accelerating customers' success through innovation and leadership in life science, high technology and service.
The Sigma-Aldrich gift contributes to Defining Excellence-the Campaign for SIUE toward reaching its goal to raise $50 million by garnering alumni and community support. To date, $32 million has been raised. Publically launched in March 2011, the major gifts campaign is about taking SIUE to a new level of prominence and performance. For more information, visit siue.edu/definingexcellence.
For more information on SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.siue.edu/artsandsciences.
Chancellor's Retirement Celebration Raises $130,000
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift's retirement celebration in early April was a huge success in many ways. Nearly 200 colleagues, associates, friends, family members and community leaders gathered in the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom to toast Vandegrift's highly successful eight-year tenure. The event also raised $130,000 for the Vaughn and Sue Vandegrift Chancellor's Scholarship endowment.
KMOX radio personality Charlie Brennan added to the festivities by serving as master of ceremonies through an evening that was filled with laughter, fond memories, good will and surprises.
The highlight of the evening undoubtedly was the introduction of Vandegrift's long-time friend and former Montclair State colleague Joe Marina, who is now a Jesuit priest at Boston College. Vandegrift had no idea that Marina would be in attendance and was intently watching a video of Marina at first saying regrets for having to miss the event and then congratulating Vandegrift for his stellar career. At one point, Marina stopped, and said, "And all I really want to say at this point Vaughn is…well, let me say it in person." Out from behind a curtain stepped Marina to Vandegrift's ultimate surprise and joy.
Marina went on to regale the crowd with stories from Vandegrift's early days at Montclair St. and the role his good friend played in Marina's decision to join the priesthood.
The roll call of tributes began with SIU president Glenn Poshard describing how proud he was to have hired Vandegrift as SIUE's seventh chancellor and the friendship that resulted from the trials, tribulations and successes of being leaders in higher education.
Edwardsville mayor Gary Niebur stepped to the podium to relate how the collaboration between the University and the city grew exponentially through Vandegrift's leadership. In appreciation of Vandegrift's outstanding efforts at SIUE, Niebur delivered a proclamation that April 14, 2012 was declared Vaughn Vandegrift Day in Edwardsville.
Vice Chancellor for University Relations Patrick Hundley thanked the crowd for their support of the fundraiser and noted three individuals who all donated $25,000 to the chancellor's scholarship endowment: Byron Farrell, from Marco Island, Fla., and chair of Defining Excellence - The Campaign for SIUE; Hal Gentry from Clayton, Mo.; and John Simmons, current chairman of the SIU Board of Trustees.
Dr. Ed Hightower, SIU Board of Trustees member, superintendent of Edwardsville School District 7 and noted NCAA men's basketball referee, highlighted Vandegrift's driving of Cougar athletics to NCAA Division I status. SIU general counsel Jeff McLellan advised, tongue-in-cheek, that only his astute legal advice kept Vandegrift one step ahead of the authorities. Long-time Vandegrift golfing partner Gerry Schutzenhofer took pot shots at Vandegrift's golf game as only a good friend can.
Sue Vandegrift, recognized as the First Lady of SIUE, traced her husband's career path for the attendant crowd and described the challenges along the way as they went from living in tiny quarters to being in different states for various lengths of time. But she noted that the SIUE opportunity came along at the perfect time in their lives and proved to be the perfect place for Vaughn to close his administrative career.
She let everyone know that administrative assistant Joyce Brendle always had a daily list for the chancellor to keep in his pocket, so that he'd stay on schedule. Sue already had a list for Monday, July 2, Vaughn's first official day of retirement. At 9 a.m., bring Sue coffee on the deck; at 11 a.m., play golf; and at 3 p.m., bring Sue drinks on the deck!
With his final turn at the microphone, Vandegrift for the most part refrained from throwing darts back at any of the individuals who took liberties with his habits or idiosyncrasies; although he did point out that most of that inside information had to come from Brendle, who merely smiled sheepishly in the back of the room. He focused on thanking everyone in the ballroom and in the community who had helped with his efforts to make SIUE nationally known.
Although still seemingly in the prime of his career and at the height of his influence at SIUE, Vandegrift let it be known that he made a promise to Sue that he would retire at 65 and spend more time with his grandchildren. He finished his remarks with his now traditional, "Go Cougars! Go Big e!" The program concluded with a touching video featuring his children and grandchildren congratulating him for a wonderful career and looking forward to seeing him soon.
Brennan closed the evening by saying, "This has been an evening to acknowledge your accomplishments and thank you for all you've done. As you move on to the next stage of your life, please know that your friends and family at SIUE will always remember your commitment to student success and your passion for the' e.' We hereby promote you from chancellor to full-time Papa!"
SIUE Grad is Named Missouri Small Business Person of the Year
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alum Vicki LaRose was recently named Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Missouri. LaRose graduated in 1990 and quickly started with Sverdrup Corp. which is now Jacobs Engineering, located in St. Louis.
Soon after realizing the potential growth for entrepreneurship opportunities in St. Louis, LaRose and her husband began their own private engineering practice, Civil Design Inc. in 1996. LaRose has offices in St. Louis and Collinsville with over 20 employees. More information regarding LaRose can be found here.
SIUE Grad Heads Special Program for Young Engineers
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Mike Scott, in conjunction with a fellow teacher, Pat Dugas, is heading a new special program at Carrollton Grade School to educate students on engineering, science and math. Scott graduated from SIUE with a degree in chemistry before beginning his career as a chemistry and physics teacher at Carrollton High School.
The Robotics Club formed a BOT ball team this past school year and will be offered to the students enrolled in engineering classes. Both Scott and Dugas will be teaching introductory engineering courses for student elective options. The Robotics Club competed in a competition this past year at SIUE. More information on the Carrollton Grade School engineering program can be found at myjournalcourier.com.
SIUE Is Among 11 Centers of Excellence in Pain Education
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pain Consortium has selected Southern Illinois University Edwardsville among 11 institutions as designated Centers of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPEs).
SIUE School of Pharmacy associate professor Chris Herndon, PharmD., led the grant application.
"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity." Herndon said. "The subsequent impact on patient care for those in pain in our region will be immeasurable."
The CoEPEs will act as hubs for the development, evaluation and distribution of pain management curriculum resources for medical, dental, nursing and pharmacy schools to enhance and improve how health care professionals are taught about pain and its treatment. Twenty institutes, centers and offices at NIH are involved in the consortium.
A number of SIUE faculty members will serve as co-investigators, including Dr. Keith Hecht, Dr. Erin Timpe and Dr. McKenzie Ferguson from the School of Pharmacy; Dr. Kevin Rowland from the SIU School of Dental Medicine; and Dr. Carol Wesley from the Department of Social Work in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Michael Neumeister from the SIU School of Medicine. Saint Louis University also is collaborating with SIUE, with Dr. Mary Ann Lavin representing the SLU School of Nursing, and Dr. Ray Tait serving as the co-manager of the CoEPE. He will provide direction on the curriculum development for psychology.
The new Centers of Excellence in Pain Education were selected by the NIH Pain Consortium after a contract solicitation process and review. Along with SIUE, the other awardees are the University of Washington, Seattle; the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia; the University of Rochester, N.Y.; the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston; the University of Alabama at Birmingham; the Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine, Philadelphia; the University of California, San Francisco; the University of Maryland, Baltimore; and the University of Pittsburgh.
Chronic pain affects about 100 million Americans, costing up to $635 billion in medical treatment and lost productivity, and producing immeasurable suffering for people of all ages. Yet, pain treatment is not taught extensively in many health professional schools, and clinical approaches can be inconsistent. Types of pain of particular interest to the NIH Pain Consortium are rehabilitation pain, arthritis and musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain and headache pain.
NIH institutes and centers funding the CoEPEs include the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is coordinating the project; the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; the National Institute of Nursing Research; the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; the National Institute on Aging; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research; the Office of Research on Women's Health; and NINDS. Other NIH institutes and centers that are part of the consortium will act as technical advisors to the project. The full list of the consortium members can be found at: http://painconsortium.nih.gov/members.html.
About the NIH Pain Consortium
The NIH Pain Consortium was established to enhance pain research and promote collaboration among researchers across the many NIH Institutes and Centers that have programs and activities addressing pain. Its goals include the development of a comprehensive and forward-thinking pain research agenda for the NIH; to identify key opportunities in pain research within NIH and the scientific community; to increase visibility for pain research; and to pursue the pain research agenda through Public-Private partnerships. For more information on the Pain Consortium, visit http://painconsortium.nih.gov/index.html.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
School of Pharmacy
Dedicated to developing a community of caring pharmacists, the SIUE School of Pharmacy curriculum balances education, research, service and patient care. As the only downstate Illinois pharmacy doctorate program, the SIUE School of Pharmacy is addressing the growing need for well-trained pharmacists in a career field that is experiencing rapid and dramatic growth.
SIUE Receives $469,000 Art Donation From Emilio Sanchez Foundation
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's University Museum now houses the largest collection of artwork in the country by the late, internationally acclaimed artist, Emilio Sanchez, thanks to a recent acquisition facilitated by University Museum Director Eric Barnett.
The donation of Cuban art from the Emilio Sanchez Foundation through the Cuban Caribbean Center in the College of Arts and Sciences is valued at $469,000. Sanchez was a Cuban 20th century artist whose paintings are part of the collections of many of the most important art museums in the world. The artist's will stipulated that a foundation be set up "to preserve, promote, and sell his numerous artworks … with the wish to help fund ophthalmologic research and art scholarships." However, the foundation was only set up to last for 10 years. After the 10 years passed, the collection was to be distributed.
Barnett discovered the collection through a listserv accessible to academic museums and galleries. The Foundation had placed a notice that a large portion of the collection was available for interested institutions. The University Museum first acquired a piece of Sanchez's art in 1971, when it purchased a large lithograph.
"Most of what we acquired are works on paper," Barnett said. "There are about 38 paintings on canvas and board, along with watercolor, ink, pencil along with some color and black and white lithographs. It includes a lot of sunsets both in New York City and away from the city. There are literally hundreds of still lives of vases and flowers. So, we picked a handful that represented that grouping. I tried to be selective in order to get a broad overview."
Barnett also stated that having Sanchez's art on campus only strengthens the link that SIUE has with the Caribbean region.
"We have been attached to the Caribbean mostly because of Katherine Dunham and her dance, and her affinity for Haiti, and the other Caribbean countries," Barnett stated. "So, there has been this long standing interest in the Caribbean. I know several faculty members who have traveled there over the years. In fact, Otis Sweezey, the retired chair of theater and dance, went down there. One of his photographs won a contest in the St. Louis Post Dispatch."
Several of the framed paintings have already been put on display in campus offices. With the number and variety of pieces, Barnett hopes that the University Museum will be able to put together a retrospective exhibition on Sanchez.
"His art is modern and it's refreshing," Barnett said. "His imagery is accessible. Since a lot of what we do is put art out on campus, it helps to have items that are accessible to people both intellectually and aesthetically."
Sanchez was born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1921. He began his artistic training at the Art Students League in 1944 when he moved to New York City where he lived until he died in 1999. However, it was in Cuba that he became fascinated with the play of light and shadow on colored that became a dominant characteristic of his works. For more information about Sanchez visit emiliosanchezfoundation.org.
The Sanchez Foundation gift contributes to Defining Excellence-the Campaign for SIUE, which has a goal to raise $50 million by garnering alumni and community support. To date, $32 million has been raised. Publically launched in March 2011, the major gifts campaign aims to take SIUE to a new level of prominence and performance. For more information, visit siue.edu/definingexcellence.
For more information on SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.siue.edu/artsandsciences
SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Graduates Among Good Statistics
Part of the Class of 2012 from left to right: Julian Bynum, T'keyah Byrum, Quame Jefferson, Anetra Johnson and Leon Kerby.
Eighteen-year-old Deborah Wilson-Wiley knows there are some people who would underestimate her. But the East St. Louis, Ill., teen didn't let that stop her from working hard, being positive and graduating at the top of her class.
Wilson-Wiley recently graduated as class valedictorian from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's East St. Louis Charter High School with a 3.5 grade point average.
"I'm an open-minded person and I choose to be positive," said Wilson-Wiley, who plans to major in accounting at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. "If I can't reach my goal one way, I'll look for three or more different ways to get there."
The Charter High School valedictorian and 12 other graduating seniors were living testimonies to one of their school's slogans: "Failure is not an option."
That, along with another East St. Louis Charter High School slogan: "Excellence Everyday for Every Student" became a mantra for 18-year-old Jeremiah Rogers. The graduating senior said his school work became harder each year and when he felt himself slipping behind, he sought help. Rogers graduated with a 3.0 grade point average and plans to major in mechanical electrical engineering at Lake Land Community College in the Dual Admission Program at Eastern Illinois University.
"There are a lot of obstacles out here to overcome," Rogers said. "But you can do it. I stayed focused and positioned myself to do well."
The 2012 graduating class of the SIUE East St. Louis Charter School was part of the 3.2 million students nationally who are expected to graduate this year, said Dr. Venessa Brown, associate provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and executive director of the SIUE East St. Louis Center.
"But what is exciting to me is that you are a part of that statistic and not another," Brown said during her recent commencement address.
Earlier in the ceremony, Veronica "Gina" Washington, director of the East St. Louis Charter High School, also touched the practice of quoting negative data that involve African Americans and letting that become the only measuring stick.
"Despite what the statistics and naysayers may have said, we know something different," Washington said.
And that "something" is that East St. Louis Charter High School graduating seniors overcame obstacles and now are beginning a new chapter in their lives, said Wilson-Wiley in her speech.
Wiley was one of three graduating seniors who received a scholarship from the H.O.P.E. (Helping our Own Prosper in East St. Louis) Foundation. Wiley received a check for $1,000. Class Salutatorian Nicola Paulette and Juliann Bynum each received a check for $500. The H.O.P.E. Foundation was established by Nicole E. Williams and Levi Leake, 1992 and 1993 graduates, respectively, of the East St. Louis Senior High School. This is the third year that the two Chicago residents have awarded the scholarship to deserving high school students in East St. Louis.
The other Charter High School graduating seniors included: Tyran Bohanna, Tkeyah Byrum, Quame Jefferson, Anetra Johnson, Leon Kerby, Ezzard Long, Maia Morgan, April Murry and Troymica Wright.
Performing Arts Presents Spring Production And Celebrates Milestones
Students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Performing Arts Program and the East St. Louis Charter High School, in a musical sense, took their audience on a musical excursion to Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Brazil in their recent spring production.
The "Tropical Revue" featured dance and music with a Latin flair and songs, with some lyrics sung in Spanish. Students, ages 6-18, also thrilled audiences with wardrobe changes that took on a Las Vegas feel.
Guest choreographers for the production included Carmen Gyunn, founder and executive director of the St. Louis Salsa Congress, and Ashi Smythe, former original cast member of the Broadway Production of the Lion King. Also choreographing musical numbers were the SIUE Performing Arts Program Director, Theodore H. Jamison, and the Performing Arts Program and Charter High School staff: Andrea Smythe, Jack Williams, Jamila Ajanaku and E.L. Wilkes.
Adding to the celebration was the retirement recognition of Jamison and Smythe. Both Jamison and Smythe have worked for SIUE for more than 30 years. The pair was each given an award and a plant.
Also receiving recognition at the production was longtime performing arts student, Venizia Manuel of East St. Louis. The eighteen-year-old Manuel, who has been part of the SIUE Performing Arts Program from the age of eight, received a $500 check from the Parents on the Movement for the Arts (PMA). Manuel, a dancer and choreographer, received the scholarship for her long and many contributions. Manuel plans to attend the University of Iowa in the fall and major in dance and education.
"The SIUE East St. Louis Performing Arts Program staff taught me discipline, good work ethics and pushed me to go beyond my limits," said Manuel. "They never let me rest on my past successes, but kept pushing me to go further and try harder. I especially appreciated Mr. Jamison because I know he demanded excellence. But he was just as encouraging to us as he was tough."
Speech Communication Students Travel To Europe
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville speech communication students say goodbye to the traditional American classroom this summer as they journey to Europe for a four-week international public relations course.
"Ever since I started my Ph.D. work, I have had the idea that when I finished and became a professor, I would take my students abroad," said Dr. Sorin Nastasia, an assistant professor in Speech Communication. "I believe in building bridges between various populations, and a solid education must have an international component in today's globalized world."
Nastasia and a dozen students depart May 24 for Lyon, France and Bucharest, Romania, where they will spend two weeks in each country. They will learn public relations theories and practices in international settings and will meet with local faculty and PR professionals.
During the students' time in Lyon, they will study at Universite Lumiere Lyon 2. Later in Bucharest, they will study at the National University for Political Studies and Public Administration.
In addition to attending workshops and lectures at the universities, students also will shadow practitioners as well as contribute to campaigns at selected public relations firms to improve their PR knowledge and expertise.
"Students need to learn two main things: how to handle PR in international settings; and how to position themselves as citizens of the world," Nastasia said.
Students will not only learn international PR first hand, but also be exposed to the uniquely European landscapes, architecture, history and cuisine. Nastasia's goal is to have students experience as much as possible about the disparate culture and people of these two countries. He plans to connect his students to local residents while exploring different historical and cultural landmarks.
By the end of the trip, students should have an expanded understanding of the international public relations profession and an improved knowledge of basic differences between America and these two countries. The course will bolster the students' employment opportunities, including the possibility to enter the international marketplace.
"Outcomes of this trip should include students broadening their horizons and becoming more aware of worldwide current events and trends," Nastasia said.
The Excellence in Undergraduate Education (EUE) program awarded a grant to fund the Speech Communication Department's first study abroad opportunity. The grant covers all expenses except airfare and tuition, which each student will contribute $2,700 to cover.
The students are thankful for the chance at an international experience. "If it weren't for the EUE grant, I probably would have missed out on this incredible learning opportunity," said Colleen Ryan, one of the students making the trip.
As the departure date nears, the students are excited to discover Europe. One of the selected students, Dan Schmidt, spent six years in Europe in the military and is thrilled to return in a different capacity.
"I can't wait to explore Europe again," Schmidt said. "It will be exciting to be there with this enjoyable group, watching their reactions to the cultural difference … and learning along the way!"
SIUE Business Senior Returns From Manila
Jeffry Harrison, a senior from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business, recently traveled to Manila, Philippines to represent the honor society Phi Kappa Phi at the group's induction ceremony.
Jun Sabug, a professor at the University of the Philippines in Manila welcomed Harrison as a speaker at an April 13 ceremony at the University. More than 1,200 guests attended the event at which more than 425 students from across the globe were inducted into the organization. Harrison was given a lightweight, embroidered formal garment of the Philippines, known as a Barong, to wear to the ceremony. The event opened with the national anthem and a march of colors.
Harrison's address focused on uniqueness and opportunity. He had the chance to speak with students from Ateneo de Manila University about how to become more involved in Phi Kappa Phi.
Harrison said the trip impressed upon him what it is like to be a visitor from another country.
"They kept presenting me as their guest 'international' speaker and, it emphasized that I was in fact a foreigner," he said. "Going outside of Manila and seeing the extreme difference in social classes and poverty really had an impact on me, because that isn't something you see in America very often."
Though much of Harrison's trip focused on the honor society, and meeting with business owners and students to discuss his company, Rover town, he was able to enjoy sightseeing at locations including the Taal Volcano located on the island of Luzon.
Harrison serves as the honor society's vice president of students. His role as a member of the board of directors allows him to guide current and prospective students involved with the organization.
Traveling Exhibition Tells the Story of Lincoln's Struggle to Meet The Constitutional Challenges of the Civil War
"Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War," a traveling exhibition opening at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Lovejoy Library on Wednesday June 20, 2012, examines how President Abraham Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the Civil War-the secession of Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties.
Lincoln is widely acknowledged as one of America's greatest presidents, but his historical reputation is contested. Was he a calculating politician willing to accommodate slavery, or a principled leader justly celebrated as the Great Emancipator? This exhibition provides no easy answers. Rather, it encourages visitors to form a nuanced view of Lincoln by engaging them with the late president's struggle to reconcile his policy preferences with basic American ideals of liberty and equality. This exhibition develops a more complete understanding of Abraham Lincoln as president, and the Civil War as the nation's gravest constitutional crisis.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860, at a time when the nation was on the brink of war. Lincoln struggled to resolve the basic questions that divided Americans at the most perilous moment in the nation's history: Was the United States truly one nation, or was it a confederacy of sovereign and separate states? How could a country founded on the belief that "all men are created equal" tolerate slavery? In a national crisis, would civil liberties be secure? Lincoln used the Constitution to confront these three crises of war, ultimately reinventing the Constitution and the promise of American life.
"We are delighted to have been selected as a site for this exhibition," Dean of Library and Information Services Regina McBride said. As a new president, Abraham Lincoln was faced with enormous challenges. This exhibition shows how Lincoln struggled with issues of secession, slavery and civil liberties-all questions our country's founding charter left unanswered. Each section of the exhibit features information about a different aspect of Lincoln's presidency. For example, the section about slavery examines the various policy options Lincoln once embraced and how his thoughts about slavery evolved over time. Most importantly, the exhibit helps visitors understand why Lincoln's struggle with the Constitution still matters today.
The National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office organized the traveling exhibition, which was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): great ideas brought to life. The traveling exhibition is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the National Constitution Center.
SIUE's principal investigator on this grant is Caroline Pryor, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Education's department of curriculum and instruction. Julia Hansen, an associate professor in Lovejoy Library, is the co-director.
The traveling exhibition is composed of informative panels featuring photographic reproductions of original documents, including a draft of Lincoln's first inaugural speech, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment.
The Library is sponsoring free programs for the public in connection with the exhibition. On July 10, 2012, at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Louis Gerteis from the University of Missouri St. Louis, will speak on "Slaves, Servants and Soldiers: Uneven Paths to Freedom in the Border States." On July23, 2012, at 4:00 p.m., two members of the SIUE Department of Historical Studies, Dr. Stephen Hansen and Dr. Jason Stacy will discuss "Lincoln and the Constitutional Problem of Homeland Security."
Contact Lovejoy Library at 618-650-4636 or visit siue.edu/lovejoylibrary for more information. "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War" will be on display at the library until August 3, 2012.
SIUE Head Start Center Leaves Memorial For Community
For the past 24 years, children have been taught and molded at the St. Joseph's Head Start Center in East St. Louis. Both the preschoolers and the community have reaped the benefits the center has provided, helping develop area children. The center is operated by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start Program.
So, as the Head Start Center is preparing to move to a new East St. Louis location, it wanted to leave something permanent behind to thank the community and commemorate its long collaboration with St. Augustine Church and the neighborhood. St. Augustine of Hippo Catholic Church, formerly known as St. Joseph, has leased the school on its East St. Louis campus to SIUE for more than 20 years.
"We've had good experiences here, and we so appreciate everything the church and community have done to support our center," said Lutricia West, center coordinator at St. Joseph Head Start. "That is why we had this memorial built outside of the school."
Michael McKinney, parent of St. Joseph student Myanna McKinney, built a six-foot wooden structure of a tree in a box. Students, parents, teachers and staff decorated the sculpture with various items that represented memorable experiences at St. Joseph. Affixed to the wooden carving are such things as rocks painted by the children, magic markers, pine cones, sticks, toy scissors, paper clips, toothbrushes and barrettes.
Currently enrolled at the St. Joseph's Head Start Center are 106 children, age's three to five.
"Everywhere I go in the area, I have met people who have said they were once students or had family members at St. Joseph's Head Start," said West. "They all recall having a wonderful experience here. St. Joseph has been a stable, significant, and historic influence in this community. Some of the children have grown up to become attorneys, medical personnel and educators."
Cougar Village Certification First In Metro East
Three years ago lightning was the culprit for gutting and demolishing a residential building in Cougar Village Apartment Complex at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Today, the eight-unit building which was rebuilt better and stronger, has earned a silver certification award from the U.S. Green Building Council. Also, the building at 529 Cougar Village is the first of its kind on the SIUE campus and in the Metro East to hold the distinction of being endorsed by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Rating System.
The LEED green building certification program is internationally known for recognizing design and building strategies aimed at such things as energy savings, water efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
The apartment building in Cougar Village, which has sprinkler systems installed throughout, has fire and smoke alarm systems that are tied into the SIUE Police Department emergency system, Schultz said.
The new residential building is also categorized as an Energy Star Qualified Home, because it met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) strict energy efficiency guidelines.
"I think it was the right thing to do - rebuilding it with sustainable design," said Michael Schultz, director of University Housing. "Residential Housing, of course, is part of SIUE. One of the University's values is being a good steward of the environment. Therefore, we had an obligation to build responsibly."
Emphasis On Student Achievement Wins SIUE Housing National Award
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University Housing is always working on student success and student retention. And University Housing's recent efforts in bolstering student accomplishment has earned them the first Making Achievement Possible (MAP)-Works Overall Excellence Award from Educational Benchmarking Inc. (EBI).
SIUE took second place in the category of Housing/Residential Life, according to Michael Schultz, director of University Housing. Kathleen Gardner, associate director of Residence Life for University Housing, is the program director and nominated SIUE for the national award.
"I think it's an honor to be nationally recognized for efforts in making sure that our students are successful in their educational endeavors," Schultz said.
EBI identified those institutions committed to improving student success and retention through the use of MAP-Works and evaluated their methodology and outcomes. MAP-Works is a student success and retention program. It empowers faculty and staff to help in retention and student success by identifying at-risk students. SIUE surveyed approximately 1,100 residential first-year students, Schultz said. The two main focus areas that were identified were homesickness and the need for positive peer connections.
Some action items that Residential Life identified in helping combat the problem of homesickness included: educating staff about myths of homesickness and recognizing the warning signs, consistently following up with forlorn students and sharing homesickness statistics with first-year students to help normalize the experience.
A few ways peer connections were enhanced to improve outcomes included implementing at least one formal program dealing with interpersonal relationships, resident assistants provided resources on how to get involved on campus and professional staff developed programs, shared bulletin board and other information that address the need for peer connections.
SIUE Union Station Renovation Approved
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees gave approval at its May meeting for a $1.3 million renovation of SIU Edwardsville's Union Station convenience store. Union Station is located on the main level of SIUE's Morris University Center on campus.
The project will improve congestion in the current floor plan, as well as ADA accessibility, re-stocking functions and customer point-of-sale systems. A Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process chose AAIC, Inc., a Collinsville architectural firm, to design the project. After designs are completed, bids will be sought.
"We are excited about the opportunity to expand the store to reduce congestion and allow access." MUC director Joseph Pearson said. "The project will approximately double the footprint of the store, offering a more open atmosphere and also allowing us to increase our "grab and go" options.
"We will be better able to serve our customers who are demanding a quick and affordable dining option, and customers shouldn't have to wait in line to do so. We do quite a bit of business in our small store currently, and we anticipate this project will allow for a better shopping/dining quick snack experience for the entire campus community."
Construction is projected to begin during the spring semester of 2013 with completion expected in summer 2013. Funding will be through the MUC's Repair, Replacement and Reserve (RRR) funds.
Career Development Center Featured on KPLR-TV
Career Development Center Associate Director Tammy Dugan appeared on KPLR-TV's The Pulse of St. Louis on Saturday, May 12, during the 7 p.m. news segment. The half-hour feature focused on current graduates and successfully managing the challenges of the job market. Dugan appeared on a panel with host Shirley Washington and representatives from Stivers Staffing Services, a national employment placement service, and Ameren Human Resources, the regional power utility.
You can view the show at the following link: http://wp.me/p1ZRmm-7AK
Tufts SDM Dean To Speak June 2 At SIU Dental Commencement
Dr. Huw F. Thomas, dean and professor of pediatric dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, will be guest speaker at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2.
Nearly 50 students will receive a doctor of dental medicine at the event in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Morris University Center. A reception for students, faculty and family members will follow the ceremony.
Thomas-a highly respected leader in dental education, an accomplished researcher and a skilled administrator-served as dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) before moving to Tufts. He has also held faculty appointments at the University of Connecticut Health Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he chaired the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
With a dental degree from Guy's Hospital at the University of London, Thomas went on to earn a pediatric dentistry certificate at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, N.Y., and a master's in dental research at the University of Rochester. He also holds a doctorate in biomedical sciences from the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.
Dr. Thomas has presented more than 100 lectures and taught continuing education courses at various universities, associations and study clubs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He is author or co-author of more than 150 published articles, chapters and abstracts in a broad spectrum of scientific journals.
His research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health from 1985 until he assumed the dean's position at UAB in 2004. Thomas is currently involved in studies on tooth development, nutrition and infant oral health.
Dr. Thomas holds fellowships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists. A former chair of the American Dental Education Association Council of Deans, Thomas is currently vice president for deans on the board of directors of the American Dental Education Association.
He has also served as chair of the Section on Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2010, Dr. Thomas received the Award for Excellence from the Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine.
A&I Ends 2011-12 Season With Operatic-Like Tribute To Edwardsville
Squonk Opera, a multimedia performance troupe touring the country with its "hometown opera" series for the past six years, will perform its final performance of the series-Edwardsville: The Opera-at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Two members of the troupe spent more than four days interviewing some 25 local residents, while gathering historical photos, taking video throughout Edwardsville and working with local dancers. The group calls the series "site-specific operas that adapts to each host community, weaving hometown documentation with Squonk's aural and visual trickery" and a "meta-civic celebration, with an original score … a heartfelt toast and a punk-vaudevillian roast."
The performance will take place in the theater at SIUE's Dunham Hall. The performance, co-sponsored by the SIUE Credit Union, is the final event of the University's 2011-12 Arts & Issues series and also is part of the SIUE Xfest 3.0, the University's third annual experimental theater festival.
For more than 25 years, SIUE's Arts & Issues series has brought great performers and distinguished speakers to Southwestern Illinois. The official media sponsors for A&I are the Edwardsville Intelligencer and KWMU-FM, while the series official hotel sponsor is Hampton Inn and Suites. The 2011-12 Arts & Issues season is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
While highlighting the distinct characteristics of each community, Squonk's avant-garde performances combine music, sound and image with innovative video, slapstick comedy and unexpected surprises. Squonk Opera has performed on Broadway, in Europe and South Korea, across the United States, and in a Pittsburgh junkyard with earthmovers and choreographed cranes.
Arts & Issues Director Grant Andree said Squonk Opera will present an unusual but entertaining performance with subject matter that will be near and dear to residents of the area. "Members of the troupe told me that they have enjoyed discovering how each city sees itself, as a whole and within its diverse communities.
"In having fun with using Edwardsville and its residents as a backdrop," Andree said, "the troupe also focuses on community, allowing us to see what makes opera life-like and life operatic…or not."
SIUE's Xfest 3.0 welcomes theater companies from across the nation to entertain, inspire and spark creativity on campus and in the community. This year's Xfest aims to provide rich learning experiences designed specifically with college-level theater enthusiasts in mind, as well as offering special pricing for interested groups.
For additional information about the Arts & Issues series or about Xfest , call (618) 650-5774. More information about Arts & Issues is available through the website: artsandissues.com and Xfest 3.0 through its website: siue.edu/xfest.
SIUE Business Students Honored For Their Accomplishments
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business recently honored some 70 students for academic excellence and leadership at the School's Annual Scholarship and Awards Program.
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. David Ault, emeritus professor in economics and finance, who also underwrites the Beta Gamma Sigma Award. The ceremony commenced with student remarks from Jeffry Harrison, a senior business student who is the recipient of the Cox Scholarship and serves as the vice president of national honor society Phi Kappa Phi's board of directors.
"The School of Business is fortunate to have the generous support of individuals, corporations and organizations that provide much needed assistance to deserving students, many of which may not be able to attend SIUE if not for scholarships," said Marilyn Marsho, director of development for the school. "The Scholarship and Awards Program is an excellent way to recognize outstanding performance of students. It also allows us to recognize our scholarship sponsors as well as introduce sponsors to the recipients of their scholarships."
The SIUE School of Business is among an elite 5 percent of business schools worldwide that have earned prestigious accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). The accounting program at SIUE also has AACSB accreditation, among only 11 percent of business schools in the United States and Canada to hold that distinction.
ILLINOIS:
BUNKER HILL: Aaron N. Hanks-The BKD Scholarship;
BUSHNELL: Lesli L. Kline-The Stuart E. White Accounting Scholarship;
BELLEVILLE: Brennan P. Wilde-The SyllogistTeks Scholarship;
BREESE: James F. Foppe-The John F. and Diane L. Schrage Scholarship;
John H. Gause III-The Kloos Student Scholarship;
CANTON: Abby J. Tonkin-The Stuart E. White Accounting Scholarship;
CHICAGO: Tarsha A. Moore-The Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits Scholarship;
COLLINSVILLE: Mackenzie L. Davis-The Ameren Illinois Scholarship;
Mark Hoge-The Charles Alvin Wentz, Jr. MBA Scholarship;
EAST ST. LOUIS: Dominic T. Williams-The Messing Family Scholarship;
EDWARDSVILLE:
Joseph M. Allaria-The Lawrence B. Heitz Scholarship;
Scott T. Berkel-The James C. Fowler Scholarship in Business;
Amy Ramlow-Delta Sigma Pi Key Award;
Joseph A. Randazzo-The Mary R. Sumner Scholarship in CMIS;
Brittany N. Vaughn-The Rotary Club of Edwardsville Scholarship;
Randy Venhaus-The Jensen Baeske Group Scholarship;
EFFINGHAM: Blake T. Huelskoetter-The George E. Aramula Scholarship in CMIS;
GILLESPIE: Courtney E. Ostendorf-The Jerome Hollenhorst Scholarship;
GLEN CARBON: Bryson W. Jackstadt-The Edward K. Brennar Award in Business Management;
GRANITE CITY:
HIGHLAND: Christopher J. Miles-The John W. and Jane R. Mosser Scholarship;
JERSEYVILLE: Magdalene J. Amburg-The Sarah Sullivan Award in Management;
WEST FRANKFORT: Joseph Schuit-The First Choice Scholars Award;
MAHOMET: Kelsey N. Norris-The Enterprise Student Leader of the Semester Award;
MARISSA: Kelsey M. Laminack-The Wilbur L. Campbell, Jr. Outstanding Student Leadership Award;
MARYVILLE: Aaron M. Semanek-The Harold Boeschenstein Award in Marketing;
MATOON: Lauren N. Fairchild- The RubinBrown Accounting Scholarship;
MORTON: Sarah A. Hendricks-The Boeing Company Scholarship and The E.R. Casstevens Award for Excellence in Business Communications;
MULBERRY GROVE: Paul K. Cayo-The Marian & Boulton Miller Award;
NEW DOUGLAS: Andrea Kuttin-The Delta Sigma Pi Key Award;
NORMAL: Matthew A. Cable-The R. Marty Burns Memorial Scholarship;
NEW LENOX: Mary Kate Reed-The FEI Scholarship;
OLYMPIA FIELD: Andrew Barnes-Harry & Lena Rosner Memorial Scholarship;
PLAINFIELD: Debra A. Belobraydich-The Boeing Company Scholarship;
Stephanie M. Bloch-The International Business Society Award and The Delta Sigma Pi Key Award;
RED BUD: Jennifer I. Seders-The Robert A. & Margaret K. Schulteis Scholarship and The Jerry Francis Sitek Information Systems Award;
SPRINGFIELD: Nicholas M. Zyznieuski-Thomas DuHadway Memorial Scholarship;
TROY: Michael Healy-The Frank Staggers Award for Excellence in Marketing Research;
VANDALIA: Sarah R. Hutchison-Accounting Alumni Award;
WARRENSBURG: Evanne R. Ellis-The Waterways Management Scholarship;
WATERLOO: Michael C. Huestch-The Phoenix Fund Scholarship;
Emily Eschmann-The John W. Leonard Scholarship;
WOODLAWN: Bronson L. Verhines-The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Emerging Leader Scholarship;
OUT OF STATE:
BELGRADE, SERBIA: Nikola Bundalo-The Jensen Baeske Group Scholarship and The Economics Alumni Graduate Student Scholarship;
XIANYANG, CHINA: Xiang Zhang-The Jay Dunstan Memorial Scholarship;
MYRTLE BEACH, SC: Aaron J. Hecker-The Robert S. Hoeke Scholarship;
PARKER, CO: Kevin C. Caraker-The Robert R. Phillips Study Abroad Memorial Scholarship.
Foreign Trade Zone Conference Comes To Metro East
The International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in conjunction with others, will present the Foreign Trade Zone Conference from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at America's Central Port FTZ #3, Warehouse 3B, 1201 West First Street, Granite City. Registration, a continental breakfast and networking will begin at 8 a.m.
The free seminar will give an overview of economic advantages that can be achieved through the use of the foreign trade zone. The morning speakers and their topics include: Daniel Griswold, president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, "Foreign-Trade Zones: A Home Run for Economic Development;" and Lesley Couch, director of Foreign-Trade Zones Services, Sandler & Travis Trade Associates, "The ABC's of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Program."
The FTZ Program offers tariff benefits and other savings to U.S. importers/exporters and provides incentives to retain and create jobs in the region. Some specific benefits include: import duty reduction or elimination on products manufactured, assembled, or processed in an FTZ, duty reduction or elimination on imported goods warehoused in an FTZ, U.S. duty elimination when goods are re-exported from an FTZ to a foreign county or another FTZ, improved cash flow, scrap and waste benefits. These advantages are especially important to the automotive, apparel, communications, electronics, pharmaceutical and industrial machinery industries.
A luncheon will feature "Round Table Discussions with the Experts." The conference will end with site tours of local Foreign Trade Zone facilities at Gateway Commerce Center and America's Central Port.
The event is free, but space is limited to the first 100 people registered. To sign up, please visit americascentralport.com/events or email Internatonal-Trade-Center@siue.edu . For further information, please call (618) 452-8440 or (618) 650-3851.
Representatives from the Illinois International Trade Center Network, the Illinois Office of Trade, the Illinois Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce will be available for one-on-one consultations.
The ITC is part of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIUE. The FTZ Conference is also being sponsored by America's Central Port, Mid-America Airport and the Gateway Commerce Center.
Caregiver Traineeship Program Celebrates First Graduating Class
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing, in partnership with the East St. Louis Christian Activity Center, celebrated The Caregiver Traineeship Program's first graduating class during the first week of May at the Christian Activity Center. Twenty members of the graduating class were joined by more than 80 family members and friends supporting their success.
The Caregiver Traineeship Program was designed by School of Nursing faculty. Kathi Thimsen, director of the SIUE Community Nursing Services/School of Nursing in East St. Louis, directs a staff that includes SIUE Health Education interns FiFi Oussa and Stephanie Thomas.
"We are excited about this program as it has emerged from a partnership between members of the community, Christian Activity Center director Reverend Chet Cantrel and SIUE," Thimsen said. "This is just one example of what can be achieved when everyone communicates needs and then pools the available resources."
East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks attended and addressed the graduates with words of congratulations and encouragement saying, "The training is yours. You earned it and no one can ever take that from you." Parks also cited the SIUE School of Nursing's commitment to the community through Thimsen's efforts to bring economic opportunities to East St. Louis in addition to the health care services provided through its clinics at the East St. Louis Center.
The SIUE Caregiver Program brings an interdisciplinary approach between nursing and health education to East St. Louis community members to not only address a need for an increase in skilled caregivers, but also provide job opportunities.
To learn more about the program, please contact the SIUE Community Nursing Service at (618) 482-6959 for additional information. The latest Caregiver Traineeship Program began May 15 at the Christian Activity Center.
Parents Honored At Head Start Luncheon
Estefany Munoz of Bluffview has learned English well enough that she no longer needs a translator at her doctor's appointments. Denice Proctor of East St. Louis is now employed and Debra Cotton of Cahokia, a 60-year-old grandmother, recently graduated with honors from her technical course.
These three women were among many parents honored at the recent Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start's 29th Annual Parent Training and Recognition Luncheon. The women credit much of their success to the SIUE Head Start Program.
"For three years we have been a part of the SIUE Head start family," said Proctor who has a four-year-old son, Jeremiah, in the Home Base Option program. "I attribute my gainful employment to Head Start. I have worked as a cafeteria aide, a substitute teacher and in May began training as a school bus driver."
It has taken commitment and hard work on the side of program and the parents of the program to arrive at what's best for children - "school readiness," said G. Lynnie Bailey, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program director.
Those Head Start parents who were selected to attend the training and awards luncheon had made achievements in education and work, had consistently volunteered and made valuable contributions to the program.
One category of parents who received awards were the "Success Families," who overcame obstacles, achieved personal success and took a role in helping educate and prepare their children for learning. This year's Success Families from the following Head Start Centers include: Belleville - Ebone Jackson and Lea Pickens; Bluffview - Kyra Hardy and Estefany Munoz; Cahokia - Deborah Cotton, Brandi Gilliam and Freddie Mosley; Discovery Center - Teresa James and Danielle Lane; East St. Louis School District #189 - Angela Davis, Jerry Miller, Kanika Reed, Victor Robinson and Lanell Thomas; Lovejoy - Keisha Gray, Robyn Jones and LaRhonda Steele; Private Mathison - Montrice Paulette; St. Joseph - Linda Eiland and Candrice Jones; and Tenth Street - Shakota Griffin.
Other award categories for parents included Male Involvement, Volunteers, Head Start Policy Council, Perfect Attendance and Training and Education.
"The luncheon was fun enough for our Head Start children to enjoy, but it was our Head Start parents who got to appreciate the creativity of the presenters," said Lisa Tate, Head Start program operations coordinator and luncheon master of ceremonies.
About 175 parents stood, danced and mimicked the moves of Cahokia Head Start teacher, Rebecca Jones, who played the children's song: "Ooga Booga Boogie," by Jack Hartmann. Jones' presentation was to encourage parents to help their children with movement, exercise and coordination, all while having fun.
Other teacher demonstrations involved parents utilizing items at the center of each table at the luncheon. Head Start instructors demonstrated a variety of common household items that they converted to tools of learning. For instance, a plain white paper plate was the "canvas" for cool whip mixed with edible food coloring. Parents used the cool whip to "finger paint" on the paper plate.
"There's so much parents can do with their children to assist in their learning and get them ready for school. And it doesn't have to cost a lot of money," said Bailey.
SIUE Alumnus Speaks on Behalf of Engineering Careers
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumnus Megan Harris recently spoke at Macomb Senior High School about the benefits of pursuing an engineering degree.
Harris graduated from SIUE with a bachelor's in Industrial Engineering and a master's in Engineering Management. She stated that students who want to pursue a career in engineering should be good critical thinkers, creative problem solvers and be curious about how things work.
After completing her education at SIUE, Harris was hired by The Boeing Co. and has been employed at Boeing Defense, Space & Security in St. Louis since 2009. More information regarding Harris' presentation can be found at McDonoughVoice.com.
Luer Named Associate Dean of SIUE School of Pharmacy
Mark S. Luer from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy has been named associate dean for professional and student affairs.
School of Pharmacy Dean Gireesh Gupchup made the appointment, which was confirmed by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular May meeting last week on the SIUE campus.
"Dr. Luer has been the founding chair of the department of pharmacy practice since 2004," Gupchup said. "He has built a strong department in which faculty and students have received recognition at the state and national levels in pharmacy practice related areas.
"He has been integrally involved in the development of programs and policies for the School of Pharmacy, and since 2010 he has served as our director of clinical programs. In that role, he has fostered the development of affiliated residencies and established a foundation for clinical program expansion."
Clinical Professor Cynthia Wuller led the national search that resulted in Luer's selection from a pool of 10 candidates. The six-month process began in September 2011 and culminated with Luer's recommendation in late February 2012.
Prior to joining the SIUE faculty, Luer held faculty positions at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Pharmacy and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy. He earned bachelor's and doctorate degrees in pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. He completed two residencies and a research fellowship at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Luer also completed the AACP Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) in 2006 and is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Progress Being Made On SIUE's New Science Building
An article that appeared in the May 4 online edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch titled, "New Science Building at SIUE is addressing a big campus need," highlights the progress being made on the completion of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's new science building. The structure is expected to be open in spring 2013.
The article talks about the distinct features of the structure and continues that the new 136,000-square-foot science building is being constructed to LEED Gold standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The new building and renovations to the existing facility will allow the University to accommodate growth and offer its students, faculty and staff access to the newest equipment available.
School of Dental Medicine's Jain Warns What Energy Drinks Do To Teeth
In a recent article that appeared on NPR.org (National Public Radio) titled Energy Drinks Can Take Teeth On An Irreversible Acid Trip , Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine Associate Professor Dr. Poonam Jain discussed the dangers of consuming sports and energy drinks, and the role these beverages can play in promoting irreversible tooth decay.
"We are well aware of the damage that sugar does in the mouth and in the whole body - the role it can play in obesity, diabetes, etc.," Jain said in the article. "But the average consumer is not very well aware that acid does all kinds of damage, too."
According to the study more tooth enamel was lost from exposure to energy drinks than sports drinks, but both substances were attributed to enamel loss. Jain noted in the article, which was published May 3, that consuming citric acid-found in the drinks and linked to causing the enamel erosion-also can cause bone loss and kidney stones.
SIUE Graduate Overcomes Brain Tumor, Earns Degree
In an article that appeared May 6 in the The Belleville News-Democrat, recent Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduate Katie Lundy recounts her journey to overcome a brain tumor and go on to graduate with bachelor's degrees in psychology and speech communication this spring.
Lundy's story was told in an article titled 'Believe': SIUE Grad Katie Lundy didn't let brain tumor slow her down . Since 5th grade there has rarely been a time when Lundy wasn't undergoing some type of chemotherapy treatment to treat a benign, inoperable brain tumor, the article stated.
Currently Lundy, who lives in Edwardsville, works as an intern at Fleishman-Hillard, a public relations and marketing company in St. Louis, and assists with her mother's business. During her time at SIUE, she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and raised money for charities, including the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She served as a member of Colleges Against Cancer and the SIUE Psychology Club. The article also stated that the Katie Lundy Foundation's annual spring golf tournament has raised more than $120,000 for the Children's Miracle Network and other charities.
NCERC Researchers Produce First Cellulosic Ethanol From Corn Kernel
Researchers at The NCERC today announced that they have successfully produced ethanol from the cellulosic portion of the corn kernel.
"This research is demonstrated proof of the viability of 'generation 2.0 ethanol,'" NCERC Director John Caupert said. "By utilizing existing technologies readily available in the commercial marketplace, the NCERC was able to produce a biofuel that builds upon the strengths of conventional corn ethanol and the promise of cellulosic ethanol, thus making bolt-on cellulosic ethanol a reality."
Caupert added that the potential for cellulosic ethanol has significant immediate and long-term impacts on the biofuels industry generally and the ethanol industry specifically.
"Any of the 211 existing ethanol plants in the United States could be retrofitted with existing bolt-on technologies to produce cellulosic ethanol from corn without the need to build new facilities," Caupert said. "This translates into opportunities for jobs and economic development, particularly in rural areas.
According to the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, the ethanol industry provides more than 4,000 full-time jobs with an economic impact exceeding $5.29 billion in Illinois alone. There are currently 14 ethanol plants online in the state.
NCERC Assistant Director of Biological Research Sabrina Trupia emphasized the importance of the demonstration in future research opportunities.
"This is a significant milestone with immediate industry impact, but producing cellulosic ethanol from corn bran is also proof that cellulosic ethanol could be produced at NCERC utilizing any cellulosic feedstock," Trupia said. "From a research perspective, this is only the first step in a very exciting road toward a future of energy security."
The NCERC credits a series of actions, grants and capital gifts for making the research possible, including the formation of the NCERC Technical Advisory Committee in 2008, the Center's 2009 Advanced Biofuels Initiative, and two significant capital gift donations: a corn fractionation system (2010) and fermentation suite (2011). These steps were complemented by a research and development grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
"It's the culmination of four years of activity here at the Center, and a shining example of a public-private partnership that works," Caupert said. "With our expanded fermentation capabilities, the Center is actively seeking industry, academic, and government agency partnerships."
About the Center
The NCERC at SIUE is a nationally-recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals, and other renewable compounds. Established through federal and state initiatives, with support from the Illinois and National Corn Growers Associations, the Center promotes rural development and economic stimulus and is providing tomorrow's workforce with the skills needed to meet the challenges of a changing energy environment. Designated as a Bio refining Center of Excellence, the Center assists in developing the technologies needed to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil and provide consumers with economically sound and environmentally responsible fuel options. Research initiatives in renewable energy at the Center are supported through grants, contracts and donor contributions. For more information, contact Courtney Breckenridge at 618-401-9218 or cbreckenridge@ethanolresearch.com or visit www.ethanolresearch.com.
About SIUE
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a nationally recognized university dedicated to educating and developing professional and community leaders through its excellent faculty and academic programs. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 17-to-1, SIUE offers the advantages of a small, liberal arts college with the lowest tuition of all 12 state universities in Illinois. The emphasis on undergraduate education, complemented by faculty research, creates practical applications for student learning. In fall 2011, SIUE reached the largest overall enrollment in the history of the University with 14,235 students. In fiscal year 2011, SIUE faculty and staff received more than $34 million in grants and contracts for research, teaching and service initiatives. Only 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River's rich bottom land. SIUE has been shaping the future in the St. Louis Metro Area since 1957, offering quality undergraduate and graduate programs combined with a solid commitment to the economic development of Southwestern Illinois.
SIUE Science Team Wins EPA Recognition
Soon it may be possible for Americans to partly improve their health by eating mushrooms enriched with a mineral nutrient called selenium. And it could be said that it was partially due to the efforts of a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville science project team.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the SIUE science team with an Honorable Mention at its recent People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition in Washington, D.C. The SIUE students included: Samuel Haddad, a senior biological sciences major, Jie Hong, a graduate environmental sciences student, and Jennifer Morrissy, a graduate environmental sciences student. Dr. Zhiqing Lin, associate professor of biological sciences and environmental sciences, was their advisor. The team was chosen in the EPA's second and final phase of the competition, which awarded and recognized college and university teams for their innovative environmental solutions.
The EPA competition was held during the 8th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall. More than 45 teams, including SIUE, showcased their projects designed to protect the environment, encourage economic growth and use natural resources more sustainably. Fifteen university and college teams from across the country were awarded more than $1 million in grants. SIUE did not receive money in the last round, but was given an honorable mention.
"We were very proud of our project," Haddad said.
In the first phase of the EPA's competition, which occurred last year, the SIUE team was awarded a $14,539 grant to demonstrate their research idea. The students proposed evaluating the use of selenium-laden plant wastes from the San Joaquin Valley in Central California to produce selenium-enriched edible mushrooms.
"Selenium is naturally reoccurring in the soil, so there are traces of it in our food," said Morrissy. "At very high levels, selenium can be harmful."
High levels of selenium were detected in agricultural soil and drainage in Central California, said Haddad.
"In the western part of the San Joaquin Valley where there are high levels of naturally occurring selenium, they began to see some reproductive issues and even death in birds and fish," Morrissy said.
That's not to say that humans would be affected, Haddad added, at least not yet.
Treating the polluted soil and agriculture drainage would be the first step, the team surmised. Plants were planted and used to clean up the over-rich selenium soil and drainage, Lin said.
The second part of their research dealt with making a healthier mushroom. The students tested 10 different kinds of edible mushrooms, such as White Button, Portabella and Oyster mushrooms, to measure their selenium contents. What they found were very small amounts in most of the mushrooms.
"What we propose to do then is to treat mushroom growth substrates and raise the levels of selenium," said Haddad.
The students propose to take the plants used to treat the over-rich selenium soil in California, turn them into compost and use it to grow mushrooms.
"We're testing the mushrooms to get the right selenium concentration and a safe number," Haddad said.
The researchers also are collaborating with Kristine Jarden, a lecturer in management and marketing in the SIUE School of Business. Jarden's senior class is working on ways to commercialize the technology involved in the students' project, Lin said.
SIUE Offers Variety Of Summer Camps For Children
Summer is here and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcome children to campus for fun, interactive camps.
Children can participate in a wide assortment of camps that focus on art and design, science, writing, music or theater and dance. The camps, for children from first grade through high school, offer educational opportunities that combine recreation with instructional learning.
The University's Division 1 Athletic teams will offer sports camps, instructed by the school's athletes and coaches. Camps in basketball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, wrestling and softball are for those in the second grade through high school.
A complete listing of summer camp offerings, registration forms and contact information are available at www.siue.edu/summercamps.
Children who attend SIUE's 2012 summer camps will enjoy an exciting and safe place to be active this summer.
WSIE-FM To Conduct On-Air Fund Drive May 18-20
WSIE-FM (88.7)-The Jazz Station, broadcasting at 50,000 watts from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will be conducting an on-air fund drive from 5 p.m. Friday, May 18, to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, with scheduled breaks in between.
During the weekend, special guests will visit the station studio to chat with on-air personalities Dick Ulett and Jason Valentine, newsperson Tricia Siekmann and WSIE General Manager Greg Conroy.
Scheduled visitors include guitarist Rick Haydon, head of the SIUE Jazz Studies Program; SIUE College of Arts and Sciences Dean Aldemaro Romero, host of "Segue" on Sunday mornings; SIUE Vice Chancellor for University Relations Patrick Hundley; jazz guitarist Tom Byrne; and Delano Redmond, head of the jazz music program at East St. Louis High School.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, Ryan Sheehan and his Big Band Show airs with music of the great jazz orchestras, past and present, from Glenn Miller to Gordon Goodwin. Justin Wingerter, host of WSIE's Rat Pack Show on Saturday nights, will welcome Dean Christopher, a St. Louis-based comedian who specializes in impressions of the members of that legendary Vegas group of entertainers. The Rat Pack Show, a weekly show and part of the fund-raising weekend, will begin at 7 p.m. that Saturday.
The station will offer new WSIE premium items for giveaway at various levels of funding including a beverage tumbler and a stylish desk clock as well as CD selections from the MaxJazz recording label in St. Louis. In addition, donors may choose to host their very own two-hour jazz show or receive underwriting messages throughout a given day, all for higher levels of giving.
Conroy said proceeds will benefit the station's equipment and operating funds. "The first on-air fund-raiser the station had conducted in two decades aired in December," Conroy said, "and it was fairly successful, but we need to air these twice annually." Some of the needs of the station include a transmitter generator, additional studio soundproofing, replacement audio system components and music library enhancements.
"I realize our listeners don't really want to hear us talk about financial need, especially in this economic climate," Conroy said, "but most of our funding comes from our loyal listeners, so this becomes a necessary evil. We think this weekend will be uniquely entertaining, while we play great jazz in between the fund-raising portions of the weekend."
WSIE-FM-The Jazz Station broadcasts 24/7 with news, public affairs, SIUE Cougar Sports and, most of all, great modern American jazz for the St. Louis region. The station's phone-a-thon is part of the University's ongoing $50 million capital campaign known as the "Defining Excellence: The Campaign for SIUE." More than $30 million has already been contributed to the campaign
Vice Chancellor Hundley, who also is executive director of the SIUE Foundation, said the campaign allows "our supporters and alumni to invest in our momentum. Their generous gifts will keep SIUE's quality educational opportunities affordable for all students," Hundley said. "We will be seeking further support from alumni, corporate leaders and the community.
"SIUE creates opportunities for students to receive a top-ranked education," he said. "More than half of our 90,000 graduates live and work in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, and SIUE makes a $471 million economic impact on our region every year."
SIU Board Of Trustees Approves SIUE AY 12-13 Tuition Increase
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved tuition rates for the 2012-13 academic year that call for a $318 increase (4.8 percent) over last year for first-time, in-state students. A $192 annual increase (3.0 percent) also will be implemented for graduate students at SIUE for the coming fall. The overall tuition increases were approved during the board's regular meeting conducted on the SIUE campus.
In addition, the board also approved other tuition changes that will mean an annual increase for accelerated nursing students, graduate students and for students enrolled in the professional schools of Dental Medicine and Pharmacy.
Under the rates approved today, the annual tuition rate will be $6,948 for new undergraduate students entering this fall. Undergraduate students currently in a guaranteed tuition plan will not see an increase in their annual tuition rate. Students in the SIUE Graduate School will pay $6,504 in tuition.
The board also approved a four percent hike to $22,100 annual tuition for the SIUE School of Pharmacy, a five percent increase to $27,720 annual tuition at the SIU School of Dental Medicine and a four percent increase to $18,249 annual tuition over 66 credit hours for the Accelerated Bachelor Studies in Nursing program.
SIUE Fee Changes Approved By SIU Board of Trustees
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved fee-related changes that will affect the SIU Edwardsville campus, including changes in the student fees for Information Technology, Intercollegiate Athletics and textbook rental, during their meeting on the SIUE campus.
Other student fee changes approved include those for Housing occupancy, Student Fitness Center, the Student Welfare and Activity (SWAF) fee, University Center fee and the Facilities fee.
The Information Technology fee will change from $6.65 per credit hour to $6.85, resulting in a full-time undergraduate student paying $205.50 annually (two academic semesters of 15 hours each) compared with $199.50 that is currently paid for two semesters. This fee helps defray the costs of supporting computing resources and networking infrastructure on campus.
A full-time undergraduate student (15 credit hours) will pay an Intercollegiate Athletics fee of $165.70 per semester beginning in the fall, a change from the current rate of $160.85. The proposed increase of $4.85 per semester will support the annual operating expenses associated with an NCAA Division I program and will move the program toward established fund balance targets.
Textbook rental fees will increase by $9 per semester effective fall 2012. The textbook rental fee is assessed at the same rates year-round. The semester rate for 15 hours will increase from $166.50 to $175.50. The increase will offset other inflationary operating cost increases in salaries and general administrative costs, provide necessary levels of service and maintain an appropriate fund balance.
Below is a chart of the proposed changes in other student fees:
Annually (for a full-time student enrolled in 15 hours or more during fall and spring)
FY12 FY13 Change
• Student Fitness Ctr. $159.60 $163.50 +$ 3.90
• SWAF $219.90 $225.80 +$ 5.90
• University Ctr. $303.90 $313.50 + 9.60
• Facilities Maint. $540.00 $555.00 +$15.00
The Board also approved changes in SIUE's housing rental fees for the fall term:
Rental rates for freshmen residing in a shared room at Woodland, Prairie and Bluff residence halls will be $2,635 per semester compared with the current charge of $2,560. Housing rates at Evergreen Hall will be $2,800 per semester for a shared bedroom in an apartment compared with $3,640 per semester for a private bedroom in an apartment or a private suite rate of $3,170 per semester.
Upperclassmen residing in Cougar Village Apartments will pay $2,005 per semester for a shared room compared with $1,945 currently paid per semester, while a single room will cost $2,975 per semester compared with the current $2,890 rate.
Families in Cougar Village, now paying $960 per month for a two-bedroom, unfurnished apartment, will pay $990 in the fall. The same family paying $1,125 per month now for a furnished two-bedroom apartment will pay $1,160 per month this fall. Families in a three-bedroom unfurnished apartment now paying $1,080 per month will pay $1,110 per month this fall; a three-bedroom furnished is now $1,260 per month and will be $1,300 this fall.
Weinberg Named Assoc. Provost for Research and Grad School Dean
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Provost Ann Boyle has named Jerry Weinberg the associate provost for research and dean of the SIUE Graduate School. The appointment was approved by the Board of Trustees today.
"Dr. Weinberg is a proven, effective problem solver who has contributed many helpful changes in the Graduate School and Office of Research while serving as the acting associate provost and dean," Boyle said. "Coupling that with his academic background, experience with research and his understanding of SIUE as a Master's Comprehensive University with a teacher/scholar model, he was the best candidate in a highly qualified pool."
Search Committee Chair Dr. Stephen Hansen, professor of historical studies and former dean of the Graduate School, led the 6-month national search that began with a pool of 31 candidates.
"I commend Dr. Hansen and the search committee for their careful and thorough work in conducting the search." Boyle said. "They devoted their time and effort in support of the Graduate School and the Office of Research and Projects. It is deeply appreciated."
"I am honored and excited to be a part of creating an environment that supports and nourishes the innovative spirit of SIUE's faculty and graduate students," Weinberg said. "Our modern economy depends on the progress of ideas. There is no more important time than now for new discoveries in science, development of new technologies and the creativity of the arts."
Weinberg, who earned a Ph.D. in computer science from Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 1996, has served as the acting associate provost for research and dean of the SIUE Graduate School since July 2010. During that time, he advanced the activities of the unit to strengthen both the graduate operations and its scholarly efforts. He increased travel support for faculty, developed and offered new internal programs to support faculty in the submission of external grant proposals, oversaw the creation of a new research and creative activities website, increased attendance at the Graduate School Open House and brought the graduate program assessment process under the shared governance structure of the Graduate School.
Prior to serving in the acting position, Weinberg was the department chair of computer science in the SIUE School of Engineering from 2005-2010. He joined the SIUE faculty in 1996.
In addition to his strong record of service at SIUE, Weinberg brings considerable experience to the role as demonstrated by an outstanding record of scholarship in the field of robotics. He has more than 60 published articles, book chapters, proceedings and technical reports; receipt of significant external funding of approximately $1.9 million as principal or co-principal investigator for research and education projects from state and federal agencies (including the National Science Foundation); and also has substantive experience in graduate education as a professor, mentor and thesis advisor.
SIU Board of Trustees Approves SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of Julie A. Furst-Bowe (BO-vee) as the eighth chancellor in SIU Edwardsville's history. The board's approval came during its regularly scheduled May meeting on the SIUE campus. Furst-Bowe will officially assume her duties July 2.
SIU President Glenn Poshard introduced Furst-Bowe at a press conference in SIUE's Morris University Center on April 26. She succeeds Dr. Vaughn Vandegrift, who is retiring effective July 1, after a highly successful eight-year tenure.
Furst-Bowe has served as provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis., since 2005. In her role as the chief academic officer for the campus, she has supervised the academic colleges and the following units: Enrollment Services, Student Services, International Education, Stout Online and the Discovery Center: Applied Research, Economic Development and Technology Transfer.
Furst-Bowe earned an Ed.D. in work, family and community education in 1995 from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where she also achieved a professional certificate in human resource development during the same year. She earned a master's of science in media technology from UW-Stout in 1986. The Chippewa Falls, Wis., native graduated magna cum laude from UW-Eau Claire in 1985 with a bachelor's in journalism.
"The Other 40" Showcases Business Talent At SIUE
Because it has been reported that roughly 60 percent of business enterprises fail, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's School of Business and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) joined forces for the annual "The Other 40," a showcase of student talent and enterprise to promote business success. The business pitch competition recently was held in the Morris University Center on campus.
Created last year by senior business students Drew Foster and Matt McElwee, the event was organized to promote student entrepreneurship and innovation by providing individuals with the resources, skills and incentives required to launch businesses from initiation to incorporation. More than $10,000 in cash and support was awarded to the top three students and/or student groups based on innovation, achievement and growth potential.
Each of the winning ideas was awarded a professional service support package in addition to their cash prize. This year, the primary funding for the competition came from the School of Business. Additional future support for the competition will come from a $120,000 grant to the School of Business for entrepreneurship education from John (MBA '75) and Eileen Martinson of Lawrenceville, N.J. through The Martinson Family Foundation.
Participants in the program took part in a series of entrepreneurship workshops aimed at helping them build the skills they would need to succeed in the competition, as well as in later business pursuits. The students were required to submit a one-page executive summary outlining their business plan. Those selected based on the one-page executive summary were asked to submit a full business plan. After reviewing the business plans, the finalists were chosen to make a "pitch," presenting their idea in less than three minutes before a panel.
Some 35 ideas were submitted for consideration and eight were selected to present in the final round. The panel was composed of Darryl Tyler of PNC Bank; Gayla Moore, President of Nevco, Inc.; and Birton Cowden, founder of U-Win Strategies and a Ph.D. student in entrepreneurship at St. Louis University.
Members of CEO, including the organization's president Jon Lee and CFO and vice president Jen Niebrugge consulted with SIUE School of Business leadership to organize the competition.
"I'm very proud of them," said Tim Schoenecker, CEO's faculty advisor and an associate professor of management and marketing. "The leadership team worked very hard to put this competition together and it shows."
Winners of the 2012 "The Other 40" competition are:
• $5,000 for first place-Chico Weber, a senior engineering major, for MOREG Industries.
Weber's pitch was for a portable wind powered electricity generating unit that could be used in either the residential or commercial market.
• $2,500 for second place-Ron Brier, a senior business student, for Mathnasium.
Mathnasium is a mathematics learning and tutoring center.
• $1,000 for third place-Jomo Akpore, graduate student of Arts & Science, Scott Adcock, senior in Arts & Science, Cory Beck, graduate student in Business, Tyler Biekert, senior in Arts & Science, Nick Santella, a senior in Education, and Chance Webb for Keotty.
Keotty is an ecommerce business focusing on custom clothing.
Finalists include:
•Greg Homrighous, graduate student in business - allGreenSigns, LLP.
•Keith Heden, a senior majoring in business, and Logan Brown, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences - eBUS.
•Traig Henson, a junior business major - EZ Park
•Ryan McCullough, a senior majoring in business - BioPicks
•Ryan Wilson, senior majoring in business - ShopHeap.
The Gardens At SIUE On Display At Spring Open House
WHAT: The Gardens at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Spring Open House
WHEN: 4:30- 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, 2012
WHERE: 6 Arboretum Lane, SIUE Campus, Edwardsville, IL 62026
Meet Jane Drake, the new director of The Gardens at SIUE, take a walking tour, enter a prize drawing and see what's blooming at The Gardens' spring open house.
Free parking is available in the lot on Arboretum Lane. For more information, please contact thegardens@siue.edu or call (618) 650-3070.
Peggy Guiliacci Dies; Was SIUE Financial Aid Counselor
Peggy L. Guiliacci, of Sorento, died April 10, at her home. She was 65. Funeral services were held April 13 at the Sorento Baptist Church with burial in Kirkland Cemetery in Sorento. Perfetti Funeral Home in Sorento was in charge of arrangements.
Guiliacci was a financial aid counselor at SIUE before retiring on Dec. 31, 2011.
Memorials may be made to the Sorento Food Pantry, Sorento Baptist Church or Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund in Gillespie.
SIUE Grad Embracing Her Family's Love Of Pharmacy
At the May commencement ceremonies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, one family's love for medicine, people and service flowed through four generations of pharmacists.
Members of the Harmon family celebrated the recent graduation of Leslie Harmon, who earned her doctorate from the SIUE School of Pharmacy. She expects to become licensed sometime in June.
"Ever since I was able to say the word 'pharmacist,' I knew that's what I wanted to do - even at the age of five," the new graduate said. "As I grew up and started to understand the diversity of the pharmacy profession, it was clearly a perfect match for my personality. I love taking care of people and have always had a drive to be an advocate for others."
And ever since Harmon can remember, there has been a pharmacist in her family. Her great-grandfather, Ezra Harmon, began working in the 1920s for pharmacists O.F. Edwards and his son, Bob, at their local Rexall Drugstore in Oblong. Ezra Harmon became a registered pharmacist in 1945, and a year later he and his wife, Caroline, purchased the local Rexall Drugstore. Harmon's Rexall Drugstore is still in operation in Oblong, which is east of Effingham.
Leslie's grandfather, Jack Harmon, was the next in line to become a pharmacist. Jack Harmon graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1959 and worked alongside his father, Ezra. He had two children, Thad Harmon and Joez (Harmon) Lickliter. Both children became pharmacists and worked at the family's pharmacy store. Thad, Leslie's father, graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1997. Thad Harmon is now working at Schnucks Pharmacies in the Metro East and Leslie plans to do the same. Lickliter, Leslie's aunt, is a pharmacist in Indiana.
Seventy-six-year-old Jack Harmon continues to work at the family pharmacy in Oblong.
"My family has never pressured me to go into pharmacy, but has always been very supportive of my plans," Leslie Harmon said. "At the age of 16, my dad encouraged me to work for an independent pharmacy and gain experience, to ensure that this profession was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."
She said that she remained sold on the profession, in part, because it allowed her to be an advocate for people. For instance, she noted when she worked as a pharmacy intern in Troy, she routinely encountered seniors who had reached their maximum spending level for Medicare and were faced with the dilemma of choosing to buy their prescriptions or groceries.
"I would call their doctors and ask if we could switch their medication to another kind that would achieve the same results, but would cost much less," Leslie Harmon said. "This put many seniors in the position where they could both buy their medication and buy their food."
Many people don't realize that the pharmacist is a critical part of the health care team, she added. Pharmacists are skilled clinicians who are great resources. They also are the ones who are the most familiar and most accessible to the patient. Much has changed in pharmacy over the years, such as the way medications are prepared. In Ezra Harmon's day, pharmacists made each prescription for a specific patient, using crude materials. Now, medications are mass produced by manufacturers and there have been advances in education, medication therapies and technology. But what remains the same, the pharmacist said, is her profession's commitment to deliver safe products and provide sound advice to customers.
Leslie Harmon added she hopes to become the kind of pharmacist that her father is-caring deeply for patients and treating them on an individual basis. And she believes that she is off to a good start, partly due to the excellent education she received from SIUE.
"The University has an incredible academic reputation," Leslie Harmon noted. "I have been extremely pleased with the education I received from the School of Pharmacy. It's a wonderful program and the faculty and students are exceptional. The faculty is completely dedicated to the students. They go out of their way to know each student personally."
Contracts Approved By SIU BOT Executive Committee For Projects
The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees executive committee has awarded more than $2.5 million in contracts to three Illinois companies and one Missouri company for projects on the SIU Edwardsville campus and the SIU School of Dental Medicine campus in Alton. The executive committee recently met on the SIUE campus.
Christ Brothers Asphalt, Inc., of Lebanon, will resurface North University Drive at a bid cost of $1,171,933.40. The project will resurface a portion of North University Drive and add asphalt shoulders to both North University and East University drives. The project is funded through University plant funds and is expected to be completed prior to the start of the fall semester.
Byrne & Jones Construction of St. Louis will resurface the track at Korte Stadium at a bid cost of $1,145,400. The rubberized track was installed at Korte Stadium in 1994 and has exceeded its life expectancy. The project is funded through University plant funds and is expected to be completed prior to scheduled events in August.
Tindall Construction Co., Inc., of Pontoon Beach, and Camp Electric & Heating Co., Inc., of Alton, were selected to manage the site work and electrical work, respectively, in the construction of the multi-discipline laboratory at the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton. The two contractors will complete the site utility work necessary for the project. Tindall's bid was $143,400, and Camp's bid was $96,575. The final electrical conversion in this portion of the project will be completed during July when students are not in the building. Award of the construction contracts are expected in early August.
East St. Louis Performing Arts to Take Audience to Latin America
WHAT: SIUE East St. Louis Performing Arts Program & SIUE East St. Louis Charter
High School Production of "Tropical Review"
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 11, 2012
WHERE: Multipurpose Theatre, Building D of East St. Louis Higher Education Campus,
601 James R. Thompson Blvd., East St. Louis, IL 62201
COST: Tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under
Students from the SIUE East St. Louis Performing Arts Program and SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School will present their end of the year production, "Tropical Review." Audiences will enjoy Latin America and Caribbean dances that include the Mambo, Rhumba, Merengue and the Cha Cha.
Guest choreographers for the production will include Carmen Gyunn, founder and executive director of the St. Louis Salsa Congress, and Ashi Smythe, former original cast member of the Broadway Production of the Lion King. Also choreographing musical numbers is the SIUE Performing Arts Program Director, Theodore H. Jamison, and the Performing Arts Program and Charter High School staff: Andrea Smythe, Jack Williams, Jamila Ajanaku and E.L. Wilkes.
Carolyn Minear, SIUE professor of choral music education in the Department of Music, is providing the following students who will sing in Spanish: Nic Goodman, Krista Kearney, Darien Orr and Tyler Sage.
Two Noted Alumni To Be Honored At SIUE Commencement Ceremonies
As part of its annual commencement tradition, two noted alumni will be honored at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville commencement ceremonies tonight and tomorrow.
At the 6:30 p.m. ceremony tonight, Fernando Aguirre, chairman and CEO of Chiquita Brands International Inc. and a 1980 SIUE graduate with a bachelor of science in business administration/marketing, will be honored with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. He will speak at tonight's ceremony and at the 9 a.m. ceremony tomorrow.
At the 1 p.m. ceremony Saturday afternoon, the SIUE Distinguished Service Award will be given to Paige St. John, a 1986 graduate of SIUE in mass communications and the 2011 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism. She is a reporter for the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune newspaper. St. John will speak at the 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. ceremonies Saturday.
The SIUE Honorary Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards Committee actively solicit nominations from members of the University community to obtain a diverse pool of qualified candidates for these awards.
A candidate for an Honorary Degree may be any person who has made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, and humanitarian or other worthy fields of endeavor. Distinguished Service Awards may be presented to any persons who have given outstanding or unusual service to the University, the region, or the State.
Since graduating from SIUE in 1980, Aguirre has built an outstanding legacy of business and philanthropic leadership. He arrived in the United States as an exchange student from Mexico and earned a baseball scholarship to SIUE. Upon graduation, Aguirre joined Procter & Gamble (P&G). During the next 23 years, he rose within the company, heading divisions in Brazil and Mexico, leading P&G's global feminine care unit, and serving as president of Special Projects.
In 2004, he became chairman, president and CEO of Chiquita Brands, recognized worldwide for its production and distribution of bananas and other fresh produce.
Aguirre has been an active leader in the business community throughout his career, currently serving on the corporate boards of Chiquita Brands, Aetna Inc., Levi Strauss & Co. and previously on the board of Coca-Cola Enterprises. He is a member and former chapter president of the Young Presidents' Organization and he also attended the prestigious YPO Harvard President's seminar for 10 years, earning Harvard Business School graduate status in 2009.
His generous support of SIUE through the years has helped generations, and still is helping new generations of students achieve their goals. He provided significant support to the renovation of SIUE's baseball facility and currently serves as honorary co-chair for Defining Excellence: The Campaign for SIUE. In 2005, he participated in the SIUE School of Business Executive Lecture Series, as part of the School's International Business Week. Aguirre was inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame (2009) and Athletics Hall of Fame (2007) for his exceptional efforts both on and off the field.
In addition to his involvement with SIUE, Aguirre serves on the board of directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and on the advisory board for Duke University's Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics. In addition, he is a mentor for the International Mentoring Network Organization.
SIUE alumna Paige St. John is an award-winning journalist whose three-year examination of Florida's property insurance crisis, "Florida's Insurance Nightmare," secured her the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism. The award represents the first Pulitzer for an SIUE graduate and the first for the Sarasota paper. Her research uncovered how mismanagement of homeowner premiums devastated the Florida property insurance industry.
The Pulitzer committee commended St. John for "her examination of weaknesses in the murky property-insurance system vital to Florida homeowners, providing handy data to assess insurer reliability and stirring regulatory action."
St. John has worked as an investigative reporter for the Herald-Tribune since 2008; previously, she served as Florida statehouse bureau chief for Gannett News Service. She spent her early career as a correspondent for the Associated Press and The Detroit News in Michigan. She was inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame in October 2011.
SIUE Team Places First at ACG Cup St. Louis Competition
Recently a group of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business graduate students placed first for its efforts in the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Interuniversity Cup competition at the Emerson Headquarters in St. Louis.
Organized to provide business students with mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, financial advisory and private equity experience, as well as valuable real-world insights, the case study opportunity allows those within the competition the chance to interact and work with professionals from within the ACG community. The competition involves a series of intra-school and regional competitions, with regional winners awarded the ACG Cup title and cash awards.
The SIUE team composed of School of Business graduate students Tyler Ash, Hayley Schneider, Joseph Scyoc and Syed Rashed Zaman participated in the weeklong competition that involved critical thinking and problem-solving skills assessments, as well as two rounds of case analysis. Through the case analyses, the team was able to present its own valuations, capital markets and strategic advice to a panel of professionals.
"This competition is an excellent setting for our students to apply the analytical and communication skills they acquire in school," said SIUE Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance Shrikant Jategaonkar. "Additionally, making a successful presentation in front of corporate executives is a great confidence booster and networking experience."
Ash noted that the greatest takeaway was the experience itself. "It was nice to be able to put concepts from classes to real use. On top of that, it turns out that while getting all the numbers right is absolutely essential; it's only half the work. You also have to sell your analysis as part of a story."
The SIUE team took first place, a $5,000 cash prize and ACG memberships. Teams from the Washington University in St. Louis Olin School of Business and the University of Missouri-St. Louis placed second and third, respectively.
According to the ACG website, the 26 year-old organization is a global community for middle-market mergers and acquisitions, deal makers and business leaders focused on driving growth. The site continued that ACG members have access to data, content and networking opportunities to find the opportunities, capital and knowledge they need to drive and sustain corporate growth. It is supported by such corporations as Gallop, Johnson & Neuman; UHY Advisors; and PNC Bank. ACG Cup Competitions were held across the country this spring, involving students from more than 100 business schools.
In the photo (from left) Syed Rashed Zaman; Tyler Ash; Hayley Schneider; and Joseph Scyoc
SIUE Student Is Recipient of Spring 2012 Enterprise Leadership Award
Kelsey Norris, a senior business major from Mahomet, recently was honored with the Enterprise Foundation Rent-A-Car Student Leader of the Semester Award.
The award recognizes students nominated by faculty members for outstanding participation and responsibility in a student organization. Norris' award recognizes her work and dedication as a member of SIUE's group, Emerging Leaders Improving through Experience (ELITE).
ELITE is a group of School of Business student leaders who serve as liaisons between students, faculty, alumni and others affiliated with the school. The organization engages in a number of service projects, as well as hosts beginning of semester barbecues, membership drives and T-shirt sales.
Norris has served as the president of ELITE since 2010 and considers the 2011-2012 year one of ELITE's most active and successful years. During her tenure, Norris has focused on how ELITE could facilitate greater communication and cooperation among School of Business student organizations.
Dean of the School of Business Gary Giamartino nominated Norris and noted: "Her consistent leadership is just one way in which Kelsey has distinguished herself from other students. She was supportive of the notion that building greater capacity among all student organizations would benefit each organization and the entire school. Kelsey has worked tirelessly to facilitate enhanced capacity and I am very grateful for her willingness to act in ways that helped ELITE carry out its mission to be of service to all students in the School of Business."
The award carries with it a $100 stipend and a certificate. In addition, Norris was recognized at the School of Business Scholarships and Awards Ceremony in April.
In the photo (from left) Gary Giamartino, dean of the School of Business; Kelsey Norris; and Tauras Ketchens of Enterprise Holdings